August Rush: Of Course, It's A Fantasy

Posted at 03:10, 2007-Nov-29 in Movie Madness

When we go to movies, we must remember that everything has its own place. These places can be labeled as genres and we can put everything into a genre; music, movies, books, standards, beliefs - the list goes on. I say this because there are too many critics that don’t take things for what they are.

August Rush, is an excellent example of this. Although Kristen Sheridan (In America) had taken on the project of this dream come true kind of movie, she must have known what she was getting herself into. Yes, she was trying to tug at your heartstrings. Yes, she was aware of what type of story this was going to be. Most of all, she knew exactly who would enjoy this type of movie.

Many critics have written their opinions that unfortunately only liken to being gagged with sentiment or dying a slow death. Harsh as these reviews have been, much of their words have truth in it. However, knowing that people have different preferences, I encourage you to find out what this movie personally brings to you.

August Rush is the tale of a young orphan boy (Freddie Highmore) whose only desire is to be found by his parents, a young gifted cellist (Keri Russell) and a romantic Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). He believes that they will find him if he plays the music he hears everywhere around him.

I must say that the casting director did a very good job with putting together this attractive family. We are lucky enough to have another movie to showcase Highmore’s talent and angelic face. (Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory just wasn’t enough.) He is a realistic creation of Meyers and Russell with those soft features. Russell is also perfect with her eyes of purity to play the intelligent yet delicate Lyla and you can’t help but drool over Meyers’ good looks; Perfect for a sensitive rock star.

However, the story itself isn’t as realistic. Russell and Meyers’ characters meet each other on a rooftop and immediately fall in love while hearing someone play “Moondance” on the harmonica. Russell never sees Meyers again because of her strict and overprotective father and Meyers’ character is heartbroken. Years pass with Russell’s character having been with child. Unfortunately, Russell’s father in the movie (William Sadler) secretly gives the child away after she is involved with in a car accident. Without either person knowing about the child’s existence, Russell’s character is depressed with the loss of her son and Meyers is just as upset with his loss of his true love and has given up on music.

Sheridan does have obvious strategies to make you shed at least one tear, but that’s okay. The way she does it with combining both nature and two different genres of music (classical and rock) is a pleasant metaphor for her characters’ storyline. The music is there to give you the suspense and original score composer Mark Mancina does a great job with it. After falling in love with Highmore’s character, it’s not hard to fall in love with Russell and Meyers’ either, even if the story could never happen.

That’s also exactly what makes this movie its own. Sure, you may think this doesn’t even compare to Mr. Holland’s Opus, but it’s not trying to be that movie. Some might say there's not enough "twist" for this "Oliver" story, but it’s just another tale that gives you hope through music. It’s not tugging at your heart for the number one spot.

If it’s not realistic to you as a viewer, then put it in the fantasy genre. (Effects with nature and coincidence give the atmosphere a supernatural feeling.) This movie is somewhat an urban fairytale. Is it any better now? Whatever your answer may be, just remember that everyone has grown up with Disney’s fairytales. You don’t see everyone knocking the Cinderella story.

Hollywood is its own magical world and you just find whatever story suits you. It’s not always a sin to take things for what they are. If you enjoy syrupy storylines, this movie is for you. If you don’t, then at least Robin Williams and Terrance Howard’s characters may surprise you. In the end, this movie can't go wrong at a family function.

- sl

Leona Lewis' Album A Letdown

Posted at 02:53, 2007-Nov-29 in Fresh Faces

Leona Lewis became a well known voice and face as a contestant on The X-Factor’s third season. Bringing extraordinary talent to the stage, she was likend to divas such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Pleasing both the judges, including the very critical Simon Cowell, and the UK audience, she quickly became a favorite. With her talent overpowering her lack of self-confidence, this now 22 year old female brought an honest personality to TV along with her musicianship.

After recording an album when she was only 15years old that went nowehre, she almost gave up on her dream of singing until her long time boyfriend encouraged her to audition for The X-Factor. As most amateurs on the past seasons, she belted out jazz standards and contemporary pop songs, but Lewis’s tone and style made her superior to others. As the winner of the season, she had become the show’s promise to be a true star. Other producers and music professionals told Cowell, who has also become her mentor, that he had better make the right album for the girl’s gift.

