V 'O~ *s dire 1 . t i' 1 x , s y > _a ' C' a# ° 7 0 w 'the Michigan DaiyWeeked Mb 14B - The Michigan Daily Weekenid Magazine - Thursday, January 15, 1998 A weekly guide to who's IE where, what's happening and why you need to be there ... 1997: THE YEAR IN Aliens, sequels, trends define 1! thursday music from Ark, 8 p.m. this Manchester quartet. The $10. 761-1451. CAMPUS CINEMA -econstructing Harry (1997) Woody Allen plays a writer who fictionalizes everyone in his life - and we get to see both versions. Mich., 7 and 9 p.m. Koyaanisquatsi (1983) With no dialogue, narration or obvious story line, "Koyaanisquatsi" is Hopi for "crazy life" or "life out of balance." Nat. Sci., 7 p.m. Free. MUSIC Merge Indie-rockers from Detroit joined by Chicago post-rockers Big Blonde Wig and Toledo's Five Horse Johnson. Blind Pig, 9:30 p.m. $4. 996-8555. Al Hill & the Love Butlers Local horn sec- tion sextet provides lots of funky grooves. Ann Arbor Brewing Company, 114 E. Washington, 9 p.m. Free. 312-1393. THEATER Birthday of the Infanta Oscar Wilde's tragedy about the royal family of Spain. Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium, 8 p.m. $5 ($3 for students). 994-2191. Why We Have a Body Feminist comedy pre- sented by Ellipsis Theater. Performance Network, 408 W. Washington, 8 p.m. $12 ($5 for students). 663-0681. ALTERNATIVES Rafia Zafar University assistant professor celebrating publication of "We Wear the Mask: African Americans Write American Literature, 1760-1870." Shaman Drum, 4 p.m. Free. friday CAMPUS CINEMA Ditchdigger's Daughter (1997) Based on a 1995 memoir, the film tells the story of a black ditchdigger. Engin., 5:30 p.m. Free. Deconstructing Harry See Thursday. 7 and 9 p.m. Holy Cows Country-tinged midwestern post- punk from guitar-based band. Blind Pig, 9:30 p.m. $5. 996-8555. Easy Action High-octane punk with guests Maxi Chanel and Broadzilla. Heidelberg, 10 p.m. $4. 663-7758. Jericho Guitar Trio Pop and jazz selections from newly formed group. Gypsy Cafe, 9:30 p.m. $3. 994-3940. Superfastrunners Fresh from Bowling Green, this trio delivers acoustic-based post- punk with a twist. Cafe Felix, 204,S. Main, 9 p.m. Free. 662-8650. THEATER Birthday of the Infanta See Thursday. 8 p.m. Why We Have a Body See Thursday. 8 p.m. ALTERNATIVES Art and the Natural World Reception for exhibit of artists' common interest in forms derived from nature. Art & Architecture Building, 2000 Bonisteel, 7 p.m. Free. saturday CAMPUS CINEMA Air Force One (1997) The plane is hijacked by terrorists and the President - Harrison Ford -breaks out his Indy style to save the day. Angell Aud. A., 8 p.m. $2. The Circus (1928) Charlie Chaplin film kicks off the Michigan Theater's 70th birthday celebration. Mich., 8 p.m. $18.50. MUSIC Big Dave and the Ultrasonics Loads of bluesy originals from popular local ensem- ble. Blind Pig, 9:30 p.m. $5. 996-8555. Christine Lavin Comical blend of witty lyrics and hilarious narratives from this premier contemporary folk diva. The Ark, 8 p.m. $15. 761-1451. Lisa Hunter, Jill Jack Ann Arbor singer/song- writer Hunter delivers up-tempo gems; Detroit native Jack performs a solo acoustic show. Gypsy Cafe, 9:30 p.m. $3. 994-3940. Grin Local original rock quartet sounds like a cross between Velvet Underground and Camper Van Beethoven. Cross Street Station, W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, 10:30 p.m. $3. 485-5050 THEATER Faculty Chamber Music Recital Beethoven's complete works for piano/cello. Britton Recital Hall, School of Music, 4 p.m. Free. Birthday of the Infanta See Thursday. 8 p.m. Why We Have a Body See Thursday. 8 p.m. sunday :xsn.c ' ]".R1LY4 i. i. By Joshua Pederson Daily Film Editor Looking for trends within the popu- lar film industry in '97 is like shooting fish in the proverbial barrel. It seems that 90 percent of the movies released last year fell into the cut-and-dried cat- egory. But, as it is my job to reveal the obvious, I'll be happy to oblige and point out the trends that are probably painfully evident to viewing audiences everywhere. So, what's up with our ongoing fetish with aliens, anyway? Having assumed that the American appetite for visitors from beyond was well satisfied with "Independence Day" and "Species" in 1996, we might think that Hollywood would be able to move on to a genre that was more, um, relevant - Shaquille O'Neal movies, for example. But as Hollywood is always willing to exploit trends until they lie in a motionless pulp at our feet, a plethora of alien flicks managed to emerge in 1997. We can thank this trend for such clas- sics as "Event Horizon," a needlessly and explicitly grotesque film about a space ship possessed by a hellish alter- nate dimension. Even the classic "Alien" fell prey to the wave. Continuing a series that should have ended with the sequel, "Alien Resurrection" brought Sigourney Weaver back from the dead. The film, though, probably should have stayed buried. This is not to say that every extraterres- trial should have been kept in the ' deep reaches of space. .""" "Contact," based on Carl book, is a stellar film about the race's first communication with gent life apart from itself. " Black," a testament to the con resurgence of Will Smith's car hilarious look at the undergrou population already here on Ear One too many directors hav our love of sequels one step too Wes Craven wasn't the only make this mistake in 1997. T nomenon that was "Scream," tb do-horror flick of '96, made it this year. Neve Campbell broug an excess of fresh meat, includ Pinkett, Tori Spelling and Michelle Gellar. Following the gratuitous t theme in "Scream 2," "T World" continues the stor: by Michael Chrichton's " Park." The lesson to be learr this situation? One shoul write a book based solely L success of an earlier book's f sion. Keanu Reeves ought i CAMPUS CINEMA October (1928) Sergei Eisenstein's recon- struction of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Mich., 4:10 p.m. 8 1/2 (1963) Federico Fellini's semi-autobi- ographical chronicle of a successful film- maker trying to develop a new project on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Nat. Sci., 7 and 9:30 p.m. $4. Deconstructing Harry See Thursday. 