8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 18, 2001 ARTS Rothbart uses the ordinary to piece together magazine By Robyn Melamed Daily Arts Editor "Finders keepers, losers weepers," is an expression Univer- sity alum Davy Rothbart has literally learned to live by. At 8- years-old, Rothbart was wandering through what he called the "Dinosaur Museum," (the National History Museum) and found a piece of paper filled with question marks. From then on, Rothbart became fascinated with things he found. In May 2000, he put his notes, poems, grocery lists, pictures and everything in between together to Found form Found Magazine. Magazine On Saturday night, Rothbart, dressed Shaman Drum in a t-shirt and baseball hat, came to Shaman Drum and explained exactly November 17, 2001 what "Found Magazine" is all about. Rothbart read a few of his favorite found items, such as a grocery list that read, "Beer. Meat. Dog Food. Baloney:' Rothbart also joked that he has to explain to people that the found items he collects do not have to include pro- fanity although many of them do. One such note goes like this: "Hi Sherry, You have the sexiest eyes! I'm gonna call you in a minute, and tell you what I would love to see you do with those cucumbers. If it's OK with you. I have a fantasy to tell you." Although Found Magazine is all about written documents and pictures, Rothbart does not put limits on this. In Ypsilanti, he discovered what he believed to be a demo tape of a "rap" band. He thought the tape was hilarious and wanted to make this a part of his magazine. During his presentation, Rothbart mysteriously "disappeared," and was replaced with a guy in bright orange sweat pants and a beer in a brown paper bag. With the help of a few pals, (one named DJ Monkey) the guys performed the songs of the "Ypsilanti Allstarz," which is the fabricated name of the actual writers of the lyrics. The perfor- mances of "Taste that Booty Flavor," and "Wiggle on the Flo(or)," got the crowd in hysterics. After this performance, Rothbart called up 10-year-old Ann 'mercan Voic Arbor resident, Noah, to read some of his findings. The audi- ence was laughing as Noah announced that he recognized the handwriting of "a kid trying to write like an adult." The note Noah found read, "Can you please sell my son a pack of New- port Lights?" Another enthusiastic woman in the crowd stood up and shared a love note she had found taped to a telephone pole in Ann Arbor. She was also lucky enough to have solved the mystery of who wrote the note, and coerced the man into join- ing her for the reading of the note that evening at Shaman Drum. At the end of the night, Rothbart encouraged everyone to keep an eye out for found items. He thinks that Found Maga- zine is a great thing because he is able to have something that belongs to everybody: "It's about being open and focusing on what's around you. All these people you never know will sud- denly become part of your life." If you would like to contribute to "Found Magazine," or would like to subscribe, check out foundmagazine.com. Courtesy of Miramax A young Amelie doctors Mr. Crocodile (Left) while the elder Amelie offers a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Tautou helps make Amelie' an Ont1m1St1C cinematic delfrrht By Todd Weiser Daily Arts Writer Add one part Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the masterful visual director of cult hits "City of Lost Children" and "Deli- catessen" (we won't mention "Alien Resurrection"), one part romance, one part comedy and what do you get? The answer is "Amelie," a refreshing, innovative varia- tion of the mundane romantic come- dy. If there is anyone who can prove that a sweet, optimistically romantic film does not have to follow all the Amelie rules of the normal American romantic comedy, it is Jeunet, who Grade: B+ has crafted an odd and unique story At Michigan following Amelie Poulain, a Parisian Theater waitress trying to help the people around her. Audrey Tautou, who may become your favorite actress by the time this film is over, plays Amelie. Amelie remains extraordinarily cute, whether she is happily setting up the sociopathic Joseph (Jeunet regular Dominique Pinon) with the hypochondriac Georgette (Isabelle Nanty) or being at her most evil, sabotaging the clothes and apartment of inconsiderate boss Col- lignon (Urbain Cancelier). We first meet Amelie as a child; a ;narrator explains and comments on her life as her mother dies and her dad keeps her indoors due to a fictitious heart condition. Suddenly, Amelie is now an adult but the narrator remains. It is this narrator who introduces us to those