Local observations from a movie, music buff

By Dan Ochwat

Little Miss Overrated

That cursed yellow VW — it’s everywhere. It’s interrupting every bad show I watch on TV, puttering ahead as Steve Carell runs like Robin Williams alongside it, trying to catch up. Meanwhile, quotes from the nation’s critics pepper the screen with love, building up the summer’s “can’t miss” hit of the summer — “Little Miss Sunshine.”

I’m going to rain on this parade. Mind you, I didn’t hate the movie, but wow is it nowhere near deserving of all of this praise. Since reading about its splash at the Sundance Film Festival last year, I’ve been wanting to see the film. I saw it opening night, after the final day of Lollapalooza, and caught a late screening. The crowd loved it. Serious laughter. I didn’t get it.

To summarize, a disgruntled family reconnects on a road trip to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant where little Olive, the antithesis of JonBenet, has found a spot in the finals. It’s a brilliant setup. I love road movies. I love Steve Carell, respect Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette greatly as actors, and Alan Arkin is an absolute scene stealer.

However, the movie is nothing what I expected. I was looking for a classic, darkly funny, fresh, introspective indie road movie. What I saw was a screwball comedy, and that style of comedy isn’t my thing. To me, it’s hard to watch people screwing up all of the time. It becomes gimmicky and flat. And let me tell you, watching the insane family chase that forsaken van gets old, real fast.

Like I said though, people were laughing. So, if you’re a fan of screwball comedy, you may enjoy this movie. If you’re looking for more than that, prepare to be disappointed.

Beyond the comedy, I had three major problems. First, Greg Kinnear plays one of the most annoying characters on screen this year. He’s a motivational speaker, hawking a plan for a self-help program that he thinks will make him rich. And guess what? We get to listen to him speak like a cartoonish motivational speaker the whole time. It’s grating.

Second, unless you’re Ricky Schroeder in “The Champ,” it’s hard to find kids who are really all that adorable in movies. Abigail Breslin, who plays Olive, would be adorable if the filmmakers didn’t treat her like a joke. She’s so campy, dressed in a ridiculous pair of old man glasses and a headband. Breslin would have been just as cute, if not more so, if she looked like a real little girl rather than a comic strip character. Luckily, she acts right through the costume.

Finally, here’s the good news. The ending of the film is one of the best I’ve seen. It’s on par with Napoleon Dynamite dancing in the school auditorium. It almost saves the movie. If I were to put a star rating on the film, the ending alone would earn it a three-star rating, but it’s not until I sit back and really look at the whole movie that I realize it’s really not that good. Last thing: Despite the laughs and good cheer the ending brings, it’s awfully creepy. John Karr anyone?



Beirut’s the real deal

Real quick, one of the better concerts I’ve seen this year came from 20-year-old Zach Condon and his band Beirut. The story goes: He was a kid in Albuquerque playing Balkan music in his bedroom after being influenced by it during a trip to Paris. This is why you travel the world; you may find inspiration and create one of the best albums of 2006 and put on an exciting concert at the Empty Bottle.

Blaring his trumpet, fiddling his ukulele, belting out Morrissey-like melodies, the concert was awesome. He’s the most interesting kid in music. I want to know all about him, and can’t wait to hear what else he’ll be producing. Pick up his album “Gulag Orkestar.”



Fall concert season begins

Now, here’s who to check out in the upcoming weeks. The fall is a huge opportunity to see some of the best bands roll through town. We start with the angelic-voiced Vashti Bunyan 9/11 at Lakeshore Theatre, and on that same day, the hit of the summer, Gnarls Barkley, play Riviera Theatre.

Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band canceled a concert earlier this year but are back on 9/13 at the Vic Theatre. Built to Spill plays long guitar solos 9/15 at the Metro. I love it when two good bands fill up a bill, and that’s what’s coming to the Double Door 9/16 with Birdmonster and Catfish Haven.

Crazed quintet Man Man comes 9/21 to the Logan Square Auditorium. One of my favorite albums of the year belong to the beautiful pop band Asobi Seksu, playing Schuba’s 9/22. Certainly sold out, Sufjan Stevens plays the Riviera Theatre 9/26. Two-piece noisemakers with a twinge of southern rock, Two Gallants, play Empty Bottle 9/30. 

Amy Millan, queen of the pop band The Stars, celebrates her new solo album on 10/3 at the Park West. Two incredibly fun bands fill the Vic Theatre on the same day, as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah play with Architecture in Helsinki. Likewise on 10/6, expect to dance all night with CSS and Ladytron at the Vic Theatre. 

Americana band Okkervil River plays Schuba’s 10/7 and 10/8, and on 10/8, lull into a trance with Junior Boys at the Empty Bottle. On 10/9, popular jazz-influenced rockers TV On The Radio play the Metro.

Keep sending me your music or anything else on your mind at danochwat@hotmail.com. I’ve also joined the MySpace army, so give The Real Chicago some love at http://www1.myspace.com/danochwat

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