Director Wes Anderson has been one of American cinema's most distinct voices since the release of Bottle Rocket in 1996. His signature trademarks include his elaborate set design, quirky characters, slow motion tracking shots, and of course, his unique musical choices.
Anderson's films often combine original scores by composers such as Mark Mothersbaugh and Alexandre Desplat, with prerecorded songs by some of the most famous and sometimes most obscure pop and rock artists out there. His filmography contains numerous examples of scenes for which their musical accompaniment is integral to their success.
"This Time Tomorrow" By The Kinks - The Darjeeling Limited
2007's The Darjeeling Limited might be one of Anderson's weaker films, as it recycles themes and character dynamics from The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic, but it's still entertaining, especially towards the beginning.
The Kinks' "This Time Tomorrow" blares over a slow-motion shot of Adrien Brody's character running on the platform and jumping aboard the moving train. As he makes his way to his section, the setting of the film is established in a musical montage.
"2ooo Man" By The Rolling Stones - Bottle Rocket
The album Their Satanic Majesties Request is widely considered The Rolling Stones' misguided response to The Beatles' iconic Sgt. Peppers album. It does, however, boast a handful of great tracks, one of them being "2000 Man," which Anderson puts to great use in the climactic (and anticlimactic) heist scene in his directorial debut, Bottle Rocket.
As the music starts, Dignan goes back into the storage facility to help Applejack, their partner in crime who suffered a cardiac episode during the heist and is apprehended by the authorities after an extended chase sequence.
"Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" By Paul Simon - The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums has enough great music to warrant its own list, but one of the standout scenes takes place against the backdrop of Paul Simon's joyful and defiant "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard."
Though a comedy, much of the film is melancholy and muted in its tone. To watch Royal and Chas' twin sons let loose and make mischief around town while the upbeat song plays in the background is a welcome breath of fresh air that is sure to get the audience's feet tapping.
"I Won't Hurt You" By The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Isle Of Dogs
Anderson's film Isle of Dogs is about a young boy's quest to find his lost dog amid the rubble of literal "Trash Island."
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's "I Won't Hurt You" is a gentle ode to trust, loyalty, and unconditional friendship that defines the relationship between man and dog, and is a pitch-perfect musical theme for the film. It's the only pop song in the film, but Anderson made it count.
"Alone Again Or" By Love - Bottle Rocket
Bottle Rocket is a comic crime caper, but also a love story between Anthony and Inez, the maid at his hotel. He feels a romance budding with her, but he is hesitant to pursue it, given his commitment to be a part of Dignan's "75-year plan" as a criminal on the run.
When the two are out for breakfast at a diner and Dignan tells Anthony he's happy for him, Anthony takes it as a green light to properly court Inez. He springs up from the table and sprints back to the hotel, where romance ensues. Love's "Along Again Or" plays over a muted video track as a perfect accompaniment to the heartwarming story development.
Various David Bowie Covers By Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
After the success of The Royal Tenenbaums, Wes Anderson cranked his "quirk" game into overdrive with the endlessly, and perhaps overly, whimsical The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. It's the story of a renowned oceanographer's quest for revenge against a rare sea creature that ate his old friend. As if the premise isn't odd enough, Anderson enlisted Brazilian musician Seu Jorge to serve as a one-man Greek Chorus, commenting on the action in the form of acoustic David Bowie covers at various points throughout the movie.
Choices like this make The Life Aquatic Anderson's most polarizing film to date: it's a love-it-or-hate-it type of affair, but there's no denying the creativity.
"Le Temps De L'Amour" By Francoise Hardy - Moonrise Kingdom
In 2012's Moonrise Kingdom, a young boy and his pen pal flee their New England homes to be together in love. They choose to play French songwriter Francoise Hardy's 1962 song "Le Temps de l'Amour" as they dance and try to impress each other as being more mature than they really are.
This was a challenging song choice because Anderson needed to create a moment that was simultaneously awkward and endearing while making the selection convincing enough to the characters themselves as romantic mood music. It's a perfect song for a perfect moment in Anderson's most personal film.
"Ooh La La" By Faces - Rushmore
A teenage prep school student competes with his father's wealthy friend for the affection of the school's new first-grade teacher in Anderson's acclaimed sophomore effort Rushmore. In the film's final scene, our young antihero accepts Ms. Cross's invitation to dance. As he takes her hand, the DJ, at his request, spins the 1973 hit song "Ooh La La" by Faces.
The chorus, "I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger," blares over the final frames - a perfectly charming ending to this endearing coming-of-age story.
"Needle In The Hay" By Elliott Smith - The Royal Tenenbaums
Luke Wilson's Richie attempts suicide in the most upsetting scene in any of Wes Anderson's films. The scene takes place in a blue-tinted bathroom, with no sound except Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay" playing throughout the jarringly edited and surprisingly graphic sequence.
Elliott Smith was a brilliant songwriter, but a tortured soul whose songs were often dark and bleak. Tragically, he died in 2003 in what was deemed an apparent suicide, just two years after the film's release, making this scene all the more haunting when viewed today.
"Fly" By Nick Drake - The Royal Tenenbaums
After Richie is hospitalized for his suicide attempt, he checks himself out and catches a bus back to the Tenenbaum house. Nick Drake's beautiful, wistful "Fly" plays under the sequence. He climbs in through the window to find his adopted sister and unrequited love, Margot, sitting in his tent, listening to the song on a record player.
The song transforms over the course of the scene from score to source music. Its lyrics, which begin, "Please give me a second grace," speak of redemption and recovery in the face of overwhelming circumstances, making it a perfectly moving accompaniment to the scene. It's also a fitting musical counterweight to the previous cue, which played during Richie's suicide attempt.