DAMON & DOUGLAS 'BEHIND THE CANDELABRA'
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
By: G. H. Harding
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Paul McCartney
MACCA’S ROCKSHOW --- Last month the many Paul McCartney-fan sites were a-buzz with the news that his 1976 groundbreaking live album Wings Over America had been re-mastered and was due for imminent release. Also, the filmed DVD of the tour (dubbed Rockshow) was being released simultaneously as well by our friends at Eagle Vision. Both are out now and this past weekend we had a chance to view the DVD. First, as a major musical moment, this tour was the first major undertaking by McCartney and his new band … after The Beatles, dubbed Wings. Wings was always a calculated risk by McCartney; how do you replace The Beatles … and, could you? The main compliant by the other members of The Beatles was that McCartney would instruct them what to play … and, how to play it on his songs.
In the Wings-ensemble, everyone was basically hired by McCartney, so his instruction was expected. Still, musically, it was interesting what he performed on this tour. Of the 28 songs, only 5 were from the Beatles’ era. Needless to say, they were pristine performed and the response properly adoring. The rest of the show was focused on his solo work and the early Wings album; particularly impressive were “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Listen To What The Man Said,” and “Band On The Run.” Interestingly, “Live And Let Die” (written expressly for the Bond movie of the same name), which many people drubbed McCartney as selling out when he wrote it, is as strong as ever. When he performs the song to this day, it’s still the same arrangement as back then; fireworks and all. A tad tacky perhaps, but it’s still a standout moment during his show. Now, the video-performance of the show is an interesting point as well, but for a different reason.
The filmed passages of Paul and the band all seem like they were shot from the 7th or 8th row. The scenes are just so closely shot; that you just barely get the proper ratio of the band to the audience. It almost seems like it was shot in 200-seat club. Now, not to get too picky (this was 1976 after all) but, if nothing else, it just shows you how far we've come in the DVD-department. The one other thing that grabbed me was just how great a drummer, Joe English, was and is. Just a tremendous job. The other members of the band, Denny Laine and the late- Jimmy McCulllough were superb as well. Looking back, McCartney assembled a kick-ass band and it made me wonder (as well as many countless others), had The Beatles continued, what they would have come up with. If you're a fan … this is required viewing and listening.
Matt Damon
DOUGLAS & DAMON --- I finally had the chance to catch HBO’s recent Behind The Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. Before it aired two weeks back, the praise being lavished on this was rather amazing and I was eager to see if it indeed lived up to the hype … and, it does … to a point. The first thing I loved seeing was the old early-70’s HBO logo that started the broadcast.
The very first scene featured Damon and Scott Bakula, who is tremendous throughout, as Liberace’s procurer of new, young men … all blond and none-too-smart. Damon and Douglas are outstanding too; Douglas gives a star performance as Liberace; and nailed his voice as well as mannerisms. I actually saw several of his shows in Vegas (as he once was the town’s highest-paid performer) and while the performance scenes are not blown up as perhaps they should have been (they were much more camp and all-encompassing in person), director Steven Soderbergh (and, writer Richard LaGravanese; based on a book from Scott Thorson) indeed captures the enthusiasm of the shows. Liberace was a closeted figure, yet when he stepped on stage, he gave 150% to his adoring performances. Dan Aykroyd, as Seymous Heller, Liberace’s manager, is just stellar. Dan Acykroyd … who knew? The movie does have its moments when it descends in sheer parody, but, I really enjoyed it. The final scene, when Liberace is dying, because of Douglas’ own drama, is chilling.
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