In this episode, Tyler and Greg discuss two movies from the 2000s with lauded indie soundtracks.
The first being 2004's Garden State, written and acted in by Zach Braff. The movie is about a man reconnecting with his hometown friends, as he struggles with a sense of connection and meaning, alongside his love interest Natalie Portman. The movie features a wide array of music, serving as a commercial for The Shins with Gold Teeth featured prominently. There's also tracks from early Coldplay, Imogen Heap's project Frou Frou, and more.
Next, Juno -- the smash hit about a young high school girl experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, offering the baby up for adoption, and getting to know the adopting family. Meanwhile, she is still in school, defining her relationship with the father, and facing deeply profound issues. The soundtrack is roughly half Kimya Dawson, a spunky underground folk artist, representative of the mixed maturity of the characters. The second half is made up of psuedo-glam muse pieces that come as recommendations from the adopting father, a professional jingle writer and accused John Lennon wannabe.
This episode discusses the culture significance of the movies, the plot in relation to the audience journey, and the way the music serves these movies and even how it stands on its own.
