Andy Caldwell – Universal Truth (2006)

Posted on July 6, 2006
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This brand-new album from a well-known house music producer features some great vocal performances and high production value. Many of the songs are more memorable remixed by other artists; others feel very cheesy and like synthesizer demo tunes. Andy Caldwell’s solo debut is okay, but simply not amazing.

Grade: C+.

AllMusic: Universal Truth.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Posted on July 6, 2006
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An all-star cast bring this lyrical script to life in a story about a miniscule community in Alabama in the 30s. The casting is perfect, the script well-written, and the acting is sublime. This exquisite work of art is stark in its beauty and raw in its emotionality.

Grade: A.

IMDB: Fried Green Tomatoes.

Superman Returns (2006)

Posted on July 5, 2006
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How many stories can you tell about the most powerful man in the world?  If this movie is any indication, not many.  Once again, Lex Luthor attempts to stop Superman with kryptonite.  The plot is slow paced, with a few exciting moments.  Not the worst Superman movie, not the best.

Grade: C.

IMDB: Superman Returns.

House of Om: Fred Everything (2005)

Posted on July 5, 2006
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Om Records delivers another incredibly hot DJ mix set by the incomparable Fred Everything. Fred spins a set of punchy, techy deep house with lots of surprises. I found myself wishing I was on a hardwood dancefloor under a mirror ball with delicious strangers every moment this astonishing CD played.

Grade: A+.

AllMusic: House of Om presents Fred Everything.

Inhouse, vol. 2 (2002)

Posted on June 30, 2006
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A superb set of deep house tracks from Germany, this unmixed CD delivers some great gems. There are far too many standout tracks on this compilation to call them out individually, but with mellow jazz chords and an electronic edge, this album has a cohesive groove that inspires many spins.

Grade: A.

AllMusic: Inhouse, Vol. 2: Modern House Sounds From Deepest Germany.

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Posted on June 30, 2006
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Jim Carrey brings his comedy chops to bear as the highly eccentric Count Olaf, in this deeply sinister and quirky comedy about three orphans whose distant relative tries to wrangle their inheritance from them. Spectacular visuals and decent acting shine through a convoluted story and an ending that feels forced.

Grade: B-.

IMDB: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Marques Wyatt – Horizons (2004)

Posted on June 28, 2006
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This CD, mixed by Marques Wyatt, is a solid set of deep house tracks from diverse artists. A few of these tracks stand out well, with funky basslines and jazzy chord progressions that evoke summer nights on hardwood dancefloors. Some of these tracks, though, seem quite disposable and forgettable.

Grade: B-.

AllMusic: Horizons.

Coach Carter (2005)

Posted on June 24, 2006
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Samuel L. Jackson shines as a no-nonsense high school basketball coach in this sports picture. The story is full of jump-into-the-air moments, but does trudge in a couple of places. Some of the situations of grandstanding seem quite plastic, but otherwise, the film is inspirationally entertaining.

Grade: B.

IMDB: Coach Carter.

Panic (2000)

Posted on June 20, 2006
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Memorable acting performances, a loathesome villain, and a flawed protagonist make this small crime drama an excellent rental. The tension in the story is understated and palpable. The quiet acquiescence of William H. Macy’s performance and his interaction with the alluring Neve Campbell drive the script to its satisfying end.

Grade: B.

IMDB: Panic.

The Funeral (1996)

Posted on June 16, 2006
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An all-star cast fail to prevent this gangster picture set in the World War II era from becoming a litany of confusion and clichés. The dialogue is stilted and tired. The story is convoluted and absolutely predictable. The end leaves us unsatisfied and feels tacked on and poorly executed.

Grade: C-.

IMDB: The Funeral.

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