8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 7, 1994 'Sugar Hill' plays same old song,* By CHRIS LEPLEY "Sugar Hill" is the latest Wesley Snipes showcase which might have been more aptly titled "New Jack City II: Another Soundtrack." Written by Barry Michael Cooper (the man who did an absolutely fabulous rewrite on someone else's script which eventually became the magnum opus "New Jack City"), this film has all the trite conventional dialogue and lame melodrama of a bad "Godfather" imitation, and if it weren't for Wesley Snipes, it wouldn't have one single ounce of cool. "Sugar Hill" tells the story of Roemello Skuggs (Snipes), the younger in a team of mob brothers. Roemello Sugar Hill Written by Barry Michael Cooper; directed by Leon Ichaso; with Wesley Snipes and Michael Wright. is wise and sensitive, and of course he wants out of the horrible world of violence and crime. His older brother Raynathan (Michael Wright) doesn't want out, he wants control of the family empire. Roemello agonizes over his criminal life-style, but he's the only one who doesn't enjoy what he's doing. Raynathan is supposed to seem "trapped" in the underworld but he comes across as being in his element. Ernie Hudson plays Lolly, an ex-boxer who is the Skuggs bros. rival in the drug-dealing business. Lolly, too, supposedly regrets his life-style, but that's rarely visible. Every gangster needs a catalyst to set in motion his desire to leave 'the business' and for Roemello, Melissa (Theresa Randle) is that catalyst. She's a classy street-girl and Roemello falls hard for her, deciding to give up everything that he and his brother have built in order to make a life with his lady love. Of course, it doesn't work out that way. If it did, this would be a better movie, and a lot less melodramatic. Instead, Snipes and Wright are forced to play endless rounds of sobbing brotherly conflict, then Snipes follows up with more sobbing in the comforting arms of Melissa. There's a lot of sobbing in this film. No outright crying, though, because it wouldn't be macho. Every melodrama must have a classic reflection character, and "Sugar Hill" is no exception. Abe Vigoda steps down off of the acting pedestal he was on after doing both "Godfather" movies (he was already seriously teetering after doing "Look Who's Talking") and condescends to play Gus, an elderly mob-type guy who runs a grocery store while in reality controlling most of the drug business in the city. If the audience can believe that kind of set-up, they deserve to sit through this film. The best thing about "Sugar Hill," not counting Wesley Snipes, is the soundtrack. Terence Blanchard (who did the@ scores for "Do The Right Thing" and "Malcolm X") provides a fluid and energetic score that's perfect for love scenes, even if it does leave something to be desired during the parts of the movie that the audience came to see: namely, the violent parts. Like "New Jack City," "Sugar Hill" is a fashion showcase, with star Wesley Snipes dressed in tailored Armani suits, presumably to display his more rational nature in contrast with his brother, who wears Yamamoto suits in bright primary colors. After watching the film for@ about 10 minutes it becomes rather obvious that more thought went into the costume design than the script. So overall "Sugar Hill" becomes nothing more than another story about sensitive men trapped inside "the business." What ever happened to classy gangsters who indulge in orgies of senseless violence and show absolutely no remorse? The gangster movies of today are nothing more than one flashy killing scene in the beginning and then another 90 minutes of the killer agonizing over what he / she has done. This kind of existential angst on scree grows tiresome. The filmmakers have the most noble of motives in trying to showcase the plight ofAfrican-Americans trapped in a world of crime and violence, but a slick production like this doesn't make that message come across. You can't feel sympathy for Roemello or Raynathan after seeing what they're capable of any more than you could feel sympathy for one of the characters in "Goodfellas." "Sugar Hill" tries to rise above the melodramatic music-video style of "New Jack City" and fails miserably. The two leads are excellent, but even they can't save this* sinking ship. Some of the best African-American actors working today are in this film,just as they were in "Juice," "New Jack City," "Posse" and "Malcolm X." But after watching those same actors try like hell to inject some new life into this old tired story, you get the feeling that the name of the USS SugarHill ought to be changed to the USS Blaxploitation. SUGAR HiLL is plaving at Showcase. Sexy Wesley Snipes, yet again, is perhaps the only good thing you'll find in "Sugar Hill." BUTTERFLY Continued from page 5 famous aria telling of her fantasies about Pinkerton's return, "Un Bel Di" ("One fine day"), was picturesque and poignant. The second leads sung their roles with precision and to perfection. Zheng Cao capitalized on the potential of the role of Suzuki, which is one of the greatest roles for a mezzo soprano in all of Western opera. Though she spent much of her time sobbing with her hands covering her face, what she did sing was convincing and enchanting. Charles Huddleston did some nice things with Sharpless, who is really just Pinkerton's lackey. But he was sympathetic and sincere- sounding. Peter Dean Beck's set showing the interior of Butterfly's house worked, but it was oddly- proportioned. Much of the interior was invisible to people sitting anywhere but center (where this reviewer was). Gary Marder's lighting provided a few dramatic moments, but for the most part did nothing special. And the English supertitles (by Sonya Friedman) were often late and sometimes missing. But the singing, the storyline and Puccini's music compensates for any flaws in the production. Giacomo Puccini, you have won. Bikini Kill Pussy Whipped Kill Rock Stars Riot Grrl is a movement much documented in the press, yet it has been difficult to find the albums, zines and supporters of this youth-culture uprising. The release of "Pussy Whipped," the aptly named second album from this pioneer Riot Grrl band, marks the movement's approach to the mainstream ( i.e. - the album can be found at Tower Records). "Pussy Whipped" is the second full-length album from this Olympia, WA quartet. The band consists of three riot grrls (including singer Kathleen Hanna, who aside from leading the revolution is a stripper and spray-painted the phrase "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on a certain ex- boyfriend's house) and one riot boy. Their white-hot, visceral ferocity "pussy-whips" the listener's ears into submission to their garage-punk energy. Their sound is firmly rooted in early Sonic Youth and hard-core stylings, replete with speedy melodies and lots of screaming, churned into an anguished low-fi free-for-all. Standout songs include "Blood One," about defying male standards, "Alien She," about a feminist's relationship to a non-feminist ("I want to kill her, but I'm afraid it might kill me"), "Hamster Baby," which is a wonder of screaming and feedback, the tough, anthemic "Rebel Girl" and the pretty, almost accessible, "ForTammy Rae." At their best, Bikini Kill are catchy and frightening in their simplicity and power. Though Bikini Kill are vague on how exactly to smash the system they rail against, and the overuse of explicit lyrics tend to deaden their intended impact for the listener, it is interesting and important to hear one of the best RiotGrrl bands lash out against sexism in an artistic and empowering way. Not an easy listen, but a worthwhile one. - Heather Phares for mal oe ess y g some in auso ls g expensive. = . . , .:r: K~ ~ MadntWhQuadra 650 MacintoshQuadra 660iv Macintosh Quadra 800 Macintosh Quadra 840Av MacintoshQuadra 950 A Introducing the Apple. Prices have just been reduced on select Macintosh Quadra® models. Which means terrific savings on some of Apple's most powerful computers. Plus, the entire growing needs. And as if that weren't enough, you'll also receive a,$150 mail-in rebate*when you buy a Macintosh Quadra 650 with any Apple LaserWriter0 So, visit your Apple Campus Reseller ~ . I I