Her debut album, Spirit, was released in November 2007 and has beat out others on the charts such as the Spice Girls, Celine Dion and One Republic. Spirit proved to be the biggest first week sales of 2007 to date in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Her first single, “Bleeding Love,” has stayed on the top of the charts since it was released. After Perez Hilton had promoted her so much that he even posted her music video on his website, I also, was an immediate fan of “Bleeding Love.” With Simon Cowell and Clive Davis coming together to produce her album, I was anxious to hear the album in its entirety.

After listening to it two or three times, I decided that I am still a fan of Lewis’ voice but not her album. It may be because its sound is more of a traditional pop sound that Europe eats up. Unfortunately, Leona is belting out songs that Whitney and Mariah should’ve belted out earlier in the 90’s - not today.

I realized that it is only her upbeat songs that can keep me interested in listening. “Take a Bow,” a heavily synth-riffed power anthem is reminiscent of Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter” with her lyrics “You should know that your performance has made me stronger now.” Another song with strong beats, “I’m You,” is a bit more mid-tempo groove with its Mary J. Blige vibe that has grown on me. “The Best You Never Had,” another mid-tempo feel good musical monologue, could be a Natasha Bedingfield hit, if she had snatched it up beforehand. When I listened to “Whatever It Takes,” I could have sworn it was another Ne-yo song, but hey, I like him, so this is another good R&B track.

However, just because the song has a decent beat or rhythm, doesn’t mean the song has credibility. “Angel,” with its lyrics, “When we make love/it’s overwhelming/I just touch the heavens” is evidence of this complete failure. Take out the fast beats and it’s the rest of the album – a waste of CD space with unnecessary bad pop ballads. With the exception of “Homeless,” a could have been hit from the 90’s similar to Mariah soulfulness, and the cover of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,” the rest of album is filled with songs such as “Better in Time,” which I believed to be another bad Avril-esque teen pop song, (but I realized that Avril was actually a co-writer for “I Will Be”), “Footprints in the Sand,” “Yesterday,” and “Here I Am,” which all should have been songs for sappy Spice Girls, N’Sync or Backstreet Boys tunes. Sure, they are pretty but the songs seem to go nowhere and that’s a shame since Lewis’ voice is capable to bring you to a better place. Many albums today focus on love, but this love album whines a bit too much.

“Bleeding Love” is still on one of my itunes playlists for current favorites, but it’s a little disappointing that the first single of any album is the best song on there; especially when it’s co-written by Jesse McCartney.

Music directors for her album have told the public that any of the songs could be hit singles, but they are not spoiled as they think they are. Yes, Leona Lewis can bring them fame and fortune as well, but they have to be extra careful when they pick her singles after her album is released in the US (March 18, 2008). We Americans don’t necessarily eat up the syrupy ballads as well as Europeans can. People are saying that Lewis is one of the stars the US should watch out for during the year of 2008. Let's hope they're right. If they are smart, her five hit singles should be: “Bleeding Love,” “Take a Bow,” “Homeless,” “I’m You,” and “The Best You Never Had.”

If you want to see the true talent Ms. Lewis has to offer, youtube her performance of “Summertime” and “All By Myself” in your spare time.

- sl

I Heart Jemaine & Bret

Posted at 09:31, 2007-Oct-23 in On TV

“There’s just a little bit of dust in my eye.
That’s from the path that you made when you said your goodbye.
I’m not weeping because you won’t be here to hold my hand.
For your information there’s an inflammation in my tear gland.
I’m not upset because you left me this way.
My eyes are just a little sweaty today.”

How could you not laugh at these lyrics? How could you not love them especially when they're sung in a melodramatic ballad called "I'm Not Cryin," complete with a boy band like video? Jemaine Clements and Bret McKenzie, who make up the duo Flight of the Conchords, are the New Zealanders whom have won a very special place in my heart. Claiming to be “New Zealand's 4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo,” the two actors turned comedic musicians have been touring the world with their hilarious songs with unexpected lyrics for some time now.