7 and 9 p.m. MUSIC Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise Find out exactly what surprises are in store from this Detroit busker turned MTV regu- lar. Blind Pig, 8 p.m. $8 in advance. 763- TKTS. Neil Woodward Classic blues and folk songs from this North American troubadour. The Ark, 8 p.m. $10. 761-1451. Jake Reichbart Local jazz guitarist provides background music for shoppers. Borders, 1 p.m. Free. Paul Finkbeiner's Jazz Jam Session Have yourself a good old listen. Bird of Paradise, 207 S. Ashley, 8 p.m. Free. THEATER Boys Choir of Harlem Popular songs, gospel, jazz and spirituals, as well as classi- cal and modern music. Hill Auditorium, 7 p.m. $12-$26. 764-2538. Faculty Chamber Music Recital See Saturday. 4 p.m. Why We Have a Body See Thursday. 2 p.m. ALTERNATIVES MLK Commemoration Readings Todd Ester and Delitha Taylor reading poetry and other works based on King's life and work. Ann Arbor District Library, 210 S. Fifth Ave, 2 p.m. Free. Pam Grier in "Jackie Brown" (top); Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Scream 2" (center); the doomed ship in "Titanic" (bottom); Jack Nicholson and a canine pal in "As Good as It Gets" (right); Matt Damon in "Good Will Hunting" (far right). Standout novels mark year in literature By Jessica Eaton Daily Books Editor Writing about 1997 in the literary world is both an exciting and a terrifying undertaking. So much has happened this year; who am I, a lowly student who will never have enough time to read everything I want to read (much less everything published), to offer an opinion on the good and the bad? How do I qualify as even a novice in this There wei field, much less as a so-called expert worthy releases i of your trust? Heck, how can I even make a literary g decision about what I like and dislike? How and by po can I defend those decisions? Qsuspense, After pondering these questions for several minutes, I quickly aban- doned my blank computer screen for a trip to Borders, which did nothing to calm my fears. The new releases shelf had never been so intimidating. I could write pages raving about everything that I've read and loved, or I could sit and read that new book that I might want to include in this article, or I could try and narrow it down rye Fl !I by determining what I didn't like ... but that would never work. There is so little not to like! The first place to turn, of course, is to the literary prize winners of 1997. The Pulitzer committee caused a stir with its selection of "Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer," by Steven Millhauser, as the fic- tion winner of the year. This novel of a turn-of-the-century entre- preneur who rises 9 new from a position as an assistant in his father's rom cigar store to that of a powerful hotel mag- ni use nate was both lauded as theultimate person- Pular ification of the American dream and novelists, criticized as an unreal- _________________istic mess. Less controversial choices included the committee's selection of Frank McCourt's pop- ular "Angela's Ashes" as the winner in the biography category, as well as the poetry win- ner, "Alive Together: New and Selected Poems,' by Lisel Mueller. No 1997 Pulitzer winner was announced in the drama category. But the Nobel committee made up for it by bestowing its 1997 prize in literature on Italian playwright Dario Fo, best known for his 1970 "Morte Accidentale di un Anarchico" ("Accidental Death of an Anarchist"). The National Book Award in fic- tion went to Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain," his best-selling Civil War-era mas- terpiece. Most books may not have captured such elite awards, but nonetheless, many others topped the bestseller lists throughout the year. This year's best included "Into Thin Air," journalist Jon Krakauer's harrowing account of his ascent of Mount Everest and his climbing party's bliz- zard disaster. Krakauer is also the author of the bestselling "Into the Wild." There were new releases from literary, geniuses Thomas Pynchon, who published the fantastic (albeit rambling) "Mason and Dixon"; Kurt Vonnegut, who continued to impress fans with his latest, "TimeQuake"; Cynthia Ozick, who released "The Puttermesser Papers"; and Don Delillo, author of "Underworld." And of course (as though a year could go by without them), there were new releases by pop- ular suspense novelists John Grisham and Tom Clancy. Both of these authors continued to carry a strong following in their respective See BOOKS, Page 5B Jon Kraka the bests ,reservoir Dogs (1992) directorial debut about bad. Nat. Sci., 7 and 9 Quentin Tarantino's a jewelry heist gone p.m. $2. WN ekeit M AG AZ IN E F s . . . . . _ , o . . # 1 . Weekend Magazine Editors: Emily Lambe Weeken Magazine iate Editor: Christopher Tkaczyk. Writers: Colin Bartos, Brian Cohen, Jessica Eaton, Gabe Fajuri, Chris f Love, Robert Mitchum, Joshua Pederson, Aaron Rennie, Deveron Q. Sa Curts Zimmerman. Photographers: Louis Brown, Bohdan Damian Cap, Margaret Myers and Cover photos (clockwise from top left): "South Park," "South Park," Bo "Titanic," "King of the Hill," Stewart Bogie of Transmission, Elmore Le Arts Editorm'Bryan Lark and Kristin Long. MUSIC Raisin Pickers Expect acoustic turns on western swing, jug and old-time dance