Cesaria Evora: Live in Paris (2001) Review

Cesaria Evora: Live in Paris (2001)
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Singer Cesaria Evora is the cultural ambassador and greatest star of her native country, Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony off the Northwestern coast of Africa. She excels at the highly stylized and emotionally intense ballad style known as the "morna," a melodramatic, mournful romantic music that is much like the Portuguese fado, full of beautiful, melancholy guitars and impassioned lyrics of love lost and life both savored and endured. For those of us unlucky enough to be unable to attend any of her concerts, here is a splendid presentation of Cesaria and her band, recorded live at the Zenith Theatre in Spring of 2001. The music is all heavenly, a selection of favorites drawn from several albums, including sleek ballads such as "Sodade," "Miss Perfumado," and "Angola." Hovering behind Cesaria are images of Cape Verde's hills, beaches and towns, while onstage, some of the country's finest musicians strum out gorgeous melodies. The one trouble with this video is the editing: the French producers seem to favor montages, including crossfades and overlays of the rear-projected images and the musicians onstage. This technique quickly becomes intrusive and detracts from the beauty of the performance -- personally, I would have preferred a few more lingering close-ups of the singer and her guitarists as they sank into the melancholy depths of the music. But still, this is a lovely glimpse at one of world music's great modern divas. Fans will be overjoyed!

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Fame - The Complete First Season Review

