8 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 24, 1996 Film leaves you'Screaming' for more By Alexandra Twin Daily Arts Editor The past three years have produced so many so-called "Generation X"films that the term has become less of a genre moniker than a sarcastic label thrown at cliched films that pander to our age group. So why go see aniother one? Everyone knows that "Reality Bites" and "Empire Records" bit the dust. "Before Sunrise," while of qual- ity, left the box-office before the sun- rise of its second day of release. "Clueless" scored big this summer, Kicking and Screaming Written and directed by Noah Baumbach; with Josh Hamiltion and Chris Eigeman At the Michigan Theater but the teen-age set is not the post- college set. Educated, middle-class, smart and bored. Slackers. Unaware of the fu- ture buzzword damage he was caus- ing, "Before Sunrise" director Rich- ard Linklater unleashed a monster When he named his debut 1988 film "Slacker." Every under-30 director since has been trying to replicate the frenzy. Enter 26-year-old Brooklyn, New Yorker Noah Baumbach. While his debut film, the critically acclaimed "Kicking and Screaming," does con- cern bored, post-college kids looking for a purpose, it does not, repeat NOT, succumb to the pathetic, listless whin- ing and moaning of the majority of post-"Slacker" films. Drawing more from the subtly cryptic musings of fel- low sarcasm-meister Whit Stillman ("Barcelona"), the movie is light, funny and God forbid, poignant. The film centers around the would- be writer Grover (played by Josh Hamilton and clearly Baumbach's on- screen stand-in) and his garden variety of liberal arts friends, including the droll Chris Eigeman ("Barcelona") and his sweet, retainer chompin' girlfriend (Olivia D'Abo). Grover and pals move away from aHarvard-esque school to a house in the suburbs. They spend the. subsequent summer and next fall argu- ing, talking and attempting to figure themselves out. Yes, there are a ton of pop-culture references, "meaningful relationship discussions," skinny, grunge girls and cute, preppy boys. However, there's also a lot of genuinely interesting ban- ter, solid acting and cryptic, clever dia- log. Hell, they've even got the beatific Eric Stoltz as Chester, a 27-year-old perpetual student who can tell you ev- erything about every class the univer- sity has to offer 'cause he's taken them all. Never as biting or explosive as the title would suggest, "Kicking and Screaming" is fluff, but good fluff, the kind you develop a taste for, the kind that can evolve into something better over time. A 'squall' In A-squre Do you like movies with lots of scantily clad young men running around In the hot, sweaty sun? Oooooh ... Do you like flicks that star middle-aged hunks like Jeff Bridges? Are you dying to see an exciting action film about a group of troubled teens who must save themselves after tragedy strikes their sailing trip? Well, the new film, "White Squall," can satisfy all your cravings. And It Is playing in a special sneak preview tomorrow night at 7:30 at the Showcase Cinemas on Carpenter Road. Just stop by the Daily Arts office In the Student Publications Building, 420 Maynard St., second floor, to pick up your free pass to this wild event. Just be there. Josh Hamilton is alive and "Kicking." The Fifty Greatest Composers and their 1000 Greatest Works Phil G. Goulding Fawcett Columbine Bach is best. Mozart's No. 2. J. Strauss, "Mr. Waltz," is a pitiful No. 46. And Bellini, a mere honorable men- tion in the Italy category, doesn't even make the list. Phil G. Goulding, aretiredjournalist; ex-secretary of defense and author of a book on the Pentagon, expands his rep- ertoire with this, a user-friendly guide to classical music. Written for fellow non-experts in the field of music, Goulding declared he'd forage against the intellectuals and create the unpre- tentious guide to classical music he couldn't find. Here it is, in black and white, the 50 greatest composers of all time. It's true, Goulding avoids discussing the seventh diminution of the inverted flatted minor modal key of eight double sharps. Instead, repeatedly proclaim- ing himselfa know-nothing of classical music, Goulding created a clear but over-simplified reference of classical composers. The book, which begins with a list of the 50 best composers and the desig- nated "Also-Rans," spans 620 pages and six chapters. Goulding, with appar- ent but cheesy enthusiasm for his new- found interest, groups the composers into four levels: Immortals, Demigods, Composers of Genius and Artists of a High Order. Each composer is given a "special, easy-to-remember identity." Chopin, for example, is "Mr. Piano." Verdi is the "Most-Loved Opera Com- poser." Donizetti, No. 43, would love his identity as Mr. "Second to Rossini in Pre-Verdi Italian Opera." In chapter two, Goulding explains the essence of music in 16 short pages. The chapter is a much-scaled-down version of "What to Listen for in Mu- sic," a book written a few years back by