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Song of the Day #3,093: ‘Dollar Bill Blues’ – Townes Van Zandt

hel_or_high_waterI’m thrilled to see Hell or High Water on a lot of year-end top ten lists and in the Academy Award conversation. Taut genre films like this one usually don’t get that kind of love. Even the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning No Country For Old Men, a similar film in some ways, had an artsy streak not present here.

Hell of High Water, written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by David Mackenzie, is a sun-baked Texas noir, a modern-day Western about two outlaw brothers robbing banks to save their ancestral home from foreclosure. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are well-matched as the brothers, and Jeff Bridges delivers a twist on his Rooster Cogburn as the Texas Ranger on their tail.

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Song of the Day #3,092: ‘Manchester by the Sea Chorale’ – Lesley Barber

manchester_by_the_seaKenneth Lonergan isn’t the most prolific writer-director (three films in 17 years) but he has few peers when it comes to documenting the sweetness and sorrow of ordinary people.

Lonergan’s marvelous You Can Count On Me (2000) was my second favorite film of that year, a lovely character study that introduced the world (or me, at least) to Mark Ruffalo. I haven’t seen 2011’s Margaret, in either its abridged or full-length form, but I’ve read great things.

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Song of the Day #3,091: ‘City of Stars’ – Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone

la_la_landNo film this year is burdened with higher expectations than La La Land. First off, the latest film by Whiplash writer-director Damien Chazelle has to live up to its predecessor. It has been named the best of the year by several national publications and designated the Oscar Best Picture front-runner. Some have even called the musical a perfect antidote for the election of Donald Trump.

That’s a lot to live up to. And La La Land, mostly, pulls it off.

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Song of the Day #3,090: ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Theme’ – Michael Giacchino

rogue_oneThe end of 2016 (mercifully) approaches, and I will soon count down my favorite songs of the year. I found it to be a pretty average year for new music, with a couple of major exceptions, but I should be able to scrounge up 10 finalists.

In the meantime, I will dedicate this week to some of my favorite 2016 movies. I have still yet to see several films on my wish list, so I’m not calling this list an official countdown, but rather a chance to mention a handful of movies that made an impression on me this year.

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Song of the Day #3,089: ‘I Won’t Share You’ – The Smiths

strangewaysIt’s one of my favorite things, when a special occasion falls on a Random Weekend!

Today is my parents’ wedding anniversary, so I hope when I spin the dial I turn up something romantic — a celebration of love that endures over time.

Or we could end up with something by Ozzy Osbourne. That’s the beauty of this game! So here it goes: Mom and Dad, your anniversary song is…

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