Pop Music in the Movies

"Jumpin' Jack Flash", The Rolling Stones in Mean StreetsEarly on, the straight-laced Charlie (Harvey Keitel) watches the rock 'n' roll Johnny Boy (Robert de Niro) enter a bar with 2 women. Slow motion doesn't get any better. The energy of the song perfectly matches the energy of De Niro and Scorsese's camera. You're better off just watching it in the film, but if you must, click here for the scene (in a compressed aspect ratio).


"Jessie's Girl", Rick Springfield in Boogie Nights
Dirk Diggler, Reed Rothchild, and Todd Parker enter a drug dealer's house to sell some fake dope. It lasts too long for Dirk who meditates about how everything went wrong in his life. An unbelievable bold move by director Paul Thomas Anderson who holds on Mark Wahlberg's face much longer than expected - and gets away with it.


"Tiny Dancer", Elton John in Almost Famous
After Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) separates himself from the band when jealousy rears its ugly head, he reluctantly agrees to get back on the tour bus. There is no easy reconciliation until the Elton John song plays, which immediately bonds everyone. Perfect. And interesting that director Cameron Crowe would choose a pop song over a rock and roll one. See that instant classic scene here.


"Can't You Hear Me Knocking", The Rolling Stones in Casino
One of my biggest complaints of the flawed Casino is that it doesn't know if it's documenting how Las Vegas works or if it's a love triangle from hell. Like Gangs of New York, Scorsese got too ambitious and lost focus (although I'd rather have it that way than the other). Another minor complaint is that there are too many music cues. This one is my favorite and occurs just after Nick Santoro (Joe Pesci) gets banned from all the casinos and invites his brother and other goodfellas from Kansas City to raise hell. See the R-rated scene here.


"Can't Take My Eyes Off You", Frankie Valli in The Deer Hunter
Not exactly a favorite song of mine, but probably my favorite scene in the film. Christopher Walken's funky dance. De Niro's pool shooting. John Savage and the late, great John Cazale (in his last film) singing their hearts out. The exuberance of youth is about to be demolished by the Vietnam War and lifelong friendships will be strained. See the scene here (in low-res!).