Fame - The Complete First Season
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Fame originally appeared on NBC for a couple of years. This series was a bigger hit in Europe, than in the US. When NBC cancelled the show, the European syndicators wanted it to continue. The producers decided to try this out in syndication. What happened was TV history. The show became a breakout hit in the US and for the first time a syndicated show became viable. This lead the way to the all the other syndicated shows including Baywatch, Hercules and Highlander.
This is the first season starts like the movie with the auditions and finishes with the end of the school year. It has four DVD's with 4 episodes on each. Note: the episode listing on my show five episodes on the first two DVD's, four on the third and two on the last. This is incorrect. The packaging is two slim line packages, making the box just slightly larger than a single DVD package!!
The following is a summary of the 16 episodes:
Disc 1
METAMORPHOSIS - Cellist Julie Miller is accepted to the school. She and her mother have moved to NYC from the Midwest. The kids all pick on her and to her mother's dismay she rebels to more like the others. This episode introduces the cast: the teacher Ms. Grant (dance), Mr. Crandall (drama), Mr. Shorofsky (music) and Ms. Sherwood (English) plus students Coco (triple threat), Leroy (dancer), Doris (drama), Danny (comedian), Julie (cello), Bruno (composer) and Montgomery (stagehand). Look for a cameo by Fran "The Nanny" Drescher.
Musical Numbers:TAKE ME - Erica Gimpel; FAME - Erica Gimpel; RED LIGHT; MILES FROM HEAR
PASSING GRADE - Lydia's old boyfriend comes to town with news, he's directing a new musical and there's a part in it perfect for Lydia. At the audition she runs into Coco. Both get a call back but in the end it's not whose best but whom you know.
Musical Numbers: THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Erica Gimpel and I STILL BELIEVE IN ME - Erica Gimpel & Debbie Allen
TOMORROW'S FAREWELL - The school board has come to evaluate the school. Each of the kids are interviewed and we get a glimpse of their background.
Musical Numbers: I CAN DO ANYTHING BETTER THAN YOU CAN - Erica Gimpel and COME WHAT MAY - Gene Anthony Ray
ALONE IN A CROWD - The school is holding their annual benefit which is attended by every talent agency. After auditions, everyone gets in except Danny. But due to poor grades, Leroy is bounced out of the benefit and Coco has her own problem, Bruno does not want to perform. In the end, the benefit cannot happen due to a power shortage, that is until the students improvise.
Musical Numbers - ALONE IN A CROWD - Lee Curreri (also wrote); WE GOT THE POWER - Gene Anthony Ray & Erica Gimpel
Disc 2
TO SOAR AND NEVER FALTER - A dancer is chosen to audition with a prestigious dance company. Lydia presses Bruno into service to create an original piece. In the process, Bruno falls for the dancer. Of course, nothing can go smoothly and it turns out that she has multiple sclerosis.
Musical Numbers: BE MY MUSIC - Lee Curreri
THE SELL OUT - Bruno's synthesizer is ruined. Bruno's dad try's to pay for it but can't. So Bruno takes a job as an accordionist.
Musical Numbers: HIGH-FIDELITY - Lee Curreri, Valerie Landsberg & Carlo Imperato and COULD WE BE MAGIC LIKE YOU - Lee Curreri & Debbie Allen
THE STRIKE - The school is mounting a musical production of Othello but when the cast comes out Coco is not in it. The bigger problem is the teacher's are on strike and the kids have to mount the show.
Musical Numbers: STARMAKER - Cast; DESDEMONA - Gene Anthony Ray, Carlo Imperato and Valerie Landesburg (This is the best production number of the series)
STREET KID - The kids are given an acting assignment, create a character the opposite of your comfort zone. Doris decides to play a streetwalker. During her preparation, she meets a runaway (Dominique Dunne) and tries to change her life.
Musical Numbers: LIFE IS A CELEBRATION - Erica Gimple & Carlo Imperato
Disc 3
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS - Danny gets a stage manager job at a comedy club. The only problem is he can't keep awake in school, so he takes uppers. Doris gets a commercial for a product that she can't stand.
Musical Numbers: STEP UP TO THE MIKE - Gimple, Imperato, Landsburg & Ray
COME ONE COME ALL - Montgomery's mother (Gwen Verdon), a movie star, has agreed to direct the school variety show. The only problem is she wants to use it to showcase her. There is a great dance number with Verdon and Allen with Verdon in perfect Fosse form. Allen would later be directed by Fosse in a revival of Sweet Charity.
Musical Numbers: SWEET SUE, JUST YOU; SING, SING, SING
THE CRAZIES - The teachers are putting on a faculty show with mixed results. Doris and Montgomery decide to tell the truth and find out why little white lies are usually the best.
Musical Numbers: I WAS ONLY TRYING TO HELP - Landsberg; Carnivale - Allen
EXPOSE - Ms. Sherwood gets a student teacher. He decides to write an article about the school. When it is rejected for being to bland, he decides to spice it up.
Musical Numbers: IT'S GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT - Singer and MANNEQUIN-Ray
Disc 4
A MUSICAL BRIDGE - Bruno gets an offer to compose for a record company but it has some catches. While Ms. Sherwood finds out that Leroy is living on his own.
Musical Numbers: DO THE GIMME THAT - Valerie Landsburg & PR Paul; SHO SHO SHO SHOROFSKY - Lee Curreri
A BIG FINISH - The janitor has a secret. He was a famous Broadway dancer and he is hiding a friend and a dog in his office. The kids find out and decide to do a fundraiser to help the two hoofers retire. The only problem is its against school rules to hold a fundraiser for an employee. Guest stars Oscar winner Art Carney and Tony winner Ray Walston.
Musical Numbers - YOU'RE THE REAL MUSIC - Gene Anthony Ray and A COUPLE OF SWELLS - Carney & Walston
REUNIONS - Danny and Leroy are sent to get props for the new show. The props turn out to be hot. Leroy wants his mom to come to the last show of year but she is in Detroit. Shorofsky's old flame (Singe Hasso) visits and tells the students about the holocaust.
Musical Numbers- HOPE - Gene Anthony Ray and chorus
A SPECIAL PLACE - Budget cuts are coming and the school board is out evaluating which teacher to cut.
Musical Numbers: A SPECIAL PLACE - Debbie Allen; STARMAKER - Cast; HOT LUNCH - Cast
DVD Extras: None
All episodes were choreographed by Debbie Allen.
Lee Curreri and Gene Anthony Ray reprise their film roles. Debbie Allen was in the film but as a student.


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Emmanuel: Historias de Toda la Vida... Los Exitos (2006) Review

Emmanuel: Historias de Toda la Vida... Los Exitos (2006)
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This collection of songs from a 15 year span in Emmanuel's career is saved by the last entry, which is chronologically the first, from 1979, of a live performance at a song festival, where Emmanuel won 2nd prize singing Roberto Cantoral's "Al Final." The 7 other tracks range from '84 through '94, and could be categorized as "slick videos," and are interesting, but a little boring after a while, as there is no heart-stopping, breathtaking song among them. Perhaps the best is "No He Podido Verte," which Emmanuel sings with its composer, Juan Luis Guerra.
Emmanuel emerged as a big star in the early '80s in Mexico, mostly singing songs by Spain's great Manuel Alejandro, with lush orchestrations and Emmanuel's soft and silky interpretations. There is one song in this collection from this era, "Pobre Diablo," but unfortunately, it also has the worst sound quality of the 8 tracks. Emmanuel's sculptured face added to his appeal, and his early albums are wonderful (I'm especially fond of "Intimamente"). For the most part the sound/visual quality is good on this DVD, and it's approximately 35 minutes long. "Extras" include a "Gallery" and "Discography." Track List:
1: "Es Mi Mujer"
2: "Bella Senora"
3: "Pobre Diablo"
4: "No He Podido Verte"
5: "Toda La Vida"
6: "Esta Aventura"
7: "Magdalena"
8: "Al Final"

