Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

Go to Source

The late, great, Patrick Swayze managed to have a long and varied career that encompassed almost every kind of movie you can name (action) Red Dawn, (romance) Dirty Dancing, (cult comedy) To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, and (sci-fi drama) Donnie Darko — and that’s just scratching the surface. The above quote kicks off the first episode of The Beast, and it perfectly describes Swayze’s final role as Charles Barker, an FBI agent who seems to have lost faith in the system he works in.

Praised by critics for its gritty portrayal of the FBI it’s a show that ended too soon due to Swayze’s unfortunate illness, and Swayze in particular was singled out for his performance. TV critic Alan Sepinwall said, “…you watch Swayze in The Beast, and you realize that this is the best performance of his career….”

Before his untimely passing, one of the series creators, William Rotko, was asked about the decision to cast a man who was more legendary as a romantic lead, than a gritty cop:

“Well, when we were casting the pilot, you know, there’s about — there’s a bunch of stars that you can use to cast in the Barker part. And we as a group, and I think with Sony casting at that point, eventually with A&E, thought what about Patrick Swayze. And it seemed at the time like kind of an odd choice. This is Dirty Dancing … but we met with him and sat down with him at the Beverly Regent Hotel, and his face immediately leapt towards us as it’s changed and not by surgery. I mean, it’s changed because he’s gotten older, you know, and more gritty. And we thought, God, this is a wonderful opportunity for him to do something I think that’s somewhat a little bit of a departure for him, and at the same time a wonderful opportunity for us because he’s a big movie star and also because he was so passionate about the material. I mean, he really, really wanted to do this show … He’s an amazing individual.”

So Swayze fans … have you checked it out yet?

Of course, as you watch the story unfold here on Crackle, keep in mind that it’s more than just a show. You can actually play your own part in the story by getting involved in Ellis’ Lockbox, and if you’re curious as to what that is, I guess you’ll just have to watch the show, and play along.

Make sure you also come back to the blog next Monday for an interview with one of the stars of The Beast, the lovely and talented Lindsay Pulsipher.

CJ – Crackle Blog Editor

Go to Source

It’s another week, and another bunch of films are coming into your local theaters. If you’re like me, you hate exposing yourself to that pesky H1N1 and you’re pretty sure the kid dishing out the popcorn hasn’t washed his hands. If you’re going out, remember to smuggle in some pop secret under a bulky sweater. Or, just strap on a “snuggie,” settle in front of your laptop and watch a bunch of alternative movies right here on Crackle. Once again – props to Iddo the Intern for helping put this list together.

Edge of Darkness (click for ticket info)
A salty Boston cop loses his daughter on the steps of his home, while in pursuit of her killer he uncovers her secret life and discovers cover-ups and collusion. Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Bojana Novakovic. The Crackle Alternative: This movie is actually based on a British miniseries, also called Edge of Darkness, and it also reminds me of a story from my buddy Bill about how when he went to see the Mel Gibson movie Ransom with his older brother. Bill’s bro went to the ticket window and said, “I’d like two tickets to… GIVE ME BACK MY SON!” which practically knocked her down. So between the TV connection and the kidnapping, Iddo and I would like to recomend you check out another dramatic kidnapping story, the short lived yet critically acclaimed show, Kidnapped. The entire series is all right here so you can watch it like one really long movie.

When in Rome (click for ticket info)
Take a career driven woman who can’t find love, put her in Rome and add a magic fountain and an odd assortment of suitors. Ladies, grab yer’ fella’s! Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard. The Crackle Alternative: My first suggestion is Tiptoes, which many of you know is my go to when anyone say “romantic comedy” (just take a look at last week’s list). There’s some romance in it … but the comedy is unintentional — and guys, this is the perfect anecdote for one to many “chick flicks.” Of course the other suggestion stars Mr. Jon Heder; the Crackle Original zombie comedy, Woke Up Dead. There’s real “brains” in it.

Saint John of Las Vegas (click for ticket info)
This is a very loose adaptation of Dante’s Inferno, in which an ex-gambler gets schooled by a wacky insurance fraud investigator. Starring: Steve Buscemi, Romany Malco, Sarah Silverman, Peter Dinklage, Tim Blake Nelson, John Cho, Emmanuelle Chriqui. The Crackle Alternative: The alternative is a simple one, and it also happens to star both Steve Buscemi and Peter Dinklage: Living in Oblvion. Appropriately enough it’s all about the hell of film making. Although if we’re just talking actors… have I mentioned that Dinklage is also in Tiptoes? (YES! Twice in one post!)

