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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Some movies are weird, and some movies are beyond weird. \n"Get Over It" is beyond that.\nThis bizarre take on the teen romance genre tries to be a modern remake of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" while completely (and intentionally) getting the plot of the original play wrong. Devotees of the Bard's work will be appalled by the rock musical version of "Midsummer" that is this fictional high school's spring musical. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Everything about this movie is disturbing and alarming on every possible level. Start watching for horsemen, because this movie must be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.\nThe plot itself is relatively simple: A boy is dumped by his girlfriend and makes many pathetic attempts to win her back, including -- you guessed it -- trying out for the school play, despite being tone-deaf and not in the least convincing as an actor. It's difficult to tell whether the actor playing Berke, Ben Foster, gives a wonderful performance or is just a case of art imitating life -- to use the term as loosely as possible. But the plot itself is not necessarily alarming. The incidentals are the disturbing parts.\nThe crude humor fits in with the teenage dramedy style, but the absurd intro, along with random flashbacks saved only for the high-strung drama teacher (Martin Short), make for a ridiculously mismatched movie that tries to be quirky and goes too far. One thing that can be said for "Get Over It" is that some serious effort went into trying to make it different. Whether different is a good or bad thing in this case has yet to be determined. \nDespite being completely different from every movie ever made, "Get Over It" still manages to be predictable. The acting, aside from an overly protective older brother played by Colin Hanks (yes, Tom's son) and Short's overly dramatic teacher, is incredibly mediocre. There is good reason for this, as many of the actors are relatively inexperienced, including Sisqo and Melissa Sagemiller. Shane West takes his role as the slimy villainous new boyfriend a little too seriously. His manner implies that he should wear a moustache and be constantly curling it as he commits dastardly deeds.\nPlease, for your own peace of mind, don't see this movie. It's not worth the anguish it will cause. Much like the relationship in question, this film will take some time to get over.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
For lovers of Shakespeare, the John Waldron Arts Center's latest play could be considered either sacrilege or genius. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" is a comedic twist on the Bard's classic tragedy, "Hamlet." \nThe play, which reworks "Hamlet" through the eyes of two minor characters, will open this weekend at the Center's Auditorium and will run through next weekend. \n"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" was written in 1966 by Tom Stoppard, whose Shakespearean achievements were recognized with a shared Oscar for the screenplay of "Shakespeare in Love." Lauded by critics as brilliant and performed regularly at local theaters and large venues, the play has seen continual popularity.\nTerence Hartnett, founder of Detour Productions, which is co-producing this performance, said he and director Mike Price chose this play for its comedic value and because of Price's background with the now-defunct Indiana Shakespeare Company.\n"The simple answer is: By God, we wanted to do a comedy, because the last four shows have been really dramatic stuff," Hartnett said. "We like stuff with an edge. We're not going to do 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brown' or Neil Simon or anything."\nDetour Productions puts on plays with casts that differ from the usual Bloomington theater scene in one major aspect: The main actors' college days are behind them.\n"We can do things that, for example, the University can't do," Hartnett said. "We can cast a 50-year-old part with a 50-year-old actor."\nThe cast of about 15 actors -- some students, some older professionals -- has been rehearsing for about two months. The play has been in the works for nearly a year as the fifth of six plays in the Waldron's theater season, the next of which will be "Love's Fire," Waldron Arts Center spokesman Luis Roncayolo said.\nThis play's attraction for actor Steve Heise, who plays Rosencrantz, was its depth and humor.\n"I'm still trying to figure that out. It's a comedy about death. I can't even call it a tragedy 'cause it's really a comedy. A comedy about tragedy," Heise said. "We're characters. Once the play ends, we're done. Is that dead, or is that done?"\nHartnett said "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" turns Shakespeare's play inside-out.