The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 6, 1996 - 11
*Edward Burns attempts to be
the 'One' for Hollywood
By Jan Petlinski
Daily Film Editor
Not long ago, Ed Burns eased his
away into Hollywood's spotlight: The
-young, talented Long Island native
rote, directed and acted in "The
Brothers McMullen," a film he made
with only a measly $25,000.
"McMullen," which follows the
r9mances, friendships and trials of
'hre Irish
Catholic broth-
as they con- RE
stantly stumble
r life's many
ons, became
UTE film of the
94 Sundance
' I Festival. Similarly, its shining star
E Burns became THE one to look out
1or in years to come.
nly one year later, Burns has been
.1fred the opportunity to step up his
e in Hollywood's arena with his lat-
x, film, "She's the One.' This time,
s still has the same wit, charm and
tivity working for him. But he also
. what was missing from
VcMullen" ... more money and big-
;Mae actors, such as Cameron Diaz and
nmifer Aniston.
urns is back. And this time he's try-
M to prove that he's the one.
,. .ickey (Burns) and Francis
patrick (Mike McGlone) have
s lived by their own father's (John
Ahoney) famous words: "You've got
o what makes you happy first." For
. Mickey, a New York City cab driver,
means marrying Hope (Maxine
r ns) ... only a few days after they
's meet. In a sense, Mickey's mar-
'n e is his way of making a fresh start
forgetting about "the hairy ass inci-
dent," when he caught his ex-fiancee
Heather (Cameron Diaz) naked in bed
with another man.
Francis also intends to follow his
tber's words of wisdom. He is married
' 4Renee (Jennifer Aniston), and his
'd'indling feelings for her become
0 r - 'apparent with each passing day. A
Sokrkaholic who constantly uses his job
asn excuse, Francis cannot even bring
self to have sex with his own wife.
instead, he has it with Heather,
Ivickey's ex.
spheres collide, bitter exchanges
made and sparks fly as these two
hers encounter bumpy paths on
the road to their own individual hap-
piness.
, As in "The Brothers McMullen," the
dA4ogue in "She's the One" is what
'kZps the film kicking. Exchanges
Ibtween Mickey, Francis and their
Taher are alive with sarcasm, wit and
humor. We, as an audience, have no
problems believing the close family
bond between the three men. Writer
urns made their playful banter and
conversations real for us; we know, in
fact, that these brothers (who are as dif-
%erent as night and day) care for each
wher, and as a result, we anticipate the
gonflict even before it happens. It is
'these Fitzpatrick men scenes that add
E
E'
flavor to the film's otherwise meander-
ing plot.
Contributing to the inadequacy of the
storyline are the frequent scenes involv-
ing Mickey and Hope. Are we really
supposed to believe that these two fell
madly in love after two days?
Unfortunately, the chemistry between
the two lovebirds is lacking, which is
sad, considering that Bahns is Burns'
real-life girlfriend
(she also starred
VIE W opposite Burns in
s the One"McMullen").
S c e n e s
1t' between the two
At Showcase move slowly,
more as a conse-
quence of Bahns' performance than
anything else; as a result, seconds of
silence become giant lulls in their con-
versations. Audience members just
might find themselves antsy, waiting
for the Fitzpatrick men to return to the
screen.
Aniston, McGlone (who also starred
in "McMullen"), Diaz and Mahoney all
shine in their supporting roles. Aniston
portrays the confused wife perfectly.
With ease, she lets us in on Renee's
emotions and coping mechanisms, as
the bitter truth of her husband's lies
unfold before her eyes.
Similarly, McGlone's performance as
Renee's sleazeball husband is highly
believable; even at the beginning, he
has us fuming at him, blaming him for
his thoughtless actions. Diaz's portrayal
of Heather completes the picture. We
understand exactly how the emergence
of the sexy, manipulative woman brings
tension and turmoil onto the Fitzpatrick
family scene Lastly, Mahoney has got
the whole dad thing down pat.
