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Be a Star
Tired of hearing the same old music? If you are suffering from '90s
"alterna-shock," then head on over to the Blind Pig tonight for an open
mic. Don't miss your chance to be a celebrity - if only for a few hours.
Page 5
Tuesday,
January 23, 1996
BUllock's
T wo i j
B
Sea' bare
staysR / afloat
By Prashant Tamaskar
Daily Arts Writer
Within the last year and a half, no
performer has risen in popularity faster
than Sandra Bullock, Hollywood's new
,-.golden girl. With her goofy grin, lov-
able and sincere personality and under-
rated acting ability, she is one of the few
* actresses in the motion picture industry
who can carry a film, as she did with
"While You Were Sleeping" and "The
iNet."
Every film in which Bullock stars
turns out to be better than it should be,
simply because of her. The mediocre
"Two ifby Sea," her latest work, proves
to be yet another example.
The film begins when Frank (Denis
Leary) and Roz (Bullock) are chased by
several police cars. Frank has just stolen
J~ Two If By Seal
Directed by Bill
Bennett; with
Sandra Bullock
and Denis Learv
At Showcase
a painting worth about $4 million and is
getting ready to sell it, as part of a deal
arranged by his cousin, Beano.
After escaping the police, Frank and
Roz break into a picturesque waterfront
home that is conveniently vacant for
the weekend. The FBI remains hot on
the trail; they are searching for the buyer
The Golden Globe Awards
Best Picture (Drama): "Sense and Sensibility"
Best Picture (Musical or Comedy): "Babe"
Best Director: Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
Best Actor (Drama): Nicolas Cage, "Leaving Las Vegas"
Best Actress (Drama): Sharon Stone, "Casino"
Best Actor (Musical or Comedy): John Travolta, "Get Shorty"
Best Actress (Musical or Comedy): Nicole Kidman, "To Die For"
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt, "Twelve Monkeys"
Best Supporting Actress: Mira Sorvino, "Mighty Aphrodite"
Best Screenplay: Emma Thompson, "Sense and Sensibility"
Best TV Drama Series: "Party of Five"
Best TV Musical or Comedy Series: "Cybill"
Best Actor (TV Drama): Jimmy Smits, "NYPD Blue"
Best Actress (TV Drama): Jane Seymour, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman"
Best Actor (TV Musical or Comedy): Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier"
Best Actress (TV Musical or Comedy): Cybill Shepherd, "Cybill"
Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement: Sean Connery
Always a somewhat misunderstood ceremony, the 53rd Annual Golden
Globe Awards (which aired Sunday night on NBC) featured a wide range of
honorees that was as strange as the enigmatic broadcast itself. This year, the
awards given every year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for
achievements in television and film - included the usual crop of predictable
victors with few surprises.
Nevertheless, one might be shocked to find that such TV'powerhouses as
"ER" and "NYPD Blue" were defeated by the less popular, although not
necessarily inferior FOX-TV drama, "Party of Five." At the same time, the
army of N BC "Must See TV" comedies succumbed to the wild-card entry,
"Cybill," from the ever-struggling CBS.
But save Mel Gibson's win as Best Director for his period epic, "Braveheart,"
and Sharon Stone's shocking triumph in the Best Actress category (for her
work in ,Martin Scorsese's unheralded "Casino"), there were no major sur-
prises in the movie categories. The acclaimed adaptation of Jane Austen's
novel, "Sense and Sensibility," took home the Best Drama prize, the praised
"Babe" won for Best Musical or Comedy film, and Nicolas Cage added to his
cache of awards by snagging the Best Actor in a drama Golden Globe.
Unfortunately, after a drawn-out, emcee-less ceremony that ultimately
proved little, the most memorable moment came at the beginning of the show,
when the always eloquent Brad Pitt accepted his Best Supporting Actor award.
"Thanks to the makers of Kaopectate - you've done a great service to your
fellow man," he said. And if nothing else, we had something to ponder for the
following three hours.
- Joshua Rich
i~.
~
. .. - ~
.~.
....~ ~
"Oh, Sandy. You're America's sweetheart. What are you doing with an ugly, washed-up comic like me?"
and for Beano, who discovers that the
painting is worth a lot more than he
originally believed.