\n"It's in some sense, a comic inversion of Hamlet. For instance, in Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are these tiny characters. It's basically their backstory," Hartnett said. "It hasn't been performed in town … for decades. It's extraordinarily funny. We have a very strong cast."\nHeise said the play has something for everyone. \n"It's a wonderful piece of theater," he said. "There's laughter, there's tears, there's clowns, there's death -- what more do you want"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Some of the best books on the market get lost in the shuffle, and unless they appear on the New York Times bestseller list few people get the chance to enjoy them. As a guide to these books, we will present you with a series reviewing The Greatest Books You've Never Read.\nThe world is about to end. The Antichrist is 11 years old. And no one knows where he is -- not even the representatives of Heaven and Hell.\nThis is the premise of "Good Omens," a book that explores the much-traveled road of the Apocalypse with a fresh humor and an outright silliness that will make you laugh out loud. \nThe reader rides along with the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale -- who, through the millenia, have become friends by virtue of working together. The two, who suddenly decide they like the world as they know it, begin working together to prevent Armageddon. \nBut first, they have to find the Antichrist. \nThey sort of misplaced him several years ago, and now they have find him in a matter of days. \nAll this makes for a hysterically funny book where the footnotes are often the best part. Although the authors start to take the story somewhat seriously toward the end of the book, the vast amount of research behind their efforts excuses them. But readers should be forewarned that this is a very British book, and non-Anglophiles might not get every joke. But the occasional American-bashing is all in good fun, and there are plenty of universally humorous comments. \nThis irreverent novel is a testament (pun intended) to the simultaneous stupidity and genius of the human race. Religious zealots might deem the novel's tone as sacrilegious, and maybe it is. But no book on religion has been this entertaining since the Bible. \nJust keep in mind the caveat at the beginning of the book: "Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it in your own home"
(04/26/01 5:12am)
IU, like most college campuses, has always been a hotbed of controversy. The past four years have been no different. And through that time, the IDS has covered these controversies, local and national. In light of recent events, and as a farewell to this beautiful campus, I'd like to remind everyone that the IDS usually doesn't make the news. We just try to cover it the best we can, objectively and with the utmost respect to freedom of speech.\nThe following musical tribute is set to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire":\nAlfred Kinsey, Herman B, Roe v. Wade, Bill Mallory\nThomson plant, King Day, Bill Armstrong Stadium\nIUSA, ZBT, Damon Sims, Steve Birdine\nValentine can't referee, asbestos in the library\nGorbachev, People's Park, Take Back the Night after dark\nMatt Hale, Cam Cameron, Auditorium construction \nBruce Jacobs, meal plan, parking lots, Brother Dan\nJoe Bisanz, CALMfest, "roofies"; you know the rest\nWe didn't start the fire\nIt was always burning\nSince the world's been turning\nWe didn't start the fire\nNo we didn't light it\nBut we tried to fight it\nAugust Smith, Won-Joon Yoon, Boy Scouts ban, Elian\nGriffy Lake/golf course, Bill and Monica\nMurray Sperber, bus plan, Bursar office break-in\nHackers in the B-School, Melissa virus, ILOVEYOU\nNapster, logger spikes, abortion pill, protests on bikes\nUnion Board, Tom Petty, COAS is losing money\nLuke Recker, Neil Reed, Kent Harvey burns in effigy\nKnight fired, riots, Myles Brand a target\nWalbridge, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell--man of action\nElection night, what a fright; who won Florida?\nChuck D, tax cut, Little 5, now what?\nGraduation coming soon, finals first, then end the tune.\nWe didn't start the fire\nIt was always burning\nSince the world's been turning\nWe didn't start the fire\nNo we didn't light it\nBut we tried to fight it
(04/26/01 4:00am)
IU, like most college campuses, has always been a hotbed of controversy. The past four years have been no different. And through that time, the IDS has covered these controversies, local and national. In light of recent events, and as a farewell to this beautiful campus, I'd like to remind everyone that the IDS usually doesn't make the news. We just try to cover it the best we can, objectively and with the utmost respect to freedom of speech.