The Couch Potato Report - October 17th, 2006
This week The Couch Potato Report shines the spotlight on Niagara Falls, a break-up, a little mermaid and a hedge.
One of the greatest things about movies is the fact that they take us places that we might not get to in our everyday lives.
Another great things about the celluloid art form is the fact that it can also just make you think that you are being taken to a different place.
For instance, the film NIAGARA MOTEL mainly focuses on a group of struggling individuals who cross paths at a low-rent motel in Niagara Falls.
But the film was shot in and around Winnipeg, a place with no natural waterfalls, let alone the world’s best known one.
So if you like to be cinematically taken away to a different place that is far away, even if it was filmed less than 6 hours from Saskatchewan, check in to NIAGARA MOTEL.
The guests of this low-rent motel on the Canadian side of the tourist haven are not your typical tourists.
There is a young couple who both have a criminal past that are attempting to get their child back, a middle class husband with no job and a rapidly disintegrating marriage, and a waitress who is being recruited to star in some low budget adult films.
Plus, there is the perpetually drunk motel manager who has some sorrow of his own, a small time hustler who is always looking for a quick buck, and an underachieving staple salesman.
NIAGARA MOTEL has comedy, drama, tragedy and lots of interesting characters. It even has a few scenes that take place in Niagara Falls.
The large and very talented cast includes Craig Ferguson from TV’s “The Late, Late Show” and “The Drew Carrey Show”, Kevin Pollak from A FEW GOOD MEN and the lovely and talented Caroline Dhavernas, from the short-lived series “Wonderfalls.”
Due to it’s dark sense of humour NIAGARA FALLS isn’t a film that I would recommend to everyone, but if you like to see places - and people - in films that you won’t see – or meet – every day, then it is a movie I think you will enjoy.
And even though I did enjoy it, I’m not sure that everyone will enjoy THE BREAK-UP, the Vince Vaughan/Jennifer Aniston movie about a couple who…break up.
You know Vaughn from WEDDING CRASHERS and SWINGERS and while Aniston has been in good movies like BRUCE ALMIGHTY and THE GOOD GIRL, she will always be known as Rachel from TV’s “Friends.”
The combined star power of these two gave the film a higher profile than it should have had because if it wasn’t promoted as such a huge film, and as Vaughn's follow-up to the uber-successful WEDDING CRASHERS, then I think it could have existed as a unique character study, with a few funny moments thrown in.
But instead, with the star power it has, THE BREAK-UP is a failed romantic comedy.
And that is because all our two main characters do is fight and fight and fight and fight and fight.
Where’s the love I ask? Where’s the love?
Vaughn is Gary and Aniston is Brooke and once they…break up, neither one is willing to give up the condo they co-own.
As they continue to fight, and that fighting grows increasingly bitter, they start to wonder if they are trying to save the relationship, or just end it.
Due to all of the aforementioned fighting, I didn’t care for the romantic part of THE BREAK-UP, but I did enjoy the comedy.
That comes courtesy of Jon Favreau, Vaughn’s buddy from SWINGERS, John Michael Higgins from A MIGHTY WIND, Justin Long from DODGEBALL, Jason Bateman of TV’s “Arrested Development” and the incredibly funny Judy Davis.
Each one of these actors bring an extra energy to the scenes they are in.
As a whole THE BREAK-UP is not an enjoyable movie, but a few of its parts do rank as some of the best of the year.
Now, as for the best of the year, well the best film I have seen so far this year, the film that entertained me that most and the one that I could recommend to anyone – young or old - who asked me “What’s out there that is worth seeing?” the best film for me thus far this year was OVER THE HEDGE.
And yes, I know it is a cartoon, but when something is this good, this funny, and this interesting to watch, I have no problems with recommending a cartoon.
Bruce Willis provides the voice for a fast-talking hustler raccoon named RJ, who has to replace the entire food supply for a bear he stole from.
RJ meets a group of animals and soon takes over from the hesitant turtle Verne as the leader of the group.
