28 - Michigan Daily Weekef- Thursday, December 9,A
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The, Michigan Daily Weekend
A Tuna Christmas
p.m.
See Thursday. 8
The Snow Queen
p.m. and 8 p.m.
A Tuna Christmas
p.m.
See Thursday. 2
See Thursday. 8
How? Why? A Jewish girl and a German
boy find out the truth about their grand-
parents' lives during the Holocaust. Media
Union Video Studio. 11 p.m. Free.
ALTERNATIVES
3 Dimensions, 2 Scales, 1 Designer
See Thursday. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Reception 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Ghetto Billies These ghetto super-
stars come correct on the Sabbath.
Ann Arbor Brewing Company, 114 E.
Washington St., 213-1393. 9 p.m.
Dance and Related Arts
Thursday. 8 p.m.
See
Courtesy of Ursversal Pictures
Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks and director Nora Ephron team up again after the wild suc-
cess of "Sleepless In Seattle" for "You've Got Mail." The Cyber-romance Is one of
the few sure-winners expected at the movies this season.
Hollywood not
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execin 'Ttm
Christmas this yea
Laura Kasischke Noted author will be
reading from her new novel "White
Bird in a Blizzard." Shaman Drum, 313
South State St., 662-7407. 8 p.m.
Master Drawings See Thursday. 10
a.m. - 5 p.m.
Musical Theatre Eighty musical theater
majors and various faculty present their
semester work. McIntosh Theatre, E.V.
Moore Building. 7:30 p.m.
---- ----------
Saturday
MUSIC
Heavy Weather No, not Carl
Weathers. Come inside from the cold
to hear these torrential slammers
downpour your ears with music. Cross
Street Station, 511 W. Cross St,
Ypslianti, 485-5050. 10:30 p.m.
Jackyl Look out for another Bruce
Willis sighting at these monsters-of-
rock concert. Harpo's, 14238 Harper
St., Detroit. (313) 824-1700. 8 p.m.
Man or Astro-man? Dying to know
which? Maybe this show will unlock
the mystery. The Magic Stick, 120
Woodward Ave., Detroit. (313) 833-
9700.
THEATER
ALTERNATIVES
3 Dimensions, 2 Scales, 1 Designer
See Thursday. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Dance and Related Arts See
Thursday. 8 p~m.
Drawings by Delacroix See Thursday.
10 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Loren Estleman Michigan author
Loren Estleman will be signing copies
of her thriller "Jitterbug." Barnes &
Noble Bookstore, 3245 Washtenaw
Ave., 677-6475. 6:30 p.m.
Michael Feldman Public radio person-
ality comes to Ann Arbor for a live
broadcast of "Whad'Ya Know?" Hill
Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave.,
764-0450. 10:30 a.m. $15 & $24.
Figure Skating Holiday Exhibition
University figure skaters entertain in
a prepared holiday performance. It's
kind of like the Ice Capades, but it's
not. Yost Ice Arena, 1000 5. State
St., 764-4600. 6 p.m. $5.
Horn Studio Recital Students of
Bryan Kennedy will perform
repertory. Britton Rectial Hall,
Moore Building. 7:30 p.m.
Over the Rhine A Christmas show in
support of their newest CD, "The
Darkest Night of the Year." The Ark,
316 1/2 South Main St., 761-1451. 7
p.m. $10.
Violin Studio Recital Students of
Prof. Andrew Jennings will perform
violin repertory. Britton Recital Hall,
E.V. Moore Building. 12 p.m.
THEATER
Boomtown See Thursday. 2 p.m. $20.
A Christmas Carol See Thursday.
2:00 p.m and 6:30 p.m.
The Gifts of the Magi See Friday. 2:30
p.m.
Prof.
horn
E.V.
Innocent Thoughts
p.m.
See Thursday. 2
Master Drawings
a.m. - 5 p.m.
See Thursday. 10
The Snow Queen See Thursday. 2 p.m.
A Tuna Christmas See Thursday. 8 p.m.
ALTERNATIVES
By Ed Shofnsky
Daily Arts Writer
Last year, "Titanic" sailed away
with the Christmas box office, sink-
ing the competition. In its record-
breaking take, however, "Good Will
Hunting" "As Good As It Gets" and
"Tomorrow Never Dies" were all
Christmas films that managed to
passithe coveted $100 million mark.
As school ends and the holiday
season begins, moviegoers will be
inundated with everything from
romantic comedies to war movies -
all in search of the coveted Oscar
and box office gold.
With the Christmas movie season
quickly approaching, though, the
absence of a definite Christmas
blockbuster is evident.
The only movie that seems sure to
dominate ticket sales is the second
teaming of director Nora Ephron
with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in
"You've Got Mail." After the amaz-
ing success of the trio's first effort
in "Sleepless in Seattle," industry
insiders say "You've Got Mail" is
promised at the very least a $100
million take, and more likely around
$150 million.
After that, though, it's unclear
which other movies, if any, will tick-
le the fancy of moviegoers.