\nThe following musical tribute is set to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire":\nAlfred Kinsey, Herman B, Roe v. Wade, Bill Mallory\nThomson plant, King Day, Bill Armstrong Stadium\nIUSA, ZBT, Damon Sims, Steve Birdine\nValentine can't referee, asbestos in the library\nGorbachev, People's Park, Take Back the Night after dark\nMatt Hale, Cam Cameron, Auditorium construction \nBruce Jacobs, meal plan, parking lots, Brother Dan\nJoe Bisanz, CALMfest, "roofies"; you know the rest\nWe didn't start the fire\nIt was always burning\nSince the world's been turning\nWe didn't start the fire\nNo we didn't light it\nBut we tried to fight it\nAugust Smith, Won-Joon Yoon, Boy Scouts ban, Elian\nGriffy Lake/golf course, Bill and Monica\nMurray Sperber, bus plan, Bursar office break-in\nHackers in the B-School, Melissa virus, ILOVEYOU\nNapster, logger spikes, abortion pill, protests on bikes\nUnion Board, Tom Petty, COAS is losing money\nLuke Recker, Neil Reed, Kent Harvey burns in effigy\nKnight fired, riots, Myles Brand a target\nWalbridge, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell--man of action\nElection night, what a fright; who won Florida?\nChuck D, tax cut, Little 5, now what?\nGraduation coming soon, finals first, then end the tune.\nWe didn't start the fire\nIt was always burning\nSince the world's been turning\nWe didn't start the fire\nNo we didn't light it\nBut we tried to fight it
(04/24/01 4:42am)
The title of this book says it all. "Dear Alice…: Rejected Letters to Advice Columns From Completely Insane Idiots" is insane and idiotic. Author Steven Ryniak purports the letters to be real, rejected from advice columns, but they are so contrived and ridiculous, this couldn't possibly be the case. \nRyniak attempts to make readers laugh at the stupidity of the letters, but while the first few letters inspire a smirk or two, the gimmick gets old fast. If these were published a newspaper, mixed with serious letters, perhaps they would be funnier. But that's doubtful, considering how outrageous many of the letters are. \nThe ludicrous incidents described in the book, such as going to work with a python wrapped around one's neck or unknowingly moving into a house on a marijuana farm, are so ridiculous they are unbelievable. Such acts, if deadly, would qualify the writers of these letters for the famed Darwin Awards. \nSome of the letters are incomprehensible, while others are just disgusting. Few are even remotely funny, and most, were they real letters from real people, would just be sad. There are much funnier ways to mock the stupidity of the human race, and Ryniak could do his funnybone a favor by reading The Onion at www.theonion.com or checking out the Brunching Shuttlecocks Web site, www.brunching.com. Even the aforementioned Darwin Awards does it much better. \nAt 103 pages, "Dear Alice...: Rejected Letters to Advice Columns From Completely Insane Idiots" isn't worth 89 cents, let alone $8.95. Flip through it in your local bookstore, but don't bother buying it. If you've read two of the letters, you've read them all.
(04/09/01 4:05am)
Dozens of people lined up Sunday morning outside the State Rooms in the Indiana Memorial Union, many waiting at least an hour for a chance to rummage through hundreds of LPs and find a few albums -- or a few boxes of albums -- to add to their collections.\nStudent radio station WIUS sold off a large portion of its record archive Sunday to raise money for the Middle Way House. The sale, which took place from noon to 6 p.m., raised just under $2,000 for the women's shelter, station manager Cody Leitholt, a junior, said.\nSenior Galen Clavio, the station's sports director, said WIUS decided to get rid of many of its albums because they would have deteriorated in storage and most of them weren't being played.\n"There's enough vinyl at the station to satisfy all our needs. Most of what we've had on vinyl that was worth repeated airplay has been received on CD already," Clavio said. "It also allowed us to raise money for a local charity, which we're always in favor of."\nThe music lovers and record collectors crowded in the State Rooms, exclaimed over found treasures and laughed at one-hit wonders as they sifted through the boxes of albums by often obscure artists. The available LPs included a variety of musicians from Gloria Gaynor to the Sicilian Vespers and records ranging from a rare release by the Gin Blossoms to classical symphonies performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.\n"I'm glad they're selling them rather than storing them. I think music lovers will really enjoy them. People who come out today are the people who really want to collect," JoAnne Burley, a Bloomington resident, said, holding a stack of jazz, R&B and reggae albums. "I'm impressed. They've got a very wide selection with classical and jazz, heavy metal and rock."\nSome customers, like sophomore Jay McClurg, were disappointed by WIUS' decision to dispose of its vinyl collection. McClurg said he thought it was a shame that WIUS was getting rid of so much vinyl.\nMcClurg was not alone in his opinion. His friend Johnny Smithenson bemoaned the station's poor judgement, while celebrating his own good fortune.\n"No one should ever get rid of vinyl, but it's cool for us," he said.\nAt the end of the sale there were only a few records left, which the station decided to keep.\n"We're not going to throw it away, obviously," Clavio said.
