The Five - Movie Soundracks

The Five – Movie Soundtracks

Written by: Jose Castaneda

Compiled by: Jose Casteneda, Okechi Apakama and Kyley Warren

On today’s The Five we try to set the record straight on the best movie soundtracks of all time. We focused on soundtracks that: beautifully complemented their films, included great songs and innovated on the very idea of music in film.

Honorable Mentions: A Star is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Great Gatsby and Shrek

5. The Graduate (1967)

The Graduate follows recent college grad Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) as he embarks on an introspective quest to find meaning in his life. His journey is soon interrupted when he stumbles into an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), an older family friend. The film’s soundtrack serves as a sort of complementary rival, which parallels the movie’s greatness while also working together to create a unified spectacle. This symbiotic relationship can be seen during one of the first scenes of the movie when Ben is solemnly standing on a moving walkway while “The Sound of Silence” plays in the background. The feature’s album, which is spearheaded by Simon and Garfunkel, encapsulates the tone and sentiment of the movie as well as the era in which it was released. The film’s track list included “The Sound of Silence,” “April Come She Will,” and “Mrs. Robinson,” which was not even finished when the movie was released. The film’s soundtrack graduates with flying colors due to its quality and relationship to the film and the era.

4. Baby Driver (2017)

This Edgar Wright flick chases the narrative of a musically-driven getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) who is trying to escape his life of crime. Baby constantly blasts music into his earbuds in order to drown out a ringing in his ears, due to an injury in his early life. Therefore it is only fitting that the sound track is filled with fast-paced throwbacks that incorporate seamlessly into the film. Every song in the movie is placed in that exact time and space for a specific creative purpose. These tracks run, speed and swerve alongside the vibrant action sequences in the film, instead of just supporting them without a purpose.  

3. Guardians of the Galaxy 1 (2014) & 2 (2017)

These films represent Marvel’s first experimentation with a more colorful and campy group of heroes.  The features focus on a group of intergalactic misfits and their adventures in saving the universe. The story, color palette and music all reflect this revolution to the traditional superhero blockbuster. The album became the first soundtrack in history to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 with songs that were all previously released. The music collaborates with the film in order to elevate the narrative and create a relatable and interesting story.

2. Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther follows the story of T'Challa, the new king of Wakanda and the supherhero Black Panther, and his battle to retain the crown when a long-lost adversary returns to challenge him for the throne. The film’s soundtrack is led by Kendrick Lamar, Grammy award-winning rapper and songwriter. The song “All The Stars” by Lamar and SZA garnered widespread praise and an Oscar nomination for best original song. The album does an amazing job of complementing the movie through its ability to mirror the tone and theme of the film.



1. Footloose (1984)

This film tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a newcomer to a town where dancing and rock music are forbidden. Footloose is tightly packed with iconic songs that stand the test of time and land it at number one on our list. The track list includes songs from Bonnie Tyler, Kenny Loggins, John Mellencamp, Foreigner and Quiet Riot. In other words, this film is an extravagant amalgamation of songs that defined the 80’s and countless parodies and recreations through the years. The songs “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams earned the movie two Oscar nominations for best original song. This film will make you find your nearest abandoned warehouse and dance-punch all your rage out to the soundtrack.

Behind the Screens - Part Three

Behind the Screens - Part Three

by Brionna Raum

Welcome to this week’s edition of Behind the Screens, where we let you in on what it’s like to prepare for Arizona’s biggest film festival! We are currently in the beginning stages of preparations, but we are making headway and things are beginning to take shape in a really exciting way!

Over the course of this week we finally completed the ever tearful rejection process. While it breaks our heart to have to reject so many wonderful films from the festival this year, we simply only have enough room for a certain amount. But it’s not bad news for all… we are very pleased to say that we have finally selected our competition films for the festival this year! It was a long and difficult process, but we’ve come out the other side with some really great films that we can hardly wait to show you all. And if there’s anyone who is more excited than we are, it’s the filmmakers of these great pieces. We have a very diverse group of filmmakers this year who have all created some really fantastic films. They couldn’t be more excited to show you their work and we are proud to be able to bring their films to the screen. You’re not going to want to miss this group of films!

Some other developments this week have been with our sponsors. We welcome back returning sponsors such as The Arizona Republic, Bookmans, Arizona State University, and The Pain Center. Joining us for the first time we are thrilled to have Christian Anderson PLC, Confidio, and i9 Sports.

