A county fair, a six-pack o f Pabst, three inbred cousins and 2A Thursday, April 13,2000 Daily Nexus SOUND- SOUNDSTYLE* British dream-pop/shoegazer gurus like Stop the Panic is consistent throughout, syncopated beats popularized in many a the Cocteau Twins, Lush and the Cure, it with its unique perspective on the oft- car commercial, it seemed, were thump seems a work of tribute. monotonous contemporary electronic ing out their last break, but Thunderball’s Despite the fact that it is often difficult genre, bringing us to new lands of musical album is proof that the death of drum ’n’ to discern one song from another, Russet majesty. Get on your grass skirt and bass isn’t right around the. corner. Gold proves very effective at creating a dancin’ shoes for this -one. The perfect Ambassadors of Style demonstrates the soothingly somber atmosphere. Songs soundtrack to any cocktail fiesta. [DollFace new paths the genre is embarking on, like “Bicycle” and the title trpck exhibit an Is the hula champion of the Central Coast] drawing from retro ’60s cinematic ditties intelligent melodic sensibility that keeps to Indian vocals to jazz. There’s the elec some of their extended broodings on trically jazzy soundscapes coated with longing and love listenable. Still, the overt- lush vocals (on “Sirocco” and “This Girl”), Anglophilia comes back to haunt the catchy, retro funk (“Prime Minister” and album as vocalist/guitarist Matthew Kelly, “Pop the Trunk”), and a healthy revision-, oscillates between Robert Smith pitches ing ragga (“Selector”). W ith its genre (“Boy W ith the Aluminum Stilts”), and crossing and tongue-in-cheek sensibility, Choclair | Ice Cold | Fat Beats falsettos that cry Thom Yorke (“June in Thunderball has crafted a very fun, well- RATING: THE DEATH MULLET Her Frost”). When he allows his. own rounded album, and it’s good enough to There are a lot of noteworthy guests lucidly emotional voice to come to life, listen to alone or .amongst a clan of well- that appear on this album, including the band starts to chart its own delectable dressed cocktail consumers. Rascalz, Guru and Razhel. Razhel is that territory. Would Thunderball make a good human beat-box guy from the Roots, and Earnesdy melancholy, but not in a ter soundtrack for an Old Navy commercial he appears on track 17, “First Thing.” ribly original fashion, perhaps the in the next few years? The answer is a I find it amazing when people can alter Autumns can retain their passion while probable yes, but beat the urban marketer their voices to produce such a wide range keeping their ears less attuned to the The Prescriptions | Why We Don't Rent to to the punch before it’s soundtracldng the of noises. I remember that guy from the other side of the Atlantic on their next Women | Johann’s Face cast of “Boy Meets World” modeling “Police Academy” movies used to make disc. [Andy Sywak] RATING: THE SNAKE MULLET polarfleece cargo pants. While it might siren, helicopter and machine gun noises The Prescriptions are the latest I’ve not be the most profound album out to scare all the bad guys. I think those heard in a growing line of female-fronted there, it’s pretty, interesting and fun. [Jenne noises really helped him in his line of bands that, while using quirky and Raub is probably sleeping while you read this] work. In the music world, Bobby exploratory rhythms and song structures, McFerrin manipulates his voice quite a still manage to rock out. They might even bit to create a unique style and rhythm, be a bit meatier than the rest (in a tradi and I imagine he likely served as an inspi tional rocking-out sort of way). The ration to Razhel. charm of this record is really undeniable, However, I think Razhel is the most and a great deal of it lies in the lyrics.. talented noisemaker I’ve ever heard, in or They are spare and maybe even vague, but out of the music industry. He can single- vague in an incredibly expressive way. handedly create a beat, so he probably sig Doesn’t make sense, you say? Well, when nificantly cuts down on the costs of singer/guitar player Sarah Contorer keeps equipment. repeating, in her flatly sing-songy way, Oh yeah, and Choclair was pretty “I ’m busy calming horror