12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 12, 2001 ARTS 'Band of Brothers' a literal tour de force in war drama By Ryan Blay Daily Arts Writer The good news for those who are sick of the hype over HBO's latest acclaimed miniseries, "Band of Brothers:" It will all be over in just two months. The good news for fans of the show, which Band of debuted with two episodes last Sun- Brothers day: There will be another new Grade: B+ episode every Sunday night for the HBO next two months! Sundays at 9 p.m. By now, probably everybody with cable or "People" magazine knows that Tom Hanks and Steven Spiel- berg, the driving forces behind "Saving Private Ryan," are cxecutive producers. But few know about the actual hardships of the Army upon arriving in Europe. Based on the book of the same name by World War II author du jour Stephen Ambrose, the ten episode series follows the exploits of Easy Company, in the 101st Air- borne Division. The company is but one that cleared the way for the immortal invasion of France. The first two episodes, "Currahee" and "Day of Days," followed the training and deployment of Easy Company over Normandy. David Schwimmer showed he could act outside of "Friends" (although probably too late to resuscitate a film career) when he took on the role of brutal Lieu- tenant Sobel, a man intent on making Easy Company the finest band of men in the Army. As he nags and drills and makes them run, they band together, but use Sobel as their common enemy. Lieu- tenant Winters (Damian Lewis) emerges as a bona fide leader, and when the men mutiny against Sobel, Winters steps up to the challenge. That's all for Mr. Schwimmer. Perhaps Jimmy Fallon will have better luck in episode five. On what is supposed to be "the day of days" for Easy Company, late June 4, 1944, the men, already in camou- flage, learn that the drop is cancelled due to weather. The next day, they begin their airborne arrival in advance of the full-scale attack only a few hours away. The smoothly efficient Lieutenant Winters, now in charge, executes a textbook attack on German artillery (so well, in fact, that the attack is still analyzed at West Point to teach proper execution), but loses his first man. This will no doubt haunt him for the rest of the series, but he will surely go on to glory (he did, according to the epilogue to episode two, received the Distinguished Service Cross). The talented Lewis is well cast as the soft-spoken Winters. With stunning imagery surpassed only by the first 20 minutes of "Private Ryan," viewers watch with horror as a number of planes are lost to German fire and a large proportion of Easy Company fails to make it onto the beachheads. Watching the remains of the company storm the fortified German position (and not have to worry a AP Photo Producer Spielberg and Schwimmer head up an allstar line-up in "Band of Brothers about finding Matt Damon in the process) is awe-inspir- ing. Coupled with recent works such as Torn Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" and awful movies ("Pearl Harbor" anyone?) this series may seem like World War II overkill. But assuming this denies the opportunity for Hanks and company to prove themselves capable of hon- oring the heroes of World War II, and it further prevents the men of the 10 1st from telling their stories on the air. It is understandable if some people didn't think this series, with few stars (unless you include Donnie Wahlberg or Ron Livingston from "Office Space") could not make it off the ground. But Lewis, as well as the other grunts, quietly fulfill their acting duties. With the firepower of Hanks (who will direct an upcoming episode) and Spielberg, the next eight episodes (tracking the men through France and into Germany) should con- tinue to be things of beauty. Jazz Fest plays at Commons a a By Denis Naranjo For the Daily Thursday afternoon at the stroke of noon, the sound of jazz will swing bet- ter than ever on North Campus. It's fes- tival time, as in the second annual Pierpont Commons Jazz Festival. Thank student organizer Tal Kopstein and his diehard crew of 30 student vol- unteers for packaging an appealing program of musicians and sure-fire soloing. Kopstein, Pierpont Commons Pro- gram Board student chair, promises high-charged improvisations, begin- ning at noon and lasting until early evening. "Two stages, should transform the indoor Leonardo's and the outdoor Pierpont Commons patio into some- thing distinctive," said Kopstein. Performing faculty headliners include music school professors Don- ald Walden (saxophone) and pianists Stephen Rush and Ellen Rowe. Contest giveaways will precede a closing head- line performance by Sex Mob. "The festival is entirely student-run;" said Kopstein, a senior jazz studies major and trumpeter at the Music School. "Dan Friedman (program board vice-president) and I have been working since February booking bands, finding sponsors. We've put something special together in only our second year." For one thing, Kopstein raves about this year's expanded scope. Compared to last October's inaugural bash, this time there's more bands, two stages and a much anticipated arrival of New York-based jazz-rockers Sex Mob. They're touring behind a new CD, Sex Mob Does Bond, which invokes an interpretive soundtrack feel to an imag- inary James Bond movie. "They rock," said Kopstein effusively. Last year's festival met misfortune in early October with heavy, rainy weath- er. With an earlier seasonal booking, Kopstein aims to deliver substantive jazz grooves amidst fall term color. Festival founder Ben Yonas, Kop- stein's predecessor on the Pierpont Commons Program Board as student chair, launched the festival to strength- en North Campus ties with the local community. Ultimately, it also draws welcome attention to the prized School of Music, besides showcasing a healthy mix of acoustic and electric jazz tex- tures. "Attendence was lower than we hoped last year. But this year, we've had more time to fundraise and adver- tise. So we expect 2,500-5,000 students to attend the festival," Kopstein said. >< ::: 414#0[?it~Jaz ................................................................. 6 w.'{ lilt, OWIMM ONE l to' lions 't! MIMS ;I