We are also continuing to release our Daily Top Five posts, so be sure to read our curated choices of films from this week on topics such as, Best Impactful Netflix Movies, Best Guilty Pleasure Netflix Movies, Best Biopics, and Best Remakes.

We are grateful for all of the support in the process of preparing for this festival, and we are so excited to see it all come into place. Be sure to read up next week on what's going on with festival preparations, and have a great weekend!

The Five - Remakes

The Five Remakes

By Cameron Galvin

Compiled by Cameron Galvin and Brionna Raum

Some say that films should just be left alone. Others believe it is okay to remake them as-long as they respect their originals. We present to you another edition of the Daily Top 5, focusing on the top remakes or reboots. This was a particularly tough debate for our team of film buffs because sometimes remakes can be tricky. We decided that we wanted to make it clear that this was not a list of films that were better than their originals, but just the best of the remakes made. The deliberation was brutal (no one got hurt), but we feel we made the right choice. Here a few films that we thought should get an honorable mention, that didn’t reach the Top 5: War of the Worlds, Sweeny Tod: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and True Grit.

5. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

An old-fashioned heist film about a team of 11 criminals, who plan to pull off the biggest heist in history. The plan, take down 3 of the top casinos in Las Vegas. With much planning and tricks all masterminded by Danny Ocean (George Clooney) the team pulls it off at the end and everybody walks away with their pockets full. The real twist behind the heist is the personal vendetta Ocean has with the casinos owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) who stole Oceans girl (Julia Roberts). A lot like the original with a star studded cast, this film is not just a remake but more paying respect to an old classic.

4. The Fly (1986)

One of the most terrifying horror films ever made still to this day. Eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is working on a new break-through invention of teleportation pods. It isn’t until his experiment goes totally wrong when he accidentally fuses his genes with a common house fly, that the movie starts to get just plain freaky. This gruesome journey of a man actually transforming into a fly, with his appendages falling off is now a classic. This is in fact a remake of a 1956 B movie with the same premise. More successful than the original, The Fly will leave with a weird feeling of, what in the world did I just watch?

3. Casino Royale (2006)

The first movie starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, the British secret agent with a license to kill. This film has a little difference than the original but it’s still centered on the famous poker game. In this film Bond has just gotten his 007 status on his first mission. He must stop a terriost banker by the name of Le Chiffre from winning money in order to stay alive in a poker game at Casino Royale. The enemy turns out to be a whole different animal after Bond wins the game. This is your typical Bond film with beautiful women and all the action you could possibly want. This film pays its respect to the original, but more paves the way for the new generation of this classic spy series.

2. The Departed (2006)

Winner of five Oscars including best picture of the year, this film has become a classic that everyone should see. In South Boston, the police are fighting a war with Irish-American organized crime. Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) is the leader of the gang ranging in all aspects of crime. With undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) working his way up to infiltrate the crime syndicate, while Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) a young criminal works his way up the ladder in the state police as an informant from Costello. This film doesn’t disappoint with deception, action, and just damn good acting has an ending that will leave at the edge of your seat. This film is based off a 2002 Chinese film called Internal Affairs with same premise of deception within both sides of the law. Although this original did not have the success of The Departed, we are happy of its existence because without it, we wouldn’t have had this masterpiece.

1. Scarface

A film that needs no introduction, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) leaves Cuba during the 1980s and heads for Miami with big aspirations. He begins working for a top drug dealer with his pal Manny, trying to make a name for them. It isn’t until a drug deal goes bad that Tony starts to second guess his boss and wants it all for himself. Tony builds his empire where he truly has it all, the girl, the big house, and the big operation. However, Tony’s thick minded head only gets him in trouble and puts a huge target on his back and it all comes crashing down with his death at the end. The same plot and idea as the original, a guy wants it all at whatever it takes until his ego becomes his downfall. This film is a great classic and in some way we can all relate to Tony as someone who just wants to fulfill their dreams.  

The Five - Biopics

The Five - Biopics

Written by Brionna Raum

Compiled by Brionna Raum and Cameron Galvin

You don’t have to be a history buff to love a good biopic. And we sure do love them here! These movies were chosen based off of their ability to tell the stories of beautiful, complex people, who each contributed something meaningful to society (undoubtedly, the reason they got a biopic in the first place). There are so many very good biopic films to choose from, but as you know, there can only be 5 in today’s edition of The Five. Shed a single tear for them… here some honorable mentions that did not quite make the list: The Imitation Game (2014), 42 (2014), Braveheart (1995), and Walk the Line (2005).