down” in the mid good, too. [MC Jeromie da' Homie wrote this Luke Vibert and BJ Cole | Stop the Panic \ dle of the first song (“Hooray Hooray for review] Astralwerks the Plastic Ring”), you may not think it RATING: THE SCARY MULLET makes sense at first either. These lyrics Luke Vibert and BJ Cole have boldly aren’t necessarily in the business of con Dada Spots | Dada Spots | FBoo invited us to take a trip to a Polynesian veying sense, but rather feeling; and as RATING: THE SNAKE MULLET luau. But this partyshindig isn’t relaxingly more great lines are tossed off the impres For whatever reasons, the vocals on the docile. This is a dance party, complete sion is not one of vagueness, but a famil Dada Spot’s first two tracks remind me with the twangy pedal-steel guitar of leg iarity and sense that you couldn’t have put more of a monotone poetry recital than endary musician BJ Cole and the elec it better. And you don’t have to, really, singing. The strangeness of such a style tronic beats of famed drum ’n’ bass pio because The Prescriptions just did. This could be fatal, but it accurately prepares neer Luke Vibert. Vibert has recorded CD is very short, but very special. [Josh the listener for the Dada Spots’ unusual under many an alias, including Plug and Miller lutes music] sound. By the time the third track, Wagon Christ; now he’s here without any “Lovers Lawn,” arrives, the fast guitar and pretenses to get your rump shaking like space-age keyboarding seem enlightened, never before. Like I ’ said, it’s a super and worth waiting for. This is where the charged luau, straight from the Islands, album takes off, becoming a fast-paced, infused with hip hop samples, infectious funny and strange example of what hap The Autumns | In the Russet Gold of This Vain beats, gritty percussion and a funny little pens when musically talented people get Hour | Slog guitar that sounds just like a banjo for together and go nuts. Most musicians RATING: THE SKULLET added flavor. These boys know how to would have to slather themselves with In the opening monologue of “High party. Think “Hawai’i Five-O,” pina acid to produce a song like “Wedding Fidelity,” John Cusack ponders whether ■coladas and strobe lights galore. Song,” yet as far as I know, Dada Spots pop music creates misery or misery cre This album gets you saucy from the was able to conceive' such a song without ates pop music. Listening to the melan start with the cocktail-perfect “Swing the assistance of mind-altering drugs. Yet choly second disc by the Autumns, In the Lite — Alright,” drawing you in with the song itself is a hilarious account of a Russet Gold o f This Vain Hour, one won dreamily bouncy guitar twangs and man who is robbed on his wedding night, ders what angle this impressionable Los swingin’ beats, while “Start the Panic” eventually handing over his wife instead Angeles trio 'would take on Cusack’s introduces beat-terrific hip hop samples of his wallet). As the man in the song conundrum. into the mix, layered with a faster tempo Eighteenth Street Lounge approaches a decision, the jazz elements On Russet Gold, the band lets their and diva-esque vocals. “Hipalong Hop” RATING: THE SHE-MALE MULLET come crashing in, proving that, when used mopey Anglophilia spill all over the place. and “Fly Hawaii” transport us right back Just when you were about to write an correcdy, a saxophone can be rather amaz At times the album is so rife with refer to our tropical getaway. I can almost see obituary for drum ’n’ bass, Thunderball ing. In fact, that’s what this album is all ences, sonically and vocally, to such the palm trees and hula dancers now. appears on the electronic horizon. The about. It teaches us that musical bound- The Daily Nexus.