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The Pat Travers Band - Boom Boom - Live at the Diamond 1990 Review

The Pat Travers Band - Boom Boom - Live at the Diamond 1990
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If you like Pat Travers at all I think you're going to like this dvd. I've had a chance to watch it one time and here is what I think.
First let me say that although I like some of Pat Travers' music, I am not a huge fan. I saw the band open for Rush in 1978 and later purchased a couple of his cds. So, as you read this review keep in mind that it wasn't written by someone who thinks that Pat walks on water.
The dvd is pretty basic. It has a play concert and a chapter selection, and not much else. The concert takes place in what appears to be a small club, so the stage is not very large or fancy. Of course with a small stage the musicians were limited in their movement, as were the camera operators. Those were the only two negative things I found with this dvd, and neither was a big deal to me.
These are some of the things I like about this dvd. It has a very good mix. The instruments sound big and fat with a good balance. To me this dvd sounds a lot like the Pat Travers Live album released in the late 70's, with the exception that Pat now has trouble singing the high notes. But don't let that bother you because he more than makes up for it when he growls out the low notes. Also, the musicianship of the band is excellent. They are a tight band, and I can really appreciate their musicianship. Finally, and probably the best thing about this dvd is the fact that it's just like being there at the concert, that is without the cigarette smoke and intoxicated fans. The filming of the concert is pretty basic. It has a few different camera angels and thats about it; no annoying artistic liberties taken here.
For me, this dvd was well worth the money.


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Jazz Masters Series - Joe Williams Review

Jazz Masters Series - Joe Williams
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Joe Williams here performs with a supportive backing trio at a Jazz at the Smithsonian event in the early '80s. Fine production values, and the singer is smoking hot on the primarily bluesy up-tempo tunes, and enticing and poised on the few ballads. Highly recommended.

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Sweet Honey in the Rock - Singing for Freedom (2005) Review

Sweet Honey in the Rock - Singing for Freedom (2005)
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If I need to be cheered up I watch this video. It is thrilling to watch incredible musicians like the women of Sweet Honey in the Rock put such effort into working with children. The music is wonderful and watching the women interact with the children is thrilling.

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Throw down Review

Throw down
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Throw Down is a real crowd-pleaser despite being more interested in the quirky characters than the judo bouts in the film. Johnnie To's tribute to Kurosawa and filled with references to Sugata Sanshiro (far more than the one that To admits to), it actually feels more like a Hong Kong version of Britcom Black Books, with Luis Koo's drunken former judo prodigy staggering his way from scam to scam with his two employees between mismanaging his nightclub with about as much grasp of conventional reality as Bernard Black.
It's a redemption story, of course, with the cocky young challenger Aaron Kwok and the death of a friend eventually spurring him to clean up his act. Although it's filled with great moments of pure filmmaking, from the slow-motion bar-room judo brawl that spills out into the street to Cherrie Ying running joyfully through the streets with her hands full of stolen cash while her pursuers sporadically stop to pick up the stray notes that fall from her arms, it's not really an action movie: even the final fight between Koo and Tony Leung Ka-Fei is almost thrown away. It's the disparate characters and the sheer enjoyment To takes in them that makes this work. Even one of the villains of the piece, Siu-Fai Cheung's Brother Savage, who lives to humiliate children and customers by beating them at the games in his arcade, is impossible to really hate, while Leung's character is never turned into a monster who must be destroyed but simply an adversary who must be beaten fair and square. Great fun.


