I have a lot of respect for people who make good music. My friend Christian Banks, who goes by the alias Walrus Ghost makes music that is a mix of sampling and live instruments creating a beautiful and ethereal wall of sound that attacks the senses. It’s the kind of music you want to close your eyes to, lay on your back in the grass and get lost in. One might even suggest enhancing the experience with some fungi. I’m not encouraging you to do drugs, but someone might. It also has this cinematic quality. I’d love to see Christian’s approach to scoring cause I’m pretty sure he’d murder it. What makes me appreciate Christian’s music even more is that the guy is one of the nicest dudes ever who’s also got good taste in movies and a knack for creating fake sequels on the fly (See: Snakes and Ladders: The Movie?! or Tombstone II: Wyatt Earp’s Electric Boogaloo). Both of which SHOULD be real movies. I’d even settle for straight to video. Here in no particular order is Christian’s The Perfect Ten.
The Conversation (1974)
I love this film. For me, the most impressive aspect is the sound design and editing as an integral role in the theme of sound perception and paranoia. Also impressive is that Coppola put out this film in the same year as The Godfather II. I thought the French Connection was the shit until I got to see Gene Hackman lose his shit, tear apart an apartment, and then jam on the sax.
Leon the Professional (1994)
Gary Oldman!*Editor’s Note: Yes! This movie, Luc Besson, and Oldman rule “I haven’t got time for this Mickey Mouse bullshit!”
Mother’s Day (1980)
On my 16th birthday I was at my best friend Andrew’s house doing nothing and this movie came on. Hands down one of the weirdest horror-thriller type film I’ve seen. The best of the worst. The ending is priceless.
The Limey (1999)
I love Terence Stamp, mostly because he reminds of my grandfather who was a cockney Londoner, and also a thieving gangster in his own right. I always really like the disjointed narrative structure of this film and you can never go wrong by throwing Luis Guzman into the mix.*Editor’s Note: I didn’t realize this was Soderbergh, ya learn something new everyday!
Badlands (1973)
No idea how I didn’t know about this film earlier. Justin Hopkins, who does most of the guitar work for Walrus Ghost, frequently talks movies with me and he put me on to this film. The filmscore rules. Nothing like poly-rhythmic marimbas complimenting a young Sissy Spacek’s creepy-ass voice.
Ghostbusters (1984)
The quintessential movie that’s awesome when you’re a kid, but then even better when you’re an adult because of your learned appreciation for Bill Murray.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Kurt Russell at his best: the arrogant jerk-hero. Additionally, James Hong is probably the best Asian villain ever. I like many of John Carpenter’s films (some because they’re really good and others because they’re so bad), but I think this is probably my favorite.
Heat (1995)
Kind of ties with The Insider or Last of the Mohicans as best Michael Mann film for me. A great bank robbery film. The ” macho dude-guy” in me makes this one of the films I never get tired of. It’s almost 3 hours long, and if you happen to catch it on tv with commercials it turns into a 6 hour event; but I’d still sit through the whole thing.
American Movie (1999)
Hilarious, depressing, and honest.*Editor’s Note: This has been on my need to watch list for a minute, I need to get my shit together.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Kind of “duh it’s good”, but this is definitely competes for my favorite film ever. I was fascinated by Vietnam War history growing up, so when I saw this in 8th grade it was one of those personal “holy shit” moments in my life.
When Christian is not working on music, he’s usually eating Mexican food, cooking, and unsuccessfully trying to not end up like Larry David.
Follow him: walrusghost.tumblr.com
And listen to his music at http://soundcloud.com/walrus-ghost
The Perfect Ten is a weekly series of top ten lists by friends of I Love Hot Dogs.