__ a J&UGrJTW ¿3» jfCW£3Ê spo^/sorot/ t p y <3>r < v / / / J t «»*-* /«>/• / m / ô (Yr —/ 2 * / 5 £M£*rff iff* 3?ooo The sting tells you it's working. Daily Nexus Thursday, April 13,2000 3A aries mean nothing when the musicians the violin and Math with the instrumen just felt like he was forcing the maturity words exactly if I simply exclude the themselves possess enough insight to tal. DJ Mayonnaise and Jel lace the tracks out of himself. Like Water fo r Chocolate is verbs. truly see beyond them, It also teaches us with epic beats enveloped by the dramat more of the “mature” Common; however, Brak. The orange guy, Cartoon Planet. that not all crazy people end up begging ic contours of a disillusioned awareness. this time around it sounds much more for change. [MohahirGilad Mandlebaum] Powered by fluctuating degrees of silver- natural. tongued lyrics and tonal variations, these Perhaps one of the reasons that Like hip hop heroes spank brains for a living. Water... sounds so good is the production Give this album to your professor for of the Soulquarians (Puestlove, Jay Dee, Easter and don’t forget to throw up a D’Angelo and James Poyser). That’s not a “W .” The Anticon Artists are performing diss against No I.D. (Common’s producer this Saturday at the Living Room, 430 S. on his first three albums); after all, Fairview Ave. in Goleta near the airport. I f Resurrection is a bonafide classic. But right you can't make the show, you can check them here, right now, the Soulquarians comple out at I Wood's Does Parlies! * Banquets ^Catering ^ Delivery :*Parfy Pack« Ta ( BEACH, PARK & HOUSE PARTIES GRADUATION PARTY PAKS BBQ CHICKEN & BBQ RIBS CAESAR SALAD, POTATO SALAD N & COWBOY BEANS $ 1/)45 with Rolls and Butter ^person Party Pak includes plates, napkins, utensils and condiments P ■ "Who's Qot " » i ■ w 1 the BEST LATE NIGHT HAPPT HOUR?. YOU VO THE MANHATTAN KACH OPTIONS UOtHlfUiJ/U HIWP0KTKACH A*Appetizers, Desserts, Beverages I 14 2!tiriten CALL SANTABARBARA Mj Theme Parties & Entertainment til MOS AK ACH I f 4/6 Stott stmt- ( t05)963-96/0 » H u t* . «Nf Custom Party Paks, Tool »WUW.MMMUJj! 967.3775 - : :V : « • » £ : AUJ.UU via h i' riT .i. • 4A Thursday, April 13,2000 Daily Nexus th in g sto d o today I thursday tomorrow I friday One Mission: To Praise the Mullet. The Mullet, a.ka. the Sfelby a.k.a. Hockey Hair a.ka. the Ape Drape, is an integral component of our late-twentieth century post-modern, hipster- trash lives. From the vague recollections of the cut of ‘70s classic rockers to fonder memories of sev enth-grade P.E. teachers all over the U.S.A, the Mullet is as much a part of our psychologies as the Slurpee, Pet Rock and Pinto. It would be a traves ty to forget about Jason Priestly’s infamous Mullet on the pilot episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Thanks to socially inept webmasters at popular If you follow the gloriously compiled Artsweek calendar, you’ll be Here’s an image for all you out there: Artsweek's calendar is like a Internet sites, the Mullet is finally again earning its ultra-cultured without ever uttering those fearful words, “Santa fortune cookie. It might not make any sense, but if you follow it dili recognition as an important part of American cul Barbara is so boring; there's nothing to do.” Tonight, get to Campbell gently, cultural bliss will follow. See above, for example, where we ture. The following is our file of the most well- Hall for Chen Kaige's “The Emperor and the Assassin,” a sweeping his brought you a Chinese film and hip deejays. Tonight, get your mind groomed Mullets, ranked from best to worst. torical epic about the powerful and ruthless Ying Zheng, China’s first penetrated by Theatre UCSB’s “Spring Dances 2000.” This dance con emperor and the most expensive Asian film ever produced. 7:30 p.m. cert, under the artistic direction of Christopher Pilafian, brings together Name: Scary Mullet $5 students. Then, it’s over to Zelo for “The Zoo.” Superstar house DJ all sorts of different styles and sounds, along with guest artists, mem Ranking: A Glorious 6 Mullets Terry Mullen from Chicago is ready to get your booties shakin’ along bers of Santa Barbara Dance Theatre and, of course, our very own (the top of our Scale) with DJ Pat on the ones and twos. All you house and techno lovers bet UCSB dance majors. With six original dance pieces, how can you go Mulletude: 10 ter get movin'for a night of good times and great music! 