"The Larry Sanders Show"'s Gary Shandling is the turtle, Steve Carell from THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN is Hammy the squirrel and some of the other voices come from William Shatner, Allison Janney from “The West Wing”, the great Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara from SCTV and even Canadian pop princess Avril Lavigne, who does a very good job in her first film role.
OVER THE HEDGE is funny, well written, and is full of jabs at modern day society and consumerism.
If anyone – young or old - asked me “What’s out there that is worth seeing?”, the best film for me thus far this year was OVER THE HEDGE.
One of my favourite films in the year 1989 was THE LITTLE MERMAID.
The classic Disney cartoon was loosely based upon the story by Hans Christian Andersen as Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, is dissatisfied with life in the sea and longs to be with the humans above the surface.
It was fun touching and enjoyable in 1989, and it still is today!
Now, there is a tow-disc special edition of the film available with an incredible line-up of bonus features that show you how the film was made, and how it could have turned out, had they included some of the deleted scenes that are on the disc.
This animation is gorgeous, the story is timeless, and the classic songs including “Kiss the Girl” and the Academy Award winning “Under the Sea” will still have you singing along, despite yourself.
So, I guess, if anyone – young or old - asked me “What’s out there that is worth seeing?”, I would also say THE LITTLE MERMAID – TWO DISC SPECIAL EDITION, along with OVER THE HEDGE.
They are both available now on DVD along with THE BREAK-UP and the mostly-made-in-Manitoba movie NIAGARA FALLS.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
LUCID is the story of a psychotherapist, who has been having trouble sleeping ever since his wife left.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANTARCTICA is the latest release from the filmmakers who made the Oscar winning documentary MARCH OF THE PENGUINS.
And the new Platinum Edition of the 1983 classic SCARFACE takes a look back on the making of the film, and allows you to count how many bullets are fired during the movie.
I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!
CBC sports boss Nancy Lee quits
TORONTO (CP) - CBC Sports executive director Nancy Lee is leaving the network to head up the broadcast operation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
She has been named chief operating officer of Olympic Broadcast Services (OBS) Vancouver.
OBS is a Swiss-based agent of the International Olympic Committee responsible for delivery of broadcast feeds from the Games.
Lee has been with the CBC for nearly 20 years, working in radio news and current affairs in Toronto and Quebec City before making the move to CBC Sports in 1996. She was appointed head of the sports operation in 2000.
CBC says it will begin looking for Lee's successor immediately. David Masse has been named acting executive director of CBC Sports. He has been with CBC for 22 years.
CTV outbid CBC for the rights to the 2010 Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
New Releases, Oct. 17: The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Vince Gill, Diddy
Tragically Hip "World Container"
Gord Downie and his Tragically Hip bandmates some credit for not being the type of band - like 54*40 - who keep making the same album over and over and over and over. They don't necessarily reinvent their CanRock wheel every time they go into the studio, but they do always give us something fresh.
The single In View may be the most obvious jumping-off point, with its bouncy beat and poppy keyboard hook offsetting Downie's high-register warble and lovey-dovey lyrics. But the 11-song disc holds several other subtle departures from the 23-year-old quintet's trademark sound.
The Lonely End of the Rink borrows some ringing reggae-rock guitars from The Police. The Kids Don't Get It goes one step further, with a skanking guitar and nimble bassline that possess vaguely Clash-like overtones. It's followed by Pretend, which cunningly recasts Kids' lyrical dialogue -- " 'If I ask you a question, are you gonna lie to me?' / 'Is that your question? 'Cause that one is easy' " -- into a pretty piano-ballad waltz. The title cut also brings out the keyboard, closing the album on an elegantly mellow mood.
* * *
Sarah McLachlan "Wintersong"
The Lilith Fair founder follows 2003's "Afterglow" with the release of her first holiday CD, "Wintersong."
The set was produced by longtime McLachlan collaborator Pierre Marchand, and the track list includes such classic seasonal offerings as "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
The disc also includes one original composition, "Wintersong," and a cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."
* * *
Vince Gill "These Days"
How much Vince Gill can fans handle? The country superstar will find out when he releases the massive "These Days"--a 4-CD set of 43 new original tunes.
