It's always sad when a tiny movie goes unpublicized. When it's a foreign film with little American distribution we get it, but when there's an Academy Award winner involved it's that much more triste.
Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning composer of "Once" (along with Markéta Irglová) had some songs featured in the Czech Republic "Beauty in Trouble" directed by Jan Hrebejk, but no one seems to have noticed the film, let alone the music.
The movie which was completed in 2006, limped into U.S. theaters earlier this summer and well, came and went (though you can still find it in theaters here and there, but barely). Hansard didn't compose original music in the film, but the Frames/Swell Season singer songwriter did have 4 songs featured in the film, including the same Oscar-winning song, "Falling Slowly" from "Once," which is probably the reason why it was overshadowed (the connection is Hansard's girlfriend Irglova who is also Czech).
But wait. 'Beauty' was made in 2006 and so was "Once," but the songs - including that "Falling Slowly" song were composed specifically for "Once" even though they were on the Swell Season album in the same year, right? We don't exactly when 'Beauty' was made or released aside from IMDB saying 2006, but that's some interesting math and it's no wonder the Academy had such issue with the song's Oscar eligibilty earlier this
year (both films seemed to debut separately in their respective countries in the July of 2006, spaced out by only a few days)."Beauty In Trouble" also features songs by Czech singer Raduza and an original score by Ales Brezina.
Trailer: "Beauty In Trouble" (which features "Falling Slowly")
Read more...
7/22/2008
Academy Award Winner Glen Hansard Has Songs In "Beauty In Trouble," Nobody Notices
3/05/2008
'Once' Soundtrack Scores Big Sales Bump From That Oscar Telecast Nobody Apparently Watched
Everyone was predicting that after the Oscars, the "Once" soundtrack would see a major spike in sales after it nabbed the Academy Award for Best Original Song (the track "Falling Slowly").And lo and behold us prognosticators were right (yeah, really hard to guess, right?). Thanks to the post-Oscar momentum, the album jumped from the #22 to number #7 on the SoundScan album charts - up 112% for a total of 47K. The album is nearing gold status (428,000 copies sold so far) and entered the Top 10 for the first time.
And on the digital sales chart, or at least the ITunes one, Once: Music From The Motion Picture, moved up to the number 1 spot.
So regardless if people fell asleep, tuned out Jon Stewart or just TIVO'd and fast forwarded to the good parts, a lot of people took notice of the sweetly saccharine tune and ponied up the dough for it.
Download: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" (from "Once")
Watch: "Falling Slowly" From "Once"
3/04/2008
'Once' Film Gets The Michel Gondry Sweded Treatment
We were worried this was going to be earnest and therefore pointless, but it's mildly amusing.We're hoping the headline gives most of the context to our readers who should by now be familiar with most of the films we write about on our site, but if not:
"Once" is a low-budget Irish busker music film featuring the Frames' Glen Hansard and Swell Season pianist/singer Marketa Irglova that recently won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
"Sweding" is a term that comes from Michel Gondry's recent and mostly-mediocre, but earnest film, "Be Kind Rewind" where bumbling amateurs recreate well-known and popular movies. Have at it.
2/29/2008
Oscar Success Begats Publishing Deal For Swell Season 'Once' Duo; Twosome Touring In The Spring
Sometimes when one wins an Academy Award, those thatWarner/Chappell will handles songs composed by by Hansard's The Frames outfit and future recordings by the duo under the name The Swell Season.
Apparently both groups are currently without recording contracts. Hansard and Irglova will be touring the U.S. from late April through mid-June. Glen Brunman, executive VP and head of creative (U.S.) for Warner/Chappell who apparently hadn't heard about the film until after the Oscars said in a asshaty canned statement. "Glen's work with the Frames will continue to rock, and we'll make sure that it reaches an even wider audience."
In an interview with Pitchfork today, Hansard said the "Once" film post butchered the concept of the film and his body. "They fuckin' killed it. You're right. They have us holding hands, which we never do in the film! Those legs aren't mine. Those legs are like three times longer than my legs. It's a completely new body. They literally just used my face. I'm wearing a hat in the original picture, so they Photoshopped my head. If you look at my head, my head looks totally weird, because whoever did the Photoshop job was shit. My head looks really weird, they took my hat off, and they gave me an entirely new body. It's completely bizarre."