630 State St. wrong? Hatlen Theatre, 8 p.m. $12 students; $16 general. For informa Favorite Band: ‘70s Santana tion and other performance dates, call 893-3535. Sightings: Goleta Lemon Festival weekend I Saturday weekend I Sunday Comment: Damn, yo' fine! Name: She-Male Mullet Ranking: A Molestin' 5 Mullets Mulletude: 10 Favorite Band: Lionel Richie Sightings: Showings of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show" Comment' Stop trying to jock Little Richard’s style Name: Ultimullet Ranking: A Stringy 4 Mullets Mulletude: 9 Favorite Band: Jimmy Buffet Sightings: Air shows, Magic Anticon are group of young rapper folk coming straight out of Oakland Bowling? Usually Artsweek presents a wide array of culturally-climactic Mountain and San Francisco. As you can see from the above photograph, they events and performances ready to titilate. But bowling, you say? Yes, it Comment Cheeseburger in know how to party and get weird. If you have even the slightest inter is true, dear reader, for Sunday night we advocate you get in touch with Paradise est in hip hop, it's strongly suggested you get a dose of the obscure at your inner-Goletian, hit up the Galleon room and throw some balls. Not their live appearance at the Living Room. Even if you hate hip hop, only does Orchid Bowl offer great lanes and stylish shoes, it is quite Name: Snake Mullet you're in for a good show. Who else walks their cat on a leash? If you possibly the best Mullet-Sighting Spot (M.S.S.) this side of State Ranking: A Swindlin' and have learned anything from Artsweek this year, it has hopefully been Street. If you aren’t ready to brave the Flow-Bee quite yet, sit back and Sleazin” 4 Mullets the wisdom spoken in our interview with the leader of Anticon, Sole. If take in the sights and sounds that are Goleta. Another fine M.S.S., Mulletude: 8 you're lucky, you might run into some of the Artsweek staffers who of Maggie’s Dinner, is located across the street, so go for the meatloaf, Favorite Band: Whitesnake course endorse this show whole-heartedly. 430 Goleta St. (in Airport then head back to the ‘Bowl for the Meat Loaf. Drinks at the Galleon Sightings: Dry lake beds, cav Plaza off of Faiiview), Room are more than recommended. Calle Real. 967-0128. ernous areas Comment: Mulletized reptile next week I monday next week I tuesday Name: Skullet Ranking: A Robustly Baldin' 3 Mullets Mulletude: 8 Favorite Band: Mountain Joe + the Blue Mountain Bucaneers Sightings: Chumash Comment: Nice tank top Name: Death Mullet Ranking: An Air-Guitarin' 2 Mullets Mulletude: 7 Favorite Band: Slayer Sightings: Guitar Center, “Beyond the Mat” screening Monday kicks off the week with the opening rally of Pride Week. If you’ve been a diligent Artsweek calendar follower, you've taken in Comment: Or is it Gwen Whatever your sexual identity, support the lifestyles of everyone today everything now from hip hop to acoustic feminist folk, from UCSB Stefani? by making your way over to Storke Plaza between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. dancers to the most expensive Chinese film ever. Today, there are two for the festivities. Tonight, Ani diFranco performs at the Arlington very special events on the agenda. First, it’s the opening night of the Name: Feather Mullet Theatre. If you haven’t heard of diFranco, you must have been hiding in last Honors Art Studio exhibit in Gallery 1434. For those of you who Ranking: A Stragglin' (but stiil the RecCen. Jewel-on-a-Self-Empowerment-Trip, diFranco’s music has don't know where 1434 is, it's located in the Art Studio building. For beautiful) 1 Mullet brought folk back to the forefront of contemporary music, perhaps for those of you who’ve never been to a student art show, it’s time to go. Mulletude: 6 the first time since the ‘70s. On the M.S.S. tip many of diFranco’s fans Second, the Joe Goode Performance Group is performing “Deeply There Favorite Band: Leann Himes are diligently working to bring back the P.E. teacher mullet. With Take (Stories of a Neighborhood)” at Campbell Hall. This evening-length Sightings: Make-out point, Back the Night just wrapping up, continue to spread the empowerment dance-theater work explores coping with death as part of life and church, Modesto, CA of sisterhoodlf you can't make it to the show, we'll be printing photos includes dialogue, songs, dances, skateboarding, a campy Jackie-0 Comment: Add some gel to in the next Artsweek. Tickets are