(03/28/01 4:50am)
Operating on two levels, are we?"\nThat line, taken from the script of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," would be a good question to ask playwright Tom Stoppard. The Waldron Arts Center production of the 1966 play tried to make sense of the plight of "Hamlet's" minor characters and the various levels of meaning on which the characters work.\nRosencrantz (played by Steve Heise) and Guildenstern (played by Joe Gaines) are victims of fate. They are not capable of making their own decisions, and even when they decide to do something, they reconsider until their only action is inaction. The two affable but idiotic characters spend the entire play waiting for something to happen, which ends up being much funnier than it sounds. \nHeise does well as the absurdly silly and carefree Rosencrantz, playing every confused expression and happy-go-lucky comment to the hilt. Gaines' Guildenstern is more logical and intellectual but still doesn't have a clue about anything. His musings require perfect comedic timing to obtain the desired effect, and Gaines hits almost every remark.\nBut in the acting category, The Player, Mark McIntire, steals the show. McIntire's knowing smirks and winks to the audience are evident in every line, adding a new dimension to the character's knowledge of the two errand boys' fate. \nHamlet, played by Daniel Petrie, looks and acts just as Hamlet should, with an odd resemblance in manner and appearance to Kenneth Branagh. Coincidence? I think not. The rest of the cast runs the gamut of acting ability from competent to mediocre, but none of them are onstage long enough to be memorable. \nThe play itself is the important thing here. Community theater depends almost wholly on the material it's given. With Stoppard's existential quandry of a play, the Waldron Arts Center and Detour Productions have a hit on their hands, provided the audience has read Shakespeare's masterpiece. Otherwise, it might be a bit confusing -- even with a synopsis provided.
(03/22/01 5:00am)
Some movies are weird, and some movies are beyond weird. \n"Get Over It" is beyond that.\nThis bizarre take on the teen romance genre tries to be a modern remake of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" while completely (and intentionally) getting the plot of the original play wrong. Devotees of the Bard's work will be appalled by the rock musical version of "Midsummer" that is this fictional high school's spring musical. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Everything about this movie is disturbing and alarming on every possible level. Start watching for horsemen, because this movie must be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.\nThe plot itself is relatively simple: A boy is dumped by his girlfriend and makes many pathetic attempts to win her back, including -- you guessed it -- trying out for the school play, despite being tone-deaf and not in the least convincing as an actor. It's difficult to tell whether the actor playing Berke, Ben Foster, gives a wonderful performance or is just a case of art imitating life -- to use the term as loosely as possible. But the plot itself is not necessarily alarming. The incidentals are the disturbing parts.\nThe crude humor fits in with the teenage dramedy style, but the absurd intro, along with random flashbacks saved only for the high-strung drama teacher (Martin Short), make for a ridiculously mismatched movie that tries to be quirky and goes too far. One thing that can be said for "Get Over It" is that some serious effort went into trying to make it different. Whether different is a good or bad thing in this case has yet to be determined. \nDespite being completely different from every movie ever made, "Get Over It" still manages to be predictable. The acting, aside from an overly protective older brother played by Colin Hanks (yes, Tom's son) and Short's overly dramatic teacher, is incredibly mediocre. There is good reason for this, as many of the actors are relatively inexperienced, including Sisqo and Melissa Sagemiller. Shane West takes his role as the slimy villainous new boyfriend a little too seriously. His manner implies that he should wear a moustache and be constantly curling it as he commits dastardly deeds.\nPlease, for your own peace of mind, don't see this movie. It's not worth the anguish it will cause. Much like the relationship in question, this film will take some time to get over.
