|
M i l M a n i a The Official Newsletter of WWW.ARTISTINSANE.COM |
|
Thanks for reading this issue of Mil Mania! And, remember, this is a work in progress, subject to many and varied changes — all adding up to a new and improved publication...so I hope! Please drop me a line to let me know what you think, including any and all suggestions. Thank you!!! |
|
To remove your name from this mailing list click here and type “Unsubscribe” in the |
|
All Content © Mil Scott www.artistinsane.com |
|
Welcome To The July/August |
|
Volume 2, Issue 7, July/Aug. 2006 |
|
Music Mayhem |
|
As noted in the December edition of Mil Mania, I will continue to include news in every issue to keep readers up to date on the latest happenings with the three acts most prominently featured on www.artistinsane.com. In addition, for each issue I will also choose one additional artist — in some cases a new discovery I’ve recently made, in others an individual or group whose work I’ve long appreciated — to make a one-time appearance here. And, of course, as with all aspects of Mil Mania, feel free to offer suggestions. This month’s featured artist: Gavin DeGraw — If you’ve flipped on Be that as it may, I must confess that I still stop to listen every time it does come on the radio, and I also still stop to check out any live performances by Gavin DeGraw when they pop up on TV. As a result, I’ve decided to at last acknowledge him here as this month’s featured artist. As I know very little else about him, however, in preparing this piece I paid a quick visit to the official Gavin DeGraw website, where I learned he is reportedly in the process of (at last!) creating a second studio album, and currently on tour abroad. If you’d like to learn more yourself, go to www.gavindegraw.com. …………………….. Third Eye Blind released a greatest hits compilation on July 18th. You can read more about this, including the track listing and other info here. Brian Fitzpatrick returns to the stage once again for a performance at the Black River Music Festival in Chester, NJ on Aug. 19th. You can go to the following website for all details... http://www.blackrivermusicfest.com/ Michael McDermott ‘s 5th Annual Birthday Celebration continues — with a deadline for submissions of August 18th. So, if you’re a fan, friend and/or in any way a supporter of his work, go to www.artistin- In other McDermott news, it seems Michael has at last been signed to a record label (the identity of which is yet to be disclosed pending finalization of “the deal”) — a good news/bad news scenario as it will most likely mean a larger audience for his upcoming release, but a pushed off date for this to “hit the streets”. As of this writing, Feb. 2007 represents the latest projection If you live in CA or the Midwest, however, the news for you is all good as Michael will be playing these regions for several shows currently scheduled to take place over the next few weeks. |
|
Ravings of a Mad Woman |
|
This column corresponds with the Mad Ravings On section of www.artistinsane.com, and is dedicated to selected reviews of movies, television and books… most of which are unlikely to represent “the latest” in any of these categories, but rather a random selection that represents a new and/or noteworthy discovery to me. This month’s selection: Rumor Has It... Upon watching the first few minutes of this film, and quickly being charmed by the creative premise and colorful characters, I must confess I watched the rest rather anxiously – half expecting the enjoyment, wit and wonder to fizzle into a disappointment that ultimately overtakes far too many at first promising films. Thankfully (with the exception of an I suppose obligatory, all too “cute” line near the film’s end), I am very happy to report my fears were utterly unfounded. In fact, my positive impression not only grew as the film progressed, but it remains so strong days later that I can’t help feeling compelled to make it the subject of this issue’s “Ravings of a Mad Woman” review. The story begins with Sarah Huttinger (Jennifer Aniston) narrating the explanation of an affair between an older woman and a younger man – an affair interrupted when the man began sleeping with the woman’s daughter, who was roughly his own age. Lest this sound vaguely familiar, it’s indeed the setup of a tale that’s been told before – in the form of the 1960’s Dustin Hoffman vehicle, The Graduate. The clever twist separating this later work, however, is the assertion that the former was in fact based on Sarah’s family – starting with her grandmother (played with wonderfully humorous pith by Shirley MacLaine), moving on to her late mother, and inevitably (as one already knows if you’ve seen the previews), continuing with (the at the time engaged) Sarah herself.. That particular bit of predictability, however, is not characteristic of all aspects of the film, which is in fact quite cleverly written and very well acted. Featuring a cameo by the