Perfect Song, Perfect Scene: Dan in Real Life

This is the start of something new here at the Reelsoundtrack blog. I call it Perfect Song, Perfect Scene: a collection of the best scenes from movies where music is a defining moment. The first is from Dan in Real Life.

(spoiler alert) About two-thirds of the way through the movie, Steve Carell and Dane Cook sing Let My Love Open the Door to the assembled family. It’s the first time that Dan (Carell) has picked up his guitar since his wife has died. Cook forgets the words and Carell picks up the tune, singing the final refrain in haunting broken words of someone who has lost everything but has found himself again.

Here’s the video of the scene – the perfect scene, with the perfect song. Enjoy.

And here’s the rest of the music from Dan in Real Life.

~ by montelutz on September 10, 2008.