A comedy-drama from 2016 about coming of age and aging in the late ’70s, "20th Century Women" features a soundtrack that mixes punk, new wave, and big band-era classics. In Mike Mills’ new semi-autobiographical film, Annette Benning stars as Dorothea, a single mother who tries to help her son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) grow up with the help of her tenant Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and her neighbor Julie (Elle Fanning). Music plays a key role in the film as Dorothea tries to understand Jamie’s love of punk rock, and Abbie bonds with Jamie by going to punk clubs.
The soundtrack reflects the film's time period with music from artists who helped define the era. In addition to groups such as Buzzcocks, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Germs, Suicide and Devo, Talking Heads are featured twice here, with the ’70s selections "Don’t Worry About the Government" and "The Big Country". Fare representing a prior generation includes "In a Sentimental Mood" by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, "Basin Street Blues" by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five, and a nostalgic "As Time Goes By" by the Vagabond Lover, Rudy Vallée. A sum total of 14 songs are peppered with ambient score tracks by composer Roger Neill, bringing the track list to 19.
Annette Bening commented on this: "An Oscar For '20th Century Women' would be incredible."
01. Roger Neill - Santa Barbara, 1979 [2:36] 02. Talking Heads - Don’t Worry About the Government (Remastered Version) [2:59] 03. Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five - Basin Street Blues [3:15] 04. The Raincoats - Fairytale in the Supermarket [2:59] 05. Siouxsie & the Banshees - Love in a Void [2:30] 06. Roger Neill - Modern People [3:32] 07. Benny Goodman & His Orchestra - In a Sentimental Mood [3:40] 08. The Germs - Media Blitz [1:30] 09. David Bowie - DJ (1999 Remastered Version) [4:01] 10. Roger Neill - All of My Objects [2:38] 11. Sandy Williams - After Hours On Dream Street [3:17] 12. Suicide - Cheree (1998 Remastered Version) [3:42] 13. Fred Astaire - This Heart of Mine [3:06] 14. Devo - Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy) [Remastered] [4:58] 15. Roger Neill - Everything On Television [2:50] 16. Talking Heads - The Big Country (Remastered Version) [5:33] 17. Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees - As Time Goes By [03:34] 18. Buzzcocks - Why Can’t I Touch It? (2001 Remastered Version) [6:36] 19. Roger Neill - The Politics of Orgasm [3:54]
