Del Toro Sizzles on New Millennium Finally, VH-1 Gets it Screen Brings Better Movies Right By Anne Zahran By Anne Zahran diences, and both Brockovich’s col­ By Anne Zahran sonal favorites. Most notable are The Entertainment Editor Entertainment Editor orful language and Gladiator’s gore Entertainment Editor Beatles, who took an astounding 5 Smoldering. Sexy. Stun­ After last year’s crop of largely pigeonhole them in that respect. Tired of sitting through a spaces, all of them in the Top 20, and ning. All of these adjectives aptly unpalatable movies, it looks as if the Thank goodness for Tom Hanks, who bunch of bogus countdowns? First, four of them in the Top 10. The Roll­ describe the man I like to think of as new year will usher in a plentiful har­ may once again save us all from there was VH-l’s 1(X) Greatest Art­ ing Stones, Bob Dylan, The Who, "The'Puerto Rican James Dean”: vest of digestible delights. Already, Hollywood’s excess. ists of Rock and Roll, a pretty respect­ Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Benicio del Toro. Right now yoii’re the past few weeks have proved both I won’t even begin to talk about able-sounding countdown. Besides, Bruce Springsteen, and Led Zeppe­ probably thinking: wait a minute. I’ve prosperous and promising for Holly­ all the disappointing movies I saw in who can argue with the Beatles and lin (among others) also claimed mul­ heard that name before. And you wood: Cast Away has made over $150 2000. The list is too long. I will, how­ the Stones in the top two positions? tiple slots. probably have, many, many times. million dollars to date while still re­ ever, venture to name my top five Then, a few months later, The list was not limited to Del Toro is one of the busi­ taining a sense of integrity; Traffic has favorites for the year in movies that the same station presented us with the those old rock classics, either. Most est actors in Hollywood, having perplexed us with its multilayered is perhaps best left on the video store 100 Greatest Women of Rock and notable on the list are the inclusion starred in six movies in the past year. story line; and Finding Forrester has shelf Roll. Now, this is where they took a of such young artists as Lauryn Hill You may remember him from Fear given us that rare combination of Here’s my Top Five in no par­ wrong turn. I personally find it hard (#37), Radiohead (^4), Liz Phair and Loathing in Las Vegas or The knock-out performances coupled ticular order: to even think of 100 half-way decent (#96), Pearl Jam (#79). Usual Suspects, and while his screen with witty dialogue. 1. Two Family House. This female artists, and many of them The list is a great blend of time in that cult favorite was limited, The next few months look as if played briefly at the Cameo back in aren’t in rock and roll. Consequently, old and new, giving respect to those his impact was not. they’ll shape up even better, with the December and is a study of what a the list contained many people you who built the rock and roll empire, This past year. I’ve seen two debut of two highly touted World War Photo taken from beniciodfltoro.com well-contrived story line, interesting and I have never heard of; and many while taking into account the influ­ of his films: The Way of the Gun, II dramas: Corelli’s Mandolin, star­ characters, and excellent casting can more who don’t have a dam thing to ential artists of today. By the time this which was released in Fall 2000; and ring Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, do for even a small independent film. do with rock. goes to print, the Top 100 will already Traffic, which was released to criti­ and Penelope Cruz; and Pearl Har­ ami Vice,” and his first major film 2. Erin Brockovich. Yes, it Next came 100 Greatest have been shown at least once on VH- cal acclaim just weeks ago. In both bor, which will finally premiere on was Big Top Pee-Wee. uses foul language somewhat gratu­ Songs of Rock and Roll, which was 1, but they should rerun the count­ movies, he plays a man who has a Memorial Day weekend, though its 2001 is already proving to itously, but Juha Roberts is absolutely fairly good, though I find it impos­ down many more times. For the com­ way with weapons and handguns, trailer has been playing at movie the­ be fhe year of Del Toro, whose name brilliant in what I found to be the most sible to narrow a list down to just 1(X) plete list, log on to www.vhl .com. namely, and