"Star Trek: Insurrection" will
obviously appeal to Trekkies, but
whether or not it will crossover to
normal audiences is a big question.
The last "Star Trek" movie, "First
Contact," managed about $90 mil-
lion, and was considered a surprise
hit. With a very bad buzz coming off
"Insurrection," the likelihood that it
will reproduce "First Contact"'s suc-
cess is low. Nevertheless, any "Star
Trek" movie is good for at least a
healthy $60-65 million box office
draw.
The potential-blockbuster catego-
ry is much more crowded this year,
making it very likely that at least
one of these films will breakout.
Filling out this category are,
"Stepmom," "Patch Adams," "A
Civil Action," "Thin Red Line" and
"Prince of Egypt."
Of these, "Stepmom" is on the
shakiest ground. It has the power to
be a breakout hit with its big stars
(Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts and
Ed Harris) and sensitive subject
matter, but these things can also hurt
it by creating high expectations.
Also, the question of whether people
trying to get into the holiday spirit
will go to see a movie in which one
of the protagonists has cancer and is
going to die still persists. Last
Christmas all of the $100 million
grossers were up-lifting or on a $1
billion "Titanic" scale. And
"Stepmom" certainly isn't "Titanic."
Nevertheless, if "Stepmom" breaks
out, it should gross around $80 mil-
lion; if not, $20 million.
Even though Robin Williams has
had a rough year which saw his first
film "What Dreams May Come"
bomb at the box office and has a his-
tory of flopping in dramadies (see
"Jack," better yet, don't), "Patch
Adams" has hit written all over it.
Despite its trailer that makes it look
See MOVIES, Page 7B
Sunday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Firelight (1997) Period piece about a
Swiss governess searching for her
child, years after she was whisked
away at birth. Michigan Theater, 603
E. Liberty St. 5 & 7:15 p.m.
MUSIC
Ann Arbor Grail Singers This women's
ensemble will sing Christmas carols
from the renaissance era to modern
times. University Reformed Church,
928 E. Ann St. 663-9230. 4 p.m. $9
for students, others $12.
E.A.R. Sweet melodies shall enter
from afar. The Shelter, 431 Congress
St., Detroit, under St. Andrews, (313)
961-MELT. 8 p.m.
Faculty Recital Prof. Charles Daval
will present a recital of trumpet
music. Britton Recital Hall, E.V.
Moore Building. 4 p.m.
3 Dimensions, 2 Scales, 1 Designer
See Thursday. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Docent Tour A free tour of the "Master
Drawings from the WorcesterArt
Museum" exhibit. University Museum of
Art, 525 S. State St., 2 p.m.
Drawings by Delacroix See Thursday.
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Japanese Tea Ceremony A monthly
event at the museum, this ceremony
is titled, "Downy Flakes: An
Unseasonable Flower Over the
Flowerless Field."University Museum
of Art, 525 S. State St., 764-0395. 3
p.m. $3 suggested donation.
Local Author Fair Area authors including
Loren Estleman, James Tobin, Lowell
Cauffiel, Russell Bidlack, Jerry Prescott,
Dale Fisher, Sarah Zettel, Craig Holden,
Lois Kane, and Zonya Foco will be avail-
able to sign copies of their books. Ann
Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.,
327-4200. 2 p.m.
A Christmas Carol
p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
See Thursday. 2
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil
E. Frankweller See Thursday. 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m.
The Gifts of the Magi See Friday. 2:30
p.m. and 8 p.m.
How? Why? See Friday. 8 p.m.
innocent Thoughts See Thursday. 8
p.m.
Master Drawings
p.m. - 5 p.m.
See Thursday. 12
Ann Arbor favorite Billy E
The Ark tonight.
Monda
CAMPUS CINEMA
Firelight (1997) See Su
& 9:15 p.m.
MUSIC
The Randy Napoleon
Monday night favorite.
another evening of cla
original compositions.
Pierpont Commons, 21
Blvd., 764-7544. 8 p.m.
THEATER
A Tuna Christmas Se
p.m.
A LTERNATIVES
3 Dimensions, 2 Scales
See Thursday. 11 a.m. -
Tuesda
CAMPUS CINEMA
Firelight (1997) See Su
& 9:15 p.m.
MUSIC
Explosion: Cerebral Thi
feel if R.E.M. showed ul
playing "What's th
Kenneth?" Bird of P
South Ashley St., 662-
$5.
Nothin' But the Blues
Reed hosts this blowout
the decade. Tap Roc
Michigan Ave., Ypsilan
9:30 p.m.
THEATER
A Christmas Carol See
a.m. and 2 p.m. $25.
A Tuna Christmas See
p.m.
Courtesy of Annette O aoo
From left to right, Jeff Moehie, Matt Gross, Phillip Barry, and Troy Stansberry are Knee Deep Shag. They hit The Blind Pig
Friday night. Contrary to popular opinion, Austin Powers is not an official band member.