0- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 14, 1994 Not-so-good 'Man in Africa' Quest for awakening fails in this faulty bio-pic By JOHN R. RYBOCK James Earl Jones does Yellow Pages commercials as a way to sustain him- self while he takes on low paying film and stage roles. Directed by Bruce Beresford; (with Sean Connery and Colin Friels. Since the last time I heard of Sean Connery being on a stage was when he got his first gig in the chorus of "South Pacific," I have to wonder what his excuse i for appearing in such com- plete dreck as "A Good Man in Af- rica." Based on a 13-year-old novel, the story sounds like a good read, and I certainly plan on finding a copy. How- ever, what may work on the page does not always work on the screen. After writing "Chaplin," William Boyd, the screenwriter for that bio-pic as well as this adaptation of his own book, should have learned. Set in the politically volatile, fic- tional West African nation of Kinjanja, the film is supposed to follow the awak- ening of Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels). A British diplomat in the newly inde- pendent nation, Morgan couldn't One feels a giveadamnabout anything other the film wa than liquor and to Its hour women. He fol- lowsthedamned- length from if-you-do, longer "dire damned-if-you- don'tordersofhis which bore hyper-angloboss, semblance ArthurFanshawe ____a____ (John Lithgow), tries to make in-roads with the sure-to- be-elected-president, Sam Adekundle (Lou Gossett, Jr.) and beds any woman he can. During the supposed journey of the film, Morgan continually crosses paths and butts heads with Alex Murray (Connery), a Scottish expatriate who practices medicine for the poor in Kinjanja. Through his experiences with Dr. Murray, Morgan is supposed to 3l Is a e4 :c "awaken," to find the error of his ways and become a "good man in Africa." We can see from the offset that Morgan is a bit of a self-centered bas- tard. He keeps a separate apartment so he can meet his Black girlfriends with- out anyoneknowingabout it. Hecuts in front of some 200 poor nationals to see the doctor. And, most that totopitoffhe's a diplomat who icut down knows nothing !nd-a-half aboutthenation in which he is some stationed. ctor's cut ,, But at the Scend, he does the some right thing. )f a plot. Why? It is not clear on the screen. At what moment does the awakening take place? One feels almost that the film was cut down to its hour-and-a-half length from some longer "director's cut," which bore some semblance of a plot. But whatever it was, it is not on the screen now. The film boasts an all-star cast, from Gossett to Lithgow to Connery to Diana Rigg. All are good actors who have been known to pick shlock films It's a mystery to us why Sean Connery is in a movie as bad as "A Good Man in Africa." and still give decent performances. The way the dice was rolled, all four ended up in the same film, all giving decent performances. But not good enough to save the film. One positive aspect of "A Good Man in Africa" is that is showcases a potential new star. Friels, "best" known to American audiences for mid-sized roles in "Class Action" and"Darkman," and lesser known as the husband of Judy Davis, shows considerable prom- ise in the lead role, radiating a charisma that never allows one to truly hate his character. But all involved in the film should forget about it. Director Bruce Beresford has done better, directing the late Jessica Tandy to an Oscar in "Driving Miss Daisy." Boyd's original novel won several awards and was well, received by critics. And pretty much- the entire cast has done much beyi work in much better films. Fortunately, they all struck outof the same film, creating just one piece celluloid to be burned instead of sri eral. A GOOD MAN IN AFRICA is playing at Showcase. 4, RECORDS Continued from page 9 Khan traveling through much slicker waters. Canadian Michael Brooks pro- duced this album of eight traditional vocal exercises'and two actual songs, one romantic and one devotional. Brooks contributes his self-invented infinite guitar to two tracks and gives the entire record a fairly polished, al- most Western feel. Khan's amazing, undulating voice keeps it grounded in tradition and alone makes it worth an extra listen but the addition of a remix of the title track by Massive Attack serves little purpose. -Dirk Schulze Chant The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo Angel Records The country that brought us the inquisition and conquistadors is at it again. "Chant" is an incredibly beauti- ful and awe-inspiring album that is becoming an "international phenom- enon" and has cracked the American barometer of worth, the Tower Records Top 25!! "Chant" is a timeless album that transcends comparison. No knowl- edge of Gregorian chant is necessary to be moved by the sublime qualities of this record. Listening