always spectacular Kathy Bates (still another woman of the Huttinger clan who has fallen prey to the womanizing charms of the “legendary” Beau Burroughs), and a superb supporting performance by Richard Jenkins (as Sarah’s dad), the film features surprisingly fleshed out characters for a “romantic comedy”, including a few moments of unexpected emotional grounding that – for me, anyway – inspired more tears by their ironic and bittersweet beauty than the “funny parts” did laughs (although there are indeed several excellent moments of those as well). It also features a fantastic portrait of a womanizer and his workings in the form of Costner’s Burroughs. Beautifully understated in his quiet confidence and a solicitous attention that lulls Sarah into a comfort zone that only too late becomes all too uncomfortable, we feel with her the confusion of where his truths end and schmooze begins, questioning anew for ourselves whether the latter is the reality even after the ending credits roll. Of course, that also raises another pointed question left unanswered; but I think I speak for most viewers when I say there are matters of fictional works that make one thankful they’re indeed fiction – and on which no one wishes to dwell too long… That aside, there are just a couple of inconsistencies I’m a little surprised weren’t thought out more completely before shooting began – for example, the casting of Mena Suvari (who would be hard pressed to pass for over twenty-five) as the only 5-years-younger sister of Aniston’s character, who it’s repeatedly established is over 40. A similar argument could be made in the casting of Costner, who though in his early fifties seems a bit of a stretch to be playing 62. Of course, I suppose the filmmakers realized to pair a Harrison Ford or someone else more closely age-appropriate with the much younger Aniston might seem, well, a little creepy – and real-life romantic entanglements as they pertain to Mr. Ford aside, I’ve got to admit, I quite strongly agree. In conclusion, then, with this review it might be said I’m starting my own rumor…that the romantic comedy genre has “graduated” to a whole new level with the advent of this truly noteworthy entry. But don’t take it on my “hearsay”…go rent Rumor Has It…on your next trip to the video store, and get the facts (while thoroughly enjoying the fiction) for yourself. Click here for a review of another excellent recent video store find. |
|
(If you haven’t met me yet, you might want to read the As usual, I must start out with a big thank you to my readers for all your kind correspondences. I do so love getting mail! And, this month I also want to send an extra big thank you to the wonderful hu-woman who sent this question-laden paragraph that has given me much to grind my teeth down on in recent nights. But, I’ll let you read what she has to say before I say any more myself... Dear Molly, I’m in the midst of a truly brilliant and timeless fantasy for younger readers that makes me think of you, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien (1971). I’m sure that there are elements in the tale that you can identify with. Mrs. Frisby is a field mouse living on a farm and unexpectedly finds herself as a single parent of four young children, one gravely ill. To provide for her family, Mrs. Frisby takes incredible risks, entrusts her fellow wildlife neighbors, even some that instinct tells her to be wary of. She accepts a ride on a crow’s back to seek counsel from the owl that could simply snap her up with his razor sharp beak to leave her children orphaned. The owl lives high atop a tree deep in the nearby forest. Getting there on the crow’s back is the most precarious situation ever, but she is desperate. The owl knows the solution to her predicament but holds back his wisdom. He really has no need to help this mouse or most any mouse. Departing the owl’s hollow, withered heart filled with woe, the owl curiously asks her name. Learning that she is the widow of the late Mr. Frisby, he instructs her to seek the help of the ingenious rats, escapees from NIMH, that also have made their home on the farm like she has. In her mind the rats are most unlikely allies—they’re complete loners—but she doesn’t question the owl’s insight. The rats, too, can’t be bothered with her request—until they discover her name. If you haven’t read the story, I don’t want to give much more away (I’m sure your boys would love to read it). Molly, there are so many glints of human behavior in this engaging story told through animals’ perspectives—what we/they will do to move along in life. Do you feel that life is mainly all about who you know and working the relationships to one’s advantage? Or is there more? Do we come into alignment with each other to discover potential—our own as well as the other person’s? Am I supposed to act on encountering the homeless fellow asleep in the doorway that I pass by most every morning at 5:30? If so, how? |