(03/08/01 5:00am)
The Mexican
• Directed by Gore Verbinski
• Starring Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts
• Rated R
• Now playing at ShowPlace West 12
(03/08/01 4:48am)
The Mexican
• Directed by Gore Verbinski
• Starring Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts
• Rated R
• Now playing at ShowPlace West 12
(03/01/01 4:47am)
The African American Arts Institute has all the components of a good musical. Singers, dancers and musicians from three troupes unite under this title and create performances unlike any other.\nComposed of the African American Dance Company, the African American Choral Ensemble and IU Soul Revue, the institute's slogan is "promoting and preserving African American Culture through performance." And with about 10 performances per semester for each group, that promotion and preservation requires a lot of work. \nEach troupe focuses on a different type of performance. The Dance Company concentrates on different forms of choreography, while the Choral Ensemble focuses on vocal music. The IU Soul Revue's performances, on the other hand, are an amalgamation of singing, instrumental music and dancing.\nTwo of the groups will show off their efforts this weekend. The IU Soul Revue will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Commons Mall in Columbus, Ind., and the Dance Company will perform at 1 p.m. Sunday at the IU Art Museum. The Choral Ensemble is preparing for the group's trip to the east coast during spring break. The ensemble will sing at venues in New York and Philidelphia. \n"We try to send a group on tour each year," said Teresa Neighbors, assistant to the institute's director. "We alternate each year because obviously it's too expensive to send every group every year. We try to send the Choral Ensemble once every four years so members get at least one chance to go on a trip."\nEach of the performing groups is a class just like any other, except these students are graded on effort and performance in front of an audience instead of on paper. They attend rehearsal instead of class and must audition before they can register.\n"They audition, and if they're accepted, they enroll in it as a course," Neighbors said.\nFor Dance Company students, the course, which meets for three hours twice a week, involves learning the dances as well as collaborating with a small group on a project to choreograph a few short pieces. Otherwise, Professor and Director Iris Rosa does most of the major choreography. \n"It's a little bit of everything," Neighbors said. "It's all original choreography and it's based on a fusion of dance styles, which includes African and Latin American dance forms, modern, jazz and contemporary. Some of the pieces are choreographed by students, some are choreographed by the director."\nSunday's performance is the last of the Art Museum's series of Arts Connections, which ties together different aspects of the arts.\n"Following their performance Dr. (Charles) Sykes, who is the director of the Institute here, will give a brief discussion on related art," Neighbors said.\nThis weekend, the Dance Company will learn from a source other than Rosa, who also teaches black dance history and a folkoric ensemble. Internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer April Berry will visit Bloomington to teach some workshops and prepare the troupe for its spring concert.\n"The dance company receives instruction and exposure about all forms of dance," Rosa said. "I personally am involved in all dance forms from ballet to ethnic -- tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop etc. Our pieces reflect experiences of the African Diaspora -- U.S., Caribbean and South America. You may see in one piece an array of dance styles."\nBut Arts Institute students don't just learn; they teach as well. Part of the Soul Revue's trip to Columbus this weekend will include a day of workshops Friday at Columbus East High School.\nThe Soul Revue class -- which meets twice a week for two hours, while the vocalists meet for an extra two hours once a week -- is made up of 18 musicians who perform R&B and soul music from the last half century.\n"We're mainly doing styles from the late '60s on up to the present, so you'll hear Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Kool & the Gang and D'Angelo (among others)," Professor and Director Tyron Cooper said.\nThe Soul Revue not only imitates the vocal sound of popular bands; they do the whole show.\n"They have a full band. They have horns, a full seven-piece rhythm section, guitars, everything," Neighbors said. "The performers in Revue do dance while they're singing, just like you'd see on MTV or with any popular music."\nWhile the group does some choreography, the main focus is the music.\n"Every piece is not choreographed; however, there is a focus, there is a goal to every piece," Cooper said. "Everybody does move, and everybody does move at the same time. I don't want choreography to get in the way of the actual music."\nThe African American Dance Company will perform at 1 p.m. Sunday at the IU Art Museum. Admission is free. The IU Soul Revue will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Commons Mall in Columbus, Ind. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and can be obtained at the Commons ticket office or by calling 376-2535. For more information about the African American Arts Institute, e-mail aaai@indiana.edu, visit www.indiana.edu/~aaai or call 855-9501.
