Share
Kermode on Film
Great Soundtrack, Shame About the Film
Season 2, Ep. 293
•
Recorded in the mosquito-infested fields of Latitude Festival, Mark and Jack dig into film music to mark the paperback release of Mark's book Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music, co-written with Jenny Nelson.
They talk composer-director shorthand including John Williams and the "shark" scene from Jaws, Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan's one-page brief for Interstellar; they discuss the "great soundtrack, shame about the film" phenomenon referencing S. Darko, Cannibal Holocaust, Exorcist II: The Heretic; and how Jack worked with composer Benjamin Squires on his own short film The Second Time Around.
Mark also talks about Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and the eerie 15/8 time signature that makes The Exorcist's theme feel so wrong, and gives some hard-won advice on sticking with a creative career when nobody's paying you yet.
Titles mentioned in this episode include:
Spider-Man
The Social Network
Drive
Interstellar
Man of Steel
Superman
The Lord of the Rings
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Wolfman (2010)
Jennifer 8
S. Darko
Donnie Darko
Cannibal Holocaust
Exorcist II: The Heretic
The Exorcist
Don't Look Now
E.T.
Jaws
Jurassic Park
You Were Never Really Here
There Will Be Blood
The Zone of Interest
Wicked / Wicked: for Good
Mary Poppins (Blunt-era)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Blade Runner
Drive My Car
Psycho
Suspiria
The Shining
The Odyssey
The Second Time Around (Jack Howard's brilliant short film, now available on Channel 4)
This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Jack Howard.
Recorded by Richard Gay.
Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.
© HLA Agency
More episodes
View all episodes
296. Jazz, Apartheid and the Brubeck Legacy in PLAYING THE CHANGES: TRACKING DARIUS BRUBECK
20:16||Season 2, Ep. 296This episode sees Mark in conversation with jazz musician Darius Brubeck and documentary filmmaker Michiel ten Kleij to discuss their documentary Playing the Changes: Tracking Darius Brubeck, which traces how jazz became a quiet force for political change in apartheid-era South Africa. Ten Kleij explains how a planned film about the 1958 Brubeck Quartet tour behind the Iron Curtain evolved, once a rival BBC documentary was announced, into a broader, independently-financed story spanning Poland and Durban. Darius Brubeck reflects candidly on growing up in his father's shadow, the 'dynastic' continuity jazz offered black South African audiences under apartheid, and the guidance of his wife Catherine in shaping how he used his own talents for purpose rather than pure virtuosity.This episode was recorded at the Provence Arts Festival du Film, an annual festival founded by Lucy Darwin, dedicated to documentary cinema and the arts held in the hilltop village of Ménerbes, which this year focused on music documentaries.This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and recorded and edited by Richard Gay.With thanks to Lucy Darwin and the Provence Arts Festival du Film, and to Darius Brubeck and Michiel ten Kleij.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production© HLA Agency
295. Mark on ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO with Kevin Macdonald & David Katznelson
24:52||Season 2, Ep. 295Mark Kermode talks to director Kevin Macdonald and cinematographer David Katznelson after an outdoor screening of ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO, the intimate documentary portrait of the couple's 18 months in 1970s Greenwich Village.They discuss rebuilding John and Yoko's Greenwich Village apartment for the film, the newly discovered phonecall archive, and Sean Ono Lennon's remix of the 1972 concert footage.This episode was recorded at the Provence Arts Festival du Film, an annual festival founded by Lucy Darwin, dedicated to documentary cinema and the arts held in the hilltop village of Ménerbes, which this year focused on music documentaries.This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and recorded and edited by Richard Gay.With thanks to Lucy Darwin and the Provence Arts Festival du Film, and to Kevin Macdonald and David Katznelson.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production© HLA Agency
294. Mark on Marianne Faithfull film BROKEN ENGLISH with Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth at the Provence Arts Festival du Film
23:46||Season 2, Ep. 294This month, Mark once again was an integral part of the Provence Arts Festival du Film, an annual festival dedicated to documentary cinema and the arts held in the hilltop Luberon village of Ménerbes, founded by Lucy Darwin, which this year focuses on music documentaries.This is the first of a few episodes from the festival. Today Mark is joined by Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth to talk about their film BROKEN ENGLISH about legendary singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull, starring George Mackay and Tilda Swinton. They also touch on 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH, their film chronicling Nick Cave's life.This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and recorded and edited by Richard Gay.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency production© HLA Agency
292. Jason Isaacs says hello and Imran Peretta talks about his feature ISH
42:47||Season 2, Ep. 292In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his moving debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back recentlyIf you missed the first half of this edition of Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI Southbank, listen to episode 290, in which Mark talks to founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world. And he talks to Sian Clifford about her surreal mockumentary LADY.MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)· Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)· The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones. Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency
291. The Odyssey: Mark and Jack discuss
45:32||Season 2, Ep. 291Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at the Sun Pub on Drury LaneOther films mentioned in this episode:Silent Running (1972)2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)The Dark Knight (2008)Dunkirk (2017)Society (1989)Oppenheimer (2023)Spirited Away (2001)Interstellar (2014)Inception (2010)The Ninth Configuration (1980)The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (2001-3)With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency
290. Ed Sayers on SUPER NATURE, and Sian Clifford on LADY
47:02||Season 2, Ep. 290In this episode of Kermode on Film, Mark talks to the founder of the Straight 8 Film Competition, Ed Sayers about his documentary feature SUPER NATURE, a stunning exploration of the natural world filmed on Super 8 Film by 40 filmmakers from all across the world.Next, he welcomes Sian Clifford to talk about her new feature LADY, a surreal mockumentary which follows a lonely aristocrat's attempt to find the spotlight. Sian discusses her love for comedy, ten years of FLEABAG and her childhood fascination with Laura Dern.Tune in to next week's Kermode on Film to hear the other half of July's MK3D when Mark talks to Imran Perretta about his debut feature ISH and to Jason Isaacs about the eight projects he's filmed back to back.Take a front row seat for the 115th edition of MK3D at the BFI Southbank. Enjoy!MK3D shows happen live every month. Head over to the BFI website if you’d like to join us in the audience at the BFI Southbank.Opening title quotes from:· Mary Poppins (Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions – featuring Julie Andrews)· Nope (Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures – featuring Keke Palmer)· Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, HandMade Films – featuring Richard E. Grant)· The Exorcist (William Friedkin, Warner Bros. – featuring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) This episode was produced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop, and edited by Alex Jones. Image by Julie Edwards.Kermode on Film and MK3D are HLA Agency productions.© HLA Agency
289. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie: Is Mark too old for this?
24:12||Season 2, Ep. 289Mark Kermode and Jack Howard discuss Matt Johnson's Canadian comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie at the Sun pub in London's West End.Other films mentioned in this episode:Back To The Future (1985)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)The Hangover (2009)Borat (2006)Backrooms (2026)Obsession (2025)Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)The Holdovers (2023)Blackberry (2023)With thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency
288. All Christopher Nolan Films Ranked (Worst to Best)
38:49||Season 2, Ep. 288Mark Kermode and Jack Howard talking about Christopher Nolan's films at The Sun Pub on Drury Lane.Films mentioned in this episode:The OdysseyOppenheimerThe Dark KnightInceptionTenetInterstellarThe PrestigeDunkirkBatman BeginsMementoThe Dark Knight RisesInsomniaFollowingSilent RunningThe ExorcistKnowingWith thanks to Richard Gay and The Sun Pub on London's Drury Lane.Kermode on Film is an HLA Agency productionProduced by Hedda Lornie Archbold and Nicki Glossop© HLA Agency