Sunday, February 17, 2008
HOMEWORK EDIT

NATALIE!

I just realized you forgot

Math Worksheet EA1.

And Class Discussion Worksheet Q3&4 (or is it 4 & 5? ><) Highly recommended: Music & Lyrics*

Starring Drew Barrymore, Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett

Summary

Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a self-confessed has-been 80s pop star, a member of the since-disbanded PoP! band. He has been living a life of performing concerts at increasingly humiliating venues, like high-school reunions and entertainment parks.

When the tween queen of music, Cora (Haley Bennett) asks him to write her a song "Way Back Into Love"** for her new album, he jumps at the chance for stardom once again. The problem: he has a way with melodies, but not with lyrics. He can't write a song for nuts, let alone finish writing one in about 3 days, which is the deadline Cora demands for her upcoming concert.

His manager hires Avril (Lavigne)'s songwriter, a crazy hippie dude, to help Alex write a song, but the lyrics don't seem to click. While the dude and Alex are talking it over, Alex's quirky, bright plant lady Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) comes up with some lyrics by herself.

They do not know each other very well yet, but along the way he discovers more about her. Sophie is extremely talented in creative writing, but is still reeling from a disastrous romance with her ex-teacher Sloan Cartes, the latter whom eventually wrote a book about Sophie, which hurts her.

Alex is captivated by her amazing song-writing abilities. They work day and night at the song and eventually fall in love. Along the way, they meet Barbara, Sophie's older sister (older than her by 7 years; already married with two kids), who is crazy about Alex. The character of Barbara adds extra comic relief to this comedy-cum-romance which many of you may find interesting.

Interesting fact: Cora is quite a romance fanatic. The reason why she writes so many 'religious' songs*** is because, according to Alex, "she thinks the Dalai Lama was once a flame of hers".

Appendix
* Official Site for Music & Lyrics
** Youtube fan-made video for "Way Back Into Love"
*** One song featured in Music & Lyrics is called "Buddha's Delight". You can find it on Youtube, but the performance featured in the movie was quite- let's say it's for mature audiences.

If you are interested in any of the songs below, found in Music & Lyrics, you can ask me!

Hugh Grant
"Don't Write Me Off"
This very touching song admits his lack of song-writing capabilities and yet is an effort to win Sophie back after they have had a quarrel. A rating of 5 stars!

Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett
"Way Back Into Love"
This is the concert version of what Alex and Sophie wrote for Cora. Also available on Youtube is Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore's studio version, but not much difference. 5 stars!

Haley Bennett
"Buddha's Delight"
This is the song she first sings when Alex and Sophie are introduced to her.
"Slam"
This is the song performed in the background at the end, during her concert, when Sophie forgives Alex.
"Invincible"
This is played during the credits and should be in the soundtrack. Quite amazing performance too.
All in all, I recommend Haley. She's a newcomer but her voice is wonderful. (:

Go to www.youtube.com if you want to listen to the tracks first for a try-out.

-Grace