around Amelie - her neighbors in her apartment building and the co-workers and diners at her restaurant of employment. This narrator is good for many amusing anecdotes as he reveals the charac- ters' likes and dislikes (which are accompanied by the appropriate images including embarrassed parents and a montage of the orgasms of Paris). Amelie herself enjoys skipping stones and assembles quite a collection during the film. She is also unsure of her place in life; not having many friends as a child, she remains introverted in her affections as an adult. A tin box containing the important possessions of a boy from the '50s is her catalyst to a possible new life. Amelie decides to change other people's lives for the better with inventive and entertaining schemes. One of these plans brings her closer with Dufayel, an artist neighbor (Serge Merlin), who cannot leave his home due to brittle bones., Dufayel reminds Amelie that while helping others is good, she must remember to not hide from her own feel- ings and destiny. Amelie's destiny may lie in the hands of mysterious Porn-shop worker Nino, who becomes Amelie's new project. Alright, this does sound a little sappy, but great performances and unique visuals keep the films from wallowing in sentimentality. "Amelie" starts off very strong with exciting cameras and fast paced editing, but in the middle, it lags for a while. The narration is noticeably absent during this por- tion as stories slowly unravel. Sustaining our interest during this sluggish portion is the wonderful Tautoui. Sho is simply irresistible with her big brown eyes and charming undertakings. Tautou is sure to pull a Benini with this role, garnering an Oscar nomination and very possibly, a win. The cinematography is also exceptional; continuing Jeunet's reputation for sensational, unforget- table images. While "Amelie" may not live up to all the genius that has been bestowed upon it, this film still makes for a very pleasurable viewing experience and will introduce many unaware American4 to the magnificent talents of Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Cour tesyof Iou dMa zine One man's garbage is another man's career plan. 's' brings forth the brightest of literary writers By Lisa Raft Daily Books Editor It's like sneaking a peak at your birthday presents before the big event actually occurs. Reading "Best a.",. New American Best New Voices 2001" is American exciting; you are basically getting Voices the inside scoop 2001 on the most Baxter et al promising writers of the coming Grade: A- years. These indi- Harcourt viduals will be winning the National Books Awards and the Pulitzers, receiv- ing countless -___^ __ honors and teach- ing in university English departments of schools that our children will attend. Yet this collection of short stories still has to prove itself, being a mere infant among more well-established short-story anthologies. And although the series just celebrated its second birthday, it seems wise beyond its years. The selections are indeed very good, guided by the quirky taste of guest editor (and University English professor) Charles Baxter. The works are diverse, to say the least - as they should be in a well- rounded short story collection. The reader is able to catch a glimpse of Cambodia through the eyes of a twen- ty-something freelance journalist; bury his roommate's dog after accidentally letting it die of heat-stroke; attend an "intervention" for their boyfriend's alcoholic father; attend a reception as a flamboyant artist. The stories are audacious, at times jubilant in their exploration of relative- ly uncharted territory in the world of literature. The reader is not examining marriages gone wrong, or a twenty- something's search for identity, all stan- dard fare for a work of literature. Instead, the reader is fully, briefly, transported to places they perhaps have never ventured before. Imagine, for example, that you are a child whose mother is dying of cancer, dragged off to a strange house on Thanksgiving filled with odd, "leafy- haired" children and new-age adults. What could possibly happen? You'll never know how terribly wrong a din- ner pt' ban gii w " tfad "Pil- grims" by (Ann Arbor native) Julie Orrin er; the chillingnightmarish end- tig w ik1elys tay witfyou or the rest of your life. How does it feel to be a brilliant, imaginative - and sinister - Filipino- American teen with a dysfunctional mother and an absentee father? Read "Superassasin" by Lysley A. Tenorio to find out. Experience living in Korea as a newly married (and soon-to-be-wid- owed) American wife in Zoey Byrd's "Of Cabbages," or meet a mysterious man in a deserted Italian villa. Peruse this collection slowly. Read each story one at a time, leaving room in between to process and feel, letting the characters sink into your uncon- scious. Each one is entirely unique and stands firmly planted on two feet, with- out a hint of hesitation or uncertainty, confident it will make it to the top of the literary ladder. Steve Martin drills humor into dark~comedy Novocaine' If~ ~ ~ ~~. y91tin111keprgn... c~~~ll:i usie sen w .