Top 5 Musical Moments from Paul Thomas Anderson Films

I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!

This list could easily be a list all from Boogie Nights, one of my favorite films of all times. Alas, we have to consider Punch-Drunk Love, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood. There's not any memorable music scenes in Hard Eight.

5. "Wise Up" from Magnolia -- This song could have ranked higher for it not for the Tom Cruise factor. It's the part of the film, at around the 6 1/2 hour mark, where all the characters sing the same Aimee Mann song. Each of the character are at their emotional end and the song ties them all together. As legends goes, PTA was inspired to write the movie based on hearing Mann's songs. Also in the film, you can't go wrong with some Supertramp. As a side note, I have sort of connection to Mann. Drop me a line and I'll tell you.

4. "Machine Gun" from Boogie Nights -- It's hard to pinpoint two montages from Boogie Nights to single out. Dirk Diggler in the studio, the opening tracking shots, Sister Christian to Jessie's Girl, the coked-up scenes with Todd Parker set to Compared to What. I enjoy the rise to power of Dirk Diggler set to the Commadors song. It has all the cheesy elements -- glamor shots, magazine headlines, split screens and quick scenes of Dirk fucking. At the end of the montage, you have a big choreographed number at the disco. If I had the time, I would want to learn every move of that scene.

3. "Proven Lands" from There Will Be Blood -- I'VE ABANDONED MY CHILD ... I'VE ABANDONED MY BOY. The film is just mind-blowing. It's looks like McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Days of Heaven, but plays like Citizen Kane: The Maniac Years. The scene that stand out to me is when the oil well exploded and makes H.R. deaf. Eventually, the whole thing goes up in flames into the night. Jonny Greenwood has the scene punctuated with heavy percussion and string arrangement that gives the scene a pulse.

2. "He Needs Me" from Punch-Drunk Love -- Not many people were into this film. I love it and I hate Adam Sandler films in general. I appreciate films that take risks and doesn't blatantly tell you what to think. On the soundtrack, Jon Brion remixes "He Needs Me" from the film Popeye, sung by Shelley Duvall and written by Harry Nilsson. In the movie, Barry cashes in his frequent flier mileage from all the pudding he purchased to fly to Hawaii. He gets there so he can meet up with Lena in the ultimate staged love meeting. They are in silhouette and a punch of tourist walk in and out of frame. It's strange, but it works.

1. "God Only Knows" from Boogie Nights -- It's the finest Beach Boys song. I've heard it at about 5 of the past 6 weddings I've attended. Like in Magnolia, this song is the emotional climax of the film where all the character's stories are wrapped up. Some end with happiness, others not. Watch out for Buck's Super Stereo ... WORD! I come away think, "Sure, they're strung out porn stars, but at least they have each other."

Comments

[Liz]

What a great idea for a top 5! Love it.

[Big B]

"At the end of the montage, you have a big choreographed number at the disco. If I had the time, I would want to learn every move of that scene."

I think that everytime. Imagine a couple buddies and you breaking it out at a wedding. Amazing.