Gill is accompanied on this hugely ambitious endeavor by a suitably large cast of guest stars, including Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Rodney Crowell, Phil Everly, The Del McCoury Band and Emmylou Harris.
* * *
Diddy "Press Play"
Sean "Diddy" Combs calls in his favors on this album, which features a regular "Who's Who" of the hip-hop and R&B world.
"Press Play" includes performances by such all-stars as Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole and Fergie.
* * *
JoJo "The High Road"
Teen star JoJo, who released her self-titled debut at the tender age of 12, is back with her sophomore effort, "The High Road." Her first record went platinum on the strength of the singles "Leave (Get Out)" and "Baby It's You."
The 15-year-old crooner, who also starred in the films "Aquamarine" and "RV," already has another hit on her hands with the new album's first single, "Too Little Too Late."
* * *
Dierks Bentley "Long Trip Alone"
Having mined platinum with his previous two outings, 2003's self-titled debut and 2005's "Modern Day Drifter," the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year nominee returns with the highly anticipated "Long Trip Alone."
Produced by Brett Beavers, the album features two bona fide hits, "Every Mile a Memory" and "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do." Bentley is supporting the new disc on his Locked and Loaded Tour, which is currently scheduled to last through early December.
* * *
Aerosmith "Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best Of Aerosmith"
The classic rockers deliver yet another greatest hits package, "Devil's Got a New Disguise." The main selling point of this set, at least for those who already own copies of the band's other best-of collections, is the inclusion of two new songs, "Sedonna Sunrise" and the title track.
* * *
Other new releases:
Badly Drawn Boy, "Born in the U.K." (Astralwerks)
Bananarama, "The Twelve Inches of" (Warner)
Cradle of Filth, "Thornography" (Roadrunner)
Glenn Danzig, "Black Aria II" (Megaforce)
Arielle Dombasle, "C'est Si Bon" (Red Ink)
Jeremy Enigk, "World Waits" (Reincarnate)
Renee Fleming, "Homage: The Age of the Diva" (Decca)
Free, "Live at the BBC" (Universal)
Goldfrapp, "We are Glitter" (Mute)
George Jones, "God's Country: George Jones & Friends" (Category 5)
Lonestar, "Mountains" (BNA)
Shiny Toy Guns, "We are Pilots" (Universal)
Ruben Studdard, "The Return" (J)
Various Artists, "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbra Mandrell" (BNA)
Soundtracks and scores:
"Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary Edition" (Decca)
Beatles Reveal Track List For 'Love' Soundtrack
The track list has been revealed for the soundtrack to the Cirque Du Soleil/Beatles show "Love," due Nov. 1 via Apple Corps Ltd/Capitol. The 26-track disc, housed on a DVD-Audio/DVD-Video hybrid, will also be the legendary group's first album available in 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo.
As previously reported, the music for the album and stage extravaganza was assembled by Beatles producer George Martin and his son, Giles, from the Beatles' original master tapes.
In addition to the album cuts that were previewed to media last May, including "Lady Madonna," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "Within You Without You/"Tomorrow Never Knows," the set also contains a mash-up of "Drive My Car," "The Word" and "What You're Doing" and a blend of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" with "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Helter Skelter."
"George and Giles did such a great job combining these tracks," says Ringo Starr. "It's really powerful for me and I even heard things I'd forgotten we'd recorded." Paul McCartney adds, "This album puts the Beatles back together again, because suddenly there's John and George with me and Ringo. It's kind of magical."
Here is the track list for "Love":
"Because"
"Get Back"
"Glass Onion"
"Eleanor Rigby"
"Julia (Transition)"
"I Am the Walrus"
"I Want To Hold Your Hand"
"Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing"
"Gnik Nus"
"Something"
"Blue Jay Way (Transition)"
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter"
"Help!"
"Blackbird/Yesterday"
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
"Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows"
"Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"
"Octopus's Garden"
"Lady Madonna"
"Here Comes the Sun"
"The Inner Light (Transition)"
"Come Together/Dear Prudence"
"Cry Baby Cry (Transition)"
"Revolution"
"Back in the U.S.S.R."
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
"A Day in the Life"
"Hey Jude"
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
"All You Need Is Love"