2B the Michigan Daily \W kend, etc. Magazine -Thuay, March 22, 2000
Oscars. Best Picture, some thoughts
* _ _
S
The Michgai ail!- WeekoenJ
VIEWPOINT
I am hoping, but not altogether
confident, that "Traffic" will take
(he Academy Award for Best Picture
of 2000. "Traffic" masterfully
employs parallel development, skip-
ping among four geographic loca-
tions, to construct the interconnected
web of illegal drug dealing. The
film's eff'ect on me was a visceral
one aN Steven Soderbergh seamlessiy
.raced the drug-trade business
through from its origins to its most
personal kind of hurt. "Traffic" is an
expertly-made. important film with
outstanding performances by actors
as talented as Benicio Del Toro. In
my estimation, these qualities lift it
above the other four Best Picture
nominees.
But the work that I would hay. :
selfcted as the top film of the year
failed to get a Best Picture nomina-
tion. My choice is the independent.
low-budget film by the writer-direc-
tor Kenneth Lonergan. "You Can
Count On Me." This is the kind of
film one sees so rarely these days-
an unusually honest and intelligent
character study about everyday-type
people. "You Can Count On Me"
finds it dramatic life in the reunion
of a brother and sister in a small
town ir, upstate New York. There are
no charged displays of digitalitcd
image's. and the film's action is no
more intense than names -' pool in
the town tavern.
Mr. Lonergan. who has also estab-
lished himself as a gifled playwright.
can cut to the quick of a character's
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emotional spine, and move the film-
ioer to an understanding of just how
complex seemingly ordinary people
can be. This is exactly what happens
\\ ith Sammy (Laura Linney), a single
mother. and her brother Terry (Mark
RulTalo), a drifter who returns home
briefly after an aimless lie and a
siint in jail. These characters are
presented as people who reflect on
the meaning of their lives, the impli-
cations of their behavior, the morali-
ty of the choices they make as head-
strong individuals. Many philosoph-
ical and even spiritual responses are
raised, but never kith pat answers or
easy resolution.
There is an intimacy achieved
through character and dialogue in
"You Can Count On Me" that is
simultaneously heartmarming and
heartbreaking. One senses that as a
director Mr. Loneriaan has used a
collaborative improv isational
process with his actors. such as that
employed by Mike Leigh to achieve
the emotional impact of "Secrets and
Lies." "You Can Count On Me" did
not receive the full attention it merit-
ed although Laura Linney will com-
pete for Best Actress and Kenneth
Lonergan for Best Screenplay writ -
ten directly for the screen.
Some critics, while writini
admirably about the film. wcnt on to
improperly label "You Can Count On
Me" a "made-for-television" movie.
Please! 1. like many another, was
grateful to be able to experience this
unforgettable film in the psychologi-
cally-powerful arena that is the
movie theater.
FRA\K ii WA t
Profes.vor of Film c and Video
WHA T IS
wii ,
iW
PICTURE Of
UMIOLEDU
WITHtORIw
MONDA ,
..v. . ... "
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
This popular chamber orchestra
teams up with guest conductor and
pianist Murray Perahia to perform the
works of Handel, Mozart. and J-S.
Bach. Hill Auditorium. 8 p.m. $20-55..
764-2538.
THEA TER
Test One This is the first fully realized
performance by The Project, a group
consisting of U-M Musical Theater
majors. Its goals are to move outside
of typical university and community
productions, and present original
works of singing, dancing, musical
theatre, and poetry. Arena Theater.
Frieze Bldg. 11:00 p.m. Free. Email
the.project@umich.edu.
Into the Woods See Friday. Power
Center. 2 p.m. $12, $7 students.
764-0450.
Struggling Truths See Thursday.
Performance Network. 8 p.m. $20.
663-0681.
ALTERNATIVES
Paradise Now: Picturing the Genetic
Revolution See Thursday. Museum of
Art. Free. 764-0395.
Scenarios: Recent Work by Lorna
Simpson See Thursday. 20th Century
and West Galleries, Museum of Art,
525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
Sunday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Boseman & Lena (2000) Danny Glover
without Gibby? That's like Taco Salad
without meat, cheese, sauce or
chips. Michigan Theater. 6 & 8 p.m.
Caveman's Valentine See Friday.
State Theater. 2, 4:30, 7 & 9:15 p.m.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon See
Thursday. State Theater. 4:15 & 9:30
p.m.
House of Mirth See Thursday.
Michigan Theater. 1:30 & 6:45 p.m.
