'Never-Ende-ing' German Written by Michael Ende, author of "The Never-ending Story," "Der Rattenfaenger" is a contemporary Pied Piper tale. Presented by the RC Deutsches Theater in East Quad, Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 1 p.m. michigandaily.com /arts ARTS FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2000 CUSACK'S ADVENTURES IN 'Hi-Fi' By Leslie Boxer Daily Arts Writer "High Fidelity," a new John Cusack film based on the Nick Hornby book of the same name, hits the- aters today. The story here follows Rob, a thirty- something, vinyl record store owner who analyzes his romantic life as a result of his break up with long time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle). The film is a quirky romantic comedy that focuses on Rob's fear of commitment and his analysis of male perspectives on relationships. Cusack was drawn to the story about two years ago II When he approach High Fidelity Starring John Cusack Opens today ing and he had no ed Nick Hornby about making an adaptation. Along with his act- ing duties, Cusack and his two co-authors from "Grosse Pointe Blank" wrote the screenplay and also served as co-producers of the film. Cusack considers the adapta- tion of the script both faithful and responsible to the book with the slight change of set- ting from London to Chicago. And as for the change in loca- tion, "We approached Nick (Hornby) about changing it to the United States because it would be more accommodat- problem with that. Nick felt that Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Commitment problems? Must be a John Cusack role. and the other writers grew up in the Chicago area and are "familiar with the geography." Cusack felt that he knew exactly where in Chicago Rob's record store would be and what bar Rob would go to when feel- ing down - "it is all very familiar," Cusack said. When asked about his history with Chicago, Cusack reflects on his childhood with great enthusi- asm. "Chicago was a great place to grow up," Cusack said. "There are like 300 different local theater com- panies that were all playing avant-garde type theater - not just institutional theater that 65-year-olds attend - and it was great training ground for a young actor. Somehow it provided me more than growing up in L.A. in which everyone is solely trying to get in a pilot." Cusack identifies with certain elements of Rob's character, which he describes as "an everyman type of guy" and feels that Rob's honesty is one of his real strengths. Cusack said that Rob's fear of commitment and self-analysis on relationships is "dead on with how most men feel." Personally, Cusack finds the scariest thing about relationships to be "when you start to settle in and realize things are not always going to be like the first two weeks and there is a cer- tain element of wondering whether or not you should leave the person." Another aspect of the film that Cusack enjoyed was working with friends; "High Fidelity" reteams Cusack with director Stephen Frears who he worked with in "The Grifters." Cusack also got the opportunity to work with his sister, "Joanie," and the chance to reunite with fellow "Say Anything" co-star, Lili Taylor. Working with these familiar faces is comforting, Cusack said, because, "you know their short-hand and it makes filming feel more familiar and less like working as a vagabond." Reflecting on his 17 year career, Cusack said he thinks that he has had seven really good films that make him especially proud. They are: "Say Anything" (can't you just see him in the trench coat blasting "In Your Eyes?"), "The Sure Thing," "The Grifters," "Bullets Over Broadway," "Grosse Pointe Blank," "Being John Malkovich" and "High Fidelity." Cusack feels that his work has gotten more focused over the years and less dependent on what other people think of him. As for the future, Cusack's next projects involve writing. He said that he "might work with Cameron Crowe (director of "Say Anything") or work on the adaptation of Mark Leyner's "Et Tu, Babe." When asked about directing, Cusack had a very interesting perspective on the process, "Directing is an awe- some amount of work and takes a lot of time. I would never do it just for the work, but rather only if I had written something and felt close to it." LOUIS BROWN/Daily Singer Wyclef Jean brought the crowd to their feet - and onstage - at last night's show. Refugee leadges groove on at HillI the book was about more than just the location of the record store; it is about sexual politics and male affairs of the heart. Also, we realize that there is an indie rock subculture in just about all cities and using Chicago was easy,' Cusack said. The reason Chicago was an easy choice for Cusack is that the city is his old stomping ground. He Weak scipt 'High' on list of problems By Gautam Baksi Daily Arts Writer Singer Wyclef Jean and the Refugee Allstars brought The Carnival to town last night. Didn't hear the 5,000 screaming fans storming the stage at Hill? Didn't hear The Product singin' "Maria, Maria"? Didn't hear Wyclef proclaiming himself as the "black Dirk Diggler"? If not, he promises to be back to the University simply because "The ladies in this school be bangin'!" What began the night as an ordinary rap/hip-hop show at Hill Auditorium turned into a two hour marathon of sampling, simulated sex, spontaneous By Aaron Rich Daily Arts Writer Once upon a time, I thought I knew a lot about music. I had a large collection of CDs arranged neurotically into subcate- gories and I High Fidelity Grade: C At Quality 16 and Showcase Coltrane had been would go into small seizure fits whenever a friend or rel- ative