So go out — or stay in — but tell us all about what YOU saw this weekend below.

CJ (Crackle Blog Editor) & Iddo (Crackle Intern)

Go to Source

Welcome to another post from our weekly series here on Crackle, where we feature a new fan every Friday. Today’s spotlight falls on Gregory Sloan, who was able to nail The Karate Kid just by seeing a glimpse of Kreese’s snake tattoo, securing his win in last Friday’s Faceoff competition. How was Greg able to recognize a sliver of scale, and karate chop his win?  Well, let’s find out:

1. What’s your name? Greg Sloan aka ADKmdk187
2. Where are you online (social profiles), and how did you choose your screen name? FACEBOOK. My nickname is Arlo D. Killa, I got the Arlo part in 8th grade cause some people that i worked with said that I was shaped like a pear. There was a movie out at that time called Moving with Richard Pryor and his characters name was Arlo Pear. Then mdk187 is Murder Death Kill code 187 from the movie Demolition Man.
3. What is your favorite website of all time? Webchat Broadcasting System. It’s not around anymore but in the 90’s is was a huge online chat community before FACEBOOK, MYSPACE & TWITTER. I am still friends with people that I met on WBS some 15 years later.
4. How did you hear about Crackle? Because of the crackle original show with Jon Heder Woke Up Dead and also I am a big fan of Sony.
5. What is your favorite movie? Ghostbusters.
6. Can you sum up why it is so awesome in one sentence? Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver & Directed by Ivan Reitman, enough said.
7. For you, what is the most important component of a movie? Is it the characters, the writing, directing, cinematography, etc? For me into depends on the genre. If its an art house (indie) then i’m looking for the writing. If its a comedy its the characters and the writing. If its a popcorn flick (which i do like alot, which people give me flack for) Im not looking for anything but mindless action, I don’t care about the plot as long as it’s easy to follow. With the popcorn flicks I just want to have a good time and have fun, that’s why I always get flack from my friends cause of how much I love Michael Bay. He is the king of popcorn flicks. My mom always gets on me when Im telling her about movies that I’ve seen recently. She keeps on telling me I just want to know how the movie is I don’t want to know the director and what other movies he directed or the cinematographer and what awards he or she has won.
8. The movie you most remember from your childhood?The Karate Kid Cause I used to get picked on alot cause I didn’t have all the cool clothes and I was a little husky. I just idolized Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio). I wanted to be just like him and take down the bullies and get respect. Also at the same time to get dicipline and honor.
   
9. Most obscure and “niche-y” movie ever seen?I would have to say one that I just saw and was happy somebody in america made this type of movie that hasn’t been made in awhile Ninja Assassin. It had all the components of a great ninja movie that I used to watch when I was younger. It fit that niche perfectly.
10. If you could pick any movie character to get in a fight with, who would it be, what weapons would you two use, and why would you want to fight them? Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) from The Karate Kid. I would only use the karate that I was taught, and to use my mind and my heart more than my fists. Just to take all the frustrations out on him for all the abuse I got from people like him in school growing up.

Thanks again Greg! Want to be next Friday’s featured fan? Well, to tweak a phrase from Indiana Jones, “Only the attentive fan will pass…” Tune into the Facebook Fan Page each Friday and play “Faceoff Friday,” where we black out a scene from a classic movie in Crackle’s library. Every couple hours we will unveil a new portion of the photo and the first fan to correctly guess the movie will win a featured post the following Friday. It’s that simple!

So jump on over to the Fanpage , and answer today’s “Faceoff Friday” post.

Chad – Community Manager

Go to Source

In the ’40s J.D. Salinger tried to work with Hollywood to turn some of his work into a movie. The result was 1949’s My Foolish Heart, which departed so far from his original story, “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut,” that Salinger staunchly opposed any future adaptations of his work, including The Catcher In the Rye. At the same time, Salinger was known to be a devoted movie buff. To commemorate his recent passing we here at Crackle suggest two things, first, read Catcher. Then, check out the following movies that all have just a small dash of “Holden Caulfield” in them.

7. Band of the Hand (Crackle)

This first suggestion is probably the reason why Salinger never wanted to work with Hollywood. At the heart of it, The Catcher In the Rye is about a disaffected youth who’s trying to understand the world. This film is about disaffected youth too, but it’s told in the style of Michael Bay. Here, five punks form a vigilante squad in order to take down some dope dealers. It’s not literary, but it has at least as much to do with Salinger’s work as Dilbert: “The Return” which actually references Holden directly.