Pollock See Thursday. Michigan
Theater. 5 & 7:30 p.m.
University Festival of Student Works:
Varied Screenings See Friday
Michigan Theater. 12 p.m.
MUSIC
Homegrown Night What does "Home
Grown" mean anyways? Home Grown
like in South Africa where everyone's
favorite folkster started, yeah you
know it, Dave Matthews. T.C.'s
Speakeasy, Ypsilanti. 10:30 p.m. $2.
483-4470.
THEA TER
Into the Woods See Friday. Power
Center. 2 p.m. $12, $7 students.
764-0450.
Struggling Truths See Thursday.
Performance Network. 8 p.m. $20.
663-0681.
A LTERNA TIVES
Paradise Now: Picturing the Genetic
Revolution See Thursday. Museum of
Art. Free. 764-0395.
Scenarios: Recent Work by Lorna
Simpson See Thursday. 20th Century
and West Galleries, Museum of Art,
525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
Art Video: "Poor Man Shames Us All"
This video contrasts Kenyan and
Indonesian beliefs, concerning the
value of relationships over material
possessions, with the Western views
of wealth. Media Room, Museum of
Art, 525 S. State. 1 p.m. Free. 764-
0395.
Monday
CAMPUS CINEMA
Caveman Valentine See Friday. State
Theater. 7 & 9:15 p.m.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon See
Thursday. State Theater. 9:30 p.m.
Michigan Theater. 6:45 p.m.
Pollock See Thursday. Michigan
Theater. 7:30 p.m.
West Side Story (1961) When you're
a Jet you're a Jet, from your first cig-
arette and thennyou're all set and you
can bet you're not wet when you
meet Boba Fett. Michigan Theater. 7
p.m.
"Exit Wounds" is number one with a bullet, which says something about
WE DELIVER!
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333 E. Huron
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(734) 747-7006
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IiCotipoI Per Visit
;Iot valid wtht other offer
House of Mirth See Thursday.
MUSIC
Jazz Jam Session Oh, but Mr. Music
List maker, Ally McBeal is on Monday
nights. So what, shut up, go jam.
Wuss. Pierpont Commons. 8 p.m.
>; :> Free.
' " Acoustic Open Mic <Insert bad Dave
SMatthews joke here> or see previous.
Tap Room, Ypsilanti. 9:30 p.m. Free.
482 -5320.
ALTERNATIVES
Now President, Playboy Editor Face
Off Patricia Ireland and Asa Baber
will sign copies of their latest work to
:, 4?promote their upcoming debate,
Uncovering the Naked Truth."
Borders. 5:30 p.m. Free. 763-1107.
.4 Paradise Now: Picturing the Genetic
:> Revolution See Thursday. Museum of
Art. Free. 764-0395.
4 Scenarios: Recent Work by Lorna
Simpson See Thursday.k20th Century
f.,.:andWest Galleries, Museum of Art,
" '. k" 525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
M Tuesday
/ CAMPUS CINEMA
Caveman Valentine See Friday. State
Courtesy of 20th Centuryox Theater. 7 & 9:15 p.m.
"Say It Isn't So": Rollergirl Heather Grahams stars in the latest gross-out goof-
ball comedy, helmed by the assistant director of the Farrelly brothers.. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon See
Thursday. State Theater.
House of Mirth See Thur
Michigan Theater. 6:45 I
Pollock See Thursday. M
Theater. 7:30 p.m.
Snatch (2000) Brad Pitt
his teeth into this film.
Theater. 8:30 p.m.
The Unknown (1913) Yep
silent film, but if your ce
off during it, I'll still kic
Michigan Theater. 7 p.m
MUSIC
Blind Pig Showcase Nigf
missing Bob Barker: N
Denial, Spinfist, Elsew
Great American Killer. Ir
order. Blind Pig, 208 S. 1
Free. 996-8555.
Blues Jam I used a je
already, and there really
good on television on T
anyways. Didn't Doogie
Tuesdays? No that waE
with the Wonder Years,
back on ABC. Hey, than
me with that. Tap Ro(
9:30 p.m. Free. 482-532
ALTERNATIVES
Paradise Now: Picturing
Revolution See Thursday
Art. Free. 764-0395.
Scenarios: Recent Work
Simpson See Thursday.
and West Galleries, Mus
525 S. State. Free. 764.
Wednesi
CAMPUS CINEMA
Caveman Valentine See
Casual dining at its best!
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Downtown AA
(734) 823-7400
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