Tour Dates via Paste
April
23 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ the Orpheum Theatre
25 - Indio, Calif. @ Coachella
26 - Oakland, Calif. @ Paramount Theatre
27 - Eugene, Ore. @ McDonald Theatre
28 - Portland, Ore. @ Portland Center for the Arts
30 - Seattle, Wash. @ Moore Theatre
May
1 - Missoula, Mont. @ Wilma Theatre
2 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ the Depot
3 - Denver, Colo. @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
5 - Lawrence, Kan. @ Liberty Hall
10 - Royal Oak, Mich. @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
11 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Allen Theatre
12 - Louisville, Ky. @ W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre
13 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
16 - Richmond, Va. @ Toad’s Place of Richmond
17 - Baltimore, Md. @ Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
19 - New York, N.Y. @ Radio City Music Hall
20 - Upper Darby, Penn. @ Tower Theatre
June
16 - Madison, Wisc. @ Overture Center for the Arts
17 - Chicago, Ill. @ Chicago Theatre
22 - Telluride, Colo. @ Town Park
2/25/2008
'Once' Soundtrack About To Move Major Units Next Week; Your Mom Knows Who Glen Hansard Is Now
Here it is: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performing their Academy Award winning Best Original Song, "Falling Slowly," from the underdog indie-hit "Once."
We weren't terribly big fans of "Once," but we it admit it was nice seeing some shaggy dog underachievers win this award. Hansard and Irglova's speeches were also genuinely earnest ones that made you root for them all the more.
"This is amazing. What are we doing here?," Hansard said in almost-tearful disbelief. "This is mad... Make art. Make art. Thanks." Irglova was cut-off before she was allowed to say her piece, but host Jon Stewart was kind and classy enough to bring her back after the commercial break - an unprecedented move in Oscar history? Seems so.
"Hope, at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are. And so thank you so much, who helped us along way," Irglova said in her surprisingly composed and un-nervous speech (the break surely helped) [media via the DailySwarm]."Once"s victory should be considered extra sweet and against all odds. After the song "Falling Slowly" was nominated (at the 11th hour), it almost was disqualified after the fact.
Download: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" (from "Once")
Watch: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" live at the 80th Annual Academy Awards
2/24/2008
'Juno' Wins Big At The Independent Spirit Awards
With all the Oscar buzz and anticipation some might have forgotten or overlooked the indie-Oscars, the Independent Spirit Awards.
The awards which took place Saturday early evening, live on IFC were a low-key and relaxed affair and the indie hit of the year, "Juno," was naturally the big winner.
The film took Best Picture, Best Actress for diminutive star Ellen Page and Best First Screenplay for Diablo Cody. Director Jason Reitman was however, bested by "The Diving Bell & The Butterfly" filmmaker Julian Schnabel.
Though it had the most number of nominations (if you include the Robert Altman casting award that was announced along with the initial nominees), Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There," was shut out outside of Cate Blanchett who won for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Bob Dylan composite Jude Quinn.
Scooping up two awards each were 'Diving Bell,' which also won Best Cinematography for Janusz Kaminski's amazing work, and "The Savages" which was honored with Best Screenplay for director/writer Tamara Jenkins and Best Actor for Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
The ISA awards are in their 23rd of existence and honor independent films with a cap of $20 million dollars. (1/3 the average cost of a normal Hollywood production. Performances included the 'Once' duo Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performing "Falling Slowly" (the film was awards Best Foreign Film) and Kimya Dawson playing the tender 'Juno' song "Tire Swing."
Both Blanchett during her win and the 'I'm Not There' cast award delivered tributes to Heath Ledger. "To probably one of the most beautiful independent spirits of all, Heath Ledger," Blanchett said dedicating her award to the deceased actor. During Haynes acceptance for the Altman award he also delivered a tribute to to the actor he worked with on "I'm Not There." "We all loved him so dearly. He really was unlike anybody I've ever known, he was more of a creative partner than an actor," and noted that Ledger was working on his own film project around the time of his death (the chess film "The Queen's Gambit"). ""I have no doubt he would have made an astounding director. I treasure the time we shared on this film (I'm Not There) and the love and talent that he gave so freely."
