Ever remember the story of “Wristcutters: A Love Story” a 2006 Sundance hit about suicide victims banished to a purgatory-like afterworld starring Patrick Fugit (“Almost Famous”), Shannyn Sossamon and Tom Waits (who plays a sort of dead-guy Guru)?
The film was indeed a hit (it also won the best feature honors at last year’s Gen Art Film Festival) but for reasons unknown (studio coldfeet likely and whatnot), the film couldn’t find a distributor for some time, but it finally found a distributor in March of this year, but AfterDark films (who apparently had planned – at least then – a potentially controversial marketing plan).
Notice that the lead Shea Whigham, has more than a passing resemblance to Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz? Well, the character’s name is Eugene, and the gypsy rocker is actually a friend of director Goran Dukic who modelled the character after him (Hutz starred alongside Elijah Wood in “Everything Was Illuminated” but was apparently preoccupied when this film started rolling. A scene in the film even has “Eugene” fronting a Gogol-like band and accidentally electrifying himself onstage – or maybe its purposely).
So, it’s no suprise then that the party gypsy Bordello rockers contribute three songs to the film (“Through The Roof And Underground” from Multi Kontra Culti vs. Irony is used in the trailer). The film naturally features a Tom Waits track (name one movie Waits starred in that didn’t feature his music somewhere off the top of your head, go!) and what’s a film about star-crossed suicide lovers without Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (young filmmakers take note, they’ll pretty much sell this song to anyone at this point)?
Indie-film composer and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Johnston created the lovely score (his music is often featured on NPR’s This American Life) and the film also features tracks by Gram Parsons, Joe Meek (the excellent freakbeat track “Telstar”) and Del Shannon. The film is due in theaters October 19th.
“Wristcutters: A Love Story” tracklist
1. Dead And Lovely – Tom Waits
2. Deathwish – Christian Death
3. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
4. Occurances At The Border – Gogol Bordello
5. Song For You, A – Gram Parsons
6. Through The Roof And Underground – Gogol Bordello
7. Oasis – Vivienne Dogan-Corringham
8. Telstar – Joe Meek
9. Cry Myself To Sleep – Del Shannon
10. Huliganjetta – Gogol Bordello
11. She’s Fallen In Love With A Monster – Screaming Lord Sutch
12. 24 To Vector Z – Daniel Wang
13. Gloomy Sunday – Artie Shaw
14. Love Song – Mikal Lazarev
15. Brennan’s Theme – Mushman
Download: Tom Wait’s – Flower’s Grave
Download: Joy Division – “The Eternal”
Download: Joe Meek – “Telstar” (1st Stage Demo)
“Wristcutters: A Love Story” trailer
Let us note: This movie was terrible. [C-]
Just saw a screening of this in Miami. Pretty cool existential romantic (sort of) comedy, and the music is a great complement to the dry story of finding love in the afterlife. Never was much of a fan of Gogol, but their songs work great here; there’s also a thread of songs by bands whose singers committed suicide.
Oh and great blog, Rodrigo!
Does anyone know the song used at the end of the trailer on fandango.com, with lyrics something like “I’ll watch you leave”? I’m desperate for it. Thanks!
It’s “Love’s Lost Guarantee” by Rogue Wave.
Does anyone know how to get that song that Eugene plays constantly in his car? The one that goes “when there is trap, all over town…”? Is it on a CD or anything I can find? I love that song…
It’s Gogols Bordello — Through the Roof and Underground. It’s on the soundtrack.
does any1 know the song that plays in the background when he is sucked into the black hole?
brilliant movie, indeed… after watching it last night i started listening to tom waits after a long period of time 😀
thanks for the soundtrack listing, man!
cheers!
Awesome movie. What song was playing when it showed the girl ODing?
I really loved the throat singing that the mute girl did. If anyone could tell me where I could find that, I’d be forever greatful.
This is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite movies.
I first heard about it in 2007 from a math teacher at my school, and I have been in love with it ever since.
she’s fallen in love with a monster by screaming lord sutch was playing while she overdosed. it’s also on the soundtrack
the throat singing song is Love Song by Mikal Lazarev who is also one of the film’s producers.
My son bought me this movie for xmas, as he knows if tom waits is in the credits anywhere I’m on like white on rice. Did anyone notice when Tom says “what’s he doin’ up there?” I was pleasantly surprised as it’s a song title and line from his Mule Variations cd.
yeah tom waits
I thought this movie was the biggest waste of anything I have seen since Twilight… just terrible….
Gothic, i totally agree. I just wrote about the soundtrack in advance cause i thought it sounded interesting, but the film itself was terrible.
I passed on this movie many times before I felt there was nothing better to watch, and am sorry that I waited so long. It’s a man’s “chick flick ” Original and quirky, it really worked for me. I felt despite low budget sets and settings, quality performances were not at all in short supply. All the characters were defined and played well, and dark haired beauty Shannyn Sossamon sure wasn’t a tax on the eyes. Even the ending which could have come across as corny worked, given how we got there. “Through the Roof” is a great “scratch your head cause you like it so much” song.
No, this wasn’t the greatest movie ever. But I loved it. And the soundtrack was great. Gogol Bordello is totally where it’s at (if you like them, check out Gustav and the Sea Sick Sailors).
go here to listen to the soundtrack all in one piece
http://www.playlist.com/playlist/16549604363
does anyone knows the song that plays in the background when Zia was looking the Desiree's note at garage attendant?
this is my favortie movie ever ever ever!!!!! thanks soooooooooooo much for putting all the song titels and artists up