Undiscovered (2005)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C+
Tales of would-be Rock stars trying to make it as they
struggle are getting harder and harder to do, especially when the genre is in
flux with “emo” bands about supposed love (read illicit appeals to pity and
lost love), then having Ashley Simpson in such a film would seem to drain what
little credibility it could have.
However, as clichéd as the film can be, Meiert Avis’ Undiscovered
is not as awful as you would think.
Furthermore, Miss Simpson only sings once and it is not a horrible Pop
record.
The story is still about male Rock guys who want to make
it, but have trouble with backstabbers in general and egotistical record label
executives, agents and managers (all male again) for the most part in the
process. At least none of them want to
go to bed with the Rock guys, so subtract one less cliché. Well, none of the songs are memorable and
the concert scenes are cookie cutter, but what does stand out enough are the
female roles. This is the audience this
film is aimed at and they had to be more than the usual groupie types. Still, the film ultimately falls flat,
though it does try to give actor Kip Pardue more prominence. He may be due to breakout in the next year
or so. As for the film, this may appeal
to some teens, so they might want to take a look.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is a bit poor
in the Video Black department, but plays well enough otherwise. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not loud and
bombastic throughout since there is more dialogue than expected, but is still
mixed at its best and in its best use of surrounds. Extras include deleted scenes, a few Music Video versions of
songs in the film, trailers, audio commentary by the director, stills and a
making of short.
- Nicholas Sheffo
