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WATCH ... "The Carter"
Lil Wayne. The name has become synonymous with revolutionary rap and shameless shirtlessness.
Sadly, "The Carter," a documentary about the rapper, doesn't do much in the line of breaking any preconceived notions that you may have about Weezy; one of the first scenes shows Dwayne Michael Carter rummaging through a suitcase filled with everything from a wad of hundred-dollar bills to a Vitamin Water bottle containing his infamous cough syrup.
Though this film has no distinct message, it paints Lil' Wayne as somewhat of a troubled genius. Actually, the entire movie seems to be centered around the artist's addiction to the medicated liquid and the effect that it has had on his relationships.
When it comes to his often prodigious music, he writes nothing down.
"I just record, man. Whatever, whenever, wherever. It doesn't matter," he said.
The rapper carries his recording gear everywhere, thinks up lyrics and records in front of plasma screens streaming an endless array of ESPN highlight reels.
The film briefly examines the day-to-day life of the highly publicized rap star, who flashes a smile bedecked with diamonds as he goes to interviews and records in hotel rooms and tour busses, but throws in a few interesting people who have insight into who Lil Wayne truly is. Perhaps the most surprising feature of this documentary is the special attention paid to the reactions of his young daughter to her father's career and Weezy's seemingly boundless need to continue to make music.
"What's life without pressure?" he asked an interviewer. "The Carter" examines this very pressure, the struggles and the tensions that Lil Wayne has to deal with and, to a certain degree, has bred.
Die-hard Weezy fan or not, this film is short enough that you won't swear off his music after you watch it but gives viewers eye-opening insight into his life. Watch it if you have ninety minutes to spare and let's all hope that Lil Wayne doesn't sell out and star in a big-budget movie about himself anytime soon.
- Olga Mosiychuk
LISTEN TO ... NATHAN BOTSFORD.
For an artist who claims his music is a mix between Fergie and Jesus, Nathan Botsford sure knows how to make me weep. Why Fergie and Jesus? For MySpace tells me so.
His music has a mix of pop and soft rock, hints of John Mayer, Matt Nathanson and Mat Kearny, and a sprinkle of faith. Hence, Fergie and Jesus. Botsford, 23, writes and sings about matters of the heart. His debut album "Pearl" is heavy with emotional twists, fit for times when I'd like to peek out from under a comfortable blanket.
Songs "Pearl" and "Olivia" are hauntingly sad and patched with loss. With lyrics like, "When the doctors called up with the news, said they gotta get rid of you, little Pearl/You were a blessing and you were a curse/You caused me worry and you caused her hurt, oh, little Pearl," I had to wonder if "Pearl" was a chapter from his life.
"Olivia" carries similar weight in its story of a tragic loss. In both songs, his soulful voice accompanies the simple strum of an acoustic guitar with the brief beat of a drum. Other songs like "Final Goodbye" and "Miss You" are lighter in tone, but both tell a story of a lost love.
If Botsford writes from personal experiences, I'd like to give him a hug. I commend him for writing without whining. These songs are sad, but sincere; heartbreaking, but hopeful. Botsford can hardly be labeled local if these songs speak to every person who has experienced lost love.
Visit www.myspace.com/nathanbotsford for sample clips and upcoming shows.
- Gao Na Yang
WATCH ... "THIS IS IT."
"This is It," the documentary of Michael Jackson's planned world tour, was recently released on DVD, bringing the magic of Jackson to home TVs. Complete with his glorious dance moves and unmistakable style (yes, there were gold sequined pants), "This Is It" provides all access to the details about Jackson's last mission as an entertainer.
The documentary covered the making what would have been the most epic tour of all time. The film focused mostly on the dress rehearsals, which left the viewers with enough Jackson to last for quite a while. As the camera captured his unofficial performances, Jackson covered everything from his memorable (and natural looking) Jackson 5 era to such classics as "Bille Jean" and the iconic "Beat It."
A mostly solid movie, "This Is It" is clearly geared towards those who would have auctioned their very souls for tickets to what would have been a sold-out tour had Jackson lived to perform it. Slightly sentimental at the end, viewers are reminded of the passion that Jackson had as the last scene shows him dancing solo on the spotlight stage.
Don't watch it if you are looking for details or answers about Jackson's constantly dramatic life. Take it for the music, and the glimpse of what would have been a show to dominate all other productions.
- Laura Frazier