So when they landed a deal with HBO for an original series, it was very easy to revolve the plot around these songs. Jemaine and Bret play a monotone version of themselves; a two-man band that is trying to make it big in New York City. Jemaine stars as a cocky so called Ladies Man when it is actually a naïve Bret who gets the women. Along with Rhys Darby as their manager, Murray Hewitt, Arj Barker as their pawn shop owning friend, Dave, and last but not least Kristen Schaal as their obsessive and only fan, Mel, they set up episodes that are shockingly funny.

The songs they sing in each episode reveal their true feelings that aren’t necessarily portrayed by their dialogue. Jemaine definitely had me with the first note of “Beautiful Girl,” a parody of Prince’s “Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” I wish someone would get in a cab with me and buy me a kabob. I would also find it to be a compliment if anyone were to say I'm so hot that I'm like a curry. I like the way Bret thinks about women. The songs start as well as end abruptly forcing the viewers to ask themselves… what just happened? Advantages Flight of the Conchords has with this show are the great visuals that accompany the lyrics. Of course, they were in space for “Bowie’s in Space.”

As a show that usually follows Entourage, HBO viewers have either claimed it as a new favorite or just a show to watch as they talk about Entourage. Perhaps it’s because people have a different perspective on what a sense of humor is. However, as an avid fan, I recommend Flight of the Conchords for fresh pick-you-up kind of comedy.

For those of you who may be even more of a fan than Mel, their DVD of the complete first season comes out on November 6th. It is currently only $19.99 on Amazon.com. Not a bad price for fantastic songs performed by two ridiculously good looking funny guys.

- sl

Flight of the Conchord's "Beautiful Girl"

Flight of the Conchord's "I'm Not Crying"

The World & Across the Universe

Posted at 08:20, 2007-Oct-16 in Movie Madness

“What’s with kids listening to music before their time?” This is a question many adults ask about the young crowd nowadays and it is also one that my friend’s father has asked me. I am constantly mentally making a list of movies that my friend should go see simply because of the fact that she never does. So after seeing Across the Universe, I find myself at her house simply raving about the movie which uses music from The Beatles nonetheless.

Her father is right. It’s been decades since Beatlemania but those fans have had children who have children. Then not surprisingly, those children have children who also love the cherished music created by Paul, John, George, and Ringo. Yes, there are many covers – perhaps too many covers – of Beatles songs today but it is the familiar melody line and lyrics of each song that keep the music alive. The song may have a different beat or a tempo but once you hear a familiar riff or a line you have heard before, whatever song it may be it has its original roots.

So when Across the Universe, the film, was released in a theater near me (and it wasn’t very near at first) I was very curious to see how the musical had an effect on myself as well as other Beatles fans. Directed by Julie Taymor and written by both Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, one has the right to be a skeptic about this film before they see it. Let's see, hippies, politics, love... It's the movie, Hair. I, personally, hoped that this wasn’t another stereotypical hippie and politics film.

My hopes for this movie to be a great musical movie were pleasantly surpassed. The story starts in the early 1960’s and introduces the viewers to a young man named Jude (Jim Sturgess) who moves from his hometown, none other than Liverpool, to America to find his American G.I father who has no idea he exists. Shortly after this family meeting, he conveniently starts a friendship with a collegiate but wild Max (Joe Anderson), and he eventually introduces Jude to his younger sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). Jude and Max befriend Sadie (Dana Fuchs), a singer that has an amazing Janis Joplin tone and her guitar player/on and off again boyfriend, JoJo (Martin Luther McCoy) who warps into a Jimi Hendrix type, along with an unexpected admirer for Sadie, Prudence (T.V. Carpio) As they do this, they find a niche in their carefree lifestyle where “music is the only thing that makes sense anymore.”

