Apocalypse ahora

I don't know about you, but I was pretty disappointed in the final episodes of Entourage's third season, and the prospect of season four coming so quickly on the heels of disappointment had me feeling a bit of dread (hence the delay in recapping.) The show needed a reboot, a shot in the arm... something to pull it out of the Turtle-Drama comedy spinoff that it had become. Turns out, all it needed was an Apocalypse Now-like journey into the jungles of Columbia to do the trick.

Medellín is not a movie. It's a life. It's how it is. And I defy anyone to define where life stops and the film starts... or vice versa.

Shot in documentary style, the episode was a sort of homage to the film Hearts of Darkness, which was a behind-the-scenes look at the madness surrounding the filming of Francis Ford Copolla's Apocalypse Now. As the cameras follow Vince on his passion project Medellín, the story of Pablo Escobar, we witness the insecurities of director Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro) spiral out of control as he falls for an extra (played by Knights of Prosperity's Columbian bombshell Sofia Vergara.)

Meanwhile, the music used in the was an all Latin affair, with the bulk of it from South American artists. Much of Medellín's score was from the Oscar-winning The Motorcycle Diaries soundtrack, composed and performed Argentinian Gustavo Santaolalla. Meanwhile, two more songs come from Columbian born salsa singer Joe Arroyo, including the song "Suava Bruta," which we hear as the character Drama plays announces the attack on Escobar's hideout. Suave brut indeed.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Entourage playlist if there wasn't some hip-hop, and when you say 'Latin' and 'hip-hop' it's impossible not to think of the Mexican act Control Machete, who's song "Asi Son Mis Dias" kicks off the episode. Here's hoping this little journey gets the show back on track.

Playlist: Entourage - Ep401
1. "Asi Son Mis Dias" - Control Machete - The film crew arrives on the set of Medellin
2. "Oye Mami" - Malverde - Walsh convinces E he is ready to shoot
3. "Apertura" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Walsh is watching sexy dailies from Medellin
4. "Lima" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Walsh directs Leila
5. "No Pregunten" - TNS - Walsh and Leila have a drink
6. "En Barranquilla Me Quedo" - Joe Arroyo - E asks Walsh for an ending for the movie
7. "Song for Jordan" - Del Castillo - Walsh belts one down
8. "De Mis Huellas" - Incantation - Eric announces that Stephen Gaghan will re write the ending of the movie
9. "Suave Bruta" - Joe Arroyo - Drama attacks!
10. "La Salida de Lima" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Bombs away at a factory in Medellin

HBO tracklisting with scene details

Previously: My Super Ex-Agent (Episode 313)

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, control machete, joe arroyo, gustavo santaolalla, columbia, latin, apocalypse now, hearts of darkness, latin, motorcycle diaries, rhapsody