WCBE 90.5 FM: "Dreamgirls," "The Good Shepherd," "Pan's Labyrinth"

WCBE 90.5 FM
It's Movie Time: "Dreamgirls," "The Good Shepherd," "Pan's Labyrinth"
Co-hosted, produced & directed by John DeSando & Clay Lowe
Air Time: Friday, 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, December 29, 2006
Streaming live on the web at http://www.wcbe.org .

Clay

"Dreamgirls" is three parts heart and one part Soul . . .

John

"The Good Shepherd" is a GOOD cold war film . . .

Clay

"Pan's Labyrinth" is full of shadows and fears . . .

HIT THEME MUSIC

Richelle"

"It's Movie Time" in Columbus with John DeSando and Clay Lowe. .

MUSIC BRIEFLY UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando . . .

Clay

I'm Clay Lowe . . .

HIT CD: DREAMGIRLS (CUT 15: ONE NIGHT ONLY - JENNIFER HUDSON), THEN UNDER FOR BOTH REVIEWS

John ("Dreamgirls" 128 words)
Clay, to compete with Moulin Rouge or Chicago, a musical must be robust and unique with actors beautiful and talented. Dreamgirls is a lively film of the Broadway musical about three talented girls who make it big with the help of a sometimes ruthless manager.

Could be the Supremes or the Pips, but these actresses carry plenty of their own charisma, especially the American Idol graduate, Jennifer Hudson, who belts gospel and pop with equal measures of lustiness and soul, a combination of Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand.

Clay

Maybe even better than that.

John (Chuckles and continues)

It’s entertaining beyond the clichés and show stopping songs such as "And I Am Telling You I'm not Going” and "Cadillac Car.” It’s glitz and superficiality with a heavy dose of melodrama, but it is as enjoyably American as that Caddy.

Clay ("Dreamgirls" 127 words)

Well folks, when it comes to holiday movies, glitz is what we want and glitz is what we get. So head out in your Caddy van or SUV and see for yourselves why audiences are bringing down the house when they see Dreamgirls on screen.

Never mind that the material's old. Sure it opened on Broadway twenty-five years ago. And, sure, it's set in Detroit some twenty years earlier. But not to worry, because writer-director Bill Condon (who wowed us with "Chicago") has added some new songs and has done a fine job in casting the film.

Beyoncé is nothing short of classy as the groups' lead singer, Anika Noni Rose is a great backup artist, and Jennifer Hudson's performance (surprise, surprise) is pure Oscar gold.

John

MUSIC UP, THEN DOWN AND OUT

John ("The Good Shepherd” 128 words)

I don’t think it’s THAT good, but here’s another GOOD.

The Good Shepherd depicts the beginning of the CIA. Director Robert De Niro knows about intrigue given the dark figures he has played as one of America’s leading actors. His lighting is consistently low key, as if a secret world lies behind every shot. His frame is frequently static and spare, as if the void will be filled by inexplicable pain.

Clay

It always is.

John (Continues)

De Niro knows atmosphere and he knows lonely, isolated characters, as if Travis Bickle were being channeled into Matt Damon’s super spy, Edward Wilson. Damon plays Wilson so minimalist that knowing the interior of his character is impossible. But then, cold is a cold does.

Clay

That's what I've heard.

John (Finishes his review)

The Good Shepherd is coldly satisfying despite almost three hours of the hero's dark loneliness.

It’s rough out there. Just ask Rummy.

Clay ("Pan's Labyrinth" 128 words)

Well, folks, even Rummy might be uncomfortable in Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth," which is an allegorical tale about a mother and her young daughter who find themselves beholden to a Fascist Captain who is intent on terrorizing a small rural village in Franco's post-Civil War Spain.

John

Grim.

Clay

One part Alice in Wonderland, one part Greek Myth, and one part "Harry Potter," "Pan's Labyrinth" may exist only in the mind of the eleven-year-old Ofelia, but you're never 'really' quite sure - even after the closing credits have rolled.

The cruelty of the officer is brutally depicted, as are the creatures grotesque who rule the underground where young Ofelia finds herself wandering at night.

A study in terror, but also a study in courage and hope, "Pan's Labyrinth" will both frighten and delight you.

John

Great!

Clay

But enough of Motown showgirls, CIA shepherders, and underworlds dark and deep, John, because it's grading time.

HIT DRUMS, THEN UNDER FOR

John

Holy Holiday Harpies, Hooray

"Dreamgirls" earns an “A” for its entertaining AMERICAN ARSENAL of music. . .

Clay

"Dreamgirls" gets an "A" because underdogs ALMOST ALWAYS win our hearts . . .

John

"The Good Shepherd" earns a “B” for BARELY warming up the New Year . . .

Clay

"Pan's Labyrinth" gets a "B" because fantasy is sometimes no BETTER than the real . . .

John

Clay, I’ve made a New Year’s resolution to dream more about girls and less about spies.
Do you dream while you snore at our PREVIEWS?

I'm outta here.

Clay

Only if I'm having nightmares about doing 300 more shows with you.

I'm outta here, too.

See you at the movies, folks, and have a Happy New Year!

HIT CD: "DREAMGIRLS" (CUT 5: LOVE YOU I DO), THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle:

The Award-Winning "It's Movie Time" with John DeSando and Clay Lowe is written produced by John DeSando and Clay Lowe in conjunction with 90.5 FM,WCBE in Columbus, Ohio.

MUSIC UP, THEN DOWN AND OUT

Copyright by John DeSando and Clay Lowe, 2006