"Dare to Dance in the Path of Greatness... and Some Special Sauce"

It sure was a saucy night on American Idol as the top 7 contenders took to the stage singing songs from the movies. You had Allison chanelling that "special sauce" that Adam exudes just breathing every day. You had guest mentor Quentin Tarantino telling Anoop to get rough and dirty. And you had Lil Rounds gettin' all saucy and sassy and talking back to the judges. It made me wonder if I'd have heartburn by the end of it all.  

With celebrities like Gene Simmons from Kiss, Katie Couric and the actress who plays "Kate" on Days of Our Lives in the audience, the show began with a quick intro in to the brilliance of  that crazy cat, film director Quentin Tarantino. A guest judge in season 3, seen tearing Diana Degarmo a new one in flashbacks, Tarantino gave the Idols advice on how to bring out their performances and interpret the emotions of the songs. He "essentially" was directing them... However, I think he was just having fun, as they all seemed to do their own thing anyway.  

First up was our mini-P!nk-in training, Allison, knocking another one out of the park with a fantastic version of Aerosmith's only # 1 hit "I Dont Want to Miss A Thing". The Oscar and Grammy nominated power ballad from 1998's Armageddon proved a perfect match for Allison's signature growl. Lovely and tender at the start, then tearing it up at the end, Allison proved she has a chance to make it to the finals. Right on Paula! Simon also loved it saying she was the "girl's only hope in the competition". (Ooooh, that's gotta sting Lil).  

Anoop kept his hopes alive in the competition with another great vocal on Bryan Adams # 1 smash "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)". A song that got Grammy and Oscar noms and spent 11 weeks at the top of the charts in 1991 from the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves is well ingrained in our collective pop culture conscience. However, Anoop made it his own, connecting with the audience, and the judges (Kara and Randy this time) thought he did great. The eyebrows live to be plucked another day! 

Definitely living another day, and um, all the way to a recording contract is Adam. He destroyed the competition yet again with a rocking take on Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild". Clearly Adam thinks he was born to be wild, as he owned every minute of the classic tune from 1969's Easy Rider. He was mezmerizing, having a great time in his own mini Idol concert. Paula then gave us the best quote of the night. Straight up, she said "Adam, you dare to dance in the path of greatness". It felt like she stole that quote from an epic movie I just couldnt remember.  Regardless, she was totally right, and even Simon admitted it was really good (if not as great as last week). I  think Simon is just trying to make it look like Adam isn't totally running away with the Idol crown. Um, Simon, he's waaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead in the race and deservedly so.  

One person who isn't even close to catching Adam, despite being a super talented and cool guy, is Matt. He continued his see-saw tragectory on Idol this season with a middling version of another Oscar nominated Bryan Adams tune "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman". Taken from 1996's Don Juan DeMarco, the ballad has a lovely melody that shouldn't be messed with according to Kara and Randy. I'd have to agree. Props to Matt for trying to infuse some soul into it, but unfortunately he came up short, botching the bridge of the song and turning in a disappointing performance. I'm worried for Matt.  

Up next Smuggy Smugginton, er, Danny, hit the stage professing his "Endless Love". Eschewing his singature glasses and sitting next to a harp, yes, a harp, Danny delivered a boring albeit vocally capable take on the # 1 hit for Lionel Richie and Diana Ross from 1981's Endless Love. Danny was one of the Idol's who ignored Quentin's advice (along with Anoop and Lil) as he could barely control his gesticulating hands throughout the song. Paula liked it but Simon was disappointed wishing he would've changed up the song to give it a modern take, ala David Cook's "Hello" from last season. I think Simon has finally realized Danny is a good singer... and that's it. He lacks the artistry that Kara is always yammering on and on about. But hey, he has that backstory to coast on for a few more weeks; so he's safe tonight.  

While he doesnt have a great backstory, Kris has something better. He can speak to the audience with his eyes!. He leaves the girls (and a lot of boys) swooning, and his genuine, heartfelt performances continue to convince them to vote. I have to admit, he brought a tear to this cynic's eye with a beautiful performance of the heartbreaking Oscar and Grammy winning song "Falling Slowly" from 2007's Once. Originally recorded as a duet by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Kris had Kara on his side, as she thought it was one of his best performances. Randy must've been downing Paula's coke because he said Kris was pitchy. Randy, my friend, I'm putting you in the dawg house tonight, cuz Kris was simply wonderful. 

Not so wonderful was the ever-clueless Lil Rounds. Week after week, Lil has proven she has no idea what she's doing. After an auspicious beginning with her great performance of Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You", Lil has chosen the wrong song, arrangement, or outfit, steadily decimating her front runner status. It's as if she'd never seen the show before. She chooses songs that have been done to death on the show ("Heatwave"), talks back to the judges, and doesnt live up to her promises ("I will bring it next week"... um, you didnt). That saucy girl we loved in the audition rounds is now seriously in danger of taking her final bow on the Idol stage. This week she continued to dig her Idol grave with a rough (to put it mildly) version of Bette Midler's Grammy winning top 5 hit "The Rose" from 1979's The Rose. Not gospel enough at the end, and pitchy and strained throughout, Simon said she's at a loss in the competition. Paula stated she should be proud of her journey thus far. Perhaps they have pimped Ms. Rounds for the last time. 

The Rankings...

1. Adam

2. Kris

3. Allison

4. Anoop

5. Matt

6. Danny

7. Lil 

Bottom 3: Lil, Matt, Anoop (should be Danny)

Bottom 2:Lil and Matt

Shocking prediction... buh bye: Matt

Should go: Lil

Shocking prediction # 2: the judges will use the Judge's Save to save Matt!  

So, the 7 wonders of the Idol stage took you to the movies tonight. We had romance (Kris), action (Adam), tragedy (Lil) and more. It was another fun night, and with the judge's babbling less, it came in at just a little over an hour. Not much changed since last week though. Adam and Allison are still at the top, and Lil is still at the bottom. We'll find out if she sinks like the Titanic tomorrow and we'll get performances from Oscar winner and Idol alum Jennifer Hudson (YAY!) and current box office queen Miley Cyrus (BOO!)... Should make for an exciting night at the movies. Um, I mean on your TV. 

What did you think of Idol at the Movies? Do you think I'm crazy that Matt might go home? Will the Judge's use that "Save"?? Do you wish Quentin Tarantino had been a judge and not a mentor? Did you want to hear all 4 judges opinions instead of just 2? (I did). Let us know below.