Janet Jackson's "Feedback"

So, what's the feedback on Janet Jackson's latest single and video "Feedback"?  Well, the song is getting more radio play than previous flops "I Want You" and "So Excited". But, overall, "Feedback" is looking to be one of Janet's more successful singles in her post-"Nipplegate" career. Personally, I think the song is a step back for Miss Jackson.  It's catchy, but it's also overproduced, with no trace of Jackson's real voice, and it can only be a disappointment when you know she's capable of so much more.

Remember Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 from 1989? What about The Velvet Rope from 1997? Both great albums with strong production values, good song-writing and a clear vision.

Singles like "Nasty", "Let's Wait Awhile", "Escapade" and "Together Again" had great hooks and you could sense Jackson's individuality and personality shine through. But since 2001's All For You, Janet Jackson is not trying to raise the bar, she's trailing along with the other sexy R&B and pop singers.  The only thing is Janet is older, and now in her 40s, she is trying too hard to look, and sound, younger. 

The Janet from the '80s and '90s was tougher, sexier,  more independent.  But now she just tries too hard to be sexy.  Look at the video for "Feedback". It's a silly space opera where it appears Janet is dancing in milk. It looks cheap, and it's a disappointment from an artist who made groundbreaking videos such as "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation" and "If" throughout the late '80s and '90s.

Let's hope Janet's upcoming album Discipline will have a little more depth than what we've heard from her recently.  But I suspect Janet will be playing it safe this time, and will be going for a more youthful sound, similar to Britney's Blackout and Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape. 

But Janet Jackson is a talented artist -- she did have an amazing career from 1986 to about 2000 until she started trying to hard to be as sexy and controversial as Madonna. But, Janet, what have you done for us lately?

Oscar Buzz: Jennifer Garner

Over the past few weeks, Juno has become the sleeper hit of the holiday season and is looking to be a front-runner for the Oscar nominations this season.  Both the film's star, Ellen Page, and screenwriter, Diablo Cody, are getting both the Oscar buzz and the praise, and deservedly so. But Jennifer Garner, one of the film's co-stars, is also worthy of praise and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In the film, Garner plays Vanessa, a seemingly uptight yuppie married to Mark, played by Jason Bateman. When Page's character of Juno gets pregnant, she decides to give up her unborn baby up for adoption to Vanessa and Mark. Throughout the film, we see Vanessa's overwhelming desire to be a mother, a desire that warms both Juno and the audience's heart. The film's best scene is set in a mall, where the expecting (and showing) Juno and Vanessa unexpectedly run into each other, and share an unexpected bond. Garner is simply astonishing in this scene, conveying her character's emotion without uttering a single word. It's the film's emotional highlight. 

I'm afraid Garner's performance will get overlooked in favour of Page and Cody.  But hopefully the Oscar ballots will include Garner's name. 

R.I.P. Music World

As you have probably heard, Canadian music store chain Music World has closed.  The past few weeks, its various stores have been having clearance sales, much to the delight of bargain-hunters.  I do not consider the closure of Music World as significant a loss as the closing of Sam the Record Man last June because MW was never more than a chain that sold the popular music of the day.  It carried the latest chart hits, but never carried an extensive (or varied) catalogue as Sam or HMV, so you could not rely on MW to carry local Canadian talent or that import from England. But the closing of MW once again reaffirms the Canadian music retail scene is on its last legs, and forcing collectors who like to purchase their music via vinyl and CD to switch over to digital formats.  What does the closing of Music World mean for HMV and Sunrise?

Gorgeous!

Idina Menzel, the talented actress/singer/diva, who was so wonderful in the Broadway production of Wicked (and won the Tony for her performance) is releasing a new album in early '08 called I Stand.  But Idina is providing a sneak preview to her album on iTunes with the release of a new digital EP featuring remixes of her new single "Gorgeous", and well, they are... gorgeous!  In particular, the Tracy Young remix is outstanding (Young also did an excellent remix of Idina's "Defying Gravity" from Wicked last year).  So head over to iTunes and download them!

Burn This Disco Out... Saturday Night Fever 30 Years Later

The other day I was in a used CD store and purchased the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Coincidentally, the soundtrack and the movie are both celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.

So, how do the soundtrack and movie hold up in 2007?

