In Tune With Wade

Best singing performance by an actor

I know I'm about two decades late on this one, but I just watched "The Fabulous Baker Boys" last night and loved it. Turns out Jeff Bridges is a superb piano player and sex kitten Michelle Pfeiffer has a seductive singing voice that sounds like a mix between Marilyn Monroe and Billie Holiday. But is Pfeiffer tops among actors who use their own voices when portraying a singer on screen?

BEST SINGING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOVIE????

Super soundtracks

A killer soundtrack can't save a snoozer but it can sure make a great film that much better. Case in point: "The Three Burials of Melquiades" (2005). Directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones, the movie is an excellent morality tale that makes a subtle yet effective political statement while remaining compelling throughout — after a slow start. The plot revolves around a sadistic border patrolman (Barry Pepper) killing an innocent Mexican cowboy and then getting his comeuppance courtesy of a leathery ranch hand wonderfully portrayed by Jones.
There's also whole lot of infidelity going on in the first half of the movie and more than one heart gets broken, all of which is perfectly accompanied by songs like Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Cheatin' Hotel," Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"  and the country classic  "I Wonder Who'll Turn Out the Lights (In Your World Tonight)" by newcomer Bobby Flores. The honky tonk and Tex-Mex flavored soundtrack also includes classics by Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Dwight Yoakam (who also acts in the movie) and master accordionist Flaco Jimenez.

Granted, "The Three Burials of Melquiades" soundtrack is no "Dazed and Confused," "Pulp Fiction," "Big Chill," or "Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?" but I'll put it up there with the song collection from "Beautiful Girls," another favorite of mine.

Best movie soundtrack?

Features editor Chris Wille picked "Blues Brothers" and assistant features editor Jana Morreale's first choice is "Grease."

What's yours?

'The Outsiders' still golden

Francis Ford Coppola's movie "The Outsiders" (1983) is probably most famous for its cast.

The film boasts a pre-fame, all-star lineup that includes Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Esteves, Diane Lane (perhaps my first crush), Leif Garrett, and a pre-fame, pre-Scientology, pre-mental breakdown Tom Cruise.

(Grandaddy of cool Tom Waits also makes a brief cameo.)

Last night I came to the conclusion that not only does the movie still rock ("Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.") it also includes a sweet soundtrack buoyed by Elvis Presley's awesome rendering of the rather obscure Bob Dylan song "Tomorrow is a Long Time."  There's also Them (Van Morrison's first band) doing "Gloria," David Allan Coe's "Jack Daniels If You Please" and the title theme "Stay Gold," which was composed by Coppola's father (Carmine Coppola) with lyrics written and sung by Stevie Wonder.

Unfortunately, the soundtrack CD drops the pop/rock songs, leaving only Carmine's score (which does include the version of "Stay Gold" on which Wonder sings). Worse yet, I have so far only found the disc for sale at Amazon.com, where it is going for a whopping $98.78.

And so it goes.

Looks like the best bet is to just buy the "Complete Novel" version on DVD (pictured above). Or rent it it like I did at Netflix.

However, if you do own a copy of the soundtrack I highly recommend you try and fetch at least a c-note for it on Ebay ... But burn me a copy first and mail it to  The Herald, c/o Wade Tatangelo, Music critic, 102 Manatee Avenue, Bradenton, FL 34205. 

'Beautiful Girls' is a man's man movie, I swear

So, I've watched "Beautiful Girls" three times now since it arrived in its red Netflix sleeve on Saturday. Yep, three times. I know, it's borderline weirdo behavior -- heck, it is weirdo behavior -- but let me explain.

The movie, which came out in 1996, has a perfect song fitted to every scene that makes second and third viewings highly rewarding. (At least if you're a weirdo like me.) The opening credits/opening scene in which we meet lead character Willie Conway (Timothy Hutton) pulls you right in with this Tom Petty-ish ballad by Pete Droge that the singer/songwriter wrote specifically for the movie (both song and flick share same title). The tune isn't on any other Droge CD so I'm desperately  seeking out the movie soundtrack as soon as I get done with this  blog post. 

Other choice selections include  "Fool to Cry," which is one of my favorite Rolling Stones ballads;  the Afghan Whigs's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe" and their cover of "Be For Real."

Chris Isaak's killer "Graduation Day" runs over the end credits after Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," a song that plays a prominent role in the movie during a pub sing-along. Which is great, because every group of friends has at one time or another did a beer-soaked sing-a-long to "Sweet Caroline."

And by the way, don't let the poster/DVD jacket for "Beautiful Girls" fool you. Despite the women prominently featured on it this is not a chick flick. In fact, I'm certain that's why the film flopped. The poster (or one-sheet, to all you movie people) is pathetically misleading.

"Beautiful Girls" is about a man in his late 20s trying to juggle chasing his dream of being a musician  (and sowing his wild oats) with settling down. Settling down with a "good girl." The plot also involves a former high school stud (Matt Dillon) coping with the cold reality that he's now just another working stiff.

Check it out. Especially if you're coming up on your ten-year high school reunion. Not that I am. And I'm sure that's not why I loved this movie enough to watch it three times when I had "The Mack" and some other cool titles waiting in the wings.

By the way, I've been out of the office and a little under the weather the last couple days, hence the drop-off in blog posts. But have no fear, I'm back to daily doses, even during the holidays. So, Happy Thanksgiving, folks. Don't go nuts with the crazy cousins and make sure you listen to "Alice's Restaurant" at least once tomorrow.

"Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt"

When it comes to cowboy poets no one goes to the jugular like late, great Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt.

Most famous for penning "Pancho & Lefty," which Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard scored a No. 1 hit with in 1982, Van Zandt is a hero to alt. country luminaries like Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris, all of whom make appearances in the new documentary "Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt."

I just watched a preview copy and loved it. Hell, I'll admit it. I was misty-eyed by the end. Granted, I've been a Van Zandt fan since my crazy college days, but I think even folks who aren't will dig this documentary, and feel compelled to find his music. Because, well, it's good for the soul.

The documentary will be screened during the Cine-World Film Festival at noon, Friday, Nov. 11, at Burns Court Cinemas, 506 Burns Lane, Sarasota.

"Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt" will also be shown 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. Following the screening, there will be a discussion led by yours truly and a couple other local music geeks that, well, aren't worth mentioning.