Aaron Copland, a famous American composer Goulding is confident his readers have never heard of. Finally, after chapterthree's 50-page And yes, "Go the Distance," a re- lesson in music history, each composer titled and republished collection49 is profiled. A knowing media-man, short stories, returns to the author s Goulding fills the 500 pages of chapter usual subject. But in Kinsella's fic- four with hundreds of gimmicks and tion, baseball is like an endlessly fac- sound-bites of information. He lists the eted diamond, every novel and short composer's most famous pieces, sug- story supplies a new variation on this gests the best recordings to buy and theme. adds hundreds of eye-catching boxes of "Go the Distance" contains some trivia. of Kinsella's most memorable varia- You can learn from a casual glance tions. No one could forget a title like that Haydn's wife "was continually in- "Reports Concerning the Death of t viting the clergy to dinner," or that an Seattle Albatross Are Somewhat 3 American record company once offered aggerated," the tale of an extraterres- a prize to the living composer who trial who poses as a Mariners. mas- would best complete Schubert's "Un- cot. Nearly as amusing is "Diehard," finished Symphony." After reading a in which a baseball fan gets a perma- chapter about musical instruments, fol- nent hold on the best seat in the sta- lowed by one on discography, you're dium. done. However, Kinsella is equally adept In politely raging against the intel- at serious topics - a troublemaking lectual musical experts, Goulding nearly player in "Punchlines," a man's memo- emulates their alleged smugness. In re- ries of childhood baseball games in "K- sorting to visual tricks and treats to Mart." Also, fans of Kinsella's earn keep his readers entertained, Goulding novel, "The Iowa Baseball Conf' gears his writing to apatheticswith two- eracy," have the bonus of two new second attention spans. Also, with prices stories involving that novel's narrator. of CDs leaving me broke, it's difficult A strong point throughout the book to trust the recommendations of some- is Kinsella's use of first-person narra- one who's claim to fame is a proud lack tion. Nearly all the stories are told of musical knowledge. with this technique, although their Notably absent from the profiles are narrators are highly differentiated American and recent 20th century com- characters. posers. The audience Goulding is try- One story, "The Valley of the ing to attract might find works by Schmoon," is told as a middle-a4 Gershwin, Glass, Copland or Bernstein coach's monologue: "Where have all more likable than typically classic"clas- the nicknames gone from baseball, sical"music. Classical musicians aren't Artie? Just look around the league'... . all European and dead. Guys like you who make halfa million Despite this shortcoming, this book a year and are gonna make a million gives a good, readable overview of want to be addressed as Mister, not as history's most famous classical com- Nosey, or Pinky, or Preacher, or Death posers. Goulding's work would make a to Flying Things. No offense, Artie, good reference for that music history that's just the way ofthe world. But I'm paper you'll have to write when you get gettin' more and more out of touch with around to taking the class. the world every year." - Emily Lambert "Go the Distance" is definitely$ cused on baseball, but it's not neces- Go the Distance sary to be a fan of the game to enjoy the book. It offers humorous, reflec- W. P. Kinsella tive and always well-written stories, SMU Press all of which are told from a slightly If readers were given a word-asso- offbeat perspective. And if nothing ciation test, exactly one term would else, readers of "Go the Distance" come to their minds upon hearing the will never look at the San Diego name "W. P. Kinsella." Needless to Chicken the same way again. say, that word is "baseball." - Elizabeth Luq Write for Daily Arts. Come to the Daily's Mass Meeting tonight at 7 o'clock in the Student Publications Building, 420 Maynard St. 34 hm A4 ! Cellular phones, automobiles, ATMs, and security systems today. Who knows what the future will hold? Imagine yourself at Applied Materials where you can be part of the future. We are the world's leading manufacturer of semiconductor processing equipment which makes these products possible today. Picture yourself impacting the future. Check us out on the web at http://www.careermosaic.con/cm/applied materials/ We're currently looking for Graduate TrninppQ ito inin nnr team * ecture Notes Cors Packets *Cpy B nery "Fax Srvlcer } f, ti%#74 Sometimes going to class just Isn't enough. We take notes in your classes! Grade A NoteTakers are Seniors and Grad Students. They attend class and take accurate and complete lecture notes. These notes can make great supplemental study guides. Give us a call at 741-9669 for a complete class listing. Grade A Notes at Ulrich's Bookstore Second Floor " 549 E. University " 741-9669 {V I Ir rl r I rlr rlrr/® Ir 1 r i Irl