Ann Arbor's own Dr. Arwulf Arwulf performs live at the Film Festival tonight! Watch A27s favorite media technician/artiste present his contribution to the 35th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival with a live performance of "The Lullaby of the Rocks." The other entries in the festival will follow. Tickets are $6 and $10 and showtimes are 7 and 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 668-8480. Friday March 14, 1997 8 J ones' offers good lovin' Strong characters, great sex make 'Love Jones' a blast By Bryan Lark Daily Film Editor What exactly is a "love jones?" one might ask. Ns it a sexy, butt-kicking blaxploitation character somewhere in Pam Grier's repertoire? Is it a tingly sensation down below that causes women to cross their legs and men to drool like Saint Bernards? Is it the undeniable realization that smacks you upside the head when you know you're in love? If your answer was one of the last two R possibilities, then you're well versed in the lexicon of the hip. You also could've said that "Love Jones" is one hell of a screen romance, and you'd be met with little opposition. Written and directed by newcomer Theodore Witcher, "Love Jones" is a superb sexed-up, jazzed-up cinematic love poem that is kept heated by the electric charms of leads Nia Long and Larenz Tate. Portraying lust-to-love among the educated and artistic in downtown Chicago, "Love Jones" is a refreshing, realistic break from the oozing sentiment and declining intelligence of most romantic comedies and also a break from films with entirely African American films that overuse the phrase "the hood" and/or star a Wayans brother. Focusing on young, smart, attractive struggling photogra- pher Nina Mosley (Nia Long) and young, smart, attractive struggling writer Darius Lovehall and their respective circle of friends, the "get together, fall apart, start over" plot of "Love Jones" is somewhat less than innovative. Butjust as in a great jazz cover, Witcher and cast take that same old break- up, make-up song and inject new verve and style into it. ;E Using the spoken jazz and poetry scene as a backdrop, the film opens as Nina is rapidly becoming a cynic following her merciless dumping at the hands of her fiancee Marvin (Khalil Kain). Meanwhile, Darius is about to quit his thankless pub- lication job to write his first novel. Nina's plans of cynicism and Darius' novel plans get a lit- tle sidetracked when they meet each other at a poetry bar. We know, as they do, when they meet where this vibrant couple is headed - it's get- : V I E W ting there that makes this romance Love Jones retread worthwhile. After letting herself be seduced on the ***! first date and several subsequent dates, At Showcase Nina believes that she and Darius are just kickin' it, with no commitments to speak of. That changes when Marvin comes back into the picture, asking Nina to give their love another try in New York. Realizing their respective love jones after many complica- tions in the forms of another woman and MTV's Bill Bellamy (as Darius' competitive friend Hollywood), the pair reunites briefly, romantically and memorably until the issue of trust surfaces. Nina and Darius then split with harsh words and hard feelings that make the inevitable conclusion all the more poignant and fulfilling - reunited and it feels so good, so to speak. Marked by believable and lovable lead characters, strong performances, great sex and great music, "Love Jones" is a glamorous, fabulous and lyrical film; its only fault is its underdevelopment of its supporting characters. So enthralled, and rightfully so, with its two leads, the film opts to use its outstanding supporting cast, including "ER" regular Lisa Nicole Carson; Spike Lee discovery Isaiah Nia Long and Larenz Tate have a smiling chat in "Lrove Jones." Washington; and erstwhile VJ Bellamy as set design and plot elements with fleeting glimpses of a personal life instead of the three-dimensional people we can love and believe in. Since he issues the majority of his cast, Witcher must rely on Long and Tate to carry the film, a task which the pair pulls off remarkably well. Both veterans of numerous "hood" films, Long, all soft fea- tures and skepticism, and Tate, all charm and confusion, excel in their roles as individual artists and compromised lovers. Their chemistry is undeniable - whether making break- fast, using photography as foreplay, ballroom dancing or doing the horizontal mambo, you can't help but fall in love right along with them. "Love Jones" is just as technically proficient as it is roman- tically