available atTickemaster Locations. salute and more. 8 p.m. $18 students; $22 general. increase Mullet standing Daily Nexus Thursday, April 13,2000 5A WHITE TRASH+WRESTLING IN T H E MAT People often associate professional wrestling with sacrifice and of the dangerous price o f success. eras to smoke crack. white trash, and that association is hard to deny. “Beyond the M at” is not a great documentary. It is in Equally effective is footage of Mick “Mankind” Professional wrestling is violent, sensationalistic, low no way innovative, and for the most part, it merely Foley’s wife and children watching him in a match. brow, misogynistic and often racist. Oh, and as we all scratches the surface of most of the wrestlers it profiles. When he’s winning, they cheer, but as he begins to lose know, it’s fake. The violence is choreographed. Winners After interviewing most of them, Blaustein is content to the match, they squirm, wince, and hide their eyes. In the are decided before the fight. The wrestler knows that say, “See? Wresders are just like you and me.” Although end, when The Rock starts to beat a chair against that collapsible chair is coming at the back of his head. it is a nice sentiment, the fact of the matter is that most Mankind’s head over and over again, they shriek, cry, and But does that make it hurt any less? Mick Foley’s miss people would not allow themselves to be subjected to the run from the arena. The scene is incredibly uncomfort ing ear and Terry Funk’s cartilage-free knee are evidence ridiculous amount of abuse pro-wresders endure both able. It would have been absolutely devastating if that it doesn’t. Maybe it’s time that professional wrestlers Blaustein hadn’t felt the need to dumb it down by cross got the respect that they deserve. Maybe it’s time people cutting it with cheesy, slow-motion footage of Mick and started paying attention to the hardest working men in THE REUNION LEADS FIRST his children playing happily together. Still, the scene sports entertainment. TO TEARS, AND THEN TO j Ak e FLEEING... does raise issues that most of the film does not address. Director Barry W. Blaustein thinks so. Until now, TO SM O KE “Beyond the M at” is being advertised as a hard-hit Blausteiri has been known entirely for his screenwriting ting, behind-the-scenes exposé on the world of work, but with the pro-wresding documentary “Beyond CRACK” wrestling. It is not. It is a chance for wrestling fans, to the Mat,” he makes his directorial debut. The film pro spend some intimate time with their heroes, and for pro files several wresders, some of them superstars, some of inside and outside the ring. “Beyond the Mat” is most fessional wrestling’s detractors to gain a little more them aspiring amateurs, and others wresding has-beens. successful when it manages to get past this superficial respect for people who they might otherwise dismiss. He puts the camera on the wresders in a way that nei observation. The scenes involving the once-legendary, Although Blaustein doesn’t say or show much about ther they nor their fans are accustomed to — backstage, now-crack-addicted Jake “The Snake” Roberts are some most of the wrestlers he profiles, it is fun to see them behind the scenes, at home with the' family and on the of the most engrossing and emotionally complex in the when they step out of character. As it turns out, The road — and in doing so, reveals their true personalities as film, especially a scene in which Jake and his estranged Rock doesn’t spend all of his time chanting catch phras individuals rather than characters. Their stories are both daughter are reunited. The reunion leads first to tears, es and arching his eyebrows, and Vince McMahon does intimate and familiar; they are stories of hard work, of and then to Jake fleeing both his daughter and the cam n’t always settle his business deals with a steel chair. ÉERICAN PSYCHO ENTERS killer mullet | brady golden, In d o f a b o u r g e o is m a d If you met Charles Manson before that whole Sharon his co-workers and his friends, but, he admits, he can feel repeated assertion that he is not a human being, in no Tate incident, you probably would have known that the that his “mask of sanity” has