Put Your Records On

Welcome back to the Video Store Podcast and a happy belated Record Store Day to you! Since you hang out at the Video Store, you are obviously a fan of physical media, and I hope that includes vinyl records. I’ve selected four films this week that look at films featuring records and record stores.

High Fidelity (2000)

First up is High Fidelity featuring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Luiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joan Cusack, and Tim Robbins. Reeling from a big break-up with Laura (Iben Hjejle), Rob Gordon (John Cusack), recounts to the audience his top 5 break-ups of all time, the same way he would his top 5 favorite albums. As he walks the audience through his break-ups, he starts to work through his relational issues. It’s a film about working through your own problems, taking responsibility for how you’ve hurt other people, and trying to be better. And with its setting of Rob’s record store, a killer soundtrack, and all the vinyl records everywhere, it’s a great pick for this theme.

Sing Street (2016)

Sing Street is the best film nobody saw in 2016. Set in the early-mid 80s, Conor is forced to change schools due to the economic downturn in Ireland at the time and his parents’ looming separation. Struggling to fit in, Conor finds solace in music and music videos with his brother Brendan. Conor decides he wants to start a band that forms an accidental community among his bandmates, an aspiring model, Raphina, and even the school bully. Conor and his friends start to find hope through music, even in a seemingly hopeless and desperate situation. There are loads of things to love about Sing Street, but the original music really makes this film something special. The soundtrack even got a vinyl release, so look for it at your local record shop, though, heads up, it’s a bit hard to track down in the US.

Pirate Radio (released as The Boat That Rocked in the UK) (2009)

Set in 1966, Pirate Radio tells the story of a young teenage boy, Carl, who is sent to live with his godfather on Radio Rock, the pirate radio station ship anchored in the North Sea, broadcasting rock music to the UK. Featuring a killer ensemble cast, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Emma Thompson, January Jones, Kenneth Branagh, Chris O’Dowd, and so many more, this is a wonderful film about getting into trouble for the right reasons. The film centers on the love of music and finding where you fit in. Plus, look at all that beautiful, vintage radio equipment and the shelves and shelves of records. Absolutely gorgeous.

Empire Records (1995)

The last film I’ve selected for today is Empire Records. While set in a record shop, this is a film that’s really more about finding out who you are and finding where you fit. For the group of young misfits that work at Empire Records, it’s right there at the record store. This is a story about protecting that found family and celebrating the good things in your life. Plus you’ll want to have a dance party with your chosen family at the end of the movie.

Thanks for joining us this week at the Video Store Podcast. As the great philosopher Corrine Bailey Rae says, “Girl, put your records on. Tell me your favorite song. Just go ahead let your hair down,” while you spin some records and movies about records.