Mahoney lets us see the many facets of
his character - the kidder, the husband
and the father - making their family
relationships seem even more real.
And then, we have the man behind
the entire film - Ed Burns. With this
opportunity, the money and studio-
backing, does he prove that he's the one
to watch out for in years to come?
Only his next film can tell us that.
Despite fine performances by Burns
and his cast (with the exception of
Bahns, of course), "She's the One" does
have one glaring drawback: It is
undoubtedly the spitting image of "The
Brothers McMullen." In McMullen, we
watch three brothers schmooze around
for two hours; in "She's the One," we
watch two brothers and their father do
the same thing. Needless to say, it's not
as much fun the second time around.
Don't get me wrong ... it's still enter-
taining. But there's just no room for a
third.
311 hits State Theatre tonight
In 1993, 311 brought you "Music." In 1994, they brought you "Grassroots." Last year, they released their self-titled third
album "311." So here it is: 1996, time for record stores across America to make room for ... nothing! No, 311 doesn't have a
new album, but if you want to hear some great selections from their first three, they'll be hitting the State Theatre tonight
with local hustlers Shootyz Groove. Expect some craziness from the rock-meets-rap-meets-funk-meets-punk musicians, who
once told The Daily that their wildest tour experience was driving down the highway in an RV that was on fire and ready to
explode. With "Down" and "Don't Stay Home" on regular radio rotation, one might pause here to make some kind of crazy
analogy about 311 being on fire and ready to explode, as well. But that would be stupid. So we'll just hope that you have
tickets to the sold-out show. And a squirt gun ... just in case.
Korean mest conductor takes on
mtajor American. ensembles
NEW YORK (AP) - Conductor Myung Whun Chung,
who has been tossed around in the political maelstrom of
Paris music-making, has found a new and calmer life as a
guest performer.
This fall he has American dates as a guest conductor with
the Boston Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The Korean conductor, who was made head of the new
Bastille Opera in Paris in 1989, left the post in 1994, in a
heated political flurry, as did his predecessor as music direc-
tor, Daniel Barenboim.
For two years Chung hasn't conducted any opera, but soon
he'll be back on the opera podium. Next year he'll do
"Otello" at London's Covent Garden and "Don Carlos" at the
Metropolitan Opera.
He conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra in March -
Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev - and will return in
December to conduct Mahler.
After the fracas with the Bastille Opera. Chung is glad to
be back in music's smoother waters.
This is what happened:
Barenboim, now music director of the Chicago Symphony,
was hired to head the government-controlled Bastille Opera
in 1987, when conservatives were in power. Socialists took
over in 1989, fired Barenboim and hired Chung. Then con-
servatives regained control and Hugues Gall from Geneva
was made president of the opera.
In 1994 Gall announced that he would take over artistic
control of choosing operas and singers. Also, Gall wanted the
opera to have a principal conductor instead of a music direc-
tor. He declared Chung's contract void.
Chung went to court. A judge ruled his contract was valid.
But when he went to rehearse the orchestra, he was locked
out.
A compromise allowed Chung to receive severance pay
and, before he left, to conduct seven performances of "Simon
Boccanegra." When he conducted on opening night in
September 1994, he was showered with flowers, some from
members of the orchestra.
Some critics wrote that the improvement of the orchestra
under Chung's leadership was the most important accom-
plishment of the new opera.
Chung, 43, who still lives in Paris, says, "It's nice to build
a relationship with an orchestra. I will never accept that kind
of responsibility again in my life. It simply takes too much
time away from musical studies.
"I spent an enormous amount of my time and energy, a lot
of which was nonmusical time. So I find it a pleasure to have
only music as my preoccupation and my sole concern, out-
side of my family, of course."
But Chung says he's not bitter.
"All this being such a purely political decision, it's not
something that touches you beneath your skin," he says. "It
can't. It's part of life, like clothes you change or different
houses you move to."
