The Malcolm & Marie soundtrack balances jazz standards with modern funk. Directed by Sam Levinson, the black-and-white Netflix film centers on two lovers who work through unresolved romantic issues. Malcolm & Marie feels as though it's inspired by the '70s and '80s dramas of filmmakers like John Cassavetes and Woody Allen, evidenced in part by the music selections and usage within the narrative.
Malcolm & Marie's cast stars John David Washington and Zendaya as Malcolm Elliott and Marie Jones, respectively. The story takes place over the course of one evening in Malibu, as Malcolm celebrates the release of his latest film and snarls about film critics who seemingly don't understand his work. Marie listens patiently while making macaroni and cheese for her partner, and ultimately decides to confront him about some harsh truths. From there, the power dynamics flip back and forth, with the featured music often punctuating key scenes or establishing a specific mood.
Overall, Malcolm & Marie is essentially one long conversation. The music is used as a backdrop early on, but then cuts out entirely when the arguments become more intense. Between the two main characters, the song titles often align with Marie's perspective as she reflects about the past while trying to understand the best course of action moving forward. Here's a listing of featured song in Malcolm & Marie on Netflix.
"Down and Out in New York City" - James Brown
"Selfish" - Little Simz featuring Cleo Sol
"Betaminus" - Zoot Sims, Jim Hall, and Jimmy Raney
"Yum Yum (Gimme Some)" - The Fatback Band
"In a Sentimental Mood" - Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
"I Forgot to Be Your Lover" - William Bell
"FLOR de AZALEA" - Frankie Reyes
"BOA" - Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes
"Get Rid of Him" - Dionne Warwick
"Wasted" - NNAMDI
"Goin' Home" - Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan
"Liberation" - Outkast feat. Cee-Lo
Malcolm & Marie begins with Malcolm blasting "Down and Out in New York City" upon arriving at his Malibu home. Meanwhile, Marie visits the bathroom and seems slightly annoyed. Five minutes later, "Selfish" kicks in as Washington's character talks trash about a Los Angles Times critic while informing his girlfriend about the value of William Wyler films. The song title reflects Marie's opinion of Malcolm, and thematically sets up later conflict.
At the 15-minute mark in the Netflix movie, "Yum Yum (Gimme Some)" plays as Marie criticizes Malcolm for not appreciating her contribution to his work. The upbeat nature of the song heavily contrasts with the trajectory of the evening. Ten minutes later, "In a Sentimental Mood" provides a throwback feel as the focal couple enjoys some bedtime together, while "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" aligns with the on-going conflict.
After a nasty argument, the titular couple calms down and sits outdoors. As Marie smokes a cigarette, she gazes at at Malcolm while "Get Rid of Him" sets in; a moment that plays as subtle comedy but also suggests what may happen in the near future. Twenty-five minutes later, "Wasted" scores a scene as Marie smokes and thinks about the evening. Malcolm & Marie ends with a L'Avventura-like final visual as "Liberty" references a "fine line between love and hate."
The Malcolm & Marie score was composed for Netflix by Labrinth.
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