For this week’s Music In Film I thought I would highlight one of the first things that came to mind when I thought of use of an existing song (as opposed to a composed score) which kicks things off and sets the tone for the action to come. In this case it’s “Rap das Armas” (aka Rap of Weapons) by Brazilian rap duo Cidinho and Doca (it was originally a song in the ’90s but these guys made it a hit). It is used in the opening scene of José Padilha’s excellent City of God-esque action-crime film Elite Squad (or Tropa de Elite to use its original Portuguese name).
Apart from being a catchy song in its own right which you can easily listen to out with the actual movie itself, like I said it sets the tone up for the rest of the movie. It has a pulsing beat and a strange rhythm as it accompanies an outdoor rave with the titular Elite Squad arriving on the scene to sort things out (when the police need help these are the guys they call!) One of my favourite openings of a movie in the last five years.
Check out the scene below and how well the music is suited:
