Jack Johnson: En Concert
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Jack Johnson has just come out with his latest film, and, no, it's not a surf flick. It's Jack Johnson: En Concert, which you can pretty much take literally, although there are a few moments of riding waves in there (my particular favorite takes place on a river in Germany, bordered with concrete).
I must admit that I've never been a huge Johnson fan; his music sounded nice but came off a bit too mellow for my taste. After seeing this film, though, I've gotten on the bandwagon. Directed by Emmett Malloy, the movie follows Johnson on his 2008 “Sleep Through the Static” European summer tour, and it opens with a concert in France, where–surprise, surprise–he's filled the rafters with French fans and has women everywhere swooning. Johnson is such a likeable guy, and it's great to see him interact with his fellow musicians, especially Mason Jennings, who brings his own soulful roots rock vibe into the picture. Ben Harper also makes a cameo, as does Rob Machado (but only in the extras on the DVD). Bottom line: The music's good–there's a companion CD, if you can't get enough–and so is the flick. You can get yourself a copy here.
–Aileen Torres