Blanchett revealed backstage that actor Val Kilmer had spoken to Bob Dylan about the movie. But she recalled that as Kilmer recently tried to whisper Dylan's reaction to her at a party, his voice was drowned out.
Independent Spirit Awards Winners
Best Film - Juno
Best Foreign Film - 'Once' (Ireland)
Best First Feature - 'The Lookout'
Best Director - Julian Schnabel, 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'
Best Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'The Savages'
Best Supporting Actor - Chiwetel Ejiofor, 'Talk to Me'
Best Actress - Ellen Page, 'Juno'
Best Supporting Actress - Cate Blanchett
Best Screenplay - Tamara Jenkins, 'The Savages'
Best First Screenplay - Diablo Cody, 'Juno'
Best Documentary: "Crazy Love"
Best Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Truer Than Fiction Award: The Unforeseen
Watch: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly"
Watch: Kimya Dawson - "Tire Swing"
Download: Kimya Dawson - "Tire Swing"
Read more...
2/14/2008
'Once' Team Performing At The Independent Spirit Awards
The songwriters of the indie-hit "Once," Glen Hansard (of musical group The Frames) and Marketa Irglova, will be performing live during the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards. The event which takes place on Saturday, February 23 is unfortunatley hosted by insufferable one-trick-pony comedian Rainn Wilson, but the good news is that the Spirited Awards was granted a waiver by the Writer’s Guild of America back in December (the WGA likes them indies) so the show was written well in advance and won't be rushed out the doors like the Oscars.What does that mean? It will be slightly less annoying then most awards shows this year. No other performers have been announced and its doubtful there will be any others as their is no musical category for the Spirit Awards, and this performance is more a courtesy being that the film is made in the, ahem... spirit of the indie award show.
If all goes well with the last-minute Oscar show that's being produced, we should see Marketa and Hansard perform "Falling Slowly" from the "Once" film as it is nominated for Best Original Song. You can safely bet the same song will be performed at the ISAs.
1/30/2008
'Once' Song Was Originally Made Oscar-Eligible At The '11th Hour'; Tracks Legitimacy Questioned & Was Reevaluated After Its Oscar Nomination
Remember how we went on about how the song, "Falling Slowly" from "Once" was not ineligible for an Oscar, despite the fact it was already released on two albums before the film came out and despite your grumblings that if that was eligible, why wasn't Jonny frickin' Greenwood eligible, remember?
Then we pointed out how the Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova-penned song was written for "Once," waaaaay before the film found is proper U.S. release, but that director John Carney had to still write a firmly-worded letter to the Academy to convince them?
But we weren't the only ones doubting or questioning the authenticity of the "Once" songs. The New York Times and other media outlets also started making a fuss about it and kicking up similar questions on its eligibility claiming at one that the song would go under reinvestigation and reevaluation. Which it kind of did and prompted the following statement (could you imagine if after the Oscars were nominated they would have pulled the song from Oscar contention and picked a back up song?)'
“We needed to address whether the song was written specifically for the the film and the second issue was whether it had been played prior to the inclusion in the film — did this constitute a reason to ineligible-ize it,” Academy music branch executive committee chairman Charles Bernstein said. “The first issue was satisfied by a sworn statements attesting to the fact that it was written for the film along with a chronology, and the second issue was settled by the fact that it had only been performed in Europe and the Czech Republic and not in a way that would have given it advantage or influence here.”
The New York Times ran a separate piece that revealed that the original eligibilty for "Falling Slowly" came at the 11th hour (as they were questioning it themsevles to begin with).
According to the Times, members of the executive committee of the music branch of the Academy actually met at the zero hour before the ballots were shipped to potential Oscar voters to decide the song's fate as they had too had questions about the song's "validity." Basically at the very last minute (day before it sounds like?), the song was made eligible. According to the Academy's statement on the ruling:The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by songwriter of “Falling Slowly,” the writer-director of “Once” and Fox Searchlight.
