WCBE 90.5 FM: "Aviator," "The Phantom of the Opera"

WCBE #197-FINAL (MUSIC)
“Aviator,” “The Phantom of the Opera”
Taped: 4:00 pm, December 20, 2004
Repeat On Air: 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, December 24, 2004
Streaming live on the web at http://www.wcbe.org.

Script:

John
"Aviator" flies higher than most films this year. . .

Clay
“The Phantom of the Opera” is a gothic musical mystery that looks better than it sounds . . .

MUSIC UP AGAIN, THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle Antczak
“It's Movie Time” in Central-Ohio, with John DeSando and Clay Lowe.

MUSIC UP, THEN UNDER AND SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

DeSando
I'm John DeSando

Clay
And I'm Clay Lowe.

John (“Aviator”)
Clay, The third best male performance of the year goes to talented Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator.

Hughes piloted his life through stunning achievements in aviation and filmmaking to wooing Katherine Hepburn and Ava Gardner among many others. DiCaprio plays Hughes the genius as he might have been: impetuous, intuitive, and self reliant without playing obnoxious. DCaprio as Hughes evolves gently but inexorably into the madness of germ phobia and plain old dementia.

Clay (Interrupts)
I've forgotten what that means.

John (Continues)
DiCaprio’s repartee with the estimable Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn shows the young actor has matured to the point of equality with a gifted actress, a young Cate with a perfect rendition of the iconic Kate.

The Aviator will be remembered as DiCaprio’s major role of a lifetime, Scorsese’s comeback film, and Hughes’s validation as one of the leading figures of the last century.

Clay (“Aviator”)
John, clenching your jaws and faking a flat Texas accent for over two hours does not a great performance make. Help me out, what is it about caricatured heroes that Scorsese and DeSando find so inexplicably compelling? [Might it have something to do with your mutual love for New York pizza, Tuscan wine, and anything that comes from north of Brindisi? Oh! Mama Mia.]

But despite my grumblings “Aviator” IS a holiday-worthy movie that’s chock full of wonderful moments from both the history of aviation and the history of cinema. And you’ll never see a more Freudian scene on screen than when Leonardo grabs the joy stick in the cockpit of his high speed plane and sets a world record. Nor will you ever see a more loving tribute to Kate Hepburn than when Kate Blanchett flies sky high in the role of her namesake’s persona.

“Aviator” is not a great movie, but it is great fun.

HIT CD: “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” (CUT:1 “OVERTURE”), ESTABLISH THEN UNDER FOR JOHN AND CLAY’S REVIEWS

John (“The Phantom of the Opera”)
Clay, The excessively overwrought lovers and villains of the “The Phantom of the Opera” film meet and sometimes exceed the formula that requires swelling music, mundane lyrics, and over-the-top struggles between good and evil. Enjoyable and diverting it is; delicate art it is not.

Weber and director Joel Schumacher succeeds in illuminating through allegory the sacrifices an artist must make to be successful, including giving in to the profession, represented by the Phantom, and giving up her normal life. The two most memorable songs, “Music of the Night” and “That’s all I ask of you,” reinforce the narcotic nature of art and the sacrifices it requires.

Except for the questionable choice of actor for Phantom, this film is an enjoyable musical diversion like a Christmas dinner with abundant comfort food gently leading to a most pleasant nap. Guilty pleasures are always in season.

Clay (“The Phantom of the Opera”)
Well, John, this IS the season for ruffles and flourishes and over-extended pleasures. But who cares, because naptimes ARE great in front of a roaring fire. However, if going out into the chilly night is also one of your secret pleasures, then a visit to see “The Phantom of the Opera” will fully reward your efforts.

From the opening swell of the organ music, to the stunning visual montage that follows, you’ll watch in amazement as the Old Paris Opera House is transformed from a pile of rubble back into its original state of grandeur.

The hallmarks of this film, however, are its brilliant montages [that intercut shots of actors, dancers, and the audience, with each other, as well as with shots of the ever-lurking-in-the-shadows, Phantom.] Unfortunately this Phantom is no match onstage for Emmy Rossum’s “Christine,” but who could be? [She’ll steal away your heart with the sounds of her crystalline voice and the looks of her iridescent beauty.]

But enough of moist lips and heaving breasts, John, because it’s grading time.

SEGUE TO DRUMS OR HIT DIRECTLY (YOUR CHOICE)

John
Hooray!

"Aviator" earns an "A" for ALL-AROUND Holiday AMUSEMENT. . .

Clay
“Aviator” gets a “B” because, like “Gangs of New York,” it could-have-BEEN a great cinematic classic . . .

John
"The Phantom of the Opera" earns a "B" because the titular lead should have been BETTER . . .

Clay
“The Phantom of the Opera” gets a “B” because titular leads should not sing if they wear tight corsets . . .

John
Clay, If I flew a plane or wore a mask, I could have been a great man, but I had to be stuck being your co-host. I'm outta here.

Clay
John, in one of your best roles, I hear you wore a mask and nothing else but your socks. Thankfully, I WASN’T your co-host back in those good old days.

I’m outta here too.

[*CLOSING MUSIC MIGHT ALSO WORK BEGINNING HERE - ONCE AGAIN, YOUR CHOICE]

See you at the movies, folks, and Have A Very Happy Holiday!

*HIT CD: “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” (CUT: 14 “LEARN TO BE LOVELY” (START ABOUT :04 IN WHEN STRINGED INSTRUMENT BEGINS), THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle:
The Award Winning "It's Movie Time" with John DeSando and Clay Lowe is produced by Richelle Antczak in conjunction with 90.5 FM, WCBE in Columbus 106.7 FM in Newark.

MUSIC UP AND OUT

© 2004 by John DeSando & Clay Lowe