and emotionally enthralling, with first-time director Witcher creating a lush portrait of young black love, first- time writer Witcher creating witty dialogue and expertly crafted characters, and cinematographer Ernest Holzman cre- ating such unforgettable sequences as the wrenching train scene and that bittersweet rain-soaked finale. A rhythmic, funny and highly sensual love story, "Love Jones" is one romantic quasi-comedy that will satisfy your cravings for one true love, on the screen, that is. And true love is definitely a jones you can't deny. Shepard's 'Fool' shines in Basement production By Kristin Bartus For the Daily Although the wintry weather pre- vents us from going to Cedar Point right now, Basement Arts is offering a heated ride on the tumultuous relationship roller coaster in its production of Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love" this week- end. "Fool for Love" F sheds extraneousT accessories and simply focuses on characters, their emotions, and human relationships. "I's a very exciting, touching play. There aren't going to be any chandeliers falling or helicopters crashing or any- thing like that," director and BFA senior Jonathan Berry said, referring to the large scale commercialized theater pro- ductions that are becoming popular with modern audiences. The play involves a cast of only four characters. It explores the passionate, yet destructive relationship between Eddie (a rodeo stunt man) and May (a woman trying to become mentally strong). The two presumably ex-lovers reunite when he tracks her ,own in a tiny hotel room on the edge of the Mojave Desert. They rehash their rela- tionship one last time as Eddie attempts to win May back and she tries to get away. The four characters tell two or three different versions of the story throughout the play, slowly revealing the truth."Fool for Love" delves into themes of sin and redemption, as well as the danger of liv- _ oing lies and how it E V E E destroys lives. V "Fool for Love" Rl ool For Love is by no means a Tonight at 7 and 11 p.m. cheery play, but it Saturday at 7 p.m. addresses a topic Arena Theater, Free that touches nearly everyone. "I think we've all gone through relationships where we've done things wrong or we've been hurt or we've hurt someone else. I think that the healing process, to see the effects of that, and the coming through of that is very important. I think everyone will be able to find pieces of themselves," Berry said. Beyond the attraction of the universal theme, Berry commented that Shepard seems to truly know these characters, which makes the play special. "He is probably the foremost modern American playwright or possibly the foremost modern playwright we have." Berry finds that the cast's passion for the play adds even more to Shepard's material. "What really struck me about it is that it is four very, very great roles Heather Dilly, Alex Alloto and Mark Gmazel have a fight in "Fool For Love" for actors and I had four very, very committed people, Berry said. "The play is so tightly wound, I couldn't imagine working on a better script. It's just this perfect little tempest in a teacup I guess." In addition to the tightly written script and committed cast, Berry also feels that the lighting accentuates the emotions of the play within its simple stage setting. "Charlie Packard, our lighting designer, has really done a lot to create, to pull attention," Berry said. "There is an explosion off-stage, a truck blowing up, horses racing away, gun- fire, and things like that." Berry views "Fool for Love" as a meaty kind of play that has been scarce in recent university theater. "They've (the university theater groups) done some Shepard here, but it's hard with university productions. They don't do a lot of the modern things that you'd go and see off-Broadway right now, the real raw, rough stuff. I think that there was a definite passion and hunger for these four actors to get a hold of some- thing that they could really sink their teeth into and run with," Berry said. While he believes that all people can relate to and appreciate "Fool for Love."' Berry thinks that there is a specific attraction to students. "I think this is a great show for a college audience because they are two young people, but also it's a very hot, passionate, sexy show and there is a lot that happens. It takes place in an hour, so it's not a huge chunk out of your evening." If looking for a hot moment of passion on a cold late-winter night, "Fool for Love" looks to be a promising fulfillment. Young Bear to share beliefs at Rackham By