B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping a new series into the ol’ VCR. 

Friends, I’ve been wanting to launch this series for over a year, but it never came to fruition… until now. 

Presenting: Lights, Camera, Albums 

Similar to the Taylor Swift Eras piece I did a few weeks ago, I’m going to choose an album and recommend a movie to accompany each song. I already have three other albums selected, and I can’t wait to share them with you all. 

I’m not going to go into as much detail as I did with the Taylor Swift piece, but I’ll give you a brief look into the method behind my madness, and we’ll talk about it a little more over on YouTube. 

Additionally, you should know that my brain sometimes works in mysterious ways. Just roll with it. 

For the first piece in Lights, Camera, Albums, I chose to tackle folklore for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I’ve written about Taylor a couple of times now, and I’ve gotten into a really good flow with connecting her music to pop culture. Secondly, folklore lends itself really well to these comparisons because there’s so much storytelling within the lyrics. Thirdly, I just really love this album. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into the inaugural piece in my Lights, Camera, Albums series. 

“the 1” as Past Lives 

Past Lives is all about the connection we have with another person, even if we don’t end up marrying that person within this lifetime. Taylor’s recounts of a past love align perfectly with the feelings of both admiration and sadness that Greta Lee’s character feels throughout the film. 

“cardigan” as Definitely, Maybe 

Surprisingly, this pairing took me the longest. April (Isla Fisher) and Will (Ryan Renyolds) first meet when they’re in their 20s. April is the stereotypical quirky girl, and Will is the slightly uptight intern. Their relationship is strained for years, but they ultimately come back together in the end. I like to think “cardigan” is a representation of the story Will tells his daughter and how he reminisces about April. 

“the last great american dynasty” as Fried Green Tomatoes 

I know these don’t mirror each other line for line, but I think there are a lot of similarities within the two. Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker) and Idgie’s (Mary Stuart Masterson) relationship really shakes up their small town, which becomes a ghost town after the events of the film. Their story also inspires Evelyn (Kathy Bates) to finally stand up for herself, which is similar to Taylor Swift purchasing Rebecca’s house and continuing the tradition. 

“exile (feat. Bon Iver)” as Marriage Story

I think this is one of the more obvious connections. When I was listening to folklore for this piece, I immediately saw it from the perspectives of Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson). 

How I feel hanging out with anyone under the age of 26 

“my tears ricochet” as Blue Valentine 

This was another immediate connection for me. Blue Valentine still destroys me to this very day, and I can’t watch it very often. I think this song is unique to this list, however, because I think it could technically be sung from either Cindy (Michelle Williams) or Dean’s (Ryan Gosling) perspective. 

“mirrorball” as Boogie Nights 

I know this one is a bit of a wildcard, but hear me out. The lyrics of “mirrorball” remind me of the excessive nature of the late 70s, and there are lyrics that make me think of both Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Amber Waves (Julianne Moore). 

“seven” as Bridge to Terabithia 

I know that the kids in Bridge to Terabithia are a little older than the kids in the song, but I think it really encapsulates the feeling and themes of this movie. 

“august” as Dirty Dancing 

This was another easy pairing for me. Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny’s (Patrick Swayze) romance probably wouldn’t exist outside of Kellerman’s, but, for one summer, they have a whirlwind relationship that they’ll both probably remember for the rest of their lives. 

1989 (Taylor’s Version) 

“this is me trying” as The Spectacular Now 

I like to think this is the conversation Sutter (Miles Teller) had at the bar after leaving Aimee (Shailene Woodley) at the bus stop. 

“illicit affairs” as Call Me By Your Name 

Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver’s (Armie Hammer, unfortunately) relationship is kept discrete, and, ultimately, Elio is left heartbroken because he’s able to accept himself in a way Oliver can’t/won’t. I feel like “illicit affairs” would fit nicely into the soundtrack, especially towards the end of the film. 

“invisible string” as Serendipity 

This is another given. Serendipity is all about fate and trusting the universe. Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) find their way back together through a book and a glove, and it personifies the idea of the “invisible string” Taylor Swift sings about. 

“mad woman” as The Craft 

I 100% think this song was written after Taylor Swift watched The Craft. “mad woman,” at least in my humble little opinion, is sung from Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) perspective, and is initially aimed toward Chris (Skeet Ulrich), but then the focus shifts to Sarah (Robin Tunney). 

I really want them to open for boygenius.

“epiphany” as Saving Private Ryan 

I like to think of “epiphany” as a retelling of the stories that Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) told his children and grandchildren, with the “some things [he] just can’t speak about” being some of the horrific events from the film. 

“betty” as The DUFF 

Before we go into the explanation, I want to say that The DUFF is supremely underrated, and you should watch it immediately. I see “betty” from Wesley’s perspective (Robbie Amell), and refers to seeing Bianca (Mae Whitman) before her date with Toby (Nick Eversman). Wesley winds up making out with his ex-girlfriend, which Bianca sees, and this song is the result of him finally making a move. 

“peace” as Spring 

I don’t know how well known Spring is, so I think this might be a deep cut. Spring tells the story of Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Louise (Nadia Hilker). Looking for a way to clear his head after a personal tragedy, Evan travels to Italy, where he meets Louise. 

After a one night stand, Louise’s, shall we say, complex background is revealed, and she finds herself having to make a difficult decision. I see this song from Louise’s perspective as she tries to explain everything to Evan. 

“hoax” as A Star is Born 

A Star is Born has been remade so many times, but the story always remains the same. The couple has a toxic relationship, and, unfortunately, the male lead always winds up dead. 

I think the correlation here works on two levels: from the perspective of the female lead in the relationship, and the perspective of the female lead after their partner has died. “hoax,” to me at least, tells the story of a toxic relationship that the singer just can’t give up, which is the nexus of A Star is Born. 

Austin & Ally (2011)

“the lakes” as Offseason

I know this is another strange pull, but again, I can’t help how my brain works. Maria (Jocelin Donahue) visits a remote island where she’s quickly pulled into a Lovecraftian nightmare. Based on this synopsis, you might be asking yourself how on Earth this connects to “the lakes.” 

1. It’s set in a coastal town. 
2. Maria is part of a prophecy. 
3. SPOILER: The townspeople can’t leave and encourage visitors to leave to avoid getting trapped like they have. 

I’m interpreting the lyrics of “the lakes” to be sorrowful instead of a lament about fame, and I promise you if you watch Offseason and squint, you can see what my brain did.