5. Frida (2002)

Coming in 5th, director Julie Taymor and Mexican actress Salma Hayek bring us into the colorful world of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Quite possibly the most recognizable female artist in history, Frida Kahlo is more than deserving of her own biopic, and Salma Hayek does a beautiful job of portraying the passion and drama of Frida Kahlo’s life and love. Frida is the only biopic on our list dedicated to one woman and her accomplishments. Here we celebrate Mexican-American filmmaking, and the beautiful color of Mexican culture.

4. Hidden Figures (2016)

Next up in our list we have a three-for-one biopic representing the black female mathematicians who were vital to NASA during the Space Race. This film brings you into the lives of mathematician Katherine Johnson, NASA supervisor Dorothy Vaughan, and NASA engineer Mary Jackson. Each of their stories are unique and worthy of a film in and of themselves, but their depiction here together really drives home the message that dropping prejudices of race and gender catalyzes amazing things. And what’s more amazing than a man on the moon?

3. Selma (2014)

Third on our list we continue with another biopics for an individual who broke racial barriers. Selma follows the journey of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the incredible march from Selma to Montgomery that changed the course of the Civil Rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay was nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes, and was the first ever black female director to be nominated. The film itself is beautifully done and gives a great picture of the struggle to overcome racism in America.

2. Schindler’s List (1993)

As our runner up for best biopic, we have Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. This film depicts the incredible story of Oskar Schindler, a businessman and member of the Nazi party who is moved by the atrocities he sees committed towards the Jews in his city. Schindler is able to save more than a thousand Jewish people from being sent to Auschwitz by spending his entire fortune, and bribing the right people. This film is not only an important piece about the Holocaust and the atrocities of World War II, but it also demonstrates how someone with enough courage can use the resources at their disposal to defy the norm and do the right thing.

1. Amadeus (1984)

Coming in at the big number one, we have Miloš Forman’s award-winning film Amadeus. This film beautifully illustrates the crescendos and decrescendos of the life and work of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and features his music throughout. The film also takes a good look at the rivalry between Mozart and his eventual murderer, Italian composer Antonio Salieri. Amadeus was extremely well received and won multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. In this film director Forman takes us into the wild mind of arguably the greatest composer in all of history, and his film is just as sensational as Mozart himself.

The Five - Guilty Pleasure Netflix Movies

The Five - Guilty Pleasure Netflix Movies

Written by Hannah Ehrlich

Compiled by Okechi Apakama , Amy Cable and Hannah Ehrlich

Most of us use Netflix to binge watch seasons and procrastinate responsibilities, so we thought we’d give you our guilty pleasure recommendations. From thrillers to coming of age movies these ones may not be our favorites but they definitely grab our attention. We hope you find these movies to be a great distraction from the real world. Below our are top five guilty pleasure Netflix original movies rated one to five with one being the most guilty.

5. Tallulah

This movie may not paint millennials in the best light, however it does give a realistic depiction of one unstable one. Tallulah shows us a young women navigating motherhood in the most unlawful way possible. After she steals a baby from an irresponsible mother, we follow her on a goose chase through her own version of motherhood.

4. Gerald’s Game

If you’re looking to have nightmares for the next month, this is the guilty pleasure for you. A couple attempting to have kinky sex fail miserably when her husband is left dead and she’s left handcuffed. We go on a terrifying journey with the newly widowed wife as she tries to survive while being trapped to a bed with handcuffs.

3. Cam

The intriguing life of a camgirl becomes an unsolved mystery when a lookalike takes over her channel. We follow Alice as she becomes unraveled by her stolen identity. The mystery goes deeper and deeper as her life slowly falls apart.

2. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

The storyline is completely in your hands. You control the life of a teenage programmer as he slowly loses his mind. From what cereal he eats to who he kills, the choices you make determine his fate.

1.Bird Box

This sensational film has caught everyone's attention. Sandra Bullock takes us through the end of the world with her eyes closed. The fascinating twist on how the world crumbles leaves the audience wondering who will survive and who will open their eyes.  

The Idea of Manhood - Interview with the creator, Serge Kushnier

The Idea of Manhood - Interview with the creator, Serge Kushnier

Written by Amy Cable

Questions Compiled by Okechi Apakama , Amy Cable, Hannah Ehrlich and Kyley Warren

The Idea of Manhood is a thought provoking, 2018 movie, written and directed by Serge Kushnier. This was Kushnier first time creating a piece of his own, coming out from the world of acting and moving behind the camera. The film follows two men, Sandy and Jacob, as they approach their own mid-life crises. The characters face individual obstacles but realise that they can help each other through them.