(02/20/01 7:53pm)
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood addressed the concept of sex scandals and the U.S. presidency -- or in the case of Dreamworks' new film "The Contender," the vice presidency.\nThe film's premise is this: two major politicians -- one male, one female -- vie for the recently vacated vice president's office. Both are competent and worthy of the position, but President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) chooses Ohio Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) because he wants the first female vice president to be his legacy. The only thing standing in her way is her past. Photos and rumours from one particular college party circulate, drawing ire from enemies and friends alike.\nThis film, like so many others that have come before it, longs to change the status quo -- or at least point out the hypocrisy in it. The basic questions this film asks are the same as those the country has asked itself in the past: Where do we draw the line between private and public life? What defines a moral existence? How do we bridge the professional gender gap? And so on.\nThe plot is relevant and timely, with one unexpected twist and one expected one. The storyline builds suspense and moves along quickly. This is typical Hollywood blockbuster fare, with typical goals and expectations. Audiences will enjoy the film but not necessarily remember it, for while it is interesting, entertaining and intellectual, the only exceptionally explosive scene is the repeated, borderline-pornographic flashback.\nThe acting is also typical, with decent performances by all and a particularly entertaining performance turned in by Bridges. While there are a few pointedly sappy, patriotic moments in his speeches, his character outshines all the others, even the fiery Hanson, who isn't quite so fiery as one would have hoped. But while the story has some depth to it, the characters don't have quite so much. And without that insight into their characters, the audience can't empathize nearly as much as is necessary to this film.
(02/15/01 5:00am)
Who hasn't seen Anthony Hopkins speak the chilling line, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti."? \nWell, for those who haven't, it's quite possibly the most creepy moment in modern film. Add that to stellar acting performances by Hopkins and Jodie Foster, excellent directing by Jonathan Demme and a frighteningly real story line, and you have one of the best psychological thrillers in the local video store. \nWith plenty of murder, suspense, childhood trauma, psychotic genius, constant action, references to cannibalism and insects in dead bodies, "Silence of the Lambs" has all the aspects of a good horror film and much more. But this isn't any ordinary horror flick. Strong character development, brilliant acting, intense plot developments, mysterious clues and revealing conversations help this film defy all sense of categorization. All of it put together makes it a classic worth buying and watching again and again.
(02/15/01 5:00am)
Did you know the new movie "Hannibal" is the third in a trilogy of movies based on novels by Thomas Harris? Well, you can forget about "Manhunter," the first film.\n"Manhunter" is based on the book "Red Dragon: The Pursuit of Hannibal Lecter," yet the film takes place after Lecter is already in jail. FBI Agent Will Graham, who put him there, consults with him to find another serial killer. Sound familiar? Good. Because so does the entire movie. Except "Manhunter" lacks the suspense, intensity, acting ability and class of "Silence of the Lambs." In all fairness, "Manhunter" came out five years before "Silence," but something about Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster and director Jonathan Demme brought class to what was essentially the same plot.\nGraham is played by William L. Petersen, whose acting is too intense, even for this film. The melodrama behind his every line serves only to make the viewer more disinterested in what he has to say. Brooding can be taken too far, and Petersen apparently learned it from the Ethan Hawke school of acting. \nThe cinematography also makes this film look ridiculous. Dante Spinotti seems to be trying to achieve a minimalistic effect, but the white-on-white decor in every scene gets to be a bit much. While he accomplishes a dramatic effect with this at the first murder scene, using it in the rest of the film adds up to artistic overkill. \nAnd last but not least, Dr. Lecter himself. Or Lektor, as they spell and pronounce it in this film. Played by Brian Cox, Lecter remains similarly cunning and intimidating, but to a lesser degree. Cox has been far overshadowed by Hopkins' "Fava beans and a nice chianti" performance in the later film, though Hopkins must have based his performance on Cox to assume so many of the same mannerisms. \n"Manhunter" might be the long-lost precursor to the Oscar-winning "Silence" and the highly anticipated "Hannibal," but unfortunately, it should have stayed lost. Without having read the book, I still think it must be better than this film.
