12B - The lichigan Daily Weekend Magazine - Thursday, October 3, 1996
Fail filmlineup has proimse,
Spotential blockbu
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The Michiganlaily Weekend I
SCHOOLKIDS
Continued from Page 7B
good direction for Bergman.
"By being a retailer for 20 years,
we've got good relationships with inde-
pendent distributors around the country,
which gave us an edge over other start-
ing labels" he said.
With the introduction of jazz artist Mr.
B, the Schoolkids record label was born.
"When we started out, they carried
By Bryan Lark
Daily Arts Writer
If the weather outside is beginning to
seem frightful and only the sight of
your bed is delightful, then one singular
thing could be occurring.
No, it's not the onset of agoraphobia
or the first snowfall; rather, it's every-
one's favorite time of year - the fall
movie season.
Beginning Friday and overflowing
into next year, Hollywood has a barrage
of more than 50 films waiting in its
arsenal, sprinting for Oscar gold and
striving to make us forget we actually
paid to see "Twister."
With so many eagerly anticipated,
prestigious and enticing movie
prospects, this Hollywood season
seems to be adhering to eight sure-fire
ways to lure moviegoers disillusioned
by nine months of virtually vapid cine-
matic options.
1. Guarantee Serious Fun
Boasting outstanding star-powered
casts and renowned creative teams, the
harrowing "Ransom," a kidnapping
thriller starring Mel Gibson and Rene
Russo, and John Grisham's Dead-
Klansman-Walking tale "The
Chamber" featuring Chris O'Donnell,
Gene Hackman and Lela Rochon,
promise to keep the audience on the
edge of their seats. The testosterone-
laden revenge drama, "Sleepers," with
Brad Pitt and Robert DeNiro and Tim
Burton's all-star invasion comedy
"Mars Attacks!" will all definitely be
worthy, if traumatic, crowd-pleasers.
2. Sing!
Without a successful musical since
1978's "Grease," Hollywood is offer-
ing both music themed fables and all-
out operatic spectacles. Theaters will
be rocking with Tom Hanks' swinging
directorial debut "That Thing You
Do!," and Whitney Houston and
Denzel Washington's gospel-spewing
romantic comedy "The Preacher's
Wife" will keep theater goers enter-
tained. The long-awaited "Evita,"
which will make or break Madonna's
film career, and Woody Allen's shock-
ing "Everyone Says I Love You" round
out the musical offerings this fall. Julia
Roberts sings! Tim Roth dances!
Woody Allen plays a neurotic New
Yorker! (All right, so it's not all a huge
Leonardo DlCaprio stars in a postmodern "Romeo and Juliet" (top), while Tom
Hank"That Thing You Doi" (above) promises to take theaters by storm.
surprise.)
3. Pack A Punch
What's a season at the movies with-
out mindless, formulaic, gratuitous
violence? The upcoming crop of action
flicks have Michael Douglas and Val
Kilmer battling "Jaws"-with-paws in
"The Ghost and The Darkness," as
Sylvester Stallone is saving an under-
ground tunnel in "Daylight."
Meanwhile, four female bank robbers
go for the ultimate score in "Set It Off,"
with Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah,
and Samuel L. Jackson helps Geena
Davis remember her past as an assassin
in "The Long Kiss Goodnight."
4. Remake History
An unprecedented historical contin-
gent is headed to the silver screen this
season. Liam Neeson accompanies an
accented Julia Roberts being irrepress-
ibly Irish in the freedom-fighting
"Michael Collins," while Anthony
Hopkins stars in "Surviving Picasso."
Woody Harrelson and, uh, Courtney
Love create controversy and, don't
laugh, Oscar buzz in "The People vs.
Larry Flynt." Chris O'Donnell as Ernest
See FILM, Page 138
615 E. Liberty off State
M-F 8:30-5:20 Sat til 4:20
QUALITY DRY CLEANING
& SHIRT SERVICE
332 Maynard
(Across from Nickels Arcade)
668-6335
our one album
out of profes-
sional courtesy,
because we're a
good customer.
Of course, now
they're happy to
carry us because
we have a sub-
stantial catalog
and a lot of well-
known artists,"
Bergman said.
The record label,l
one of the ways he
0Wewa
a part ofI
communt
-S
classical and world music.
While Schoolkids Records is small
even by small label standards, it still
manages to out-compete major label
jazz artists.
"Our artists are played in Top 20 Jazz
radio and play with other major artists,
even though they're not household
names. They're getting a very good rep-
utation around the country. That's really
gratifying," Bergman said.
One of the label's more notable accom-
plishments was
its "Blame it on
Christmas" paro-
ut to ie dy album, which
managed to snag
rMe a spot as finalist
L for Rolling
'd Stone's best
Reve Bergman Christmas album.
Veag aVarious
Records owner Schoolhouse
artists have also
received press in
Rolling Stone, Playboy and the New
York Times.
While the record label adds flavor to
Ann Arbor, the town and the University
give it the opportunity to do so.
"Our philosophy, one that we share
with other independent stores in Ann
Arbor, is that we want to be a part of the
community. When you go to different
towns, one of the things you want to
find out is what's the flavor of the town.
"With the rise of the national chains
all of a sudden, it makes each home-
town kind of faceless. That's why inde-
pendent stores are important. That's one
of the reasons why we've stuck it out as
SchoolkidsI
I
the I asit
The Global Leaders"' a ? a # t
..-
Bergman said, was
could liven up the
Ann Arbor music scene.
"Ann Arbor's a great town, but what
seemed to be happening for so long was
that we were importing talent. You had
a lot of great local players, but very few
places for them to play. Ann Arbor
seemed to be more about bringing
national acts into town. It's not as good
as exporting Ann Arbor talent to the rest
of the nation," he said.
Schoolkids Records, based and run in
the same location as the record store,
features more than 50 artists covering
the genres of jazz, blues, roots rock,
long as we have" Bergman said.
Simonds and Bergman agree that the
University, in many ways, makes
Schoolkids and other- independent
stores possible.
"Without the University, we wouldn't
be where we are. Everything the
University does has an effect on us"
Bergman said.
"The University is part of the key to
Ann Arbor's sophistication. It brings in
people from all over the world, and keeps
people downtown. The University is what
makes Ann Arbor a charming walking
- Your one-of-a kind source fo
Watch for our in-Sites at
town. This town would not be .
without the 'U,'" Simonds said.
The University's diversity i
big plus for Schoolkids.
"The 'U' brings a large const
and helps Schoolkids add son
Ann Arbor," he said.
It's not just the students, eit
"Many professors and staff
come here looking for differen
music," Bergman said.
Bergman, however much of
cate for the lone music store,
there was one big disadvanta
.
Secnd City' is brilliant..
-T.E L 'AGAZINL
"Subtly & Superbly funny!,
-:1ELW "CYOI C"IO'
Going to the Northwe
Plan on stopping in for all your tailgate and p
planning.a party for one or for the whole gang
you need. When it comes to good things to dr
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Evanston 1st I
1019 Davis St. Ev
(847)328-96
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