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Dwight Yoakam - Just Lookin' for a Hit Review

Dwight Yoakam - Just Lookin' for a Hit
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This dvd provides an introduction to one of Country Music's neo-traditionalists. Dwight pays homage to some of his major musical influences. There are short interviews of Dwight which attempt to provide a sense of intimacy and which link together the musical performances. While listening to Dwight's words and viewing some of his early childhood photos, one can perceive his sincerity and the devotion he has for his music and for his favorite artists. Dwight's voice is strong and energetic and the music is sensational. Dwight is one of those artists who can make an old song sound new and yet, make it distinctively his own. Such is the case in "Honky Tonk Man" and "Little Sister." He's having a fun time in "Always Late With Your Kisses" and in the "Streets Of Bakersfield" (a duet with Buck Owens). His hard-driving sound is fully demonstrated in "Guitars, Cadillacs" and in "Long White Cadillac" (remembering the fatal last ride of Hank Williams). All of these songs are hits and my only regret is that there are only six songs and the total time of this dvd is only about 30 minutes. I need more Dwight! Overall, this dvd is great because of Dwight's talent, sincerity, joyous humor and intensity. If you have not seen Dwight in a live performance, this dvd is the next best thing. You'll play it again and again.

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Monica: Knock Knock/Get It Off Review

Monica: Knock Knock/Get It Off
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Time has passed and this DVD never gets tiring to watch. Monica makes quite a mark of true diva power not only in her vocal delivery in "Knock Knock (Live from Sessions@AOL" but she acts remarkable in the video "So Gone" and "Knock Knock/Get If Off". Aside the acting, her rap skills are definitely a natural for her and her raw voice at times combined by her soft R&B style make it a pleasure to listen to and not harsh on the ears. While the cover is not the typical DVD cover that impresses, it's the contents that make this a true reality that Monica has talent.
Housed in a regular sized jewel box with a front insert and plain back artwork it's just not the best eye-opener but when you put this on your DVD player--well that's a different story. For starters, the first video titled, "Knock Knock/Get It Off" has Monica displaying how she won't take her lover's bad boy antics of playing her for a fool [since he's cheating on her and she discovers it]. She has her chin up, leaves her man outside her place to the point he's knocking to get in but can't and well that's just the start. When the song "Get It Off" kicks in with Missy and the visuals of a dance-floor with tons of people partying and Monica are revealed, the statement is quite grand: You don't need to take it from a lover who doesn't value who you are nor how much you've given. The message is quite clear don't let yourself be taken for granted. Stand up for yourself and hang out with your girls, party and meet someone new or just have fun by yourself!
The second video, "So Gone" I can personally relate too all to well--unfortunately. Have any of you girls reading this ever bought the sexiest Victoria's Secret night outfit to wear for your man to have him sleep on you and have his back turned to you? Yeah, that's what the video shows and let me tell you it's not the kind of thing a girl likes for a man to do. The way Monica sings, acts, and portrays the messages behind the music are off the charts fabulous! This is the song many can relate too--if they've been with bad boy players. Count yourself lucky if you haven't had such an experience because to say another comment Victoria's Secret no longer takes returns once you've removed the tag. So if your man is making you feel SO GONE then it's time to say good-bye!! This video is a definite inspiration for sure!
Lastly, there's the "Knock Knock (Live Video From Sessions@AOL" that have Monica singing up close without any technology but her beautiful raw voice. She does excellent as her quality, range, and delivery are exceptionally on the mark of perfection. Even the rap portion is just outstanding.
This DVD single is empowering, entertaining, relatable, but most of all filled with beautiful vocals by a music artist that needs more publicity. She's got so much talent and so much to offer the world of R&B it's only a matter of time before she once again brings to light another new album --which hopefully will be sooner than later!

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Soundstage - Chris Isaak (2005) Review

Soundstage - Chris Isaak (2005)
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My husband and I saw Chris Isaak for the first time on Sound Stage in the October of 2005, in his blue sequined suit and we were so impressed with the show, we leaped out of our chairs and ran to Amazon to order it. There it was-Chris Isaak 2005-GREAT and in the cart. It is an ok DVD, but it is from and earlier Sound Stage done in 2003. The band is much more subdued, the song selection is not as good and though we are not going to send it back we were disappointed. Just thought I would warn you. Also the bonus tracks are other people not Isaak. Hope this is helpful. Catherine

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Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Solti, Weikl, Hamari (1972) Review

Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Solti, Weikl, Hamari (1972)
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This is a beautifully filmed version of Onegin. While the music is impressively lyrical, you would even forget it's an opera because it's so well filmed. Since it's a film version, there are quite a few scenes edited out from the original Tchaikovsky's score.
The film starts with peasants' chorus. The opening music and quartet are deleted, which is actually a shame because I think the quartet contains the most important key word of the story; "Heaven granted me the habit in place of happiness." Maybe the director didn't want to give it away right from the beginning. Anyway, this music is restored in the special features and you can enjoy the music without motion picture.
The production is really great. Lady Larina's estate, Prince Gremin's palace, duel scene in the snow, scenes of the country side and of St-Petersburg, etc...everything is beautifully filmed. Even Onegin and Lensky arrive on hourses in the beginning. It's not filmed in studio so nothing seems phoney. Musically, it's one of the best recordings ever made.
The image isn't much remastered, nor is the sound. You can select DTS or 2-channel stereo and subtitles in 6 languages.
This is the best version of Onegin on DVD for now.... at least till someone put the Kirov's production with Leiferkus on DVD.

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Woody Guthrie: This Machine Kills Fascists (2005) Review

Woody Guthrie: This Machine Kills Fascists (2005)
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I bought this DVD, prompted by a positive review in Mojo magazine. However, in my view it's a waste of money.
The 2-hour plus DVD has been put together as a production for MTV-brained folk with a 15-second attention span: not one song is played in full and the interviews are lightweight reminiscences.
On the positive side there are nice period newsreel excerpts and period stills and some talk. However, even these items are kept brief, presumably to match the 15-second attention span the producers condescendingly think is the most a viewer is capable of.
People interested in Woody Guthrie are not like that!

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This film chronicles the life and achievement of Woody Guthrie, the most important folk/protest singer of his generation, whose significance today can be measured by the pantheon of artists including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono andWillie Nelson who acknowledge their debt to him.

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Ultimate Alien (2002) Review

Ultimate Alien (2002)
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After received this item among others, it was the first one to be played since it was the most expected. The video and audio production is great, it has an excelent video footage and audio options for awesome listening. The only thing I don't like about the concert is the song selection, every song is expected to be great but you may end up a little bit bored. The extra features are just amazing, it includes a interview with LSP and some TV commercials made for Guinness beer; kind of weird but after watching them over and over you will love them, they have the LSP touch.

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Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (1990) Review

Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (1990)
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This is a must buy for all Madonna fans. The DVD is in standard format and contains 13 tracks. The sound quality is outstanding. The video tracks included are: Lucky Star, Borderline, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Papa Dont Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish, Oh Father, Vougue & a live performance of Vouge.
The DVD contains a video selection feature so you can jump right to your favorite video. Unfortunately, several videos were missing off of this collection. They were: Burning Up, Everybody, Dress You Up, Crazy For You, The Gambler, Into The Groove, Live To Tell, True Blue, Who's That Girl and Causing A Commotion.
I guess we will have to wait until Madonna releases a full video archive to obtain the complete collection.

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The Disputation - Nachmanides Debates Before King James of Aragon Review

The Disputation - Nachmanides Debates Before King James of Aragon
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"The Disputation" was released in 1986. At the time, I watched in on the A&E Channel. Unfortunately, it ran only once, never to be seen again. When the opportunity arose to purchase it on DVD, I immediately bought it for $24.95 plus shipping. Having viewed it twice, I have reached the following conclusions: First, the acting is magnificent. There is not a bad actor in the bunch, particularly Christopher Lee as King James I and Alan Dobie as Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Nachmanides, but also known by the acronymn Ramban.) It's a superb British production. The transfer from video to DVD is quite bad, and although that was a bit of a disappointment, my quarrel is not with the video transfer; it is with the amount of time spent on the actual disputation (or debate) between former Jew and now priest of the Catholic Church Pablo Christiani and Rabbi Nachmanides. It seemed an extremely short period of time within the body of the whole program, so the second time I watched it, I timed each of the debates. Given that the entire DVD is only one hour and three minutes long, I was disturbed by the fact that Christiani and Nachmanides meet four separate times for a total of only approximately 20 minutes. The rest is filled with discussions between the king and his wife, the king and his girlfriend, the king and Nachmanides, Christiani and the king's wife, so and so forth. So, although I'm glad that I finally got to see "The Disputation" after a 24 year interval, had I remembered that there was only 20 minutes of interaction between the "debaters," I would have passed on this purchase.