started to slip. He starts by way does he stand out from his slick, plastic friends and man wasn’t quite right. Charles Starkweather probably stabbing a homeless man in an alley, and continues to co-workers. The flatness and the glossiness of his perfor would have seemed a little off, too. If you passed John murder jus.t about every person that he can, taking each mance are chilling, and they make his occasional emo Wayne Gacy on the street ... weU, clowns scare the hell victim out in a more brutal and more elaborate fashion tional outbursts all the more effective. The supporting out of most people. There have been other serial killers, cast, most notably Willem Dafoe and Chloe Sevigny, though, who have gone through their daily lives without also does very well. Even Jared Leto manages to not ever raising any suspicion. Everyone trusted Ted Bundy. embarrass himself. The only weak performance in the It shocked the world when he confessed to the murders “HE IS IN NO WAY film comes from Reese Witherspoon, who plays of 28 women. In a society where the clothes make the A HUMAN Bateman’s bossy, spoiled girlfriend. Witherspoon takes man and where peoples’ beliefs are spoon-fed to them the character too far, and in a movie where everyone is so over the airwaves, fitting in is as easy as anything. A good BEING restrained and unemotional, she comes off as a carica job, a fashionable outfit, a nice apartment and capable ture. social skills are all that the most psychotic of individuals Harron’s direction is cool and subtle, which makes need in order to pass themselves off as normal human w Bateman’s world all the more two-dimensional, and, as a beings. result, all the more uncomfortable. Her screenplay, co In the film “American Psycho,” based on the contro written by Guinevere Turner, is great. Art director versial novel by Bret Easton Ellis and directed by Mary Andrew Stearn does such a wonderful job of building the Harron, these issues and countless others are confronted than the last. As the body count escalates, Patrick begins glitzy but lifeless world of Manhattan in the 1980s that and dealt with as the audience follows successful yuppie, to wonder why he hasn’t been caught, and so does the the background actually becomes a character. Harvard graduate and psychopath Patrick Bateman audience. When his crimes reach their most outrageous “American Psycho” is an unforgiving indictment of (Christian Bale) around in his daily life and nightly mur level, we begin to wonder whether they are even taking materialism, sexism, wealth and conformity. Although derous rampages. The film begins with Patrick explain place, or whether they are just the hallucinations of a the film sets itself firmly in the ’80s with repeated refer ing to the audience that in spite of his meticulously complete nutball. ences to pop-culture and politics, the questions that it maintained good looks and well-decorated apartment, he Bale shines as Patrick Batemen, or rather, he doesn’t; raises are relevant today, and are as frightening to answer is in no way a human being. He blends in perfectly with but that’s the brilliance of his portrayal. Despite Patrick’s as when Ellis’ novel was first published. 6A Thursday, April 13,2000 Daily Nexus Trains: the big, noisy things that can move you from War, accompany each other on the train to Montreal. As does the older man say in retaliation to the younger man’s here to there and wake you up in the middle of the night. told by the younger man, John and Gabriel converse over hopeftd story of a changing time? He changes the land That’s all there is to trains, right? The Ensemble Theater everything from heredity to social standing to depen scape from the plush, first-class cabin in the later 1800s Company’s latest production, “Trains,” explores the dence on each other while questioning the reality of their to the homeless hangouts of the train stations in modern deeper metaphors of trains and the surrounding lives of relationship and its multiple levels. When the train day New York. both passenger and watcher. reaches New York, both men have moved from there (a W hat makes a homeless person a bum? Is it the The play itself is divided into two