(02/15/01 4:17am)
Who hasn't seen Anthony Hopkins speak the chilling line, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti."? \nWell, for those who haven't, it's quite possibly the most creepy moment in modern film. Add that to stellar acting performances by Hopkins and Jodie Foster, excellent directing by Jonathan Demme and a frighteningly real story line, and you have one of the best psychological thrillers in the local video store. \nWith plenty of murder, suspense, childhood trauma, psychotic genius, constant action, references to cannibalism and insects in dead bodies, "Silence of the Lambs" has all the aspects of a good horror film and much more. But this isn't any ordinary horror flick. Strong character development, brilliant acting, intense plot developments, mysterious clues and revealing conversations help this film defy all sense of categorization. All of it put together makes it a classic worth buying and watching again and again.
(02/15/01 4:17am)
Did you know the new movie "Hannibal" is the third in a trilogy of movies based on novels by Thomas Harris? Well, you can forget about "Manhunter," the first film.\n"Manhunter" is based on the book "Red Dragon: The Pursuit of Hannibal Lecter," yet the film takes place after Lecter is already in jail. FBI Agent Will Graham, who put him there, consults with him to find another serial killer. Sound familiar? Good. Because so does the entire movie. Except "Manhunter" lacks the suspense, intensity, acting ability and class of "Silence of the Lambs." In all fairness, "Manhunter" came out five years before "Silence," but something about Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster and director Jonathan Demme brought class to what was essentially the same plot.\nGraham is played by William L. Petersen, whose acting is too intense, even for this film. The melodrama behind his every line serves only to make the viewer more disinterested in what he has to say. Brooding can be taken too far, and Petersen apparently learned it from the Ethan Hawke school of acting. \nThe cinematography also makes this film look ridiculous. Dante Spinotti seems to be trying to achieve a minimalistic effect, but the white-on-white decor in every scene gets to be a bit much. While he accomplishes a dramatic effect with this at the first murder scene, using it in the rest of the film adds up to artistic overkill. \nAnd last but not least, Dr. Lecter himself. Or Lektor, as they spell and pronounce it in this film. Played by Brian Cox, Lecter remains similarly cunning and intimidating, but to a lesser degree. Cox has been far overshadowed by Hopkins' "Fava beans and a nice chianti" performance in the later film, though Hopkins must have based his performance on Cox to assume so many of the same mannerisms. \n"Manhunter" might be the long-lost precursor to the Oscar-winning "Silence" and the highly anticipated "Hannibal," but unfortunately, it should have stayed lost. Without having read the book, I still think it must be better than this film.
(02/09/01 4:30am)
Indiana is one of only three states that don't recognize daylight-saving time. Neither do Arizona and Hawaii. Because these states don't fit into a specific time zone, the business community wants them to conform to the rest of the country and adopt daylight-saving time. Every year, a bill comes before the Indiana General Assembly to adopt daylight-saving time, and every year it fails. \nOriginally, Indiana opted not to join the daylight-saving time movement in 1966 because the many farmers liked the benefits of the sun rising early and drying the fields, rather than having that extra hour of daylight in the evening. Farmers still object to the concept, adding a concern about missing community events in the evening because they would be working the fields during that extra evening hour of daylight. Other objectors include owners of businesses, such as restaurants and movie theaters, who say darkness helps business. \nThese people will be hurt if Indiana sets its collective clock back an hour. Who is being hurt by the current situation? The Hoosier Daylight Coalition, the organization spearheading this movement, told The New York Times, "Wall Street and Silicon Valley investors never know what time it is." Surely they didn't make it to Wall Street and Silicon Valley without being able to tell time and count? \nIt's not that difficult to determine what time it is here in relation to the rest of the world. Haven't Indiana residents been doing it for years? Television schedules, flight departure and arrival times, and many other things are affected by time zones. How is it any more difficult to calculate what time it is here than it is to calculate what time it is in, say, Calcutta? \nWhy should Indiana change a long-standing tradition of being the exception to the rule because some people can't add or subtract? The answer is simple: We shouldn't. Change in the name of progress is great, but change for the sake of change is pointless.