As Frank and Roz wait for the day of
the deal to arrive, tension builds between
them. Roz, after meeting Evan, a rich
handsome neighbor, begins yearning for
stability and direction that Frank may not
be able to provide. Frank must somehow
find a way to save his relationship and
receiveproper compensation forthe paint-
ing, while avoiding the FBI.
The true weakness of the film is the
messy screenplay, which was co-writ-
ten by Leary. The many subplots blur
the overall focus of the story. The main
flaw of Leary's character in the movie
is his lack of direction, which is ironi-
cally due to his writing.
The film constantly jerks back and
forth between Frank and Roz's crisis,
Evan's courtship of Roz, Beano's at-
tempts to get the painting and the FBI's
obsessive chase of a big-time art thief.
And unfortunately, the complex situa-
tions all have simple, neat resolutions
that ultimately lead to the perfect Hol-
lywood ending.
"Two if by Sea" lacks any sort of
identity. Although it begins as a humor-
ous chase movie, it later changes focus,
only to capture the relationship between
the dead-end crook and his frustrated
girlfriend. At this point, the humorous
scenes don't seem to have same sting
that kept the earlier parts moving. The
shifting tone, therefore, manages to ruin
a fair amount of the continuity and flow
of the picture.
But, in the end, the film is worth
watching, simply for Sandra Bullock.
She excels at playing confused, but
strong characters, whojust happen to be
victims of circumstance. Leary's Frank
puts her in this position by denying Roz
the stability she desires.
Although their characters aren't nec-
essarily compatible, Bullock and Leary
(displaying convincing New York and
Boston accents, respectively) have good
chemistry, which is most evident in the
strong dialogue between them. Some-
how, the two stars are able to overcome
the limits of poor writing by offering
quality work.
Despite a typically humorous perfor-
manceby Leary, Bullock once again man-
ages to outshine everyone else. She con-
tinues to do the one thing that justifies her
popularity with producers and the public
- Bullock makes movies more enjoy-
able. And thankfully for the makers ofthis
film, her magic hasn't run out yet.
r
It's Party' time! Come open your mind
New York's racy gay comedy doesn't fly in Detroit
,-
, .,
.
By Melissa Rose Bernardo
Daily Theater Editor
Fully naked men licking whipped
cream off each other. If this phrase
entices you, you're in the mood to
"Party" at 1515 Broadway. But if you
want a little more from your theater,
PARTY
Where: Detroit,
1515 Broadway
When: Through Jan. 28
Tickets are $25 at the Fisher
Theater or TicketMaster.
Cali (313) 872-1000 or
(810) 645-6666.
you're bound to be sorely disappointed
with this rendition of the David Dillon
comedy.
"Party" has been playing to sold-
out crowds in New York, Chicago
and, most recently, Los Angeles -
and for good reason. It's full of really
funny gay men. These men get to-
gether and drink, dance, dredge up
secrets, hook up, and not a nasty epi-
thet is uttered. At least not one with-
out a joke behind it.
But we love these men, even though
they're playing a ridiculous version
*of truth-or-dare in which they all end
up naked. Right. We all do that with
our friends, don't we?
The problem with this non-equity
production, embarrassingly misdirected
by Jennifer Jones, is that no one knows
quite how to handle Dillon's comedy.
Off-Broadway, the actors are so in touch
with their characters and the direction
is so flawless that you don't mind the
raunchy comedy or the flamboyant nu-
dity. Example:
Kevin: "Who were you with last
night?"
Brian: "How should I know? I don't
have eyes in the back of my head!"
The almost entirely gay male audi-
ence appreciated that remark, but
Grant Stokes-the production's only
Equity actor - had no clue what he
was saying. Stokes, in fact, had little
to no clue as to the rest of his charac-
ter, a loose but not easy Broadway
dancer whose sexual escapades rival
those of the late Joey Stephano. In
fact, the only actor who had a sem-
blance of a clue was Bob Cafagna,
whose passion and energy for the role
of Ray, the wonderfully bitchy gay
priest, was both sincere and well-in-
formed. Adrial Thornton also gets
points for giving the character of Pe-
ter a spine, and for keeping a straight
face during "I'd explore every inch of
your body with my tongue and you'd
explore mine. Then I'd take you in my
mouth..." and other variations on
dime store romance-novel dialogue.