stories told by a clothes, or is it the attitude? The older man plays out younger man (Joseph Gibson) and an older man (Roscoe H TRAINS’ BRILLIi these questions in the relationship of Harvey (Gibson), Freeman) as they wander into a train station somewhere fCLMENTO the energetic, hopeful man trying to escape the hardships in America. One man looks at the world with hopeful, of living on the streets, and Dennis (Freeman), the older, youthful eyes; the other reflects with the hardened views bitter man mad at the world for casting him into a life he of experience and age. “Trains” brilliandy casts two men refuses to give up. To Harvey and Dennis it’s all in the to play all six characters, and each man beautifully creates point of view, and it’s up to the watchers to decide whose each character into an individual person. The stories by view they wish to take. Are you going to watch the train Barbara Lebow intricately weave themselves into a web go by and never experience it, or are you going to jump of contradiction that entraps the audience until the clos and feel the full force and effect on your life, no matter ing moments. Each point of view, whether the optimistic what the consequences? “Trains” pushes you to make that youth or the cynical man, pulls the audience, stretching choice. them to both sides of the same circle. place of separation by social standards) to here (a place of The first of the two stories focuses on moving from realization and motivation to change their current situa "Trains" runs through May 7, Tuesdays through Saturdays ia it here to there. John (Gibson), the crippled-yet-wealthy tion). But what happens after New York? The question 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. son of a Louisiana plantation owner, and Gabriel remains unanswered. Even though the men moved, the Alhecama Theatre, 914 State St. $20 — $28. For more infor (Freeman), the slave-turned-free man after the Civil rest of society may not have moved with them. So what mation, please call (805) 962-8606. red booths A phat cjrooves ^ stronir drinks W e'll do it for you: Tim. SiTkurs. ►All Well Cocktails ►Sierra Pints ►Wildcat Iced Teas (Made w/ Red Bull) We search the web for the best deals on your books. So you don't nave to. mi The Daily Nexus 8 Wfoemiuikey Orchestra If you read only one newspaper this quarter, 15 w ortecja 962.7970 you really should read more often. Daily Nexus Thursday, April 13,2000 7A Here’s a film that is enraging not because of how bad stuck in what should have been a similarly difficult situ In a blunder “Rules of Engagement” never recovers it is, but because of how good it could have been and ation, as the American Embassy in Yemen is under siege from, the filmmakers somehow expect us to believe that chose not to be. “Rules of Engagement” elects to retrofit from protestors. In fact, the crowd, including women and no one in the unit would have seen any of the weapons a new gloss over tired material rather than saying some children, is armed to the teeth, and only Childers is in a that the crowd had, or the terrorists that swiped them thing about the military, its ethics or the people caught position to see this when he orders his entire unit to open before they could see. In addition, it takes Childers half in between. fire on the crowd, killing 82 and injuring over 100. of the film to- actually say the crowd was armed. The film opens during Vietnam as VC soldiers Now up for a court-martial spearheaded by a slimy This is the type of film that needs strong perfor ambush a Marine unit led by Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee politician (Bruce Greenwood), Childers calls on his old mances to fill in the holes left by the script, and Jackson Jones). Nearby, another Marine unit led by Terry friend Hodges to represent him against prosecutor Maj. and Jones are not the pair. Jackson is clueless when he Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) has taken VC soldiers cap Mark Biggs, played with fantastic brio by Guy Pearce. At isn’t yelling about how right he is, as he did in “A Time, tive, who are in radio communication with the attack. to Kill” and “The Negotiator.” Similarly, Jones dreadful Here’s