brandishes them freely aters across the country for so long fittingly means “bull” in Spanish. emotionally moving effort of the past songs! Anybody else agree with me? Keep your eyes open. to get what he wants. Already, he has been nominated for you may think you’ve seen it already. year. On and on the lists went. Here is a list of the Ten Bom in Puerto Rico in 1967, a Golden Globe for his role in Traffic That’s the good news. The bad 3. Nurse Betty. Nobody can And now, finally, comes the list I Greatest Albums of Rock and Roll: Del Toro moved to the U.S. at the age and has also been declared Best Sup­ news is that these new films are bright touch the freshness and wide-eyed have been waiting for, for so 1. The Beatles Revolver of 13. This classically trained actor porting Actor for the same role by the spots in what was an otherwise thor­ innocence Renee Zellweger brings to long...the 100 Greatest Albums of 2. Nirvana Nevermind won a scholarship to the Stella Adler National Society of Film Critics. oughly disappointing year of movies. this quirky comedy. Rock and Roll. Now here’s an idea. 3. Beach Boys Pet Sounds Conservatory of Acting in New York. The Golden Globes, a precursor to In the next few months, look 4. CaiMway. Hanks is one of Just like the Greatest Artist concept, 4. Marvin Gaye What's Going On Adler, of course, trained many ac­ for Benicio del Toro in Guy Ritchie’s March’s Academy Awards, will ap­ the few actors who can carry almost this is much more cumulative. A good 5. Jimi Hendrix Experience pear on television later this month, but complished actors in her lifetime, in­ Snatch and The Pledge, both of which an entire movie by himself and shine song or two does not, after all, make Are You Experienced? cluding Marlon Brando. premiere on Jan. 19. Also, look for many of the nominees are question­ from start to finish. a good album. And many good al­ 6. The Beatles Rubber Soul able at best. Del Toro’s career began Bread and Roses, which opens to hm- 5. Meet the Parents. De Niro bums are not quite great. Basically, 7. Stevie Wonder Lightweight contenders include with a guest star appearance on “Mi- ited release in May. and Stiller complement each other if you ever skip a track or two on any Songs in the Key o f Life Erin Brockovich and Gladiator. Each perfectly in this top-notch comedy. of your albums, they’re already out 8. The Beatles Abbey Road garnered several nominations, as did of the running. Get it? 9. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde Traffic, a movie I found to be both Also worth mentioning: What The list the musicians and 10. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s distasteful and depressing. Lies Beneath, Wonder Boys, Fre­ rock critics came up with is not sur­ Lonely Hearts Club Band What 2000 lacked was a truly quency, and the hilarious (though prising, and contains many of per­ Student fantastic, moving film that appealed sophomoric) Scary Movie. to and was appropriate for most au­ Activities The Cat Is Out Pop Or Hip-Hop? By John Arnold Staff Writer Of The Bag The Dynasty, the album from Committee 6 y Erin Dodson world. In all his songs, one can truly rap superstar Jay-Z, combines the Staff Writer find his philosophical and religious usual gangster lyrics with hip-hop I recently purchased The Very beUefs, not only in his words but also beats. Like previous albums Jay-Z Best o f Cat Stevens. Many of you are in his voice. features a slew of top rap artist that presents: thinking whom are you talking about? A touching song, “I’ve Got a make this album unique. While I am sure that many of your parents Thing About Seeing My Grandson songs like “I just wanna love U are familiar with him. Cat Steven is a Grow Old,” explains his feelings of (give it back 2 me)” are very folk-rock singer and songwriter, who growing older and discovering all the catchy, they lack the magical helped pave the way for great folk new technologies in the world, but charisma that followed Jay-Z in his past three albums. This is not to say Feb. 7 artists like James Taylor and Joni Stevens is only concerned with see­ Photo taken from "www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A5IN/ Mitchell. Stevens hit the road with a ing his grandson grow up. Stevens that Dynasty is a bad album, only BOOOOSOHS9/qid/sr^2l/ref^sc_mJ/IOs-4sl2686- 4278326" wide variety of people, from Jimi was not the typical family man, but that is more of a pop record.