Pretty good.  After all, you can still see many of the iconic images in today's pop culture. Most notably, Madonna's "Hung Up" video harkened back to the film when she donned her much-discussed purple leotard; she also donned John Travolta's white suit when she performed her hit "Music", set to "Disco Inferno", from the SNF soundtrack during her 2006 Confessions tour.

Firstly, the film.  Anyone expecting Saturday Night Fever to be a feel-good dance movie will be disappointed. What has always struck me while watching SNF is how dark it is.  John Travolta plays Tony, a young Italian man growing up in Brooklyn.  Tony's life seems to revolve around working in the local paint store, hanging out with his boorish friends and dancing at the local disco.  Dancing is a talent Tony displays at 2001 Odyssey, but Tony isn't quite sure what to do with his talent. He definitely has aspirations to leave Brooklyn, but he's not quite sure how to find his way out. Tony begins to fall for Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney), also from Brooklyn but who now lives in Manhattan, a place where Tony aspires to reside. Tony is drawn to both Stephanie and her dancing, and decides to enter into a dancing contest with her at 2001 Odyssey, despite having already promised to dance with Annette (Donna Pescow), a bubbly, voluptuous dancer who harbours a long-lingering crush on Tony.  To Tony, Stephanie represents the class and sophistication he aspires to but cannot find in Brooklyn, his friends, or Annette. 

The story of SNF would make it seem like a romantic dance movie, but it's actually a character study of a youth struggling to find himself in a sexist and racist community.  Tony and his friends may be out of school, but still behave immaturely, perhaps because they lack ambition or drive. Homophobia is rampant throughout the film, and racial slurs are abundant. Footloose this is not.  It is rather grim, with a suicidal character and a shocking rape scene.  In the age of Step Up, You Got Served, and Stomp the Yard, SNF will undoubtedly come across as a depressing dance film.

Travolta is excellent as Tony, making him charismatic and sympathetic even when he acts like a louse.  It's easy to see why this film made him a movie star (and won him an Academy Award nomination). But Pescow is definitely the scene-stealer in SNF.  Why this film didn't lead to bigger success for her is a mystery.  She's wonderful as Annette, and she's a far superior dancer (and actress) than Gorney.  This is definitely one of the weaknesses of the film - why Tony would drop Annette, who is obviously the better dancer, for Stephanie in the dance contest,  is a flaw in the storytelling.  Gorney is hardly an adequate dancer, and she's lucky that Travolta carries their dance scenes together.  Travolta and Pescow have much better chemistry together. 

One of the strongest virtues of the film is its music. The soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever sounds as fresh as ever, thanks to the many Bee Gees hits sprinkled throughout.  The film used some older Bee Gees hits ("Jive Talkin'", "You Should Be Dancing") and the Brothers Gibb produced some new songs for the film, "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever" and "How Deep is Your Love", all of which became massive hits and part of music history.  These songs have not aged a bit and sound as good as ever.  They were overplayed to death on radio in the late '70s, so much so that when the Disco Kills movement kicked in in 1979, the Bee Gees were its first victim. I've always had trouble classifying the Bee Gees, and particularly their SNF hits as "disco".  To me, they sound more like pop songs with a slice of R&B rather than disco, but most people associate them with the genre that took radio (and dancefloors) by storm in the mid-to-late '70s. 

Most people remember the soundtrack for the Bee Gees songs, but SNF also featured songs by other performers, most notably Boogie Shoes by the K.C. and the Sunshine Band and the full length version of Disco Inferno by The Trammps.  The rest of the album is still pretty good, but nothing can top those Bee Gees classics. 

It's ironic that the soundtrack to SNF is uplifting, but the film is definitely not. Perhaps that's why this music is in the film -- the music that Tony longs to dance to on the dancefloor is the only joy he has in his life. And the music of Saturday Night Fever definitely brings lots of joy. 

Sweeney Todd: Bloody good!

After the success of Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the pairing of film director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp continues to work wonders with their new film,  an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical Sweeney Todd. 

Burton is probably the most suitable director for this adaptation.  After all, Sweeney Todd is not your average musical.  Who else but Burton could adapt a musical about a murderous barber who seeks revenge on those who wronged him and sent him to prison?  Burton allows the macabre elements of the piece to shine, but he also captures the humour and tragedy of the story as well, shot in stunning cinematography.

Because it is a musical, audiences will get a chance to hear Depp sing.  He does a fine job, I must admit, much better than co-star Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Mrs. Lovett, an eccentric baker who goes into "business" with Todd by grinding his victims' bodies into her meat pies.  Carter is very good in her role, capturing the eccentricity and loneliness of Lovett, even if she stumbles when she opens her mouth to sing.  Alan Rickman, playing Depp's nemesis, is also excellent, and his singing voice is pretty good.