the question - should Childers threaten to kill his ly phones in his performance, another retread of his POWs until they cancel the attack on the shredded ■ 66 Oscar-winning performance from “The Fugitive.” After Marine unit or should he obey the Rules of Engagement HE ORDERS HIS ENTIRE this, “Double Jeopardy,” “Men in Black” and “The and allow his fellow soldiers to die? UNIT TO OPEN FIRE ON THE Client,” the Academy should revoke his award for such Childers makes his threat, actually killing a radio subsequent slumming. operator, forcing the VC to call off the adjacent attack. There’s been a bit of controversy of late as the film’s Was he right or wrong? Smardy, the film leaves that for original screenwriter James Webb demanded that he not you to decide. Stupidly, however, the rest of the film has KILLING be given credit after Paramount ordered script rewrites nothing fp do with this scene except setting up the,rela that changed his story. My guess is that the original tionship between Childers and Hodges, the lone survivor this point, “Rules” is dead in the water, filled with the script had Childers ordering the killing of an unarmed of the ambush. usual yelling and grandstanding almost requisite to the crowd. But the script as it is credited to Stephen Gaghan The film moves forward to the present, with Childers genre. lacks any meat, any drama and any brains. The U niversity of A rizona. This Summer GUADALAJARA SUM M ER SCHOOL IN MEXICO SINCE 1952 Come to Israel for $589* 2000 Israel is your birthright and it deserves more 6-week sessions July 3 - August 10 or July 10 - August 17,2000 Intensive Spanish (Istthru 6th semesters) ♦ Earn: 6-8 units of credit than 10 days. Join us for the trip of a lifetime. 3-week sessions July 3 - July 21 or July 10 - July 28,2000 July 2 to July 25 Intensive Spanish (Istthru 4th semesters) • Earn: 4 units of credit / /s 5-week session July 10 - August 9,2000 Study in the morning, tour the sights Upper-division Spanish, Literature & Cinema as well as of Jerusalem in the afternoon. Mexico-related courses in Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology, and Bilingual Education WORDS FROM THE HEART FROM JAM'S For information or application, contact: ISRAEL TRIP, SUMMERS 1996 - 1999 Guadalajara Sum m er School ♦ The University of Arizona P.O.Box40966«Tucson,Arizona85717‘ Phone: (520)621-5137 "i can't thank you enough for this E-Mail: [email protected] awesome experience, ihave been Home Pago: www.coh.arizona.edu/gss enriched. I think that i was m iss ing an important part of myself. This program helped put me in ^Pander to your^udience touch with that part o f m y Jew ish identity." Nadine Blum r a t e g y 7 have gained so much as a re l K sult of this trip. The teachers were remarkable. Being back in Jerusalem was a sort of coming home for me." Brian Brager "i gained so much from the Now that we've kissed butt, we can get down to classes. They made me want to find out more about Judaism and business.Which is that you’d save 46% when you made me feei proud o f m y heri subscribe to the Los Angeles times ohiine. Just log ta ge. " Aron Zakowski on to iatimes.com for information By the way, did "By some sort of wonderful chance, people were brought together and we wè mention that tte Gauchos rule? Just wondering. were all able id get along. We all admire you for taking 25 college students to this land." Elise Nahum Go6 Angeles SKtnes To find out more, please call latimes.com/cpilege J.A.M. at (323) 930-2034 (J.A.M., the Jewish Awareness Movement, is an on-cam pus club at UCLA.) * $589 is an all-inclusive price The Daily Nexus (airfare, lodging, food and touring) Irnpfijr^ypMr^WJitx {Q Wpifo,, 8A Thursday, April 13,2000 Daily Nexus ASPB hotline number: £ 9 2 -2 ^ 9 9 ASPB is accepting tapes and CD’s for bands interested in playing Extravaganza 2000. Leave demos at the ASPB office Rm#l 519 UCen on sale Saturday at noon . Due by Friday, April 14th! ASPB Applications available for 2000-2001 Program Board Apps available at ASPB office Rm#1519 Ucen and are due by NOON on Fri Apr 28th THE WHEREHOUSE / ROBINSONS • MAY 60LDENV0ICÌC0M A r l in g t o n t h e a t r e / t o w e r r e c o r o s CHARGE: B05-583S70Q