Sarah Beldo Native American culture from acade- For the Daily mics who have never actually lived life Ray Young Bear is a man with a on a settlement, who have not been vision - several visions, in fact, which instilled with these myths and values he has transformed into two acclaimed throughout their entire life. Young Bear volumes of poetry and two novels. said their viewpoint is interestirigs but "I try to divulge in cryptic form limited, because everyone is bound in and diverse sym- some way by their bolisms the super- PREVIEW cultural identity. natural and ani- Young Bearn mistic belief of Ray Young Bear wants to use his ' Native American Tonight at 8 own cultural iden people," Young Rackham Amphitheater tity to communi- Bear said in a tele- Free cate with the pub; phone interview lic and to voice his with The Michigan Daily. "My hope concern about the future of the is that people can have a more concise Meskwaki. He has two main worries: ; understanding of the tribal imagina- incompetent leadership that makes tion." decisions without informing the rest a Young Bear's latest novel, the people, and what he refers to as "Remnants of the First Earth," contin- "linguistic atrophy." ues the ideas and characters of its "A majority of our young people autobiographical prequel, "Black use and depend on English too much Eagle Child: The Facepaint rather than Algonquin," Young Bear Narratives." It follows Young Bear's said. He said he hopes the literaturj alter ego - Edgar Principal Bear - he is producing will demonstrate that through struggles and celebrations on there are many different ways to the fictional Black Eagle Child express oneself. Young Bear has cho- Settlement in Iowa. sen to exile himself from contempo- The Meskwaki settlement in the rary literature, so that his writing book is based on the settlement where retains purity and transcends the4 Young Bear himself grew up, settled in ideas of what is currently being writ- part by his great-great-grandfather in ten. 1856. In the book, Young Bear com- "I don't follow any particular literary bines myths of his people with actual tenets,"Young Bear said. reminiscences from his childhood to Young Bear sees his craft as one create a fictional account with many without limits. "I think of myself as an autobiographical elements. artist," he says, explaining that, in addi- "As the ripple effect of creative tion to poetry and fiction,, he writes waters gets wider, people get more fic- essays, sings, drums, paints and-per- tional,"Young Bear said. forms his art. Young Bear believes his message is Tonight at 8 p.m., Young Bear - made even more important because he called "a national treasure" by the is telling his story "from the inside out. "Bloomsbury Review" - will present He said that much of the non-native this unique artistic vision at Rackham world receives its information about Amphitheatre. MOZART E ZZ D F A -i SGG 5MUAN ~rH NGUSHsG r All. The University of Michigan School of Music Friday, March 14 Ethel V. Curry Distinguished Lecture in Musicology "Stravinsky and Us" by Richard Taruskin, University of California at Berkeley Rackham Assembly Hall, 5 p.m. (reception to follow) Sunday, March 16 Faculty/Guest Recital Paul Kanor, violin Paula Elliott, violin Hong-Mei Xiao, viola Anthony Elliott. cello Arthur Gireene, piano " Chopin: Sonata in g minor for cello and piamu, Op. 65 " Brahms: Quintet in f minor for piano and strings, Op. 34 Britton Recital Hall, E. V Moore Bldg., 4 p.m. Guest Master Class Jessyc Norman Series, inaugural class Elly Ameling, voice McIntosh Theatre, E. V. Moore Bldg., 4 p.m. Monday, March 17 Composers Forum Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 Guest Recital Mark Fisher, trombone, bass trumpet and euphonium Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 8 p.m. Thursday, March 20 M~iic FnpineeriuoSeminar Series N I I - '"'". i' r st J' 1 ' i ... an undergraduate study abroad program in Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek studies BEAVER COLLEGE STUDY IN GREECE The Beaver College Study in Greece program is designed to pro- vide North American students with a comprehensive academic and cultural experience including opportunities to undertake accredit- ed upper division college courses in Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek studies. Our program features: + leadership and teaching by recognized scholars + intensive use of local resources for field study + reqitred study of modern Greek + student apartments in a local neighborhood + field-study trips DUI lID HA V.\ijC~ C :'UC I LD i:,Y R . ri