The music from Sweeney Todd is some of Sondheim's finest and the highlight is definitely Depp and Rickman's duet of "Pretty Women". 

Sweeney Todd is very much in the tradition of Burton and Depp's other collaborations in that it is not for everyone.  Many will be put off by the violence and grim nature of the story, but those willing to stick with it will be engrossed by the story, music, and cinematography.  Along with Hairspray, Sweeney Todd is a good example of how a stage musical should be adapted to the screen.

2007: A Year in Review

2007 was quite a year in entertainment.  Perhaps it will be better known for the salacious stories involving Anna Nicole, Britney, Paris et al than quality entertainment, but let's bring the focus back to the arts.  Here's a roundup of some of the best and the worst of 2007 in my humble opinion.

Stars of the Year:

Josh Brolin

Who would have thought James' son (ad Barbra's stepson) and the teenage star of The Goonies would grow up into an exciting actor with movie-star looks and impressive acting chops?  2007 was definitely the year for Brolin, giving a frightening performance as an abusive husband in Part one of Grindhouse; and basically carrying No Country for Old Men, not an easy feat considering co-star Javier Bardem is getting all the praise.  But Brolin is just as worthy of applause.  

Amy Adams

Believe the hype surrounding this talented actress.  Already an Oscar nominee a few years back for Junebug, Adams is courting A-list status with her dynamic performance in the Disney charmer Enchanted.  While it's not a perfect film, Adams' performance is worth the price of admission.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Really Pfeiffer should be in the category of Comeback of the Year, considering 2007 was the first time she appeared onscreen in five years, but with two great performances in Hairspray and Stardust respectively, Pfeiffer reminded audiences why she's one of Hollywood's best actresses.  Sure she looks fabulous as she pushes 50, but Pfeiffer has never relied on her looks for her acting, and she was wise not to take the lead roles in both films, suggesting that she could have a successful career as a character actress in the next phase of her career.

Rihanna 

The young R&B/pop singer proved that music listeners want to hear songs with fun melodies and easy-to-sing-along-with lyrics on the radio at a time when there is a dearth of good music on your local station.  "Umbrella" was undoubtedly the pop song of the year; the type of pop song that seniors, adults and children alike could sing along to.  But Rihanna's next two singles "Shut Up & Drive" and "Don't Stop the Music" were equally catchy.

Sarah Polley

The talented Canadian actress and filmmaker stunned movie audiences with an impressive film debut, Away From Her,  and directed Gordon Pinsent to a career-best performance.

Daft Punk

They had one of the best tours of the year, which in turn became one of the best albums of the year (Alive 2007).  This French electronica duo may seem a bit passe in 2007, but they continue to be truly inventive and exciting at a time when music rarely is. 

David Cronenberg

Here is a director working at peak level.  Could the director make anything as good (or even better) as A History of Violence?  Two words: Eastern Promises.

Most Overrated 

Katherine Heigl

I don't get the buzz around her.  She's okay on Grey's Anatomy (but winning the Emmy over Sandra Oh?? Please) and was passable in Knocked Up (in what was basically a thankless role anyway), but I find her acting just average.

Most Underrated Films of 2007

Grindhouse - Okay, so this was essentially an exercise in self indulgence for directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino to re-create the grindhouse experience, but this is one example where the self-indulgence made for one great movie experience. Tarantino's Death Proof, anchored by a solid performance by Kurt Russell, is superior to Rodriguez's Planet Terror (which is still a fun zombie flick) but you couldn't find two more entertaining flicks in 2007.

Michael Clayton - is there a more interesting movie star in movies today than George Clooney? When this film failed to open big on its opening weekend, critics claimed Clooney could not open a film and his stock was dropping. But Michael Clayton is that rare film - a thoughtful and intelligent film AND an entertaining popcorn flick, carried by Clooney's solid performance. Why audiences stayed away, I cannot explain.  But its failure at the box office may hurt Clooney and co-stars Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton's chances for Oscar nominations, but let's hope the Academy recognizes this film in order that it gets a second chance.

Once - this charming movie of two street musicians who fall in love while creating a demo tape together is the unlikeliest musical of the year, but it's also one of the best films of 2007. Now that is out on DVD, check it out.

