The theme was songs of the cinema. Quentin Tarantino was the guest mentor, which is such a joke. I mean, I like "Kill Bill" as much as the next guy. But he's had a grand total of, what, five films? Six? (Love that they couldn't even namecheck the new film, "Inglorious Bastards.") Tarantino certainly has an ear for how music can heighten a film, but a mentor? I think that's pretty goofy -- if if he did it before, in Season 3 -- and he was largely useless this time around. But Katie Couric was in the audience! Nothing made sense. I was disappointed that, aside from Lambert, all of the choices were ballads. What a dull evening.

Allison Iraheta "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith from "Armageddon." Diane Warren. Ben Affleck. Gross. The beginning was dreadful. I couldn't decide if it was too low for her, or if her voice was shot. Everything was so over-enunciated. And the delivery was too smoky and nasally -- this is not a good song for her voice. And she was really cringe-inducingly flat in parts. Her worst performance to date. Paula complimented her "special sauce." God, Paula. Way to out-gross the gross.

Anoop Desai "Everything I Do I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." I thought nothing could be cheesier than "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." Thanks for proving me wrong, Anoop! Anoop was dressed like he was going to a pep rally. What was with the arm band? I'm glad he largely ignored Quentin's advice to "dirty it up" (yeah, because this is a gritty song...). His voice got really whiny toward the middle, and the beginning was rough. But overall it was pretty decent. The finger-pointing at the end was beyond lame. Did Kara call it one of the best vocals of the night, even though it was only performance No. 2?

Adam Lambert "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf from "Easy Rider." We're back to Hot Topic Adam, and the squealing was back too. There was nothing authentic about this performance. It was like when he did "Play that Funky Music," but even less believable because there is nothing wild about Adam. He's completely contrived, but since this SHOW is contrived, that works just fine. Now that said, he sang the shit out of the song. And even if it got shrieky in parts, I appreciate that he threw himself into the song completely. I just think that, of all the songs in all the movies to choose, you're doing "Born to be Wild"? Eh.

Matt Giraud "Have You Ever Loved a Woman?" by Bryan Adams from "Don Juan de Marco." ANOTHER Bryan Adams song? Quelle domage. Matt Giraud Pimple Watch, Week Infinity: still there. Was it always there? Did I somehow miss it during Hollywood and semi-finals? Regardless, I don't think Matt knows how to start songs. He's almost always terrible when he opens, and he was with this song. The chorus was crazy rough, completely lacking in control and, you know, pitch. But there were some lovely moments in the middle. I think Randy was dead on when he said Matt fell down on that song more than he stood up.

Danny Gokey "Endless Love" by Diana Ross/Lionel Ritchie from "Endless Love." Gokey sounded great in the upper register, when he put some power into it. But when he was taking it soft and slow, it sounded distressingly weak. I think it was probably his best showing in weeks, honestly.

Kris Allen "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from "Once." A smart, and fairly contemporary, song choice. What a concept: a movie ballad that's not some cornball relic from the 90's or before. Another case of a song starting out too low; he sounded almost scared when it was just him and the piano in the beginning. But once he hit the chorus he was brilliant. He was emotive, he was authentic, and he sounded terrific on the falsetto. Randy called it pitchy, which it was in the beginning. And then Kara called it an "obscure" song. It won the Oscar for Best Song last year! I think Kara's been absorbing Paula's drunkness via osmosis.

Lil Rounds "The Rose" by Bette Midler from "The Rose." Another new wig for Lil! After she eventually goes home she should really consider lobbying for a spokeswoman position with the Sheinhardt Wig Company. The beginning, the traditional take on the song, was probably the best Lil has sounded in the competition since semis. The gospel part seemed like it was building and building...and then it just stopped. It built to absolutely nothing. It was in tune, it sounded good - it just seemed a bit perfunctory. Paula basically told her she was done, Simon came down on her for not being the artist they thought she was (I'm still not sure who they think she is, since when she does Mary J. Blige stuff they shit on her), and Lil basically told him to shut up. Good for her.

In trouble: Allison, Anoop, Lil. Matt could end up there too. And I think it probably is indeed Lil's time to go (although I'd be thrilled with Matt getting the axe).