Movie Review - Australia

What Happens When You Breed Westerns And Epics

If you can suffer through the goofy first fifteen minutes of this classically epic flick, you'll be rewarded with an engaging and touching experience the like of which we haven't seen so far this Oscar season. "Australia" draws inspiration from American westerns and sprawling romance sagas like "Gone With the Wind" and the more recent "Titanic," as well as from the history and physical majesty of the country for which it is named. Perhaps because of this (and the central role of the moving but familiar "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" doesn't help either) the movie occassionally seems less like an original work and more like an homage to cinematic history and tradition. An unusual thing to say about a Baz Luhrman film. His past works include the innovative tellings of "Romeo & Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge." Read more.

The actors play their roles well. Kidman doesn't go overboard with her huffiness and snootiness early in the film, nor does Jackman go overboard with his Rainmaker Starbuck persona, even while everthing else in the film seems designed to suck them into overdramatization. The real star of the film is the big-eyed newcomer Brandon Walters, who plays the half-aborigine, half-white ("creamie") boy named Nullah who helps The Drover and Mrs. Boss to success and in the process charms his way into their family.

Much of the buzz about the film revolved around the cinematography, and in that respect the film doesn't disappoint. In fact, the film as a whole is technically brilliant, from the fantastic costumes to the lighting to the gorgeous score (thanks in large part to its use of the Arlen classic mentioned earlier). Plot-wise, the film is noticeably more standard than Luhrman's previous work, but it never descends into the bland or cliche as the trailer seemed to threaten. There is enough comedy, romance, and action here to satisfy just about everyone.

MY RATING: B+

Free Music - Stereophonics

"My Friends"

Alternative-Rock/Pop group Stereophonics is a trio of Welshmen with five consequetive #1 albums and twenty-five Top 40 singles in the UK to their name. This month they released a greatest hits album to commemorate that success. The track we have today is from their 2007 album, "Pull the Pin". It's a nice track that would feel right at home on US Alternative radio. Check it out.
Stereophonics - "My Friends" (Mp3)

Stream it First.

This is a legally free download courtesy of Stereophonics and CNET.

Gorgeous FYCs

Screw the Holiday Season, it's Oscar Season People!

Awardsdaily has put up forty five FYC ads on their site. A lot of them are truly beautiful. These really get me into the Oscar-season spirit. Click on the images below to see larger versions.






More

It's almost time for Thanksgiving Oscar predictions! The biggest set of predictions so far this year coming soon (probably tomorrow).

Jesse McCartney "It's Over" Video

It's Over Jesse

Actually, I think his latest album is pretty good. But for some reason, besides the success of his first single, "Leavin'", the album has been flopping pretty hard. Maybe he'll be able to turn things around with this hot new single and expensive-looking video. I like the "Eternal Sunshine" inspired collapsing set. Don't like the boy-band dancing. Also, what's with the fancy phones that always make appearances in pop videos these days? Are these guys getting paid by phone companies to advertise them in their videos?

Race to Witch Mountain

Who Casts The Rock as a Cabbie?

Anybody watch the film "Escape to Witch Mountain when they were little, or am I the only one? Anyway, the movie is being remade starring The Rock, of all people. Similar to "Where the Wild Things Are," I'd like to hope that this film will not pander to the preschool and Disney crowds, but given that it's being directed by Andy Fickman ("She's the Man", "The Game Plan) I find that unlikely. Why can't people just be happy with the originals? I don't know, but it's starting to make me a little annoyed.

Free Music - Ladyhawke

"Paris is Burning" Remix

Ladyhawke's self-titled pop album was released yesterday. Today we have a free track, a remix of the album's biggest hit so far, "Paris is Burning." Alex Gopher did the remix. It's pretty catchy and fun and in the same electronic-dance vane as The Asteroid Galaxy Tour or The Kills. Enjoy!

Ladyhawke - "Paris is Burning (Alex Gopher remix)" Right click and download file.
Preview Track

'Where the Wild Things Are' Photos

Scariest Children's book ever becoming a movie

Firstshowing has some new photos and news from the film adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are". Very interested to see how this one turns out. I wonder how they will turn a book that is literally only ten sentences long into a full-length motion picture? Anyway, the book is downright terrifying, and hopefully the movie will not sacrifice that edginess to appeal to any boring demographic.