Most Overrated Films of 2007

Knocked Up - Seth Rogan gave a surprisingly tender performance in this box-office hit, but I'm not sure why audiences drooled over the film.  Sure it was entertaining, but a four-star comedy? Hardly.

Transformers - Hyped as THE popcorn flick of 2007, Transformers had great special effects, but was overlong and rather dull at points. 

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End - What began as a fun pirate adventure, has turned into an overlong, bloated, and confusing ordeal, with no intention of entertaining, but making money. 

Biggest Surprises of 2007

Hairspray - Here was a musical that cut out some songs and changed a few details in the story from the stage version, yet has already become a classic screen musical.  With a great cast (particularly Nikki Blonsky, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer) and solid direction, Hairspray proved once again that the musical is still alive and kicking.

Rob Zombie's Halloween

 After horrible "re-imaginings" such as The Fog and Black Christmas, the idea that anyone would remake John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic seemed like treason, but Zombie's sombre and surprisingly moving re-imagining caught many by surprise. What made Zombie's remake unique is that he provided a backstory to Myer's troubled life, focusing on his dysfunctional family.  Halfway through the film, Zombie basically remakes Carpenter's slasher saga and the film suffers for it, but the first half of Zombie's Halloween is worth seeing, thanks to Zombie's talent for painting a unique - and tragic - family. 

Britney Spears - Blackout

What should have been one of the worst albums of 2007, became one of the most well-reviewed albums of the year.  Her life may be in turmoil, but Spears once again proves she has a knack for picking great producers and crafting perfect pop songs. 

Biggest Disappointments of 2007

We Will Rock You - a horrible theatrical attempt to put Queen's songs on stage, it flounders in every aspect: writing, singing and staging with lame jokes sprinkled throughout. Just terrible.

The Simpsons Movie  - okay, it didn't suck and featured a few laughs, but who didn't feel a bit let down by the highly-anticipated movie version of the popular television series?  

Best DVD

Blade Runner: The Ultimate Collector's Edition

Ridley Scott's futuristic epic from 1982 fizzled in theatres at the time and has had a tumultuous history since then, having been tweaked and retooled in the ensuing years.  There are at least five different versions of Blade Runner out there, and this edition gathers all of them together.  It may be too much for the casual Blade Runner fan, but for movie buffs who love to watch different versions of one film, particularly one as divisive as Blade Runner, the Ultimate Collector's Edition is worth every penny.

Best Music DVD

Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Otis Redding's death, Dreams to Remember is a superb documentary about the soul legend's career, including interviews with those who knew him and worked with him, and performances by Redding sprinkled throughout.  A must for any music fan.

Most Underused

Ellen Barkin - It was great to see Barkin back on the screen, vamping her way through Ocean's Thirteen, but the film really didn't know what to do with her. Hopefully she'll get a bit of Pfeiffer's luck and find roles worthy of her talent.

Regina King - why isn't King a bigger star and getting better roles?  She steals almost every scene she's in (Jerry Maguire, Ray, This Christmas), but she rarely gets the lead role, or a role to let her exercise her acting muscles. Hollywood, are you listening?

Best Trend of 2007

Sequels don't necessarily have to suck

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Spider-Man 3 suffered from excessive lengths and too many sub-plots, and overindulgence. But not all sequels in 2007 sucked. Live Free or Die Hard should have been a stinker, but unlike other sequels in 2007, the fourth installment in the Die Hard series was lean and got back to basics, delivering entertaining action without the excessive fat.  The Bourne Ultimatum proved that a series can get even stronger as it goes on. 

Worst Trend of 2007

Restrictive and confusing (legal) music downloading

If digital music companies want us to download legally (and through our pockets), why are some of the practices so confusing and restrictive? Case in point - iTunes.  Overall I like it, but certain songs you have to download the WHOLE album in order to get that bonus remix of Madonna's Get Together or another song you really, really want. Or  an album will be advertised, but when you click on it to buy it, a disclaimer pops up saying it's not available in the Canadian store.  These are definitely not customer-friendly practices.

Comeback of the Year

Spice Girls Reunion

We knew it was inevitable that the British girl group would reunite, and we knew that it would happen as a result of a big paycheque.  Sure, their first single in seven years "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" was a stiff, but consensus from fans regarding the show has been that it's a complete winner, entertaining fans nostalgic for the days when radio played fun pop songs. And they do look fabulous. Old Spice? Nah.