The music in this movie is produced and covered in many interesting ways. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” becomes a slow ballad sung by a lesbian cheerleader. “I’ve Just Seen A Face” is sped up and sung in a multi-colored scene that takes place at the bowling alley. Yes, these are young people singing covers but it is all executed in a very fresh and appealing manner. Sturgess’ voice is reminiscent of Ewan McGregor’s from Moulin Rouge, Anderson’s musical talent is equivalent to his charming good looks and Wood takes her role to another level as a young Hollywood actress especially when she sings “If I Fall” while she looks at Sturgess’ character (and makes out with him) from across the room.

It’s also nice to see familiar faces. Bono makes a cameo as he sings “I Am the Walrus,” but talks with a more than good southern accent and balances it with such a drugged up persona that there will be hilarious rounds of Oscar talks. However, my favorite surprise was Joe Cocker who appeared as three different characters (a tramp, pimp and hippie) as he sang “Come Together” while JoJo makes his entrance for the film. Other cameos viewers may love are Eddie Izzard in the most bizarre but appropriate way possible and Selma Hayek being slinky and sexy as usual.

Two main complaints about this movie as a musical are the following: 1) This is degrading the integrity of The Beatles. I couldn’t disagree more with this. They say that ultimate admiration is found in imitation. This movie is a tribute to The Beatles and to love. If I do recall correctly, I own a Beatles Love collection. Taymor beautifully converges music into the battles whether it is love or with the politics and offers you a trip into other worlds with her actors. (Once you meet Bono’s character, you’ll know what I mean.) 2) The music is an excuse for a plot that isn’t there. One word response to this: Musical. It’s a MUSICAL. The songs are the strings that pull along the script. Yes, sometimes the songs are placed in the plot in a very literal way but this is more than all right because it is a MUSICAL. Most musicals involve duets or songs that are characters’ inner thoughts and monologues. Not only do I think that this musical was put together in a very clever way from origin of the characters’ names to obvious lines that only Beatles fans can appreciate (“She came in through the bathroom window.”) but the visuals that correspond to the songs are just mind blowing. If you have never been on drugs but want to experience what it’s like, then this is the safest bet for you.

I fell in love with the voices, the characters, the story but most importantly I fell in love with the music again. Those who are just relentless and say that “nothing will ever be as good as the real thing… how could they do this?” should seriously take a breather and chill. This movie has been made, it has been seen, it has been loved, and it has served as a medium to the younger generation. So this is what I have to say to those pessimists: “Let it be.” It’s all for entertainment in the end.

- sl

Official Across the Universe website

What About Some Encouragement For The Other Sex?

Posted at 08:03, 2007-Oct-9 in On TV

It would be nice to think that our society is becoming less shallow nowadays. We may not be hippies who only care about mother earth and reprimand others for not being organic; however, most of us don’t think of ourselves as superficial. It’s the person that counts, not what the person actually looks like, right? People fall in love with personalities all the time, so why should looks hold significance anymore? Well, I think there’s an obvious answer to that.

I started thinking about this when I was channel surfing on the couch the other day. Nothing kept my interest for longer than five seconds so I just left it on the last channel it was on. It happened to be showing According to Jim which I hardly watch. I have the same thought every time I see this show. How did he end up with her? I’m sorry, but I just don’t find Jim Belushi attractive. However, I am a little jealous of how pretty his wife is in the show. Courtney Thorne-Smith, who I remember from Ally McBeal, is able to flaunt what a lot of women would be jealous of. She’s a skinny cute blonde that all guys with girlfriends probably think about when they’re not with their girlfriends… or maybe they still do. So my first answer to my perturbed thought at the moment is: Perhaps he was more attractive when they first met? However, I then recall seeing an episode that served as a flashback to when they first met. They looked exactly the same minus the 80’s styled clothing and hair. Jim’s character was still awkwardly huge and Courtney’s character was still pretty and petite; I got the feeling she was the popular type in high school. If this couple is hilarious enough to exist in a TV sitcom, then both characters must consist of Emmy award winning wit. So this is why each character has fallen in love with the other one… right?