Album Review: "I Am...Sasha Fierce"

A true diva

Beyonce's identity crisis of a new album hi-lights both her strengths and her weaknesses. The princess of US radio has long hop-scotched the genres of pop and R&B, and her newest LP is designed to reflect this versatility. The first half, "I Am", is meant to reveal a more personal side of Beyonce than she has ever been given the chance to show (or some self-indulgent deepness like that). The second half, "Sasha Fierce", is conversely meant to give her diva of an "alter-ego" (her words, not mine) time to shine. It's perhaps the first time in history that a split-personality disorder has been used as a marketing concept, which is interesting and unique enough, but does the disc deliver? Read more.

Not really. If "I Am" is meant to show the "real" Beyonce, Ms. Knowles is awfully bland and generic. The first half of the album is almost worthless but for the lead single, "If I Were a Boy" (which isn't even that spectacular) and "Halo" (which, thanks to Ryan Tedder, is one of the standouts of the whole album). The rest of the tracks are sappy and unoriginal ballads that offer zero new or interesting insight about the artist who sings them.

Ironically, Beyonce shines most on the half of the disc that doesn't bear her name. On "Sasha Fierce" she returns to and expands on her more urban roots (remember the good old days of "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy" and "Naughty Girl?") with tracks like the terrific "Single Ladies" (awesome video, by the way), "Video Phone", and the most urban song of her career so far, "Diva." In fact, there are as few filler tracks here as there are standouts in "I Am." "Ego" and "Scared of Lonely" provide some versatility from the growling vocals and tough beats of the songs mentioned earlier.

So the moral of this bi-polar story seems to be that Sasha Fierce should get her diva on and tell Beyonce that she's in charge now. Beyonce is a tremendously talented artist in many ways, but her apparent desire to become the next in line of Whitneys and Celines seems strained in a time when that kind of music is no longer commercially or artistically appealing. While she may not feel like an urban queen deep in side, that side of her sounds much more natural and is much more interesting. And hey, with nearly a dozen Grammies and tens of millions of albums sold, she doesn't need to prove her talent to anyone by making songs that showcase her voice or any pretense of "depth", as seems to be the true intent behind some of these tracks.

MY RATING:
I Am: C-
Sasha Fierce: A-
Overall: B-

Download: Halo, Single Ladies, Diva, Ego

Previous album reviews: Dangerously in Love (A), B'Day (B)

Star Trek Trailer

Explosions? Check. Sex? Check. Spock? Oh Yeah...

First full trailer for J.J. Abrams's "Star Trek" due next year. I don't know how I feel about it. It looks entertaining and all. The actors seem far too young though, and too . . . good-looking. It just seems like everything about it is catering to the blockbuster crowd. Star Trek the original wasn't made to be a blockbuster. Have you seen some of those first episodes? This fancy new version just looks lame, and when you can say that about Star Trek, that is saying a lot.

Josh Schwartz Tapped For X-Men Movie

Gossip Gambit

It appears that Josh Schwartz, one of the writers of "Gossip Girl" and "Chuck," has signed on to write the script for Fox's upcoming X-Men Origins film "X-Men: First Class." I just hope this doesn't mean the film will be just another lame teen dramafest. "X-Men 3" was bad enough in that respect.

Schwartz was allegedly also asked to direct the film, but declined. "First Class" is one of several origins films in the works. "Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman, will open early next year, and "Magneto" is also currently in the works. Rumor has it the studio is also mulling over the idea of a fourth spinoff starring Ryan Reynolds, whose character will debut in "Wolverine". More info as the story develops.

Ben Folds & Regina Spektor Music Video

You don't know me b**ch!

Funny song from two great musicians called "You Don't Know Me". I love it.

Jason Mraz "Make it Mine" Video

He's funny...

Nice video. This will probably flop on Pop radio, but it might do well on the AC formats.

First Listen - David Cook Single, "Light On"

Feels Like a Miss

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one. I wanted so badly to love it and say radio would eat it up if for no other reason than to childishly put that other little David in his place, but I'm not sure that I can. "Light On" is a rock power ballad that is just shy of sounding like a winner's single (and no, I don't mean a single of an idol winner, I mean the Idol Winner's Single - that annoying song they are always forced to sing at the finale that always flops on radio because it is corny beyond belief).

Apparently the track was written by Chris Cornell but for some reason (not worthy enough?) it was never included on that musician's album, and Cook got it instead. In my opinion, it might have been better if he had passed on it as well. If this is the most promising piece on Cook's upcoming album, I'm a little worried. But don't take my word for it - listen for yourself...

"Light On" by David Cook