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THE JEWISH NEWS

A Smashing Success

DAN ZIMMERMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

I

rage from one song to the next, to Dusk," includes "Cupid de
lovesong purring dissolving into Locke," a trippy number that
utilizes an electronic harp and
despairing deathgloom.
Mostly, Mellon Collie is a mel- the gushy lyrics, "Cupid hath
pulled back his sweet-
low, introspective journey
heart's bow / to cast di-
which, despite its wide
range, maintains a ies', vine arrows into her
soul," and "Zero," which
unique sound that can
only be described as cohesive: combines driving guitar with a
Corgan, who has a reputation as verbal interlude: "Emptiness is
a perfectionist, did a fine job in loneliness, and loneliness is
effectively blending the album's cleanliness, / and cleanliness is
godliness, and god is empty just
seemingly divergent elements.
The first disc, subtitled "Dawn like me."
The second disc, 'Twi-
light to Starlight", dis-
plays the same variety,
from the pop ballad
"1979" to the dis-
turbingly death metal
"Tales of a Scorched
Earth." Sound discom-
bobulated? Trust me: it
works.
Obviously, the Pump-
kins' music cannot eas-
ily be classified. In the
past, it's been referred
to as retro by some, future-rock
er musical step forward for the
by others; currently, Pumpkin-
foursome from Chicago, and
rock fits into the loosely defined
their older stuff isn't half bad.
realm of "alternative." But
Some of Mellon Collie is typical
however one chooses to catego-
Pumpkins: racing guitars and
rize the Smashing Pumpkins,
melodious flux accentuated by
their latest album, Mellon Col-
singer Billy Corgan's piercing
lie and the Infinite Sadness, is a
voice. But fresh in its approach,
fresh example of a jewel becom-
the new album's operative word
ing rarer and rarer in today's
is diversity. Folk-pop weirdness
industry: multifaceted, thought-
often transforms into metallic
fully produced, thoroughly good
Dan Zimmerman is a senior at
music. El
Berkley High School.

hough they've earned
mainstream dollars (their
1993 release Siamese
Dream went triple-plat-
inum), the Smashing Pumpkins
have never been accepted by the
same public that embraced Nir-
vana with open arms. But as tal-
ented as they are esoteric, the
Pumpkins do have a strong fol-
lowing.
Mellon Collie and the Infinite
Sadness, the Pumpkins' double
LP latest release, is yet anoth-

'Home for the Holidays'

Rated PG-13

I

he trick to preparing a
good meal is knowing
what you want to serve
and then following
through with the proper ingredi-
ents and proportions. The same
goes for a holiday meal, but ex-
pectations are, of course, higher
because, after all, it is the holi-
days. The same holds true for hol-
iday movies. In Jodie Foster's
Home for the Holidays, an ambi-
tious menu is offered with all the
trimmings, but expectations are
sorely disappointed.
Characters played by Holly
Hunter, Robert Downey Jr.,
Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning,
Steve Guttenberg and Geraldine
Chaplin are gathered for the an-
nual turkey celebration and they
bring their own agendas to the
table like side dishes. A grand

feast? Unfortunately, the mea- be trying to imitate a Robin
Williams character, begging the
surements are out of whack.
Fashioned as a sweet comedy, theater audience for attention. In
the film is disproportionately bit- fact, the entire cast could be
ter and salty. It raises issues of charged with attempted larce-
acceptance, growth and toler- ny of a movie scene. As a result,
ance, but in a cluttered and any genuine issues that spring
forth get a relentless suc-
fraudulent manner that is
cession of contrived
ultimately distasteful.
MOVIES
crises and conflicts that
The story, albeit half-
rely on artificial lunacy
cooked, focuses on Clau-
dia (Ms. Hunter) as she returns to push the story forward.
Although it might be tempting
to the home of her childhood for
Thanksgiving. By real world to see this movie because of Ms.
standards, this is no ordinary Foster's involvement and the im-
family, but as a Hollywood fam- pressive actors she has assem-
ily, we have met these eccentrics bled, one would be better advised
before. The father (Mr. Darning) to stay home. Home for the Holi-
is zany and aloof, the mother (Ms. days is as satisfying as a mi-
Bancroft) is zany and manipula- crowaved turkey dinner and,
tive, the brother (Mr. Downey Jr.) chances are, your own family is
is zany and gay and the aunt better company. 1 1/2 out of 4
(Geraldine Chaplin) in zany and bagels
dotty.
— Rick Halprin
Everyone in this film seems to