Burlesque

First Hit: Some great singing in a film with a thin plot. But is was very entertaining.

Cher has always been able to project something good with her singing. In her one full song, she knocks it out of the park.

Cher plays Tess half owner of a slowly fading Burlesque theater in Los Angeles. The other half owner is Vince (played by Peter Gallagher) her former husband. Unfortunately, the club is losing money and Vince is trying to find a way to get some money out of it for himself and Tess. His drive comes off as desperate and we never really know why.

But Tess “will never let the theater be sold”. All the girls lip-sync their songs except Tess. Their show is bawdy, clean and fun. In comes Ali (played by Christina Aguilera) who has ventured out from Ohio looking to find a place to sing and dance. She eventually gets her chance when Nikki (played by Kristen Bell) shows up drunk one too many times.

In a fit of anger Nikki unplugs the lip-syncing music and Ali is standing on the stage with no music. So, she improvises and finishes the routine by singing in her own voice. Of course she is a sensation and Tess decides to build a whole new routine around her.

Also Ali is attracted to an engaged bartender named Jack (played by Cam Gigandet). The scene stealer during the film is Stanley Tucci who plays Tess’ confidant and stage manager Sean. When he is on the screen he is the one who grabs your attention.

Cher is very good as the mothering woman who’s seen it all and knows what it is she wants to spend her time doing. Gallagher is good but there is no real depth as to why he’s so panicked about getting his money. Aguilera is wonderful as Ali and her voice shows flexibility and strength. She was perfect for this role. Gigandet was good as Ali’s romantic interest and they have some fun scenes together. Tucci is fabulous. He is the soul of the Burlesque house and this film. Steve Antin wrote and directed this film and for the most part he got it right except the ending number could not have been held in the club we first saw during the opening sequence. Somewhere continuity was lost.

Overall: This is very good entertainment – no more, no less.

Shine A Light

First Hit: Amazing film about one of the most storied rock and roll groups of our time.

I loved the first 15 minutes of the film because Martin Scorsese (the Director) is trying to get The Rolling Stones, more specifically Mick Jagger, to provide the song list for the concert. Martin even sends Mick his list as a way to prompt him.

Mick doesn’t totally ignore Martin’s request but isn’t ready to finalize it yet. In between these little flashes are some facts and interviews of The Stones.

There is meeting Former President Clinton and family, there are some old newsreel clips. All the while we keep going back to Martin getting more panicky about the set list. In his homework Martin has camera shots laid out for many of the songs and you see these piles of paper of this preparation.

Finally Martin gives up and says fine, all I need is the name of the first song so that I know where to start; either Keith on guitar, Charlie on drums, Ronnie on guitar, or Mick singing.

However, Mick tells him nothing. Martin is fit to be tied. As former President Clinton finishes his opening remarks to introduce The Rolling Stones, a man rushes into the control room and hands Martin a piece of paper indicating the opening song.

Martin yells out the camera and opening shot of the concert and from that point on we (the audience) are on our way.

The Rolling Stones came out when I was in my mid-teens, so I’ve grown up with them. I’ve listened to them through all the different genres of music they have tried. But in the end The Stones are about Rock and Roll. Their catalogue is immense and they could have done 10 of these concerts, played different songs in each of them and all of the music would all have been recognizable and a classic. On IMAX Mick (and The Stones) is big, way big. But it doesn’t really capture how much and how big of an influence they’ve been to rock and roll music. They are a working band. They play music in front of people and with all of them in their mid to mid-late 60’s, it continues to fascinate me how tightly knit and yet so independent their personalities are. The Stones brought in three others to do a song each with them. Jack White was forgettable and truly out classed, he didn’t belong. Christina Aguilera held her own and actually added to the performance and had some fun. Buddy Guy, however, was right there with them and when Buddy looked straight at the camera silent for about 30 seconds, he sent a message – I am here.

Overall: Besides being deeply touched how these four men stayed together, played together, and supported each other through a lot of ups and downs; the love and respect they have for each other is humbling. Martin did an outstanding job of bringing you The Rolling Stones. And even if you don’t really like their music, if you see the film you will experience an amazing event of togetherness with Mick having more energy than any man I’ve met that is under 70 years of age. It is simply amazing.