Hollywood Roundup
Despite savage reviews by some media oulets outraged over the movie's message of abstinence, the film has done good numbers and managed to draw a strong female audience. Some Christian-owned media outlets have also savaged the film for its seeming endorsement of missionary dating.
The Walk soundtrack is also a winner, with lots of songs from Switchfoot, a hot band rumored to be in talks with a major recording company.
The record business is buzzing about a new independent startup label in San Diego that seems to have a moral conscience. LCM Records launched recently and has signed a number of interesting artists. LCM, which so far has refused to be pegged as "secular" or "religious," seems to be operating by the "Mom principle": "Only sign artists if you wouldn't be ashamed to read their lyrics to your mother."
Jars of Clay is set to return to the pop charts with the March 5 release of The Eleventh Hour, the band's fourth studio recording. The coincidences are uncanny with this record: It was titled before Sept. 11, and the cover featuring a downtown skyscraper was shot by lead singer Dan Haseltine before the tragedies that befell New York City.
Look for Jars to make some major mainstream moves with The Eleventh Hour. They've already lined up a pay-per-view concert, are in talks to tour with a major band and they recently landed a song on the upcoming soundtrack for the Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers. These guys reached the top of the music biz with Flood and managed to keep their heads on straight. Here's hoping they can accomplish both of those goals again. Don't miss the hard-charging song Revolution on the new record.
How will Hollywood react to Patricia Heaton's recent comments on the E! channel about abortion? The co-star of Everybody Loves Raymond seemed to confirm to the channel's Jules Asner that she has strong pro-life sentiments. Gossip columnist Matt Drudge recently managed to elicit an off the record pro-life statement from actor Warren Beatty, and it didn't seem to kill Beatty's career, so perhaps Hollywood may be becoming more tolerant.
Hollywood is also keeping tabs on the race that will decide California's next governor. Democrat Gray Davis is unopposed for the Democratic nod, while the Republican side is boasting a strong fight between Former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, Secretary of State Bill Jones and political neophyte Bill Simon. Simon, who sunk a lot of dough into PAX-TV and even hosted his own show on the channel -- Sundays With Simon, which once welcomed Veggie Tales founder Phil Vischer as a guest -- has shown unexpected strength in the contest so far. While celebrities usually line up behind the Democratic candidate, Simon may be making inroads. Steven Spielberg is a neighbor, and Spielberg's and Simon's daughters once sang Sixpence None The Richer's Kiss Me at a school air band contest.
Speaking of, Sixpence is expected to release their long overdue album this summer. The record, most of which has been sitting in the can for two years, is well worth the wait. From the rolling Melody Of You to the gentle Deeper to the late addition Breathe Your Name, this is an album you don't want to miss. Word has it the record will be released on Squint/Reprise.
The Epiphany/Crusader film Joshua is screening around town for key executives. The film stars Tony Goldwyn, the sleazy guy who hit on Demi Moore after Patrick Swayze died in Ghost, as a mysterious guy who arrives in a small town in the Midwest and raises a man from the dead, teaches a kid how to play the guitar and gives the Pope a lesson in theology. What does "Joshua" mean in Hebrew again? And I thought U2's Joshua Tree album was named after a town in the California desert...
The film's soundtrack, with a lineup that includes Brooks & Dunn, Jaci Velasquez, Third Day and Michael W. Smith, bows April 19. Look for great things from the soon to be released World War II epic drama To End All Wars. The film is gritty, violent and even profane, but then again so is war. The message of the triumph of faith over hatred in time of war makes this one all worthwhile.
Originally published February 18, 2002.
