Film
Deterrence
Starring Tim Hutton Kevin Pollak · Dir Rod Lurie
Because of its low-rent, indie film production budget, this gripping near-future tale takes place entirely in a diner, creating the feel of an old episode of Twilight Zone as much as a contemporary film. The President and his election team are trapped during bad weather in Colorado when the Iraqis invade Kuwait again. Only this time the President threatens to use nuclear weapons if they don't withdraw. The President is forced to solve the problem with potentially grim results while trapped under such isolated conditions. As an added twist President Walter Emerson played by Kevin Pollak (The Usuol Suspects), is our first jewish president. So the question is raised: will he launch the missiles into Iraq and will things escalate further especially since they denigrate him for being a jew and refuse to negotiate with him. This small set of actors includes Tim Hutton who is effectively cast as Marshall Thompson, the chief of staff aiding the president. Sheryl Lee Ralph is the national security advisor who suggest caution. The film is a surprisingly powerful, suspense-filled two-hour political essay that is challenging and entertaining.`rhink of a non-elected President solving with such problems within a two-hour limit stuck in middle of nowhere while running a political campaign-how isolated he would feel and does become.The ensemble cast performs admirably with such a tense premise; sometimes it feels as if the film is a well executed stage play. Trapped in the luncheonette are real people contending with real problems under claustrophobic conditions. Israeli-born director/writer Rod Lurie, the former Los Angeles Magazine critic, has made a first film that makes the best of its limitations. Maybe if it had more of a budget some could have been used to create a more credible simulation of an existing news channel rather than creating the fictitious network covering the events. Nonetheless, given its taut intensity, Deterrence is a must-see for fans of political thrillers.
-RogerWong/Brad Balfour
Agnes Browne
Starring Anjelica Huston, Marion O'Dwyer · Dir Anjelica Huston
Amid the squalor and strife of working class Dublin during the 60's, Agnes Browne experiences tragedies and yet finds redemption amidst the turmoil. As if telling a fresh take on this well worn theme isn't enough, first time director Huston must alternate between the front of the camera as the lead and from behind. Nonetheless she lives up to the challenge, capably aided and abetted by a crack team of actors. One of Ireland's best theatrical actresses, Marion O Dwyer, serves as Browne's best friend Marion Monks and veteran television actor Arno Chevrier plays her French suitor Pierre. Browns, a street vendor and recent widow. struggles to make ends meet with a loan shark (Winstone) breathing down her neck to recover the cost for her husband's funeral. As is the order of such fables, nothing comes easy. Browne has to ditch the Tom jones tickets given to her by her dying friend in order to save her one son from Mr. Billy's wrath.As the fable unfolds, ambling along pleasantly with an underlying hint of squalor and despair, it resolves itself as a simple yet heartfelt fantasy. This classically dark tale has a happy ending--no she doesn't win the lottery or inherit a million pounds but she has just the right sort of lift that reminds her and us that even with her best friend and husband gone there's still hope.
Music
Joni Mitchell
Both Sides Now · (Reprise) It comes as no surprise that 6O's folk rock legend Joni Mitchell plunges deeper into the jazz music she adores and has extolled on such albums as Hejiro and Mingus. On her latest she delves further into husky jazz vocalizing establishing herself as a touching torch singer--a stylist worthy of one of Mitchell's own substantial influence such as Billie Holiday. As Mitchell's timbre has changed from warbly soprano to a darker sound, she capably handles the demands of such classics as "You're My Thrill At Last, " "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" and a signature Billie tune, "Stormy Weather" This disc illustrates the direction an established pop-song stylist moves in as she matures; here Mitchell look backs on her own earlier work with a more subtle, ambiguously-textured view. She re-records her standards, "Both Sides Now" and "A Case of You" as mellower yet strikingly bittersweet dark visions of life and love. With a full orchestra surging behind her she recreates these languid smoky renditions as if she was preparing for dates in some timeless cafe. This album demonstrates how creative one can be in re-inventing oneself. --BE
Lorin Grean
Spinning Gold · With cover lines that state, "classic rock with a twist" Lorin Grean's recent self produced album uses her Celtic harp and beautiful voice to cover classic tunes by such major stars as John Lennon, Paul McCarthy, and David Crosby Most of Grean's interpretations worked well as she adds a great twist to such songs as Steve Winwood's "Can't Find MyWay Home" or Sting's "Every Breath You Take". Grean tries to cover two tough songs, the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" and Lennon's "imagine:' and although not performed with the same conviction and drive as the originals, she is able to pull off the rest of the songs wonderfully as she adds a beautiful lilting voice to songs such as "Every Breath You Take" and "She's Not There" which are usually heard with a more gruff sound.The music recalls the relaxed satisfaction similar to climbing into a lazy boy after a full meal. Soothing.--KS
The Chieftains
The Chieftains Collection (Claddagh Atlantic) This CD is full of their great songs that were originally released as far back as '64. With over 11 albums for the same record company and dozens of great songs it was probably difficult to narrow the list of songs down for a 'Best of' collection. This CD contains a little bit of everything--reels ("The Musical Priest,The Queen of May") jigs ("The Walls of Liscarroll") and even slides ("Denis Murphy's Slide").This CD is for Chieftains' fans in addition to anyone wanting to hear some well played traditional Irish music. -KS
Jon Hendricks / Annie Ross
Blue Note
Odd-couple jazz vocalists Jon Hendricks and Annie Boss help develop seat singing and created a form of jazz singing which took the framework of an instrumental solo and applied lyrics over melodic lines during the fifties. In the course of their career they've had hits and endured lows. Now, as grand old masters, they have not rested on laurels but have continued to pump out performances, witness their live show at the Blue Note. There is some wear of age but what they lacked in range, they made up for in execution and panache. The duo recalls an era of jazz which mixed glamour and hippness, a left of center class displayed in songs such as "Twisted" (covered by Joni Mitchell) and several Count Basie inspired numbers. When they veer too far into ersatz cocktail jazz they seem dated, when they stick to swinging or the blues they're as fresh as ever.
--BE
