The Critic
“It stinks!” This seems to possibly be a critics two favorite words that come up all the time. John Lovitz plays a failing, strung-out 36 year-old movie critic by the name of Jay Sherman. Lovitz made his start in then great SNL show with crazy obnoxious characters. This show first came out in 1994 on ABC and ended its’ short lived series career on Fox in 1995. The show only aired 23 episodes and 10 episodes on the web in 2000. The show was created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss who also wrote for the well known The Simpsons show. The show revolves around Jay’s life and his TV-cable show “Coming Attractions,” which pokes fun at poor and crazy possible movie sequels and spinoffs.
Sherman a barley known critic, even in his own town of New York, knows that it’s only a matter of time till he gets canned for someone more attractive and smarter than him, so he must change up his show and soon. His boss, Duke Phillips (voice by Charles Napier), which seems to be a crazed workout junkie, lets him know that he has already started interviewing others for his job. His ratings are hitting bottom and Jay knows he must do something to spice up his show and bring a new feel to it. On his way to figuring-out this dilemma, he meets a young mother, Alice Tompkins (voice by Park Overall), of one that moved from the country in search of any type of career. In helping Alice, he gets her a job as his assistant and she helps add excitement to his show. In the end he wins her feelings and helps her reject her former husband, who cheated on her, and she falls for Jay.
The show is quick-witted and makes fun of other hit shows and movies around it’s time like, “A Few More Good Men,” or Al Pacino in, “Scent of A Wolfman”. Minute after minute “The Critic” jokes about other movies, which can be dawdling and point-less. Someone could almost say “The Critic” was ahead of its time which caused it to not succeed. It was unique and brilliant, especially when it had its movie parodies that made me laugh every time. Sherman seems to be a group of critics rolled into one like Roger and Ebert that also played themselves in a different episode. You won’t be left down and will root for Jay in every scene that kicks him to the curb.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Review Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews “Some Devil” (RCA Records Label, 2003)
It would seem quite strange for the lead singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band, Dave Matthews, to come out with a solo album, but he does it while still changing his style up a bit. He not only writes the songs for the band, but has it named after him. In “Some Devil,” Dave Matthews captures a sense of tranquil sadness throughout the entire album. He talks about love, heartache, and death. The first song “Dodo,” sets the mood and tempo for the rest of the album. “Once upon a time, When the world was just a pancake, Fears would arise, That if you went too far, You'd fall, But with the, Passage of time, It all became more of a ball, We're as sure of that, As we all once were when the world was flat.” This song sheds light on how we all can be naive at times and allow ourselves to accept what this world has to give us. Dave Matthews brings you into a world that is a darker one than the one from the Dave Matthews Band. His first solo album, though not as up-beat and jam blasting as it is with the band, still puts on a show of poetic genius through his lyrics. This album let’s you focus on his own experimental writing style.
The album carries 13 great singles that each one seems to have a great distinct sound to it, and doesn’t feel repetitive at all. There’s an extra added bonus at the end, which is an acoustic version of the “Gravedigger” song. You can almost feel the sorrow and sadness in the song “Gravedigger,” which gives the idea of how short life can be and how death is no stranger to any of us. With “Save Me,” he makes a religious reference to Jesus, “He'd been walking there for 20 days, He was going to walk on, For 20 more, Said "How about a drink or a bite to eat?", He said "No, my faith is all I need," which shows us we can all save ourselves with hope and determination, even in a confused and troubled world. Though this is no “Crash Into Me,” or “Grey Street,” Matthews still has that soothing relaxing voice that helps tell his story. He seems to pull out all the stops with instruments that compliment his guitar like the saxophone on “Dodo,” or the violin on “Baby,” that adds that romantic vibe to the song. He holds a mellow sensation, and then spins you out of control with the beat of the drums, or the strumming of his electric or acoustic guitar that electrifies the sound in the songs. Whether you listen to DMB or just Dave Matthews, you won’t be disappointed with the sound.
It would seem quite strange for the lead singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band, Dave Matthews, to come out with a solo album, but he does it while still changing his style up a bit. He not only writes the songs for the band, but has it named after him. In “Some Devil,” Dave Matthews captures a sense of tranquil sadness throughout the entire album. He talks about love, heartache, and death. The first song “Dodo,” sets the mood and tempo for the rest of the album. “Once upon a time, When the world was just a pancake, Fears would arise, That if you went too far, You'd fall, But with the, Passage of time, It all became more of a ball, We're as sure of that, As we all once were when the world was flat.” This song sheds light on how we all can be naive at times and allow ourselves to accept what this world has to give us. Dave Matthews brings you into a world that is a darker one than the one from the Dave Matthews Band. His first solo album, though not as up-beat and jam blasting as it is with the band, still puts on a show of poetic genius through his lyrics. This album let’s you focus on his own experimental writing style.
The album carries 13 great singles that each one seems to have a great distinct sound to it, and doesn’t feel repetitive at all. There’s an extra added bonus at the end, which is an acoustic version of the “Gravedigger” song. You can almost feel the sorrow and sadness in the song “Gravedigger,” which gives the idea of how short life can be and how death is no stranger to any of us. With “Save Me,” he makes a religious reference to Jesus, “He'd been walking there for 20 days, He was going to walk on, For 20 more, Said "How about a drink or a bite to eat?", He said "No, my faith is all I need," which shows us we can all save ourselves with hope and determination, even in a confused and troubled world. Though this is no “Crash Into Me,” or “Grey Street,” Matthews still has that soothing relaxing voice that helps tell his story. He seems to pull out all the stops with instruments that compliment his guitar like the saxophone on “Dodo,” or the violin on “Baby,” that adds that romantic vibe to the song. He holds a mellow sensation, and then spins you out of control with the beat of the drums, or the strumming of his electric or acoustic guitar that electrifies the sound in the songs. Whether you listen to DMB or just Dave Matthews, you won’t be disappointed with the sound.
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