(02/08/01 5:52am)
It's about time Hollywood came out with a horror movie for Valentine's Day. \nIt's just too bad it's a sub-par horror movie.\nThere's a serial killer on the loose, and he or she is focusing on one group of friends from junior high school. (Wait, an entire group of friends from junior high is still hanging out now that they're in their 20s? These people have got to be kidding!) It could be the boy who was spurned by all of the friends back in junior high, or it could be one of the women's boyfriends. Or who knows, it could be one of the women. All they know is members of the group keep getting creepy Valentine cards from "J.M." (I swear it wasn't me!)\nSo, after one friend dies and another disappears, they decide to throw a Valentine's Day party where anyone can show up, including the sleazy guy who purports to be an artist, the bitchy girl who used to date one of the girls' boyfriends and the slimy detective who makes moves on the girls instead of doing his job. It's no wonder the killer makes it in the house long enough to up the death toll fivefold. One would think they would at least consider it gauche to have a party less than a week after their friend's death. But then again, this isn't a genre known for its realism.\nThe killer is the most creative part of this film. Using different methods of killing the victims and wearing a mask that is much more intimidating than the silly "Scream" mask make the movie a little less inane and typical of the slasher-flick genre. \nBut even electrocution couldn't jolt this film out of mediocrity. \nThe acting is sad, the set's even worse, and the story is typical of all horror films, right down to the victims who wander about, walking right into the killer's clutches. There are all kinds of loose ends and unanswered questions at the end, and even the double-twist ending is predictable. \nFor a horror film that promises to be good, go see "Hannibal" this weekend. Don't bother with "Valentine." Just like the candy in the film, there are maggots inside this chocolate.
(02/08/01 5:00am)
It's about time Hollywood came out with a horror movie for Valentine's Day. \nIt's just too bad it's a sub-par horror movie.\nThere's a serial killer on the loose, and he or she is focusing on one group of friends from junior high school. (Wait, an entire group of friends from junior high is still hanging out now that they're in their 20s? These people have got to be kidding!) It could be the boy who was spurned by all of the friends back in junior high, or it could be one of the women's boyfriends. Or who knows, it could be one of the women. All they know is members of the group keep getting creepy Valentine cards from "J.M." (I swear it wasn't me!)\nSo, after one friend dies and another disappears, they decide to throw a Valentine's Day party where anyone can show up, including the sleazy guy who purports to be an artist, the bitchy girl who used to date one of the girls' boyfriends and the slimy detective who makes moves on the girls instead of doing his job. It's no wonder the killer makes it in the house long enough to up the death toll fivefold. One would think they would at least consider it gauche to have a party less than a week after their friend's death. But then again, this isn't a genre known for its realism.\nThe killer is the most creative part of this film. Using different methods of killing the victims and wearing a mask that is much more intimidating than the silly "Scream" mask make the movie a little less inane and typical of the slasher-flick genre. \nBut even electrocution couldn't jolt this film out of mediocrity. \nThe acting is sad, the set's even worse, and the story is typical of all horror films, right down to the victims who wander about, walking right into the killer's clutches. There are all kinds of loose ends and unanswered questions at the end, and even the double-twist ending is predictable. \nFor a horror film that promises to be good, go see "Hannibal" this weekend. Don't bother with "Valentine." Just like the candy in the film, there are maggots inside this chocolate.