There are plenty of other shows that have the same set-up: Hot wife and not-as-hot husband. There is also King of Queens, Still Standing, Everybody Loves Raymond and probably a million other ones like them on other networks around the world. Why are there so many shows where the husband is less attractive than the wife? There isn’t anything wrong with this concept, but why do so many of these shows exist?

Perhaps it is because the writers and producers of these shows think it will encourage men out there in the dating world? Or maybe it’s because viewers are encouraged to see that romance can, in fact, happen with someone you’ve never found attractive? These are all great things. I’m not trying to argue with TV entertainment here, but I can’t help but think… why is it never the other way around?

I’ve asked a couple of girlfriends why there isn’t a TV show with an extremely attractive husband with a less attractive wife (and perhaps a bit awkward like most of us girls feel like). One of my friends flat out said that “It would never happen.” When I asked why not, she simply said, “I don’t want to say this and be stereotypical but it’s because most guys who are that hot are too much of a jerk.” I don’t know if I agree with this theory and here are some of my reasons: 1) There are hot guys out there that just don’t know how attractive they are so they don’t act like it. 2) “Hot” girls who know they’re attractive may also be bitches and this makes it equivalent to being a hot jerk. 3) I’ve also known a few guys who do look past looks. There may not be many men like that but they do exist.

However, I like to disagree with her statement most importantly because I know that there are women who can take charge of what they have in order to reel in a good catch. There are many reasons why it CAN happen so I don’t see a reason why networks can’t create a show to encourage women! What about those of us who haven't been on a date for a while? What about those of us who are just too scared to ask for that guy's number we see in the coffee shop everyday? Not all of us are Giselles or Natalie Portmans but we all are bound to find someone. So there is no reason why average looking women can’t snag a hottie too.

Hopefully, we'll get to see evidence of this in a sitcom one day.

- sl

Love Bareilles' "Love Song"

Posted at 02:09, 2007-Oct-2 in Fresh Faces

After speeding all the way to Ann Arbor, MI this past Saturday (September 29^th, 2007) I arrived at the second level of Borders only to see that all the seats were already taken. I cursed my inability to wake up early. All these people sitting in front of a small stage were waiting to see the amazing Sara Bareilles perform and I didn’t have a seat.

Although I live in Holland, the moment I found out that this incredible singer-songwriter was going to be doing a performance (for free) AND doing a sign and greet, I was more than willing to pay the gas money. For many artists who do this type of tour with Borders, the people who show up for these performances range from dedicated fans, who will probably see the artist again the same night at a real venue to people who just happen to find out that “some singer” is going to perform and decide to spend a few minutes to see how it all goes down.

I had found a spot on the floor in front only to be joined by five other 12 year old girls (with better taste in music than I had when I was that age) who claimed to be “so excited!” and I have to admit that I was a complete teeny bopper especially when I replied back with a “me too!” After announcements such as Sara opening for Maroon 5’s US tour this fall – starting the same night at The Palace in Auburn Hills, that her performance was going to be broadcast on Ann Arbor’s 107.1 FM station, and showing us where we could purchase her first major label album, Little Voice, we all got a glimpse of Sara behind the stage.

She seemed more petite than I had imagined her to be from all her publicity photos. Her hair was in a simple pony tail. She was wearing an adorable but casual outfit which consisted of a t-shirt length light pink dress over a white tank top complete with gold earrings and necklace. She looked like any other nice girl in her early twenties. As she walked onto the stage with two supporting band members, she gave a polite wave to her audience. She answered the emcee’s interview questions with a professional but down to earth attitude and commented on how we were such a “clap-happy audience” but that it was okay because it was “the best kind to be.”

She started out her live set with the hit single, “Love Song” which most audience members discovered on itunes when it was the free single of the week. The chords keep the song in drive and the lyrics create exactly what a pop song should sound like today. As her catchy pop voice permeated the air, her fingers seemed to be as happy to be playing the full length keyboard as her face seemed when she cheerfully looked out into the audience with what looked like appreciation.  She couldn't have been any further from being a sour-faced or dilluded crap pop star like Avril.