moved one out of place. I would sit around thinking about the world's greatest band combinations (what if John in a band with Fidelity." Rob is the owner of a small record store - LPs, that is, and not CDs. He and his two buddies, Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Louiso) pass the time in the sleepy store by one-upping each other on remote musical and pop cultural knowledge. They put together "top five lists" of their favorite albums and songs. Rob sees his life in terms of such top five lists. What are the top five jobs he would most like to have, what are the top five things he likes most about certain friends or, most importantly, what are his top five most painful breakups. As the film opens, we see him breaking up with his most recent girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle). This loss brings up a slew of memories of his top five worst breakups, which he explains to the audience through the fourth wall of the movie screen. He figures that if he can find out exact- Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Rob Gordon (John Cusack) and cohorts wax poetic on music in "High Fidelity." Wyclef Jean Hill Auditorium March 31, 2000 Bee-Gee' s version reggae and a cele- bration of youth. Shortly past 8:30 p.m., Jean entered the stage with a tribute to Bob Marley's slow, but immor- tal rendition of "No Woman, No Cry."' The young Haitian wasted no time in energizing the crowd with his ghetto-meets-the- of "Stavin' Alive.". proceeded to grind their bodies to the heavy beats of the DJ before lying down and proceeding to thrust their hips into each other. The audiene erupted with applause as Jean smil with approval, Mixing Fugee classics with DMX, House of Pain, Michael Jackson, Prince and even the '80s one-hit-wonder A- Ha, Jean spent the majority of the night acting as a DJ to the highly charged crowd. In between songs, he blasted both Puff Daddy for his over-used sam- pling and his former friend Cannibas for his back-stabbing lyrics. Mixing humor with politic# activisim and his passion for his green friend ganja, Jean reminded the crowd, "This ain't MTV! Fuck that conserva- tive shit!" Ninety minutes into the show, a young boy with dread-locked hair bare- ly ten-years-old was lifted from the 'audience. Hardly breaking a sweat, the youngster helped his father on-stage. Jean turned the microphone over to thA long-haired man before the two san reggae duet, thus proving the artist's versatile talents. Other spontaneous acts included a freestyle competition between a tattooed audience member and Jean. Throughout the night,-Jean repeatedly teased the crowd by pretending to end the show. However, the crowd's ferori- cous energy hardly subsided with each idle threat. Finally, two hours into the concert, as Jean screamed "The after- party has begun" crazed fans beg, climbing on-stage. Within a span of 1 minutes, a mass of bodies filled the tiny stage dancing and singing along with The Product, Jean and his band. Security eventually pulled the plug while Jean looked down on the crowd standing on two 8-foot speakers. Overall, the show highlighted Jean's ability to entertain and energize a crowd. Though he sang less than t' songs, Jean held to his promise an made his show unforgetable. lv what went wrong in each of these splits he can exorcise his relationship demons and get out of his mini-mid- life crisis. Of his top five worst breakups, number three is Charlie (Catherine Zeta-Jones), an airy model-type, and number four, Sarah (Lili Taylor), a woman he got with out of convenience. But the one he really wants back is Laura. The problem at this point is that the film drags on for a long time with virtually nothing happening, other than lengthy record store banter sessions and several tepid, unended moments between Rob and Laura as she moves out of his apartment over a period of several days (here's a hint: Rent a U-Haul, pack up and move out already!). See HI-FI, Page 9 Marvin Gaye?). I was nothing com- pared with Rob Gordon (John Cusack) and his friends in "High CON ERTS HIL NH E T S TRO L Jean mixed his studio verses with freestylin' rhymes as the audience clapped their hands and waved them from side to side, mimicking moves of the Refugee Allstars onstage. Stripping down to a wife-beater (which he eventually ripped off), Jean challenged the crowd's best to strut their stuff on-stage. A young man and woman looking like Stooges climbed on-stage only to be quickly booed off. At Jean's urging, the next couple gyrat- ed their bodies as the Fred Durst looka- like tried to seduce the young blonde girl who joined him. Finally, a third couple accepted Jean's challenge and nearly brought down the house. They "NOT ONLY IS HOOKAH ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC JiAM BANDS, BUT THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST." -RELIX hookah with special guest ZEN TRICKSTERS THIS SATURDAY APRIL 1 * MICHIGAN THEATER 9 7:30 I life is disappointing? "DON'T LET THEIR ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND BONGOS FOOL YOU. THEY WILL KICK YOUR ROCK-N-ROLL ASSI!" -BOSTON GLOBE In here life is Beautiful... Come to the Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb Book by Joe Masteroff Direction & Choreography by Linda Goodrich Musical Direction I WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LUNA AND BOSH HOUSE THURSDAY APRIL 6 * THE MAJESTIC * DOORS 8PM FULBRIGHT PROGRAM FOR STUDY & RESEARCH ABROAD The Fulbright programs support study abroad in over 100 countries, providing grants or research, study and travel for selected countries, and various other opportunities such Ulfm viom imi rrvi- r--ai