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 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
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No Reservations
Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Decca
The 2002 German film Mostly Martha was a moving and poetic portrayal of a chef who is forced to take custody of her niece after her sister is killed. A somber premise indeed, but the mood lightens with the arrival of a charismatic sous chef who Martha falls for immediately. It’s a funny, stirring and elegant movie with a script that comes with a deep and genuine emotional center and a star (Martina Gedeck) that has grace and sensitivity to burn. No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and the stone-faced Aaron Eckhart, is Mostly Martha remade for an American audience and to be honest, it’s hard to feel optimistic about its chances. So, while I’ve got plenty of reservations, the soundtrack has eased my uneasiness considerably. Containing numbers by Pavarotti, Philip Glass, Paolo Conte and Liz Phair, No Reservations is a well-calibrated collection that perfectly captures the highs and lows of the story. Michael Buble’s take on “Sway” simmers with all the charm of a young Sinatra; Joan Sutherland and Carlo Bergonzi’s “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” is pure opera euphoria and Ray Gelato’s “Mambo Gelato” is upbeat, swinging fun. Elsewhere, Luciano Pavarotti’s “Nessun dorma” is positively stirring; Paolo Conte’s “Via con me” is sexy and simmering; and Renata Tibaldi’s “Un bel di” is a soaring operatic wonder. Why Liz Phair’s “Count On My Love” closes such a glorious soundtrack is a bit of a strange choice. Undoubtedly it was tacked on as a closing credits number, meant to unify the whole experience for its American audience. Not a great song, but given the main course of thirteen delicious numbers, it’s okay to flub the dessert.
—Alex Green
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