6. SLC Punk (Crackle)

More angry youth screaming about the hypocrisies of the world, with humor, music and really amazing hair.

5. Welcome to the Dollhouse (Crackle)

The director and writer of this film, Todd Solondz, has been held up as a torch bearer of the Holden Caulfield attitude – and once again in this story, the kids ain’t alright … in fact, they’re pissed.

4. Withnail and I (Crackle)

While the “youth” here may be a tad older than Holden, this film had a similar effect on British youth to the way that The Catcher In the Rye had on American kids. One of the film’s actors, Richard Griffiths has expressed , “that it is not uncommon for him to be approached in the street by young autograph hounds carrying the Withnail & I videocassette on their person, much as Mark David Chapman toted around The Catcher in the Rye. ‘People have got them in their pockets!’ he said. ‘What they’re doing with them, God knows.’”

3. Black and White (Crackle)

This small movie from 2000 may not, on it’s surface, seem like it has anything to do with the story of 1940s youth, seeing as it’s about the influence of rap on high school kids. But, when you tell the story of teenagers in a NY prep school who do a combination of carousing and complaining, you begin to see that all Holden Caulfield really needed was to get involved in hip-hop.

2. Taxi Driver (Crackle)

The connections here are both legendary and spooky. Travis Bickle is sometimes held up as an example of what would have happened to Holden Caulfield if he grew up – older and more bitter. Both Holden and Travis get involved in sexless encounters with ladies of the night and both could be described as obsessive and protective of “innocents.” Of course there’s also the link through attempted presidential assassin, John Hinkley Jr., who had a well known like for both Taxi Driver and The Catcher In the Rye.

1. The 39 Steps (Internet Archive)

This movie is a Hitchcock classic, that came out well before anyone ever cared about Holden Caulfield. On the other hand, Salinger was a known fan, and in Catcher it’s even listed as Holden’s sister Phoebe’s favorite film. The 39 Steps is a classic thriller about an innocent man on the run, (perhaps there are some parallel’s that can be drawn to Holden?). Interestingly enough, this is a movie that was based on a book.

So dust off that copy of The Catcher In the Rye, and read it today — then decide if any movie is really worth your time.

CJ – Crackle Blog Editor

Go to Source

For a moment, let’s ignore the fact Bannen’s uncle, Mr. B, is a murdering mob boss. Let’s look at him as a family man. He gets a bit of a bad rap from Bannen. I think, if you look at him in the right light, he’s actually a very caring individual, who, like all men, wants to see his progeny do well and follow in his footsteps.

If you haven’t watched the whole show yet, do it now … SPOILERS BELOW.

It turns out that Mr. B, (who was possibly called “Uncy B” by Neal as a child), is actually his fake uncle. Mr. B probably never meant to fall in love with the same woman his brother loved, I mean, imagine how painful it would be to see your own son look at you as his uncle? He probably wanted to raise his child as his own, but out of regard for the woman he cared for, he followed her wishes and became the uncle. Then being involved in that same woman’s death, (even though it was more his brother’s fault than his own), that must do something to a man.

That must create the kind of person who is capable of creating the kind of cruel empire that he did.

That same pain would motivate someone to think they know what’s best for the child they were never able to call son.

Yes, it’s true that Mr. B not only never respects Bannen’s wishes to get out of the lifestyle he cherishes, but he also tries to kill the woman Bannen himself may just love. But Mr. B means well. Despite all the heartbreak in his life he’s still clearly a happy man, surrounded by Yes Men and money. He wants to give his son a comfortable life, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting that. His methods may be questionable, but no one ever said he makes the best choices when it comes to family.

What do you think?

Here’s hoping you visit your pop in jail, Neal.

Amber – Crackle Community Coordinator

Go to Source

Another Tuesday is upon us, which means that another deluge of DVDs have made it to your local DVD selling establishment. Iddo the Intern has done some great work compiling a list of a few of the mainstream titles, and together we have scraped together your Crackle alternatives. Through it all we had to ask ourselves, why do DVD’s come out on Tuesday anyway?

