- Korean Drama
- Korean TV Series
On an album of Tom Waits covers one should rightly expect some derelict bravado and gruff to make it a credible cover album. But when the vocals are delivered by the divine Scarlett Johansson, youâre already treading in different waters. Add music which offers deeply layered and evocative soundscapes from a deft lineup of musicians that includes members of Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, TV on the Radio, and a guest appearance by David Bowie, and youâve got something altogether different than one would expect on a Tom Waits cover album.
Fans of the old storyteller wonât recognize some of these versions. Instead, at least on a few notable tracks, fans of bands like Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil,and Dead Can Dance will recognize derivative and signature sounds from these mainstays of the venerable bands from the 4AD music label. On this her first musical venture aware from the big screen, Scarlett approaches the art of music by re-envisioning Tomâs old songs! with both purpose and pensive respect for the artist she cove! rs.
--Lucas Hilbert
On the day Academy Award-nominated actress Scarlett Johansson was born, Tom Waits was holed up in an L.A. studio knocking off the final gin-soaked lines of Rain Dogs, his near-perfect album of 1985. That Johanssonâs cool enough to be a fan of Waitsâ character-driven songs and distinct rasp is one thing; choosing to cover 10 of his songs for her first album (and naming it after the lone Rain Dogs selection) could be downright precarious. Expect the robust voice that is her big-screen reputation, which, after the kick-off instrumental âFawnâ (Alice, 2002), makes its debut on Town With No Cheer (Swordfish Trombones, 1983). Backed by a Waits-like orchestra of pump organ, vibes, horns and wind chimes, Johansson pulls off her best performa! nces on the songs that beg for her persona. She makes âBig Timeâ (Big Time, 1988) and âI Wish I Was In New Orleansâ (Small Change, 1976) sound like her own, finding irony in the respective lines âCome from St. Petersburg, Scarlett and meâ and âBy the whiskers on my chin, New Orleans, Iâll be there.â The latter, led merely by a music box, is the recordâs finest, leaving a Waits fan to wonder what Johansson could do with âTango Til Theyâre Soreâ or âThe Piano Has Been Drinking.â Trouble arises when arrangements are alteredâ"âI Donât Want To Grow Upâ sounds like Blondie, circa 1981ââ"but, all in all, itâs a nice effort. --Scott HolterLOVE SONG ! FOR BOBBY LONG - DVD MovieA misfit drama in the grand Southern! (by way of Hollywood) tradition, A Love Song for Bobby Long takes its cue from Carson McCullers's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Re-establishing his indie-cred, John Travolta adds Bobby Long to his gallery of colorful characters. Hobbled by an infected toe, the 50-something Bobby is a white-haired, unshaven, vodka-soaked mess. But heâs also a former English professor, and the piles of books in his ramshackle house, and the authors he drunkenly quotes give him a wounded dignity. Just how wounded will be revealed over the course of this atmospheric tale of redemption and penance. Bobby lives with Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht), his former teaching assistant who is writing a book about his mentor, a project deferred by drinking, sitting around with the locals, or engaging in quotation oneupsmanship. Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, Ghost World) holds her own against Travolta ("You are such a shameless ham," she chastises the loquacious Bobby) as Purs! y, the estranged daughter of Lorraine, a recently deceased singer-songwriter in whose house Bobby and Lawson reside. A battle of wills between the two men and the headstrong young girl gives way to the formation of a tentative family unit. Pursy agrees to return to high school if Bobby and Lawson quit drinking. There will be the expected revelations, recriminations, and dramatic confrontations, but what makes this Love Songresonate are the performances by a cast that rarely hits a false note. --Donald Liebenson
Designed for those giving care to individuals with Alzheimerâs disease and other memory loss disorders, this informative and inspiring guide explores how to take care of oneself in order to meet the challenges of giving care to another. Heartfelt, candid accounts by television host Leeza Gibbons and the members of her familyâ"who cared for Leezaâs mother, Jean, for more than a decade after her Alzheimerâs diagnosisâ"are combined with current medical, nutritional, psychological, and spiritual information and advice for caregivers. A comprehensive resources section and photo scrapbook of Leeza and her family are also included.
