Have you heard about or seen the trailer for the film, “Son of Rambow“? It comes out this weekend in limited release and wish we had time to write about it earlier. First off, it looks completely endearing (and was a big hit at the most recent Sundance Film Festival).
It’s a coming-of-age story (but with kids, not bratty teens) set in the ’80s about two friends who bond over their love for “Rambo: First Blood” who then set out to make their own movie inspired by Sly Stalllone’s Vietnam-vet gone bonkers in normal society action franchise.
Directed by former music video director turned feature filmmaker Garth Jennings (vids for Beck, Vampire Weekend, Blur, R.E.M. and Pulp, sometimes under the name of Hammer & Tongs with director Nick Goldsmith), his debut film was “The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy” which was first offered to Spike Jonze who wasn’t interested in the material and recommended Jennings for the job (Jonze is co-owner of the Directors Label series which is probably another reason why there was talk of Hammer & Tongs getting their own DL dvd if they ever get produced again).
Due May 27, being an ’80s setting, the soundtrack is filled with original hits from the era – The Cure, Duran Duran, Blondie, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Human League – and includes the whimsical score by composer Joby Talbot. You’d have to be a bigger curmudgeon than us to not think this movie looks incredibly cute and enjoyable. The tagline? “Make Believe, Not War.”
The trailer features “It’s Over And Done With” by The Proclaimers (also featured in Wes Anderson’s “Bottle Rocket” and David Bowie’s “Rebel, Rebel,” but neither are on the soundtrack disc.
TRACKLISTING
1. The Cure “Close To Me”
2. Siouxsie & The Banshees “Peek-A-Boo”
3. Nu Shooz “I Can’t Wait”
4. Duran Duran “Wild Boys”
5. Jonathan Richman “Egyptian Reggae”
6. Gary Numan “Cars”
7. Fun Boy Three “Our Lips Our Sealed”
8. Blondie “Rapture”
9. The Real Roxanne “Bang Zoom (Let’s Go Go)”
10. The Human League “Love Action (I Believe In Love)”
11. Joby Talbot “The Best Day Of All Time”
12. Joby Talbot “Bicycle Ride”
13. Joby Talbot “The Scarecrow”
14. Joby Talbot ”The French Kid”
15. Joby Talbot “First Day Filming”
16. Joby Talbot ”Iʼm French, Non?”
17. Joby Talbot “Disaster”
18. Joby Talbot ”The Sad Day”
19. Joby Talbot “The Hospital”
20. Joby Talbot ”Can You Fix It?”
21. Joby Talbot “Son Of Rambow”
Download: The Proclaimers – “Over And Done With”
Watch: “Son of Rambow” trailer
Watch: Blur – “Coffee & TV” (directed by Hammer & Tongs)
Watch: Vampire Weekend – “A Punk” (directed by Hammer & Tongs)