Paparazzi Parasites and Smokin' Soundtracks
Burbank, California—Another star, another purported paparazzi chase, another car crash. How long before another tragic death? Though the Los Angeles County Sheriff insists photographers played no role in this week's Lindsay Lohan automobile accident, which recalls the actress' May incident in which police say a photographer rammed her vehicle, eyewitnesses claim that the stalkerazzi had been following the teenage actress. Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that, seconds after Lohan's Mercedes broadsided a van, inflating the car's airbags, paparazzi were taking pictures, which puts them in hot pursuit. Lohan and a passenger were hospitalized for minor injuries.
Celebrity press photographers are parasites and, besides Lohan, their victims include Reese Witherspoon and everyone from California's governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, blocked by the thugs in front of his son's preschool, to celebrity couples. Not to mention Princess Diana, who was photographed as she lay dying in her demolished Mercedes.
California's new law imposing higher fines on assaulting photographers will not stop these scumbags, whose actions often constitute physical force, and it only raises the stakes. The real issue is whether an individual has a right to his own image—it strikes me as an absolute property right in this context—or a stranger can walk up and start taking pictures without permission.
A case could be made for enforcement of existing laws against the use of force but that is not likely in a town where traffic cops barely show up at the busiest freeway interchange in the world (the dreaded 405 and 101). Maybe movie studios will notice and move to protect their assets—the stars, who have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, too. At this rate, somebody famous is bound to be killed. To his credit, actor George Clooney called this one back in 1997, when Diana died and he angrily denounced the paparazzi. Clooney was on the money.
Not Seeing It Now
Whether the thesis of his new movie, Good Night, And Good Luck, dramatizes the truth is another question, and I'm sorry to have missed seeing it for a theatrical release review. But I must say the actor and director, who is related to singer Rosemary Clooney, has terrific taste in music. He personally selected the songs for his movie—included on a smokin' soundtrack available on Concord Records.
Thoughtfully arranged classics such as "One for My Baby" and "How High the Moon" are performed by jazz singer Dianne Reeves, who sings the tunes in the movie (several songs were recorded live during the shoot). Clooney also stars in the drama with David Straithairn as CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow about the hearings, chaired by Sen. Joe McCarthy, concerning communist influence in Hollywood.
An original song, co-written by Rosemary Clooney's manager, "Who's Minding the Store," is a nicely rendered number, though not the best of the 15 songs. Singer Reeves does Nat King Cole and Irving Mills proud on a confident version of their "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and her "TV is the Thing This Year" smolders. This CD is full of old-fashioned, non-fusion jazz—good for cool nights, lowered lights and a nibble on the ear.
Where the Road Takes You
The melancholy soundtrack for Elizabethtown grew on me despite a heavy dose of downer rock and an experimental new wailer from Lindsey Buckingham called "Shut Us Down." The Fleetwood Mac member, whose underrated solo album, Out of the Cradle, is close to perfection, is due for a new solo effort. Produced by the movie's writer and director, Cameron Crowe, this 15-song collection is both grimy and groovy, with a mix of older album-oriented songs by Tom Petty, The Hollies and Elton John from his early Bernie Taupin days. Folk songs like Patty Griffin's 2002 folk ballad "Long Ride Home" are practically dripping with patchouli oil.
Lifting the weighty, roadie feel falls to the Hombres' 1967 "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)," Helen Stellar's haunting "This Time Around" and Wheat's granola pop "Don't I Hold You." Crowe and company have put together some memorable '70s songwriter music for his movie, which stars Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS by Scott Holleran
• 10/1/05 - Restoring Disney's Wonderful World
• 9/24/05 - Garbo Shines on DVD, Hollywood Take on Looters and Music Musings
• 9/15/05 - Robert Wise and Witherspoon's Consent
Celebrity press photographers are parasites and, besides Lohan, their victims include Reese Witherspoon and everyone from California's governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, blocked by the thugs in front of his son's preschool, to celebrity couples. Not to mention Princess Diana, who was photographed as she lay dying in her demolished Mercedes.
California's new law imposing higher fines on assaulting photographers will not stop these scumbags, whose actions often constitute physical force, and it only raises the stakes. The real issue is whether an individual has a right to his own image—it strikes me as an absolute property right in this context—or a stranger can walk up and start taking pictures without permission.
A case could be made for enforcement of existing laws against the use of force but that is not likely in a town where traffic cops barely show up at the busiest freeway interchange in the world (the dreaded 405 and 101). Maybe movie studios will notice and move to protect their assets—the stars, who have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, too. At this rate, somebody famous is bound to be killed. To his credit, actor George Clooney called this one back in 1997, when Diana died and he angrily denounced the paparazzi. Clooney was on the money.
Not Seeing It Now
Whether the thesis of his new movie, Good Night, And Good Luck, dramatizes the truth is another question, and I'm sorry to have missed seeing it for a theatrical release review. But I must say the actor and director, who is related to singer Rosemary Clooney, has terrific taste in music. He personally selected the songs for his movie—included on a smokin' soundtrack available on Concord Records.
Thoughtfully arranged classics such as "One for My Baby" and "How High the Moon" are performed by jazz singer Dianne Reeves, who sings the tunes in the movie (several songs were recorded live during the shoot). Clooney also stars in the drama with David Straithairn as CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow about the hearings, chaired by Sen. Joe McCarthy, concerning communist influence in Hollywood.
An original song, co-written by Rosemary Clooney's manager, "Who's Minding the Store," is a nicely rendered number, though not the best of the 15 songs. Singer Reeves does Nat King Cole and Irving Mills proud on a confident version of their "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and her "TV is the Thing This Year" smolders. This CD is full of old-fashioned, non-fusion jazz—good for cool nights, lowered lights and a nibble on the ear.
Where the Road Takes You
The melancholy soundtrack for Elizabethtown grew on me despite a heavy dose of downer rock and an experimental new wailer from Lindsey Buckingham called "Shut Us Down." The Fleetwood Mac member, whose underrated solo album, Out of the Cradle, is close to perfection, is due for a new solo effort. Produced by the movie's writer and director, Cameron Crowe, this 15-song collection is both grimy and groovy, with a mix of older album-oriented songs by Tom Petty, The Hollies and Elton John from his early Bernie Taupin days. Folk songs like Patty Griffin's 2002 folk ballad "Long Ride Home" are practically dripping with patchouli oil.
Lifting the weighty, roadie feel falls to the Hombres' 1967 "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)," Helen Stellar's haunting "This Time Around" and Wheat's granola pop "Don't I Hold You." Crowe and company have put together some memorable '70s songwriter music for his movie, which stars Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS by Scott Holleran
• 10/1/05 - Restoring Disney's Wonderful World
• 9/24/05 - Garbo Shines on DVD, Hollywood Take on Looters and Music Musings
• 9/15/05 - Robert Wise and Witherspoon's Consent
