8 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 15, 1999 Poor casting destroys 'In Dreams' By Erin Podolsky Daily Arts Writer Dreams are often terrible, terrible things. There are nights when it is safer to stay awake for hours on end rather than give yourself over to the will of the psyche, to the frightening nightmares hidden within. Sometimes dreams are so real that they expres- sionistically document past events - or seem to predict the future. In Neil Jordan's new film, "In Dreams," Claire (Annette Bening), like many of us, is plagued by such nightmares. She always has been, but they have never been so real or so des- perately chilling as they become when she begins to dream of a ser- In Dreams ial killer who preys on young . girls. And she At showcase has no control over them - nei- ther drugs nor t ther-apy nor stay- J ing awake can prevent Claire from being on the receiving end of dream trans- missions from the shadowy serial killer (Robert Downey Jr.). Claire offers her dreams' content to the local police who are tracking the killer. It's difficult to believe that a Annette Bening fights for her life in "in D police force would be so cold on the trail of a child serial killer, and even more so to explain the absence of the FBI in the investigation. Then again, "In Dreams" functions more like a dream with its associated series of cognitive leaps than a realistically grounded film (think dark, poorly guarded mental institutions and airline pilots who, upon totaling a BMW, buy an Audi); indeed, Claire's reality becomes more and more the night- mare while her ominous, portentous dreams become the reality. Like any nightmare, there's only one solution that will ease her pain and end it all for good - but how do you wake up. Dreams." from reality? How do you escape your own mind? Claire finds relief in an unconven- tional resolution, but the final moments of the film bring in to ques- tion the differences between catharsis, retribution and insanity. But the film's finale that is not the most bothersome aspect of the film. Annette Bening as the lead character is asked to carry the entire film, with five times as much screen time as her counterparts. She isn't entirely up to the task, often reciting dialogue as if she is, well, reciting dialogue. As Claire becomes more afflicted by her dreams and ultimately ends up institu- tionalized, Bening improves - not because her style changes, but because a forced, rote-sounding dia- logue style seems more acceptable for a no holds barred, psychologically disturbed individual. Still, her improved performance towards the end can't save this film, and I can't help but wonder how much more effective "In Dreams" might have been with different casting choices. As Claire's husband, Aidan Quinn is also problematic. He is a non-enti- ty throughout, showing little emotion beyond requisite anger when Claire bites through his lip mid-makeout when she experiences a daymare. As man and wife, Quinn and Bening don't make much sense, and as an act- ing pair they cut a path of wreckage through an otherwise compelling film. Jordan, usually so expert at casting and coaxing amazing performances from adults and children alike ("The Crying Game," "The Butcher Boy"), has made a major misstep here. There is only Jordan-regular Stephen Rea, playing a New York-accented psychol- ogist who unconvincingly realizes the truth about the killer long after the information would have been lifesav- ing, to recommend the film with far too few minutes of screen time. It's a shame that the casting destroys an otherwise intriguing psy- chothriller that deals with the impact of dreams on reality and vice versa. The film itself is quite beautiful, rem- iniscent of French partners Jeunet and Caro ("Delicatessen," "City of Lost Children") both in look and content; in fact, "In Dreams" was shot by Darius Khondji, who shot both of those French films. The dream sequences are eerily accurate, presented with a watery voice track in black and white save for the thousands of red apples that fill each one. "In Dreams" uses the "Snow White" fable as the basis for its exploration of good and evil, but somehow manages to ignore any overt references to that other apple tale that took place long ago in a garden far, far away. Maybe Bening offered Jordan a juicy red apple in exchange for the part. It's unfortunate that he didn't realize that casting her would leave "In Dreams" naked until it was too late. Martin Jacox and Clarence Fountain perform "The Gospel of Colonus."m 'Gospel' adapts Sophocles classic 1l The University of Michigan School of Music Saturday, January 16 Thyagaraja Festival Puja (worship service) and singing Britton Recital Hall, E.V. Moore Bldg., 8 a. Thyagaraja Festival Recital by a 16 year old Indian saxophone prodigy Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 2 p.tt. Sunday, January 17 Michigan Chamber Players performers include Stephen Shipps and Andrew Jennings, violin Yizhak Schotten, viola; Erling Blondal Bengtsson, Anthony Elliott, Alexander Cheung, Michael Freilich, Tara Hanish, cello Logan Skelton and Katherine Collier, piano a music by Moszkowski, Vivaldi and Dohnanyi Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 4 p.m. Monday, January 18 Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Concert Voice, theatre and dance students celebrate this day in concert. [For more information phone (734) 764-0586] Rackham Auditorium, 3 p.m. Events are free, no tickets required and are wheelchair accessible unless otherwise specified. The E.V. Moore Bldg. is located at 11t0 Baits Drive, North Campus. For more information phone (734) 764-0594 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. By Jeff Druchniak Daily Arts Writer During the long holiday weekend, plenty of people on campus will be taking the opportunity to leave town, whether to hit the ski slopes or visit home. Those remaining, though, will have the chance to experience one of the most The Gospel important the- atrical events to at Colonus visit Ann Arbor Power Center this season. Tonight at 8 The Power Center will be the venue for the touring pro- duction of "The Gospel at Colonus," the landmark Broadway musical. The play, present- ed by the University Musical Society, is an adaptation of the Sophocles tragedy, "Oedipus at Colonus." But in this case, the ancient story is reimagined in the format of an African American Pentecostal church service and features a rock, gospel and blues score by Bob Telson. The show also features a cast list with renowned gospel stars such as Clarence Fountain and the Blind Boys of Alabama, as well as J.D. and Jevetta Steele. All of these performers are original members of the Broadway cast, a remarkable achievement considering that the play has not been on Broadway in 10 years. "It's really unusual and remarkable to keep a show together for 15 years like this," observed Sharon Levy, the producer of "The Gospel at Colonus"'s road company. "Because it's such an incredible show ... as far as (the performers') wanting to do it, it's never been a prob- lem " The production, however, has been obliged to work its schedule around the music careers of its stars. As a result, the company has toured inter- mittently since mounting "Colonus" in Seattle in 1994. The current production is some 10 years in the making, ever since Lee Breuer, who adapted and continues to direct the play, was approached by Levy, who knew Breuer from the regional theater she ran in Atlanta, to construct a slightly scaled-down ver- sion of the Broadway production for national and international touring. Ever since then, the Tony-, Grammy-, Emmy- and Pulitzer-nomi- nated "Colonus" has continued its record of remarkable acclaim, playing venues around the country and the world, including the Chekhov Festival in Russia. This weekend, the show will feature the Detroit-based Duke Ellington Centennial Choir. The producers have adopted the practice of hiring a gospel choir from the area for each stop the company makes. "There's hardly a major city in this country that doesn't have a world- class gospel choir, or where one can't be put together," Levy explained. "It establishes a great connection with the community." "The Gospel at Colonus" will run for three evening performances at the Power Center at 8 p.m. tonight, Saturday night and Monday night There will also be a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. and a one-hourfamily per- formance Saturday at 2 p.m. For ticket information, contact the UMS Box Office at (734) 764-2538. Now Open We Carry Products from Teams in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB Cards " Caps " Photos " Posters * Old Toys o Board Games 340 1/2 S. State (2nd Floor) Ann Arbor, MI 734-665-7194 Hours: M-F 5pm-7pm; Sat 12pm-6pm 01 r p to NewaTextbooks With inventory for the nation's largest colleges in one place - chances are we have your books in stock! " Only $4.95 shipping ... no matter how many books ordered " Guaranteed 30-day, no-hassle return policy " Fully secured transactions varsitybookscom your n cllegbookstore