The film will be screened on February 8th, till the 14th at the Harkins Valley Art Theatre in Tempe, AZ.

We were fortunate enough to get an exclusive interview with Kushnier himself on his thoughts of his piece:

1. Why did you choose to start the story in the middle (after one man had a critical moment and before the other one did)?

That idea came while I was deep into developing the script. Jacob’s failing marriage was always the main thought when I was carving out the story. I knew I wanted the film to take place over the course of just one day and I knew it wanted it to be a dialogue driven film. Knowing Jacob’s story, I wanted to find something completely different for my other character, Sandy. The idea of having Sandy be a perpetual bachelor and Jacob, an unhappily married man, allowed me to find their personal conflicts separately and eventually how the two would intertwine.  The idea was to have the characters judge one another and through that eventually see their own shortcomings.

2. Why did you chose to not show the suicide note?

It wasn’t important to me for the audience to see the note but for them to see how it affected Jacob. Sandy’s words mean something more personal to Jacob than they would to an audience member. That’s all that mattered to me. It was also a bit of an homage to the end of Lost in Translation. If you don’t know what I mean, go watch that movie. 

3. What is your idea of masculinity and how did that influence the film?

The film is supposed to present a part of being a man that isn’t often portrayed in film. Showing two average men share their feelings and issues with each other freely and organically happens all the time in real life. To be “masculine” has such a negative connotation these days. I talk with my male friends the way Jacob and Sandy do  often. We share our thoughts, feelings and our pain with each other. To me that is being a “man”, or more importantly being an adult. I hoped to show that in my film. The title  “The Idea of manhood” is really my idea of manhood. Being “masculine or feminine” doesn’t mean much to me.

4. Do you think that it is an important time in society to expose manhood now?

I think representing a truthfulness in what I see it is to be a man is important. Jacob and Sandy are flawed humans but they are genuine people. I wasn’t seeking to expose anything but simply bring a truthfulness to the characters I created.

5. Do you see yourself in either of the leading characters?

I see parts of myself in Sandy. The way he views the world might be a bit darker than my perspective, but there’s a lot of me in that character.

6. Which of the characters to you is the protagonist?

I think the roles swap back a forth. It’s an unconventional story where the audience can make up their own mind of who’s “right or wrong”

7. Do you think that your experience in the industry has influenced your film?

I was primarily an actor most of my life. I think that has definitely shaped my storytelling. I strive to have my dialogue sound as honest and “real” as possible. I hope I achieved that.

8. Why did you chose to portray millennial's in the way you did?

It was never my intention to portray any specific demographic any specific way. I had very similar situations with very similar characters in my life. These three younger people just happened to be the characters I chose to include in my story. I do however have my own issues with how overly connected we are to our devices. This is a real problem in society for me and I’m as guilty as anyone.

The Five - Impactful Netflix Movies

The Five - Impactful Netflix Movies

Written by Hannah Ehrlich

Compiled by Okechi Apakama , Amy Cable and Hannah Ehrlich

Scrolling through Netflix original movies we discovered a lot of diversity. Rather than have one list of all around incredible Netflix movies, we decided to give them credit for the most impactful messages we saw throughout. Below is the list of movies that caught are eyes and provided diverse perspectives for all audiences. To see life through a different lense checkout the meaningful films ranked one being most impactful to five.

Tune in tomorrow for more Netflix fun with our look at Netflix Guilty Pleasures.

5. Roma

Taking place during the 1970’s, we develop an understanding of life for one housekeeper in a neighborhood in Mexico City. The diverse perspective through the personal eyes of director Alfonso Cuarón gives the audience a glimpse into another’s life.

4.  Alex Strangelove

Is the quirky love story the modern age needs. Watching a young high schooler discover his sexuality through trial and error will hit home for any LGBTQ+ individual. His story of self- identity has a unique perspective to knowing oneself that most don’t openly address.  

3. 6 Balloons

Shows a side to addiction most don’t know of.  A single father in Los Angeles goes on a trip through the city with his sister and daughter to find a detox center.  Throughout the movie we see the highs and lows of an addict as his sister has to choose how to save his life.

