Saturday, April 30, 2005

MOVIE : "THE INTERPRETER"

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This intense political drama was the first ever allowed to film inside the UN building. It's very interesting to see everything that goes on inside that building, how they communicate. I'm not a big fan of politics in general but I was really entertained by this film. With Penn & Kiman, two of the greatest actors of their generation, in the same film, how can you go wrong ? The answer is you can't. Great convincing performances from both of them once again, except a few french words spoken by Kidman with a very thick accent. Well, she tried!


CD : "DAVID USHER - If God Had Curves"

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Can you believe it's already David Usher's 4th solo album, time definitely flies. He started singing with Moist 12-13 years ago, wow ! This new CD ls excellent, as are all his CDs. The difference, this one is definitely quieter. He can sing anything he wants and here, his voice calms you down. This album is more similar to his solo debut "Little Songs".


MOVIE : "A LOT LIKE LOVE"

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This is a cute, seen it before, but fun romantic comedy. Amanda Peet is definitely a star on the rise, she glows on the big screen once again. In this film, Peet & Kutcher, keep bumbing into each other during the course of seven years, but they never seem to be both ready at the same time to make their romantic relationship work. Watch out for some scary wigs to make them look younger.


TV : "REVELATIONS"

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For the past year or so, religion has been a hot topic from the tremendous success of "The Passion of the Christ" last year to the excessive media coverage of Pope John Paul II's death and his replacement recently. Another popular topic, supernatural stuff (i.e. the popular TV show "Medium"). In this mini-series, the decided to combine both, it's an interesting idea. Unfortunately, so far, the series is moving at an ultra-slow pace, hopefully, the next episodes will be more exciting.


MOVIE : "LE SURVENANT"

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At first, I wasn't particularly excited to see this highly anticipated Quebec film but when I saw it, it was a nice surprise! The storyline is not very complicated; a stranger shows up in a little village and disturbs the routine of the place. Some enjoy his company and his stories, others feel threatened by him. The movie features gorgeous Quebec scenery and is wonderfully acted.


Friday, April 22, 2005

MUSIC : "ROB THOMAS - SomethingTo Be"

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Rob Thomas' first single "Lonely No More" is doing quite great on the music charts and it probably won't be the only hit off his first solo CD. The Matchbox Twenty frontman proves here that he as a bright career ahead of him. Unfortunately, Matchbox Twenty the last few years were not as good as they use to be. Thomas with some pop-rock arrangements like on the 1st song "This Is How The Hear Breaks" sounds great and a bit more original than his band the last little while.


MOVIE : "THE AMITYVILLE HORROR"

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Alright, here comes another horror flick... After many bad ones this year and a few okay ones (i.e. Hide & Seek & The Ring Two), this one is pretty good... Well, except for one bit in the film, the babysitter. The whole thing is soooo stupid, you'll probably agree with me if you've seen it. Renolds, Alanis Morissette's husband-to-be, proves once again, after making Blade Trinity entertainining, that he is a star on the rise. It was also great to see Alias's Melissa George play nice... !


Friday, April 15, 2005

CD : "GARBAGE - Bleed Like Me"

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It's been four long years since their last album "Beautiful Garbage" but finally Garbage resurfaces on Bleed Like Me. Shirley and the band finally go back to their old "rock" roots with less electronica in the mix. There are a lot of catchy, great upbeat tracks on this CD like "Why Do You Love Me" and "Bad Boyfriend" where Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl sits in on the drums. Overall, it works !


MOVIE : "SAHARA"

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With this film, Paramount hopes to launch a new franchise and compares it with Indiana Jones. Obviously, this film is nowhere near Indiana Jones. This film looks fun and "IS" fun but nothing more than that. Steve Zahn is great once again as the goofy sidekick. Matthew McConaughey kinda looks orange. Penelope is quite the fearless doctor! What a trio !Also, a lot of stuff in this movie is way over the top but try to not analyze it to much, have fun !


Friday, April 08, 2005

MOVIE : "THE UPSIDE OF ANGER"

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This movie is unfortunately only in limited release for the moment (right now, it's playing at the AMC Forum 22). This film is the first one of 2005 with some early Oscar buzz around Joan Allen's performance. She is brilliant in this film, playing the comedy and the emotion cards wonderfully. The rest of the cast, including Kevin Costner, is also just perfect in this funny and touching film.


CD : "BECK - Guero"

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FINALLY, Beck is back... No more mellow-folk-kinda-boring Beck music. The real, the old, the original Beck is back with his funky-electronic-weird-alternative music. This new CD is awesome... with a lot of cacthy tunes including "Que Onda Guero", "E-Pro", "Girl", "Hell Yes", etc. If you liked Beck in the past, this one is definitely worth a listen, Enjoy !


CD : "STEREOPHONICS - Language.Sex.Violence.Other?"

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I am a big fan of Stereophonics but unfortunately, not many people in America know them. In Europe, they are quite popular and on their 5th album "Language.Sex.Violence.Other?", the band rocks harder than I have heard before. Their previous album were way more mellow. This one is full of energy and it works. If you haven't heard their new single "Dakota", you should download it, what a great song !


Saturday, April 02, 2005

MOVIE : "SIN CITY"

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I was blown away by this new film from Robert Rodriguez received by the critics this week with mixed reviews. The look and visual effects of the movie are outstanding! The casting director managed to put together one of the most amazing cast for a film in recent years. I believe most people will unfortunately dislike this ultra-violent bloody comic book adaptation. There are 3 main storylines in this weird film; 1 with Clive Owen, 1 with Bruce Willis and 1 with Mickey Rourke (barely recognizable with his makeup!). Finally, a movie that's exciting and original !


CD : "MOBY - Hotel"

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Moby became a superstar with his album "Play" many years ago now... Unfortunately, it's still his best album by far. His new record "Hotel" is better than his previous one "18". The first single "Beautiful" is very catchy and serves as the theme song from the WB show "The Starlet". The whole Cd is very laid-back and melancolic and also includes a second fully-ambient disc. Overall, the result is very good if you're in the mood for some relaxing music.


MOVIE : "BAD EDUCATION"

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If you like foreign films and Pedro Almodovar movies, you'll like this one too. Unfortunately "La Mala Educacion" is not as good as his previous two films "All About My Mother" and "Talk To Her". Like his other films, this one is also weird and stars spanish superstar Gael Garcia Bernal (also seen in "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "The Motorcycle Diaries").


CD : "QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - Lullabies to Paralyze"

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The first single off this new record "Little Sister" will grow on you... The more I listen to this song, the more I love it. This CD is very very good. Actually, it's almost as good as their previous record, "Songs for the Deaf". Since the last record, the whole band changed except the frontman... and they still sound great. There are a few truly amazing songs on this CD including the great "Everybody Knows That You're Insane".


Friday, April 01, 2005

CD : "LIFEHOUSE - Lifehouse"

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This third CD from Lifehouse is good, as were their previous two albums. The first album "No Name Face" is the one that made them superstars with the greatly popular single "Hanging By A Moment".. The second Cd, was also good, but did not sell very well. Hopefully, this one will get the publicity it deserves. The first single "You and Me" represents the new album very well.