to this record has the healing quality of a three-hour-long mental massage; the "serene spirit" conveyed is a spiritual cleanser. The record was recorded in the monk's cloister and the acoustics are nothing short of perfect. The echo's and reverberations ofthe monk's voices only adds to the ethereal nature of their music. The music is incredibly mov- ing. "Chant" promises to be a European import of extreme importance. This album can be equally enjoyed by any person desiring a beautiful and healing experience. - Ben Ewy NBA Jam Session Various Artists MCA Records Comin' at ya with sounds more slammin' than any of Scottie Pippen's dunks (andthecrowdroars!), the "NBA Jam Session" is packed with more su- perstars than the Detroit Pistons (and the crowd roars again!). The Lost Tribe of Boodah starts off this CD kickin' some smooth rhymes in "On the Blacktop." Heavy D is also featured making a comeback from his rather pitiful "Blue Funk" release. He throws some strong raps with the aid of TheNotoriousB.I.G. and Troo-Kulain "Jam Session." The BBD single "Above the Rim" can be found on "NBA Jam Session", and the CD also features "Rim Shaker," a remix of the hit "Rump Shaker," performed by the bad boyz of Wreckx- N-Effect. The B. Brown Posse, the East Coast Family of 1994, performs "Drop It on the One." The song is slammin'! "NBA Jam Session" also introduces the musical newcomers FrontPage and IV Example, among others. Their sounds do be hittin'. This CD is action-packed with some smooth lyrical sounds, and it almost makes up for the pitiful final game between New York and Houston this year. -Eugene Bowen Sounds of Blackness Africa to America; the Journey of ihe Drum Perspective Records Are you ready to hear the best, most spiritually and personally uplifting col- lection of music of 1994? If you are, then grab acopy of"AfricatoAmerica" and get ready for some beautiful sing- ing, nicely arranged music and beats and a barrage of powerful messages thrown here and there. This CD, the third released by Sounds of Blackness, is a musical ex- ploration of the history of African American music in this country. Some songs on this whopping 19-cut album pay tribute to the Motherland, like "African Medley" and "A Very Spe- cial Love," which features tablas, an African/Indian drum. We are then whisked away to the antebellum South, birthplace of the spiritual ("Hold On") and gospel ("He Took Away All My Pain"). Music of the first half of the 20th century like jazz ("Black Butter- fly") and blues ("Living the Blues") give rise to more contemporary forms See RECORDS, Page 31 0 1 James Harman is one of modem blues' finest raconteurs, singing, writin|| and playing harmonica for 30 years; his latest release, "Cards on the Table," is filled with stories of heroes, clowns, and "everyman." "I'm in constant pursuit of trying to do something different with each album, focusing on what's in my heart and mind. Just trying to fit in, yet stand ' apart." His eloquent and evocative titles like "Night Ridin' Daddy," "Temporary Blues," and "Black Under Black" express that feeling completely. Luckily, Ann Arbor gets the chance to experience Harman's perspective on the blues at the Blues & Jazz Fest on Sunday at Gallup Park. A one-day pass for the Gallup Park shows costs $10 for students with ID, $13.50 in advance, and $15 at the gate._Call 747-9955. .4 Pyd w Qrc. ..;I4NL More' O~s4t F&%/24! Thexpasnded tOr eat 216 North Fourth! fine organic and commercial produce * FATE Continued from page 8 the film. The movie is being billed as a family story, disrupted by a bitter cus- tody battleoverwhatconstitutesa"real" family. Save that for the Baby Jessica. made-for-TV movie. . Martin has written some great one- liners, and the rest of the dialogue is fine. Catherine O'Hara is a bright spot as a quirky antique show owner, but Gabriel Byrne is wasted. However, Gillies MacKinnon needs to re-read his "director" job description, because he obviously had no idea how to slap all of this together. Just rent "Parenthood" or "Leap of Faith," and pray that Martin can put "A Simple Twist" behind him and move on quickly, without any permanent career damage. A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE is playing at Showcase. I T~ - I T. Next semester, what's outside your residence hall window can be more than just an attractive view. When you study abroad with Beaver College, you come to understand another culture in a way no tourist can. Whether you prefer to frequent the faulous salad bar * lots of healthj and organic food !* More economicak* priced buk products- Live munic right outside! Blues * Jazz * Folk * Surprises tfe lots of foodi carple! haunts of Dublin's famous writers, explore the ancient sites of Athens, sample the plaza nightlife of Guadalajara, devour Sachertortes in Viennese coffeehouses or watch the sun set Israel! 1uaib±t!