The second song she chose to share with us was an even more blues-upped version of “Many the Miles.” Sara also made sure to enlighten us with the fact that it was about “a positive outlook on life... a pro-life song.” Her pop voice was still honest and innocent but it now had an edge that could definitely pull in the soul genre audience as well. Sara must have excelled in her communications studies at UCLA (even though she chooses not to use the degree) and remembered that audience participation always makes a performance more memorable. She broke it down towards the end of the song where she used her a cappella voice and just her snapping fingers. Pretty soon, the entire room was snapping along to her Fiona Apple/Norah Jones-on-uppers sound and for the first time, I noticed audience members swaying to and fro as they sang along to her lyrics.

Sara closed her short but worthy set with the touching song, “Gravity.” As her band members left her alone on stage and just before she played those two intimate chords in the introduction she informed us “You can thank my ex-boyfriend for this.” As she sang, “You’re neither friend nor foe/Though I can’t seem to let you go/One thing I know is that you’re keeping me down,” and making “down” the most shockingly and powerful you note you ever heard, the audience couldn’t have been disappointed even if she was just “some singer” at the beginning of the day.

Thank god for musicians like Sara Bareilles to ensure Avril is a dying breed.

- sl

Official Sara Bareilles Website

Official Sara Bareilles Myspace

Is Original and Fresh Always Better?

Posted at 09:08, 2007-Sep-25 in On TV

Networks tend to put new shows on after an established and successful show. This way, viewers are too in awe of whatever fabulous episode they had just seen and are too dumbfounded to change the channel. This has worked for shows such as October Road which had a time slot after Grey’s Anatomy as well as Brothers & Sisters which premiered after Desperate Housewives.

This past week, a brand new show titled Gossip Girl aired after cycle nine of America’s Next Top Model. Gossip Girls had been heavily promoted for a couple months on the CW. The theme song for the commercial was Fergie’s “Glamorous,” a song which has had popular radio play for mainstream music. The lyrics couldn’t have fit any better as the CW flashed images of young hotties that were either ethereal looking legs-up-to-there blondes or bachelors with the bluest of blue eyes lusting and then preying on their next victim. The commercial gave its viewers the impression that the show was to be another “The OC” type of show complete with the same creator, Josh Schwartz. A few familiar faces among the cast include Blake Lively (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Accepted), Penn Badgley (The Mountain, The Bedford Diaries) and a grown up Taylor Momsen (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Underdog).

The show shares its title with a popular novel series that served mainly as a foundation for creators of Gossip Girl. Written by Cecily von Ziegsar and read mostly by teen girls, the plot of the novels revolve around rich teens in New York’s Upper East Side whom all deal with melodramatic problems that involve sex and drugs. Unpredictably, for the seasoned readers of Gossip Girl, each episode will build upon the fact that these problems eventually disrupt the flow of their socialite culture. Although the series has been criticized to be too racy for young girls, many parents and organizations have just been happy enough to see more teens reading.

Perhaps it is this teen audience that will help the ratings of the new CW show. If the drama in these books has been that captivating then having a visual and concrete story on the screen can’t hurt… can it? For the past couple of years the movie industry has been having great turnouts with screenplays based on books, such as Notes on a Scandal, The Namesake, and The Devil Wears Prada. Will it turn out the same for a TV show such as Gossip Girl? Whether it is their TV or the theater, are viewers still searching for something original and fresh to come to the screen? Or are we getting comfortable with watching a familiar story come to life?

Some readers don’t mind seeing a show or a movie after they have read the book, because they have already gotten the chance to create the characters in their minds. But alas, there are some readers that are too distracted by the changes the entertainment industry makes. There are already a couple of changes producers have made in Gossip Girl, such as Jenny Humphrey’s physical looks not matching the dark brown curly hair description given in the book. Her straight blonde hair is something unexpected for Gossip Girl readers but perhaps the slight alteration will grow on them as viewers.

We’ll just have to wait and see. HBO didn’t have any problems with Candace Bushnell’s Sex and the City coming to life. Bushnell’s characters even managed to get their own movie which comes out in 2008. Perhaps, it will work out for Gossip Girl as well.

- sl

Official Gossip Girl Site