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Jennifer Larmore: In Performance (2001) Review

Jennifer Larmore: In Performance (2001)
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I have been a fan of Jennifer Larmore ever since her early, spectacular recording of Handel's "Julius Caesar," but have unfortunately never seen her sing. This video, then, fills an important gap in my collection, and I cannot praise it highly enough. Larmore is both a fine artist and an entertaining singer: though some of her acting seems a little contrived when compared to, say, Janet Baker, she is never overly silly or annoying. The way she "acts out" the three Rossini songs that comprise "The Venetian Regatta," for instance, is amusing without being irksome, and to see her settle into the crook of the piano to deliver Kurt Weill's French cabaret songs is simply delightful.
In addition to all this, Larmore is in excellent voice and the program is well-chosen, except for the two songs by Jake Heggie which are drivel. It is also interesting to watch the way Larmore positions herself and manages her vocal equipment: you can tell that this is a singer who works very hard to appear "effortless" in both sound and motion. She surprises one with her sensitive renditions of Purcell and Debussy, then launches into more popular material like "Brazil" and "Art is Calling Me" with no suggestion of preciousness. In short, Larmore leaves a good taste in the ear...she is always worth hearing and, on this wonderful video, definitely worth watching.

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Kinky Boots (2005) Review

Kinky Boots (2005)
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Even if these boots aren't exactly made for walking, they do look stylish. Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) must take over the family shoe business when his father dies. He discovers that the company is failing badly. He finds salvation of sorts when he meets drag queen and cabaret singer Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor from "Serenity" proving his versatility in this role). Lola complains about how the footwear she wears is so poorly designed. Lauren (Sarah-Jane Potts) a former employee has a brainstorm--goes into men's fetish footwear. In other words, women's shoes that men (whether they be drag queens or not) can wear. Suddenly Charles has a niche market to work with and success comes unexpectedly comes knocking at his door. Unfortunately Charles must deal with his fiancé's (Jemima Rooper) disapproving attitude and the prejudice of his own employees before success can be fully his.
An amusing and poignant film that has just the right mix of drama in it, "Kinky Boots" was inspired by a true story. The performances are uniformly excellent throughout with a star making turn from actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as the transvestite Lola. He's not exactly a beautiful transvestite but quite convincing in the role.
With a transfer that has the sheen and texture of leather "Kinky Boots" looks quite good with minimal digital artifacts. Although some of the darker scenes don't have quite as much detail as they should the overall look of the film in this transfer is quite good with accurate color, skin tones and detail. The 5.1 mix sounds good but most of the action and dialogue (not surprisingly) occurs in the center speaker and two front ones.
We get an observant and fact filled commentary track from director Julian Jarrold, stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton and Sarah-Jane Potts. Their commentary track was done all at the same time so there's a nice dynamic between the actors and director that keeps the commentary moving along. Although it does occasionally focus on the obvious (nice performance here, etc.) there are nice tidbits of trivia about the production of the film.
"The Real Kinky Boots Factory" featurette focuses on the inspiration for the film in the UK. Producer Nick Barton discusses how they saw a documentary on a family business that was struggling against inexpensive imports and how they found their niche with the cross dressing market. Steve Pateman the current factory owner provides the background on the story and we see quite a bit of their actual product as well as hearing from the actors about how their research influenced the fictional story on screen.
"The Journey of a Brogue" provides a visual montage of the production of the shoes. It's brief but an interesting glimpse into the detail. A pity that it's not longer with comments from actual shoe producers as there is a great story behind the production of shoes and the struggle against inexpensive imports that some manufacturers have waged.
We also get four deleted scenes with commentary by director Jarrold. The deleted scenes are primarily character bits where for example Lola bonds with the women and men who work on the shoe production or Charlie reminisces with Lauren and discusses the changes to the factory production. Jarrold points out that while the scenes are quite good they effected the pacing of the film and were cut for that reason. "The Prettiest Star" features Lola remembering his childhood and obsession with women's footwear walking along the pier to Bowie's "The Prettiest Star".
An amusing character comedy "Kinky Boots" features stellar performances from a strong cast. It's a funny, affecting film with just the right mix of poignant drama and comedy that the British are so adept at doing.


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Inspired by a hilarious true story, this refreshing, feel-good comedy comes from the hit-making team that brought you CALENDAR GIRLS! For generations, the Price family has made very sensible, very conservative shoes for men. But to save the business from imminent bankruptcy, young Charlie Price turns to an unlikely new creative consultant: a sassy cross-dressing cabaret singer whose outrageous style and wild designs are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy old factory! Fun and original, it's a must-have movie that proves the best way to fit in is to stand out!

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