The conductor, who was born in Korea, says, "People ask
how come an Oriental can understand Western music so well.
I heard it in iy mother's womb before I was born. I'm sure
of it.
"I'm fortunate to be the sixth of seven children,, all of
whom studied music. Music is the only thing I've known all
my life, so other than music I never had any goal."
Chung began his career in music as a pianist of note. In
1974 he placed second in the Tchaikovsky International
Piano Competition in Moscow. Two of his sisters, violinist
Kyung Wha Chung and cellist Myung Wha Chung, had
established solo careers. They often played together as the
Chung Trio.
Then in 1978, the pianist, who also had studied conduct-
ing, became first assistant to Carlo Maria Giulini, music
director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and his life
changed course.
Sometimes Chung returns to the piano.
"I enjoy playing more than ever," he says. "If I miss one
note, I don't spend sleepless nights like I used to. My wife
says I'm easier to live with as a conductor than a pianist.
"And perhaps I'm a better chamber music player now than
before. My sisters tell me. anyway. We try to play together
once a year and make one record a year. This year wve record-
ed Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" with the Philharmonia in
London and played it in a little tour of Italy."
Chung has three sons, all of whom took music lessons.
"Music as a career is often not something you choose. It
chooses you," Chung says. "I was fortunate it chose me from
the beginning and I never had to look elsewhere."
THE 12996 -99 SEASON
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN " ANN ARBOR
The "Brothers McMullen" cast re-unites in Edward Burns' "She's the One."
Hill Auditorium Box Office e Saturday, September 7. 1Oam-Ipm
The Cleveland Orchestra for $9.
Sounds of Blackness for $6.
New York City Opera National Company in Puccini's
Lo Boheme for $11.
- Valid Student I.D. required, limit 2 tickets
per event but choose as many events as you wish.
- Avoid Rush Ticket Sellouts.
;;- Limited quantity available for each event.
-s- All payments made at time of ticket pickup.
Tickets
available
for I Day
Only!
1-41,11
I 6
Benita Valente, soprano
Meredith Monk's
The Politics of Quiet
The Cleveland Orchestra
Weekend
Christoph von Dohninyi,
music director
Olaf Bar, baritone
Stephen Geber, cello
Mark Morris Dance Group
Christopher Parkening
with the Colorado String
Quartet
Tibetan Song and Dance
Ensemble
Tharpl (The Twyla Tharp
Dance Company)
Quink
State Symphony Orchestra
of Rviccia
Guitar Summit II
featuring Paco de Lucia,
Al DiMeola, & John McLaughlin
Guarneri String Quartet/
Orion String Quartet
Chanticleer
Handel's Messiah
"So Many Stars"
Kathleen Battle and Friends
The Harlem Nutcracker
featuring Donald Byrd/
The Group
Schubertiade I:
Andre Watts, piano
Chamber Music Society
of Lincoln Center
Nexus/Richard Stoltzman
Sounds of Blackness
Schubertiade Il:
GZarrirck hcrsn. niano
Blues, Roots, Honks,,
and Moans
A Festival of jazz and
African-American Musical
Traditions
Budapest Festival Orchestra
lvan Fischer, conductor
The Real Group
Ars Poetica Chamber
Orchestra
Blood on the Fields
Wynton Marsalis and
the Lincoln Center Jazz
Orchestra
featuring Jon Hendricks
and Cassandra Wilson
Brandenburg Ensemble
Jaime Laredo, conductor/violin
Leila Josefowicz, violin
New York City Opera
National Company
Puccini's La Boheme
Academy of
St. Martin-in-the-Fields
lona Brown, conductor/violin
Kodo
National Traditional
Orchestra of China
Richard Goode, piano
Chorovaya Akademia
Schubertiades il & IV:
Hermann Prey, baritone
Michael Endres, piano
Auryn String Quartet
Martin Lovett, cello
Martin Katz, piano
Anton Nei, piano
Mahler's Symphony No.8
G~rand Rapiis Symphony