12A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 11, 1996 Murray, elephant connect for a heart-warming adventure By Julia Shih Daily Arts Writer As literally the biggest thing to hit theaters this week, "Larger Than Life" will charm audiences with its delightful tale about the journey of a man and an elephant. Bill Murray stars as Jack RI Corcoran, a Lar small-time moti-p vational speaker whose long-lost clown father has At Br bequeathed him a. $35,000 debt and a circus elephant. The only solution for his massive problem is to sell Vera, the elephant, to either an animal-rights activist (Janeane Garofalo) or a circus queen (Linda Fiorentino) to pay off the debt. For E ;e iar Corcoran, the problem is that the prospective buyers both live thousands of miles away in California. Soon a wild adventure ensues, as Corcoran must get Vera to California within five days using any means possible. As the two lit the road. the V I E W comedic expertise r Than Life of Murray and the well-trained ele- phant takes over the movie. wood and Showcase Corcoran attempts to make Vera per- form various actions even though he has no idea what the commands for them are. A frustrated Bill Murray creates plentiful laughs as he tries to get Vera to do what he wants. In one scene, when Corcoran demands that Vera return his cellular phone, he attaches onto his plea the phrase "Step on it!" This, of course, is the equivalent of a Looney Tune say- ing, "Let me have it!" The plot is actually a flimsy one that shouldn't work. But with the magic touch of director Howard Franklin, the components of the movie weld together for an entertaining film. Murray and the elephant obtain a special kind of chem- istry on the screen, creating a unique love story. Vera is a beautiful and mild- mannered pachyderm who makes quite the irresistible flirt. Murray plays the reluctant other, who fiercely resists until he finally opens his heart. A major plus about the film is that it doesn't concentrate on creating laughs. It focuses more on developing the relation- ship between the two main characters, and by doing so, maintains its perspective. The trek of the twosome across the nation also allows the introduction of a variety of places and people. From truck- stops to small rural villages, each place provides not only comic relief, but also insight toward the quirks of the people in America. The diversity of this country is captured nicely with texture and emotion. With a cast of talented actors, the "Best Performance Award" goes to Matthew McConaughey, who is almost unrecog- nizable after playing hunky super-lawyer Jake Brigance in last summer's block- Ever Want To Be in TV? Is Movie-Making Your Passion? Want to be Styling With Video? Film/Video 200 Sections 001-004 Winter 1997 The Film/Video Studies Program has openings for non-majors in a new course which teaches the "How- to's" of Motion Picture, TV and Video production. FN 200 is a hands-on survey course which introduces students to the entire production process for Televi- sion, Motion Pictures and Video. Students make projects in all three media during the term. The course is the gateway (pre-requisite) course for more ad- vanced production courses in the Film/Video Studies Program. It is also serves to place production meth- ods within the context of history and theory of these media. The companion course F/V 230 is an excellent introduction to the History and Theory of the Movies, TV and Video. It is also offered Winter '97. If you've ever wanted to make a movie, direct TV or push the limits of video as a means of personal expression, this is the class for you. Sign up on the class list in the Film/Video Studies office NOW for Winter term 1997. Section 001 T/TH 10:00-Noon - Instructor Terri Sarris Section 002 T/TH 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Instructor Terri Sarris Section 003 M/W 9:00-11:00 a.m. - Instructor Yau Ching Section 004 M/W 4:00-6:00 p.m. - Instructor Yau Ching Meeting Place: LSA TV Studio - Argus II Building Film/Video Studies 2512 Frieze Building 764-0147 "Larger than Life"'s Bill Murray and Tai. buster hit "A Time To Kill." McConaughey's character, Tip Tucker, resembles his slacker character in "Dazed and Confused" - except here he's five years older and completely insane. Tucker is a fast-talking, conspiracy- obsessed truck driver who Corcoran tricks into driving him to California. McConaughey demonstrates his incred- ible range as an actor by creating an amazing Jim Carrey-like character with as much physical comedy as Buster Keaton. Tucker steals the scenes as he rants ... and rants ... and rants about anything and everything. For the most part, his words are unintelligible, but his delivery is beyond hilarious. At one point as Tucker is ranting, the filmmak- ers mute his voice while country music plays. The singer croons, "You think I'm a psycho don'tcha, momma?" You bet we do, and we love it! As for the other actors, Bill Murray delivers another solid performance using his subtle style, proving once again that overacting is not a necessity for being funny. Janeane Garofalo's manly Mo nicely contrasts Linda Fiorentino's sexy and ultra-feminine circus queen, and a cameo by "Ellen"'s Jeremy Piven should please many sitcom fans. On the other hand, one small problem with the movie is its excessiveness. In one ease, the film tests the limits of' believability by going extremely out of its way to develop a scene, only to prove. the elephant's trust in Corcoran. The movie also tends to be about as clunky as Vera's movements in some parts. Nevertheless, these- minor distractions do not take away frnom the total appeal of this film. "Larger Than Life" may be a movie built upon fluff, but fortunately, it's pleasant fluff. It isa lighthearted look at life in the United States using a mai and an elephant as a guide. Filled with charm, humor and plain old fuzzy, good feelings, "Larger Than Life" is guaran- teed to do for elephants what "Free Willy" did for killer whales. But parents beware: After watching this film, kids may be wanting more than puppies this Christmas. V I great scores... Law School Business School Dental chool Graduate School Medical School great teachers... Kaplan helps you focus your test prep study where you need it most. our teachers wil show you the proven skills and test-taki techniques to help you get a higher score. 1-800-KAP-TEST Race, Ethnicity and Cultural "Difference" in American Television Film/Video 365 Winter 1997 This new television studies course examines race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexual "difference" on television throughout its history. Students will study significant debates over identity and representation in larger culture and as-seen-on-TV through readings, visual analysis, writing assignments, and class discus- sion. Screenings will cover a wide range of images from 1945 to the present, from Amos 'n' Andy, Good Times and The Cosby Show to The Goldbergs, Roseanne, and Ellen. Film/Video 365 is a three credit course which fulfills the LS&A Race and Ethnicity requirement. M/W 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Instructor Victoria Johnson Meeting Place: 1020 Frieze Building Film/Video Studies 2512 Frieze Building 764-0147 0 10 U - 9 I w, Goldman, Sachs & Co. invites University of Michigan undergraduates to explore the many opportunities for professional growth within the firm. Monday, October 21, 1996 Opportunities in the Investment Banking Division 4:30 p.m., Open House 6:00 p.m., Presentation The Michigan Union, The Ballroom Casual Attire M dyNe 8 9 Oportntesih m