Michael Jackson’s This Is It (click for Amazon purchase)
I’m shocked if you don’t know this one. The final days of Michael Jackson are captured in this documentary made using approximately 80 hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage from his anticipated comeback shows. Starring: Michael Jackson. The Crackle Alternative: This Is It is a Sony release (Crackle’s big Papa), and you can catch an except from the red carpet premire right here. Yet, if you need to save a dime, catch the story of the urban rap scene’s influence on middle-class high school kids with the film Black and White from director James Toback. It’s shot in a documentary style, packed with high profile actors and was largely improvised. It’s important to note that with a Central Park threesome in the first five minutes — this movie has NOTHING to do with the Jackson song with a similar name.

Whip It (click for Amazon purchase)
Tired of being pushed into beauty pageants, a Texas teen rebels against her folks and joins a female roller derby team. (a.k.a. Juno on wheels.) Starring: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Sarah Habel, Shannon Eagen, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Zoe Bell. The Crackle Alternative: You can almost have a Whip It themed film festival right here. For starters, you can catch clips of the film’s director, Drew Barrymore, in the flicks Charlies Angels and Charlies Angels: Full Throttle. Then watch one of the film’s costars, Zoe Bell, in her Crackle Original feature, Angel of Death. To bring it full circle, catch the original Charlie’s Angels as they go undercover at a roller derby in the episode “Death on Wheels” (Minisode below). The circle of life is complete.

Saw VI (click for Amazon purchase)
The hack and splatter returns in this sixth installment of the horror franchise, in which the FBI draws closer to understanding Jigsaw’s grand scheme. (Iddo: “It took the FBI 6 movies to get to this guy?”) Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith, Peter Outerbridge. The Crackle Alternative: Right now we have 25 full length horror films on the site, but if it’s gore you’re looking for, try one of Tarantino’s favorites, The Beyond, which was described by Crackle user Lawrence Fitzgerald as, “Wow good stuff totally sick, I almost barfed I loved it.”

Surrogates (click for Amazon purchase)
In a world where people live their lives via perfect robotic surrogates an FBI agent investigates a murder and discovers a vast conspiracy. Starring: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames The Crackle Alternative: You can catch Bruce Willis in clips from another sci-fi action thriller The Fifth Element. We also have the full William Gibson inspired sci-fi action film Johnny Mnemonic, and for a real trip check out the lush anime robot film, Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis.

The Boys Are Back (click for Amazon purchase)
This is the true story of a man who must raise his two sons, with the aid of his son from his first marriage, after the untimely passing of his second wife. Starring: Clive Owen, Laura Fraser, Emma Booth, George MacKay. The Crackle Alternative: Sure, we could take the easy way out and suggest that you catch clips of The International staring Clive Owen, but Iddo came up with an even better substitute for a maudlin tale of a mother’s early death … My Two Dads.

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (click for Amazon purchase)
Tucker tricks his buddy Dan into lying to his fiancée, so they can go to a legendary strip club to celebrate Dan’s last days of bachelorhood in proper style. Hillarity ensues. Starring: Traci Lords, Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford. The Crackle Alternative: Some have suggested that this movie highlights the worst in male chauvinism. I say, let’s keep that strip club theme alive! If you haven’t checked out the Crackle Original The Bannen Way, now’s the time – Bannen even visits a strip club in episode nine, “The Bait”. Or if you just want a quick laugh, there’s always this jem of a clip from Beverly Hills Ninja: “Strip Club.”

That’s just a few of the DVDs coming out today, and if there are others you’d recommend, leave your suggestions below. If you need more DVD advice, may I suggest checking out Rob Hunter’s column from Film School Rejects, “This Week In DVD”. In particular he has me interested in the horror film Pontypool. Once you’re watched a few flicks, go over there, and check it out.

Film on!

CJ (Crackle Blog Editor) & Iddo (Crackle Intern)

Go to Source

He’s the man who took horror to new depths of depravity with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and today he turns another year older. In honor of his horrific achievements we’d like to offer him a slaughtered piece of poetry known as the birthday haiku.

Hooper began his career as a documentary cameraman and college professor, but like so many, he got tired of pretentious college kids and decided to eviscerate them on film. He is world renown for his work on Massacre and Poltergeist, but he also directed the “space vampire” flick, Lifeforce, written by cult sci-fi master Dan O’Bannon (which you can watch here at crackle).

If you need more Hooper adjacent horror, check out one of of Hooper’s earliest actors, a guy who later became a horror icon, Robert Englund, in the original online series Fear Clinic.

Pieces out.

CJ – Crackle Blog Editor

Go to Source

With Valentine’s Day at its heart, February is the month for love … of all kinds.  Therefore, this month’s Movie Dearest calendar wallpaper salutes the many kinds of cinematic “strange love”, unlikely romances that think outside the box.

