For the Record: Diana Krall – Glad Rag Doll

I was supposed to write about “Babel” this week but screw that, I’d rather talk about the CD that I can’t stop listening to. Mumford can wait ’til next week.

A few months back The Wife posted something on Facebook about whether or not she should buy the new Diana Krall album. Her friends were encouraging her but I was thinking “please don’t buy it. please don’t buy it.” Do you know how hard it is to buy Christmas presents for this person? When you’re with someone for a long time and they don’t post a wish list disguised as a holiday gift guide on their blog it can be difficult.

So I got her “Glad Rag Doll,” the 11th studio album by jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall. I wasn’t expecting great things. We have a couple of her other albums and they’re fine. She has a great, breathy voice.

But this album? Wow. It is terrific. And I’m not just talking about the album cover. This is like the “Joshua Tree” of Diana Krall albums. It’s the “Born to Run” of Diana Krall albums. You get where I’m going with this, right?

We listen to it every night when Lar gets home from work. Sometimes twice. It’s so nice — and rare these days — when you listen to an album and like it immediately with none of that waiting for it to grow on you business.

Produced by T. Bone Burnett, the album features 13 tunes (but pick up the deluxe edition which has four additional tracks. Hey, it was a Christmas gift, of course I splurged.) from the 1920s-30s. Don’t fear it because it’s jazz — there’s some rockabilly influence and country, and husband Elvis Costello’s musical fingerprints are all over some tracks.

Standout tracks include “There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt of My Tears,” “You Know – I Know Ev’rything’s Made for Love,” “Lonely Avenue” and my personal favorite “Wide River to Cross.” But they’re all good, although I’m not that crazy about the butterfly song.

Do your ears a favor and check it out. Certainly the best record of 2012 by my reckoning.

 

At the Movies: The Impossible

“The Impossible” is a true-life survival story that is, well, impossible to believe. It’s also a harrowing, compelling movie.

The film tells the story of Maria and Henry Belon (Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor), on Christmas vacation in Thailand with their three sons — Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast).

They’re enjoying their tropical paradise vacation until a tsunami hits without warning, destroying the resort and dividing the family. Maria and Lucas are washed away and eventually rescued by some locals who take them to a hospital. Maria is seriously injured and Lucas has to be strong for the two of them.

Meanwhile back at the remains of the resort, Henry leaves Thomas and Simon in the care of the authorities while he continues the seemingly hopeless search for his wife and son.

Based on a true story of the 2004 tsunami that struck southeast Asia, “The Impossible” is a powerful, amazing and emotionally draining film. The sequence of the tsunami wiping out the resort and Maria and Lucas struggling to survive is incredible. But if you’re just going for the thrill ride, that’s a small part of a much larger story.

The real focus is on the family’s courage and determination to survive and be reunited. To pull that off requires a talented cast and Watts and McGregor prove they have the talent required. But the real star is young Holland as the oldest — but still not very old — son. It’s a challenging part which he plays well.

 

 

 

At the Movies: Promised Land

In 2010 writer/director Josh Fox made “Gasland,” a documentary about a form of natural gas drilling known as “fracking.” Two years later director Gus Van Sant, working from a screenplay by Matt Damon and John Krasinski, made “Promised Land,” a drama about two men working opposite sides of the fracking issue.

If you only see one movie about fracking, make it “Gasland.” “Gasland” is compelling, informative and real; “Promised Land” has a decent cast but is mired in a predictable and flat story.

Based on a story by Dave Eggers, “Promised Land” stars Damon as Steve Butler, a gas company salesman with the golden touch. He’s on his way up the corporate ladder but first he needs to close a deal in a poor rural town. He arrives in town with his partner Sue (Frances McDormand) and the duo go door-to-door to buy drilling rights.

Things are going well until Steve attends a town meeting where he’s questioned by the high school science teacher (Hal Holbrook). Suddenly the easy sell turns into more of a challenge.

Further complicating matters is the arrival of Dustin Noble (Krasinski), an environmentalist determined to stop the gas company from moving in. Dustin claims that fracking killed all the cattle and ruined his family’s farm.

“Promised Land” isn’t a bad film but it gets by primarily on the strength of its cast. Damon is charming as usual but his journey from slick corporate shill to man with a conscience is predictable to the extreme. There’s even a love story dropped in courtesy of a local school teacher (Rosemarie DeWitt).

There’s a serious discussion to be had on the subject of hydraulic fracturing, but “Promised Land” is too lightweight to make it. There are some interesting character bits but the talented cast needs a better story to work with.

What’s On Ronnie’s Calendars 012013

Happy New Year and welcome back to Year 3 of our semi-popular 12-part series — What’s On Ronnie’s Calendars.

Once again What’s On Ronnie’s Calendars is brought to you by Marvel Comics, which supplies a freebie calendar to comic shops in late December, and loyal reader Jan O’Brien, who this year supplied me with an Avengers Movie calendar. That’s right, every month this year we’ll be reliving the greatness that was last year’s top movie. Something to look forward to.

Superior Spider-Man

The Marvel freebie calendar opens with the latest incarnation of Marvel’s most popular hero. If you follow trending subjects on the Internet, you are probably aware that once again Peter Parker — the amazing one — has died. But don’t despair, his body has been taken over by his arch-enemy Doctor Octopus.

Yes, it’s the old body-swap story. Doc Ock has decided to take over Peter’s job, becoming not just a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, but a Superior one. Ock has an ego on him, you might say. I’m guessing this will be the status quo for the next six months to a year, depending on how long Marvel figures they can milk it.

Captain America

My Avengers movie calendar begins appropriately with the First Avenger: Captain America. I still don’t know why he’s considered the first since Thor has been around for ages. Maybe it’s because he’s the first American superhero — and that’s all that matters.

Cap’s Marvel Studios movie career began in 2011 with “Captain America: The First Avenger,” continued in last year’s “The Avengers” and will pick up in April 2014 with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

Fun Fact: Chris Evans has played two Marvel superheroes in his movie career — Captain America and Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in the “Fantastic Four” movies.