So yeah, people were almost actievly campaigning to get "Once" off the Oscar ballot they were so convinced it legitimacy shouldn't of flown. Fox Searchlight and Hansard's heart must have skipped a beat, but in the end they got in there by the skin of their teeth.
The genesis of the picture was unusually protracted, but director John Carney and songwriter Glen Hansard were working closely together in 2002 when the project that became ‘Once’ was discussed. ‘Falling Slowly’ began to be composed, but the actual script and financing for the picture was delayed for several years, during which time Mr. Hansard and his collaborator Marketa Irglova played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song’s eligibility.
Read more...
1/24/2008
'Once' Song is NOT Ineligible For Oscar In Spite Of Your Whining; Director's Letter Saves The Day
If you're a regular Pitchfork/Bk Vegan music blog reader you might be wondering and grumbling to yourself about Jonny Greenwood's disqualification at this year's Oscar nominations for his haunting "There Will Be Blood" score; how unfair it was and how you're not going to tune into the Oscars this year because of it [ed. that'll fucking show them].
Additionally, if you're a Rolling Stone/Stereogum reader you might be further pissing and moaning that Eddie Vedder and Sondre Lerche were shut out of the original song Oscar categories and "Enchanted" scored three delightful nominations, hogging up almost the entire category (you're like, "wtf!!?")
And finally, if you're an inquiring and astute music fan you're thinking to yourself in bitter lashing-out frustration, "How the fuck is it that Jonny Greenwood gets disqualified and yet the bullshit 'Once' soundtrack songs by Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova are still eligible?" (even though they're in two different categories, you're so incensed, you're not thinking clearly)
After all, the duo's nominated song, "Falling Slowly," has been released twice before. Yes, twice. Once (get it!?) on the Frames (Hansard's day-job band) 2006 album The Cost and once on The Swell Season's (the name under which the duo sing) self-titled album also released in '06.
That would seem to make the song ineligible, correct? Wrong. The hot topic has aggressively debated recently with message boards and other nerds all in a lather about it with preemptive outrage on behalf of their snubbed favorites.
But according to HitsDailyDouble and Fox Searchlight, "Falling Slowly" was eligible because the song was written specifically for "Once." Director John Carney even wrote a letter to that fact to the Academy to beg and plead his case. Holy shit, a letter!
Apparently this happened before when a song by Bird York ("In The Deep") - released five years earlier - was nominated for "Crash." But apparently the song was written specifically for the film, and director Paul Hack Haggis sent a similar angry communiqué to the Academy at the time to back this claim - and it worked.
There you have it. Letters from directors are all the proof the Academy needs. I mean, they wouldn't lie, right? They had the film entirely thought out and approached people to write songs about it like five years prior, right? Suuuuuuuuure. Maybe Paul Thomas Anderson needs to buy a typewriter.
Greenwood's "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" is currently streaming over at WNYC|New York Public Radio, and in listening to it you really do get the sense that Greenwood should have been disqualified, cause a lot of Superhet thingamajiggy is used in "There Will Be Blood" all over the place and in many memorable and key moments (and since it wasn't written for the film...).
Watch: Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova - "Falling Slowly"
Read more...
12/13/2007
Eddie Vedder, Sondre Lerche, 'Once,' 'Walk Hard,' Fountains' Adam Schlesinger Among Artists Up For Oscar Contention; 59 Songs Eligible For Award Gold
Remember the unlikely turn of phrase, "Academy Award winners Three 6 Mafia"?
Well, this year you might be able to add names like Eddie Vedder, Sondre Lerche, John C. Reilly, Glen Hansard and a bunch of other seemingly strange contemporary musicians to this odd sentence.
59 songs have been made eligible for Academy Award contention (this is originally composed songs specifically for films, not existing songs used in films or score) this year and they include a bunch of the films and soundtracks we've been discussing this year.
The film music looking the best so far, is soccer-mom fave "August Rush," which has four songs eligible for an Oscar (the most of any film this year). Three of Eddie Vedder's "Into The Wild" original songs were made eligible as were three Sondre Lerche tunes from "Dan in Real Life," three "Enchanted" songs (Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) and three tracks from "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" qualified as well.
