Year:
2000
Studio:
Hollywood Pictures
Movie:
5/5
DVD:
3/5
Movie
There are movies that appeal to me because they're aimed at my
particular demographic or they're widly popular or they're in a genre
that I like. And then there are movies like "Duet", which at first
glance is a movie that I'd probably watch and enjoy and then forget.
But something struck a chord in me. I love this movie. So much so that
this is the first movie that I've rated a five.
"Duets" is a movie about three duos, and karaoke. Ricky Dean (Huey
Lewis) is a drifter who hussles karaoke singers. When a woman he knew
20 years ago dies, it leads to meeting the daughter he never knew, Liv
(Gwyneth Paltrow). She desperately wants to bond with the dad she's
never known, and feels that she can help with the loneliness she sees.
Todd Woods (Paul Giamatti) is a salesman, travelling around the country
selling a theme park, the construction of which will destroy the
habitat of an endangered turtle. He comes home to his kids and wife and
is totally ignored. Fed up with his drone-like existance, he wanders to
a hotel and into a karaoke bar, where he falls into the life.
Later on Todd picks up hitchhiker Reggie Kane (Andre Braugher),
ex-convict trying to get to Chicago to visit his mother. But Todd is
hooked on karaoke and insists on stopping at various places to sing,
naturally drawing Reggie into his act. Coincidentally, Reggie
previously stated in another scene that his only talents were singing
and crime.
The last duo are Billy (Scott Speedman) and Suzi Loomis (Maria Bello).
Billy owns half a taxi and is trying to find his spiritual path, though
to everyone else he's a non-doer. He comes home one day to find his
girl friend with his partner, and he leaves. He meets Suzy, a karaoke
singer trying to get to California and willing to be "real nice" if
Billy drives her there. Suzy is a person who takes charge of her
sexuality -- which some people would call tramp or worse. She's a
person with no money using what she has to get what she needs.
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It's three
separate stories all converging on Omaha with it's $5000
Super-Karaoke Championship. The characters are interesting and the
stories are compelling. But all standard movie fare except for the
karaoke singing. I don't know, I guess it's really neat to see actors
singing. They're not great singers, other than Huey Lewis of course,
but they're ok enough to be enjoyable.
DVD
There are three additional scenes: two establishing Reggie's background
(which actually don't add anything since you get a lot from the truck
driver scene) and one adding more to the convenience store holdup scene
(Reggie shoots the clerk, which changes the whole tone of the movie).
Really, none of the scenes would have improved the movie.
There is a multi-angle music video for "Crusin'". One angle is the
actual scene, one is a behind the scenes (rehearsal and recording), and
there is another view at the song which I forgot. An 8-minute interview
with Bruce Paltrow doesn't add anything if you hear the commentary
track. Theatrical trailer of course since that's a no-cost add-in.
The commentary track is with the late Director Bruce Paltrow and
Producer Kevin Jones. Quite informative with lots anecdotes about
shooting (mostly in Vancouver) and the film process and the actors and
the background behind the picture. It's quite repetitive though, almost
as if both persons were recorded separately, though occasionally they
seem to talk to each other.
Recommendations
I think it's a great movie but realize that it's just me. For most
people it's probably just a nice movie and maybe the singing is good or
maybe it's bad. "Duets" is funny with serious moments. It has good song
numbers without becoming some sort of musical. It remains personal and
focused on the characters and the world. I think people should watch it. |