And, as seen in several “beauty and the beast” scenarios, sometimes that is outside the species, not to mention love connections that transcend age, class and (surprise) gender differences.  Then there is the undying love (literally) of ghosts and the undead, not to mention the spark of amour that can be ignited between a certain pair of robotic lovebirds.  These may not be your typical examples of film romance, but they sure are some of the most memorable.

All you have to do is click on the picture above to enlarge it, then simply right click your mouse and select “Set as Background”. (You can also save it to your computer and set it up from there if you prefer.) The size is 1024 x 768, but you can modify it if needed in your own photo-editing program.

Go to Source

The Church has many saints, and several Saint Johns. Saint John of Las Vegas isn’t currently among this heavenly company, but it is a new movie being released in select cities starting today.

Steve Buscemi — veteran of the gay classic Parting Glances and many other memorable films — stars as John, a compulsive gambler who has fled from Las Vegas following a run of bad luck. Now living in the decidedly less-full-of-temptation city of Albuquerque, John works for an auto insurance company headed by Mr. Townsend (the always-enjoyable Peter Dinklage). John also enjoys a flirtatious friendship with his cubicle neighbor, the excessively optimistic Jill (a great turn by comedienne Sarah Silverman).

Mr. Townsend assigns John to investigate a potential fraudulent claim involving a questionable car accident that took place outside Las Vegas. John is hesitant to return there, but the promise of a promotion lures him. Accompanied by Virgil (Romany Malco), the agency’s top fraud-debunker, John confronts his addiction through a series of bizarre encounters with nude militants headed by a full-frontal Tim Blake Nelson, a stripper paralyzed from the waist down, and a human torch (played by an unrecognizable John Cho, who played Sulu in the recent Star Trek reboot) stuck inside his flammable outfit, among others.

Saint John of Las Vegas marks the feature debut of writer-director Hue Rhodes. He states in the press notes that this script was inspired by the “surreal” nature of modern corporate life. The film certainly is surreal at times, and simply baffling at others. I’m still not sure the climax’s twist and its aftermath add up logically, but I won’t give things away here.

Rhodes’ effort sports many of the flaws found in filmmakers’ freshman efforts, but there is also quite a bit to like. The performances are uniformly excellent and there is an effective, Tarantino-esque balance of humor and menace. The Vegas and New Mexico locations are attractive and well filmed.

This film is also the first production by IndieVest, a promising new independent company. IndieVest’s mission/approach is explained in the press notes thusly: “Whereas most independent films are produced with the hopes of securing distribution after they are completed, IndieVest’s model involves raising enough financing from its pool of investors (which includes Spike Lee and Stanley Tucci) to pay for both production and an independent theatrical release.”

Saint John of Las Vegas is far from perfect, but so were most of the men and women venerated today as saints in heaven. Like them, Hue Rhodes and IndieVest definitely show potential.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Go to Source

If you, like me, spent your teen years obsessing over getting into the next high school musical, you’ll find a lot to identify with — and enjoy — in Drama Queers!

Author Frank Anthony Polito’s fab follow up to his debut novel Band Fags!, Drama Queers! recounts in loving detail the trials and tribulations of, you guessed it, being a “drama queer”.  Stuck in the “sorry little suburb” of Hazel Park, Michigan circa 1987, Polito’s semi-autobiographical protagonist, Bradley James Dayton, yearns to be a star of stage and screen … but first he has to graduate from “Hillbilly High”.  Complicating matters is his reluctance to be an “openly gay actor”, a situation not made any easier when the senior falls for a cute sophomore who also happens to be his chief rival for the lead in the next school play.  And that’s just a hint of all the “drama” in this drama department.

Enriching Polito’s first-person narrative is a steady stream of pop culture references familiar to anyone who grew up in the 80’s, from Jane Seymour’s Somewhere in Time monologue to the love theme from Ice Castles.  Take it from a fellow member of the Class of ‘87, Drama Queers! is one “totally awesome” flashback you’ll want to take.

Go to Source

The British are coming, but this time they aren’t sporting redcoats and muskets. Instead, they have Rupert Everett in drag and two hot, female singer-songwriters in their arsenal. Having sampled this assortment, I predict the Brits will have a better run in the colonies in 2010 than they did 230+ years ago!