2. Beasts of No Nation

Opens our eyes to civil war in West Africa. The dynamic between a powerful warlord and a desperate orphan grabs your attention. As the young orphan becomes a child soldier the graphic context tears at the audiences emotions.

1. Mudbound

Has an extremely impactful message, taking place during World War 2, it focuses on Laura McAllan raising her children on a Mississippi farm.  We see a different side to prejudice in the South through the perspective of a white Farmer and a black Farmer who have a unique bond because of the war.

The Five - Animal-Led Movies

The Five - Animal-Led Movies

Written by Jose Castaneda

Compiled by Jose Castaneda and Okechi Apakama

Hello and welcome to another edition of “The Five.” Today’s list features the latest and greatest animal actors that have pawed, swam and slithered into our film-loving hearts. Due to the short nature of our list (and to avoid a nine-hour heated debate over Disney’s track record), we decided not to include any fully-animated films into our consideration. Also, while we would love to include flicks like Life of Pi and Jaws on the list, we concluded that the animals must be sentient and well-rounded in order to be considered.  Finally, CGI animal films are included in our list because who doesn’t love a dash of human expression?

Honorable mentions: Charlotte’s Web, Mowgli and Cats & Dogs

5. Air Bud (1997)

Air Bud centers on the story of Blue, a golden retriever who is cast out to the perils of the dog pound after his previous owner becomes dissatisfied with his performance at a child’s birthday party. On the way to the pound, Blue’s kennel falls out of the truck and he becomes homeless.  Meanwhile, newcomer Josh (Kevin Zegers) becomes the manager of his middle school basketball team after shying away from trying out or making friends. Soon after, Josh meets Blue while he is practicing in a makeshift basketball court. Josh renames him “Buddy” and brings him home after he discovers Buddy’s talent for shooting hoops.  Air Bud remains as a constant staple in pop culture’s book of beloved animal movies. The film’s childish charm, memorability and ability to make the audience ignore physics and the overall plausibility of a dog’s ability to play basketball earn it a spot on our list.

4. Stuart Little (1999) and Stuart Little 2 (2002)

This pair of films tells the story of the unorthodox relationship between Stuart Little, an anthropomorphic little white mouse, and his new adopted family. The movies also focus heavily on the strained and dynamic relationship between Stuart and his brother George (Jonathan Lipnicki).  These charming films connected with families as they touch upon relatable themes through a fantastic scenario. They are filled with humor and amazing visual effects that earned Stuart Little a visual effects Oscar nomination, which is no small feat.

3. Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002)

This film showcases the first live-action adaption of the Hannah-Barbera animated series, Scooby-Doo. The movie picks up on the Scooby-Doo gang after years of solving mysteries. The team disbands after its members become fed-up with the tropes imposed on them during the animated series (Daphne is tired of getting kidnapped and Velma is never credited for her ideas). After a couple of years, the members of Mystery Inc. unknowingly reconvene when they are all separately invited to solve a mystery on the popular (and aptly-named) vacation spot of Spooky Island. The gang decides to come back together for another adventure when trouble arises on the resort.  While this film was not critically well-received, it offered a fun and campy story that served as a spot-on translation of the animated series. The visual effects that rendered Scooby-Doo were great for the era in which the movie was released. This movie is worthy of any amount of Scooby Snacks and if you’re even considering watching it, please Doo.

2. The Jungle Book (2016)

The Jungle Book retreads the path that the 1967 animated original cleared for it. It follows the story of Mowgli (Neel Sethi), an orphan boy who is forced to leave his home after he is pursued by the steely and dangerous tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba). Mowgli is guided in his journey by a multitude of animal compatriots, including the brown bear Baloo (Bill Murray) and the black panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley). While Jon Favreau stays true to the origin of the story, he contributes his own directional voice and direction. The stunning visuals, great voice cast and a fresh retelling of a beloved story give this film a spot on our list.

1.  Babe (1995)

This film follows Babe, the smart orphaned pig who is adopted by a border collie after he is brought onto a farm. The film follows the various animals of the farm and their mishaps and adventures, while mainly focusing on Babe and his newfound ability to herd sheep. The film tackles themes and subjects that overshadow the film’s G rating. While the main character of Babe gave the movie its spot on this list, we have to commemorate all of the 48 pigs that played the role of Babe during production. In addition to being a timeless classic, Babe was also nominated for seven Academy awards including best picture, best director and best visual effects.  If Babe hasn’t already infiltrated your list of top five animal-led movies, then it will be bacon its way there soon.