Soundtracks to Cameron Crowe’s movies are often as memorable as the films themselves. Crowe’s most famous marriage of cinema and song has to be John Cusack’s radio hoist to the beat of Peter Gabriel’s "In Your Eyes." Three years later, the 1992 relationship comedy Singles tapped into Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains before Seattle’s music scene flamed out. And Almost Famous reminded us of the unifying power of Elton John’s "Tiny Dancer."
Crowe’s uncanny knack for turning up the volume has allowed countless scenes to soar to their potential. One problem nagging Elizabethtown, Crowe’s most awkward project to date, is that the director is obligated to crank the knob again and again to overcome bland performances and missed emotional connections. He has assembled another astonishing collection of inspirational rock tracks, but for the first time the soundtrack outshines the accompanying movie by a long shot.
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