First up is the DVD release today of the delightful St. Trinian’s, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. One of the highest-grossing independent British films of all time, it features the openly gay Everett and an all-star cast of gay faves including Colin Firth (the current A Single Man), Stephen Fry (Wilde) and Toby Jones, who played Truman in that “other” Capote biopic, Infamous. In addition, British comedian Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) disguises himself in one scene as a flamboyantly gay count.

Everett actually plays two roles in St. Trinian’s: the dotty Camilla Fritton, martini-swilling headmistress of the title high school for girls, and her conniving brother. Mr. Fritton has just enrolled his daughter, Annabelle (Talulah Riley), at St. Trinian’s, where she is quickly set upon by the school’s assortment of troubled teens. These include the Emos (short for “emotionally unstable,” Goth-looking girls), the Posh Totty sorority of spoiled pretty girls, and the Chavs, an entrepreneurial clique of multi-ethnic young ladies who have developed, among other things, designer tampons.

St. Trinian’s poor reputation draws the attention of Britain’s new Minister of Education, who is played by Firth. Intent on shutting the bankrupt, under-achieving school down, the minister’s plans are complicated by his romantic history with Camilla as well as the students’ scheme to raise money to save their school … by stealing and selling Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painting. Or, as one of the dimmer girls incredulously inquires, “We’re going to steal Scarlett Johansson?”

Indeed, that 2003 movie (which starred Firth in addition to Johansson) and a host of other contemporary British films serve as fodder for some of the best lines and jokes in St. Trinian’s. When Ms. Fritton and Firth’s Education Minister meet and recognize each other, they declare of their prior relationship, “It was another time, another country.” This references the acclaimed 1984 film Another Country, in which they co-starred and Everett played a homosexual spy. St. Trinian’s script also includes witty jabs at the Harry Potter series, among other targets.

The movie is based on a series of comical drawings, “The Girls of St. Trinian’s,” by Ronald Searle, which were previously adapted into successful British film series in the 1950’s and 60’s. This new, randier version is directed and produced by Oliver Parker, who was behind the recent hit films of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. With its great cast, funny script and rockin’ soundtrack, you definitely ought to check it out.

Corinne Bailey Rae and V.V. Brown are the armed-and-dangerous chanteuses “crossing the pond” to the US. Bailey Rae burst onto the international music scene in 2006 with her pop-rock, self-titled debut album. The CD topped the UK charts in its first week of release and sold nearly 2 million copies in the states. It was also nominated for three 2007 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Life dealt Bailey Rae a considerable setback while preparing her follow up, The Sea, which is out today on EMI’s Capitol Records. The singer’s husband, Jason Rae, died from an accidental drug overdose in 2008. He was 31 years old. An article on Bailey Rae in the January 22, 2010 issue of Entertainment Weekly details her loss and struggle to overcome it.

The Sea is a more melancholy, jazz-leaning recording than her debut, but it is a gorgeous achievement both lyrically and sonically. Bailey Rae wrote most of the songs herself, with collaborators on three of them. “Are You Here” and “I’d Do It All Again” are standouts, and I like “The Blackest Lily” and “Love’s On Its Way” a lot as well. I anticipate more Grammy nominations for this album, and they won’t be out of sympathy.

Take equal parts Amy Winehouse and Pink, throw in a jigger of Crystal Waters, shake, pour and top with a dollop of Shirley Bassey, and you’ll begin to approximate the musical stylings of newcomer V.V. Brown. This Brit’s first CD, Travelling Like the Light, won’t be released in the US until March 16. However, it will be available for purchase as an iTunes exclusive for six weeks beginning February 2. It is, in a word, FABULOUS, and I’m so grateful to my PR friend Ryan in NYC for introducing me to V.V. and forwarding an advance copy of her CD on to me.

Brown’s songs are decidedly retro, sampling 1940’s jitterbug, 50’s doo-wop and early 90’s techno, among other genres. Virtually all of her tunes will make you want to dance and bring a smile to your face simultaneously. My personal favorites are “Shark in the Water,” “Bottles,” “I Love You” and the title track.

Both V.V. Brown and Corrine Bailey Rae are currently touring certain US cities, so be on the lookout for them should they invade a club near you. And buy their CDs, damn it! The Queen will thank you.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts
All The Best health Blog Posts From Arond The Web.

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts
All The Best health Blog Posts From Arond The Web.

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts
All The Best health Blog Posts From Arond The Web.

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts
All The Best health Blog Posts From Arond The Web.

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts

Go to Source

Wholeness: The Best health Blog Posts
All The Best health Blog Posts From Arond The Web.

Go to Source