However, It Girl & Upcoming ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Star Didn’t Get The Part
Depending on how much of a premium you put on absurdist irony, you probably either love or loathe Gregg Araki‘s latest sci-fi-ish mystery drama “Kaboom.” In a recent review, we called it, ” ‘Saved By The Bell‘ meets David Lynch on ecstasy,” but before you declare that as awesome-sounding and enticing, you might want to spend some quality time with that write-up.
Meanwhile, an interesting what-might-have-been nugget has surfaced and while it probably couldn’t have quite salvaged the film, it’s an interesting what-if that seems to have semi-embarrassed Araki. It turns out It girl of the moment Rooney Mara (the upcoming “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and Jesse Eisenberg‘s scene-stealing girlfriend in “The Social Network“) auditioned for a role, but didn’t get the part.
“She was one of the dozens of people who came in,” Araki said sheepishly. “We saw almost every young actor in Hollywood. Each of the actors in ‘Kaboom’ won their part fair and square. We still suspect that the Rooney ‘story’ leaked because it was planted by some angry agent or manager. It was such a weird press thing that came out before the movie was even cast.”
Imagine if his picture, which just hit theaters last weekend in limited release, would have starred her? Shoulda, woulda, coulda. It sounds like Juno Temple got the role instead — “She definitely came in to read for a part, and she’s amazing. I think she might have auditioned Juno’s part, but I can’t remember,” Araki said — which we can’t hate on at all because a) she’s excellent and is a star in the making (she probably should have been Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola‘s film) and 2) she’s easily the best part of “Kaboom” with her cat-like and effortless charms.
Incidentally, one part of Araki’s films which are always up to snuff — if a little predictable at this point — are his soundtracks. While no official soundtrack to “Kaboom” is being released, the bizarre whodunit picture is replete with electro, nugaze and all types of blissfully droney and hip noise-pop (Cut Copy, Airiel, Engineers, etc.) If you’re curious or looking for a rundown of the songs featured in the film, Araki has listed all the tracks he employed on this Facebook page. The entire list is below and you’d likely never go wrong using one of his film playlists to soundtrack your party. That is unless, of course, it’s a roaring ’20s party or something. [Blackbook]
The songs featured in “Kaboom”
CUT COPY “Saturdays” – Smith tells Stella about Thor in dining commons
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY “Catastrophe & The Cure” – Smith meets The Messiah in the hall
THE BIG PINK “Crystal Visions” – Smith & Stella talk over dinner
LADYTRON “Weekend” – Smith & Stella meet up w Lorelei at the party
TEARS RUN RINGS “Mind The Wires” – Smith meets London in bathroom
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS “To Fix The Gash In Your Head” – Smith&London/Stella&Lorelei have sex
FRIENDLY FIRES “Paris (Ambient Mix)” – Smith & London post-coital in bed
METRO AREA “Caught Up” – Smith tells Stella about his bad trip
THE HORRORS “Mirror’s Image” – Smith & Stella see Lorelei in the cafe
THE XX “Stars” – Smith talks to London on phone
AIRIEL “In Your Room” – Smith & London in bed
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART “This Love Is Fucking Right” – Smith walks in on Thor & Rex wrestling
YEAH YEAH YEAHS “Softshock” – Smith & London have lunch
THE DEPRECIATION GUILD “Dream About Me” – London gives Rex a much-needed lesson
AUBURN LULL “Shallow In Youth” – Smith & London talk about Rex, Thor walks in
DELUKA “Cascade” – Smith gets call from Hunter
MOSCOW OLYMPICS “Cut The World” – Smith beats off, Stella gives him a birthday present
HELEN STELLAR “Our Secrets” – Smith & Stella see band in club
IRON CURTAIN “The First Punk Wars” – Stella finds an unsettling surprise in her donut
HELEN STELLAR “Disappearing Twin” – Smith’s Mom works out with her trainer
ENGINEERS “Clean Coloured Wire” – London tells Smith about her dad in cafe
INTERPOL “Song Seven” – Smith talks to Stella about The End of The World
AIRIEL “Sugar Crystals” – climactic fight/car chase
PLACEBO “The Bitter End” – Le Grand Finale/end cre