If you can believe it, three cuts from “Good Luck Chuck” also made the grade (songs by the Flaming Lips - “I Was Zapped by the Super Lucky Rainbow,” which you can hear below - Dandy Warhols and Aidan Hawken; maybe the Lips' whorishness is paying off their song "The Tale of the Horny Frog” from "The Heartbreak Kid" is also on the list short-list of almost 60 songs). 
Two songs from Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's "Once" score made the cut (“Falling Slowly” and “If You Want Me”) as did (as you probably expected) a song from "Hairspray" plus the blues song that director John Sayles and and Mason Darling wrote for the formers film, "Honeydripper." Fountains of Wayne shill Adam Schlesinger scored two songs from the cornball Hugh Grant "Music And Lyrics" film into Oscar competition (apparently Grant is near tone deaf).
Other rockers and pop singers who have song up for consideration include, Common (“A Dream” from “Freedom Writers”), Aimee Mann (“At the Edge of the World” from “Arctic Tale”), Rufus Wainwright ("Another Believer” from "Meet the Robinsons"), the Eels “Royal Pain” from “Shrek the Third”), Kate Bush ("Lyra” from “The Golden Compass”), John Legend ("Someday from "August Rush"), John Mayer (“Say” from “The Bucket List”), Sheryl Crow, Roger Waters (“Hello [I Love You]” from "The Last Mimzy"), Rob Thomas, Sinead O'Connor (“Back Where You Belong” from “The Water Horse”) and Nora Jones pal Jesse Harris (“It Will Stay With Us” from “The Hottest State”).
The entire list of eligible songs (all 59) is here.
The Fucking Grammys
We've basically ignored the Grammys, cause hey, they're the out-of-touch octogenarians music award show, but since we're sort of being comprehensive here, why the hell not. Remember that the Grammy olds have their own "unique" and weird schedule which is why out-of-date movies like "Dreamgirls," "The Departed," and "Babel" are just now being recognized.
COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE
"Across The Universe" - Various Artists (Songs by the Beatles)
"Dreamgirls" - Various Artists
"Hairspray" - Various Artists
"Love" - (The Beatles)
"Once" - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE
"Babel" - Gustavo Santaolalla
"Blood Diamond" - James Newton Howard
"The Departed" - Howard Shore
"Happy Feet" - John Powell
"Pan's Labyrinth" - Javier Navarrete
"Ratatouille" - Michael Giacchino
If last year's Oscars are any indication, the above will go to Gustavo Santaolalla's very-excellent "Babel" score. Who knows with the Grammys though and to be truthful, who really cares.
SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE
"Falling Slowly" (from "Once") - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
"Guaranteed" (from "Into The Wild") - Eddie Vedder
"Love You I Do" (from "Dreamgirls") - Siedah Garrett & Henry Krieger, songwriters (Jennifer Hudson)
"The Song Of The Heart" ("from Happy Feet") - Prince Rogers Nelson, songwriter (Prince)
"You Know My Name" (from "Casino Royale") - David Arnold & Chris Cornell, songwriters (Chris Cornell)
Looks like their is a lot of kudos going to Vedder's "Guaranteed" and Hansard and Irglova's "Falling Slowly," if these Grammys noms, today's Golden Globe song nominations and the aforementioned Oscar song eligibility lists are any barometer. Don't be surprised if "August Rush" takes a bunch of Oscar noms too, the Academy eat up shit like it's a sundae.
Download: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" (from "Once")
Download: Eddie Vedder - "Rise" (from "Into The Wild")
Download: Dewey Cox - "Walk Hard" (from "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story")
Download: John Legend - "Someday" (from "August Rush")
Download: Sondre Lerche - "To Be Surprised" (from "Dan In Real Life")
Download: Hugh Grant & Haley Bennett - "Way Back Into Love" (from "Music & Lyrics")
Download: Sinead O'Connor - Back Where You Belong Theme" (from "Water Horse")
Read more...
11/05/2007
Film & TV Conference Validates The Playlist’s Existence
Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter got together last week to throw an entire conference about Film & TV Music at the Beverly Hilton. We’re certain our invitation was lost in the mail.
"Beowulf" Trailer - for inspirational purposes:
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