But for the most part, the cast isn't
comfortable with this talk, and nei-
ther is Jones. Her staging is com-
pletely without regard for the con-
straints of this street-front theater (sit
in the front row if you want to see the
"Philip-sundae"), and she doesn't
seem to know what to do with seven
completely naked men. As soon as
underwear is shed, the character sits
down with crossed legs or stands be-
hind a chair/sofa. Except for a lights-
dimming smooch between James ("the
leather queen") and Andy (who thinks
Stonewall is "that thing in England
where they can't figure out how it was
built"), all the kisses appear to be
stage kisses - that is, lots of head
movement and mouths hidden from
the audience. The playwright had no
shame when he wrote "Party." The
audience is relishing these portrayals.
Why the embarrassment?
And speaking of embarrassment,
whoever made cuts in Dillon's script
should be feeling a little sorry. If you're
going to add a local reference (the
Haagen-Dazs shop in Birmingham), cut
out the references to "lemon-chicken
Chelsea fags" and the rest of New York
City.
"Party" should be an easy evening of
no-holds-barred gay comedy. The nu-
dity is just a perk. But in this produc-
tion, the nudity is the only asset. A
ticket to "Party" costs S25; for a mere
S3 you can get better action in the
comforts of your own living room.
I.r
We are tiny Soundgarden. Raaaaaaaaa'
Soundgarden
Alive in the Superunknown/l
Songs From the Superunknown
A&M
OK, first of all, "Alive in the
Superunknown" is a special Mac/PC
CD plus, "Songs from Superunknown"
is a domestic CD single. "Alive... "has
four songs that can be played on a
normal CD player; "Superunknown,"
"Fell on Black Days (Video Version),"
"She Likes Surprises" and "like Sui-
cide (Acoustic Version)." "Songs .
has those and a track named "Jerry
Garcia's Finger," a boring track which
accounts for some of the background
music on 'Alive ..."
See RECORDS, Page 10
.I
Career Fair
January 30 & 31, 1996
OLDE, America's Full Service Discount Brokersm, is
looking for motivated people to establish a career
in the stock brokerage business.
OLDE offers:
4-12 month paid training program
Potential six-figure income
Excellent benefits
If you possess excellent communication skills,
general market knowledge and the desire to excel,
see us at the Career Fair on January 30 & 31, 1996.
If you are unable to attend the Career Fair call:
1 800 937-0606
or send resume to:
OLDE Discount Stockbrokers
National Recruiting
751 Griswold Street
Detroit, MI 48226
A0 OLDE
DISCOUNT STOCKBROKERS
Member NYSE and SIPC
An Equal Opportunity Employer
r I
7&117(uuse
RECORDS
fl~
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phone: 663.5800
1140 south university (above goodtime chadeys), AA
mon.-thurs.: 9:00a-10:OOp sundays
fri. & sat.: 9:00,-11:00P 11 :oo-8:oo
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR INFLUENZA
TREATMENT STUDY
The University Health Service seeks volunteers to participate
in a medical study evaluating an experimental antiviral for the
treatment of symptoms of influenza infection.
To be considered for this study, candidates must:
* be 18 years of age or older and in good health;
* currently have influenza-like symptoms; symptoms
include fever plus head and muscle aches, cough and
sore throat;
* be willing to receive treatment and participate in
evaluations;
* be enrolled in 48 hours of illness.
Involvement in the study will require an initial
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
"If you have built castles in the air,
your work neednot be lost.
That is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them."
-Henry David Thoreau
Learn Your Way Around The World
* Study abroad in Seville, Spain, or London, England,
for a summer, for a semester or for a full academic year
* Courses in liberal arts and international business
" Fluency in a foreign language .not required
" Home-stays with meals
* Field trips
" F~inancj'ia qd nlpc(,renrt fr d imme-v~r v"ziCn
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scheduled for: i'to A , Jt. '!,rf4
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