Lately there hasn't been too much of interest on the movie front, so I've watched a handful of movies I normally wouldn't bother with when I have been tired and wanted to see some tv. I've come across some surprises amid the junk, here's a brief roundup of them:
Something New (2006) is a pleasant, straightforward film about interracial romance. The movie is about a high powered executive woman who falls for her scruffy landscaper. New maintains a friendly pace with the right amount of humor and social commentary where it gently makes its points without losing focus. The two actors have good chemestry and come across as real people. New also benefits from being seen on TV versus a movie theater because it has a bit of a TV Movie feel.
Poseidon (2006) once again proves if you put director Wolfgang Peterson near water, you get a harrowing claustophobic picture. Peterson (Das Boot, A Perfect Storm) once again pours on the digital waterworks in this decent remake of the 70's disaster flick. Everything is effective but forgettable. Don't go out of your way to see it, but if it's on you'll be entertained.
Into The Blue (2006) shows sunnier weather must be on the way for all these water movies to be on the air. Blue is a hokey mess about deep sea divers getting entangled in drug running and buried treasure while in the Bahamas. Even Jessica Alba in a bikini can't save this garbage.
Tamara (2005) is a gloriously bad horror movie about a wiccan geek girl who is accidentally killed in a high school prank and comes back to life for vengence. Everything in the movie is bad to the point it's funny and I loved the old school effects in a modern movie. Not much digital in digital effects, the special effects include the old plastic-pipe-at-the-side-of-the-mouth-to-similate-vomit trick, blatantly laytex body parts smothered in fake blood and lots of sugar glass. If you enjoy movies that are unintentionally bad, this is for you.
An American Idol update, I was once again proven wrong as Stephanie Edwards was ejected. Edwards was strong in the early going but became boring. All of the other Idols stepped up their game, some in unexpected ways. Haley Scarnato is being out Disneyed by 17 year old Jordin Sparks, so Scarnato made a move for Antonella's fan base by showing lots of skin. Phil Stacey stayed away from his low vocal range , Blake Lewis "Blakefied" another song well and Chris Sligh played a song with its original arrangement.
But the stand out was Sanjaya Malakar. Malakar unleashed his inner Michael Jackson, dumping his whispery reticence of past performances for a shouting, unbridled feyness on the Kinks' "You Really Got Me". Think the King of Pop performing "Dirty Diana" and you'll get the picture. If Sanjaya had one glove on and moonwalked it would have been like the ultimate tribute. In one performance, Sanjaya has crossed that line from awful bad to hilariously bad so I am now rooting for another week of the Malakar Express.
My only complaint from this week was the lack of musical variety. For the most part, they played only songs from The Zombies, Shirley Bassey or David Lee Roth. How can the judges slam contestants for song choice with such limited options? Meanwhile, 60's oldie Lulu kicked everyone's ass with a stirring rendition of her classic hit "To Sir With Love". The raspy belter worked her song with a passion and blew away any previous guest performance on the show ever. Good stuff!
In tribute to Brad Delp, I've been playing the CD RTZ - Return To Zero (1991) which was a band he formed with ex-Boston guitarist Barry Gordreau. Some of the disc is generic rock, but the highpoints recall classic Boston. "Face The Music" is a strident rock anthem and "All You Got" should be on the soundtrack of every sports bar in America. Best of all, Delp delivers his best vocal ever on the power ballad "Until Your Love Comes Back Around". Delp, not held down by the relentless vocal multi tracking of an actual Boston song, shows the full range of his voice to great effect. I think this disc is out of print but if you come across it, pick it up!
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