*r By Jenny Jeltes Daily Arts Writer After seeing "Novocaine," direct- ed by David Atkins and starring Steve Martin, you will never view a dentist's office the same Novocaine way again. A surprisingly Grade: B+ funny and cre- ative script At state Theatre leaves the audi- ence very amused and curious as to how the film '..lx will end. Dr. Frank Sangster has e everything - a beautiful fianc6 (also his dental hygienist), a secure dental practice and a bright future. But things go horribly wrong when Susan (Helena Bonham Carter), a young and vulnerable drug addict, comes in for a sore tooth. Finding the seductive girl very attractive, he makes two mistakes he prescribes her a strong narcotic against his bet- ter judgment and he then he finds himself fulfilling his steamiest sexu- al fantasies, with her in the dental chair. His immoral decision only intensifies when he finds his nar- cotics supply completely gone the next day and a suspicious govern- ment official waiting in his office. Frank knows Susan raided the office. Here is a chance to come clean and allay rumors of selling the drugs (a severe threat to his licensed practice), but he makes an even big- ger mistake by covering for Susan, claiming he doesn't know how they disappeared. This little lie inevitably creates new lies, and what started out as something very small soon becomes a huge burden - kind of like tooth decay. The crucial plot elements in "Novocaine" delightfully involve teeth, which somehow act as a cohe- sive force within the film. As the plot thickens and tension builds, Frank finds himself in over his head - running from the police and deal- ing with his loser brother Harlan (Elias Koteas), who recently moved in, and hunting down Susan in a motel room, only to find her with Scott (Duane Ivey), a crazed and psychopath brother of her own. And on top of all this, after coming home from work, Frank finds Scott dead in his hallway. Where do teeth fit in to all of this'? That is for you to find out. What makes this film successful is not just the tricky plot, but also the many moments that make this thriller/mystery also a comedy. Atkins creates an excellent combina- tion of suspense and humor, an right from the start, one realizes this is not a film to be taken with com- plete seriousness. Once you let some absurdity set in, some scenes are outright hilarious. And much of this has to do with Martin. His reactions and idiosyncrasies cause most of the laughter. Taking the life of a dentist - a seemingly low-risk and extremely stable lifestyle - "Novo- caine" flips this, stereotype inside out and upside down, makin4 Frank's faulty decisions just as addicting as his patient's drug habit. One flaw in this film lies in the character's motivations. Although one knows that Jean (Laura Dern), his fiance, is overly meticulous and a little obsessive at times, Frank dis- plays no discontent with her, openly or privately. In fact, the fi'rst few scenes of the film characterize their relationship as quite sweet. Becaus4 of this, Frank's immediate involve- ment with Susan is not only unusual, but also somewhat doubtful. Aren't there usually some difficulties or at least a little dissatisfaction within a relationship that can then lead to such behavior? This is not the case with Frank. He has sex with a patient just out of the blue, and she's really not all that attractive. On the other hand, this action is perhaps part of what makes the film a come4 dy. His behavior does not make any sense, and his decisions create much of the humor within the film. There is also a great balance between leaving speculation, yet explaining enough so that things make sense. You won't be bored. The ending is somewhat satirical and very clever. It is satisfying, and it makes you laugh the way an inside joke would. Frank lets the audience in on his plan, allowing one to fol- low him through his mess and at the same time, know that he'll find some way to get out of it. Going somewhere? Better take along Nationwide Long Distance. 300/$2 9 9 min. per ma. Nationwide Long Distance Included. Every Minute. Every Day. 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