8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 14, 2002 ARTS 'Gosford' showcases Altman in top form 'Furious' DVD full of features By Lyle Henretty Daily Arts Editor By Todd Weiser Daily Arts Writer Robert Altman returns to familiar territory with "Gosford Park." He all but invented and perfected the art of making the great dramatic picture that interweaves the lives and conversations of an enormous cast that is now emulated all through Hollywood. The most Gosford Park Grade: B+ At Michigan Theater recent example of a director pulling an "Alt- man" is Wes Anderson 's "The Royal Tennenabums," but he follows other recent Altman admir- ers like P.T. Anderson and even Quentin Tarantino. Altman first tackled the try house in England, the many guests there assembled for a dinner party and all the servants taking care of their elite masters. "Gosford Park" begins with the arrival of the honored guests to the Gosford Park mansion, each com- ing with their own maids and valets. Each servant will be addressed by their master's name and they are quickly separated from the privileged, being stationed in the basement of the large house. Wonderful editing connects and contrasts the troubles and yearnings of the upstairs with the gossip and curiosity of the downstairs. No one character is given central importance, but the film's narrative begins and concludes with recently hired maid Mary Maceachran (Kelly Macdonald, "Trainspot- ting"). Mary, being new to the ser- vice, is very inquisitive, and as she learns information about secrei affairs and past dealings, she helps the audience learn a little more as well. The cast is too large to explain, or even remember, everything that is going on with every character Each character's secret motivations are rapidly unveiled as Altman's camera winds around the rooms Altman's signature use of a multi- ple layered soundtrack adds to this, so that many conversations go on at once, with the viewer frantically listening, searching for as many details as possible The emerging sto- rylines and desires come to a climax with a murder, which then transforms the film into a complicated whodunit r 7 7 y 1 a a 1 1 S 1 When you place frightening up- and-coming action star Vin Diesel ( " B o i 1 e r E1Room") with Paul Walker The Fast ("Joy Ride) a poor man's bad actor, add cool Furious DVD cars and hot Universal Pictures mamas, stir in the director of "The Skulls," you've got your- self the perfect McMovie, ready for painless mass consumption. The resulting flick, "The Fast and the Furious," will not win any awards this season, and the dialogue and plot were apparently written for people cutting and "let's get in the engine" stylings of director Rob Cohen. The paper-thin story has something to do with Walker as an undercover cop trying to find out about some rob- beries or something having some- thing to do with the sub-legal world of drag-racing. He gets in the good graces of Dom Toretto (the only name I can think of that sounds faker is Vin Deisel) and quickly figures out that the "real" bad guys are the local Asian biker gang. Then Walker's character falls for Dom's sister and there are a lot of cool car races. That's about it. The real story, though, is the DVD's extra features. Cohen includes a spirited commentary track, as well as "making-of" featurette; Neither, adds a lot, but fans will enjoy the behind the scenes shot and watching Courtesy or U Look, ma, I'm in an Altman movie. ensemble cast drama in 1979 with "Nashville" and then later returned to such material, most notably in "Short Cuts." "Gosford Park", much like Altman's past successes, is a chaotic mess of multiple char- acters that is sometimes difficult to follow but is ultimately successful in making the viewer an active and interested participant in the action. Previously studying the country music scene in Nashville and the everyday lives of many L.A. resi- dents, Altman now turns his attention to a coun- 4 of "Clue" proportions. who found "Days of Thunder" too Michelle Rodrigu The whole cast is exquisite, with compelling. lent in "Girl Fight Macdonald giving an excellent per- That said, this is an ok-to-decent playing Dom's formance, instilling her role with a movie when accompanied by eight Deleted scenes, t sensitivity and warmth missing buddies and a few beers. DVD is the commentary, arer from most of the characters. Mag- only way to see "Furious" in your they certainly don gie Smith portrays Mary's superior, own home. The sound and picture are Film buffs will Constance, and she is wonderfully superior, highlighting the intricate in the stunt break contemptuous while also providing t much humor in her constant snide remarks. Helen Mirren, as Gosford Park's housekeeper Mrs. Wilson, eeZer'spen ] Shas the most powerful performance ain the film. Mrs. Wilson wears an aura of control and numbness throughout the film that is beauti- t fully broken down later in a terribly yemotional scene. The international cast is wonder- By Luke Smith fully rounded out by Emily Watson Daily Arts Editor ("Breaking the Waves") as the head housemaid who is having an affair In a frantic effort to redeem themselves (and their cred- with Gosford Park's owner, Clive ibility) in the eyes of their fans, pop-savvy rockers Weez- Owen ("Croupier") as a valet with er are preparing a fourth studio album to follow-up their a secret past, and Ryan Phillipe platinum selling third record Weezer (The Green Album). ("Cruel Intentions") as a valet to an Weezer has released over 30 songs through the band's American movie producer with a 'official website over the course of the last month. The secret present. songs themselves sonically range from acoustic laybacks "Gosford Park" is not a film ("Acapulco") to quasi-punked-out crunch ("How Long") for everyone, simply because all glazed with Rivers Cuomo's unique sense of melody. Robert Altman is an acquired Weezerwas released last May and debuted on the Bill- taste. He has the conflicting abil- board Top 200 in the fourth position. The band would go ity to make films as good as "The on to experience an internet backlash with a host of mes- Player" and "Cookie's Fortune" and sage board communities criticizing the tediously simplis- then turn around to make equally tic record. awful films like "Pret-a-Porter" and In response to the fans' backlash, Cuomo and Co. have "Dr. T and the Women." However, been releasing demos by the boatload through the band's when Altman gets it right, he suc- official website. The demos have been updated daily over ceeds in breathtaking fashion. the course of the past month with newer versions and "Gosford Park" is quintessentially recordings replacing old as the band either records them, great Altman and is sure to be well or sees fit to release them. received by the Altman lovers, Acoording to Weezer's website, the band's fourth as-yet while possibly being too challeng- untitled CD should see some sort of release near the end , A, fob, t nepg r cinder of, of April. Thejelease date is up in the air, due to Weezer's the public. recent problems with their label, Interscope. .ez (who was excel- t") attempt to justify girlfriend Letty. also with Cohen's nothing special, but L't hurt. be more interested kdown of a crucial Courtesy of Universal Pictures scene, showing how many cameras and angles it takes to pull off a car flipping through the air. Also includ- ed are a visual effects montage, sto- ryboard-to-feature comparisons and "Racer X," the original magazine article the film was basedon. "The Fast and the Furious" is a fine DVD, with plenty of features and a so-so movie to boot. Let your enjoyment of brainless action be your guide. 1ng studio time 1 ful-length Weezer will be launching another tour at the beginning of February with stops throughout the East Coast, and then they hop across the border for a brief stint in Cana- da. They will be taking Saves the Day and Ozma along for the ride. The band then heads to Europe where they will spend much of Mar. before they return stateside for pre-album promotional duties. Kelly Macdonald and Maggie Smith get all pretty. s(ourt)dyobIntse gs p Rivers Cuomo (left) and ex-Weezer bassist Mikej Welsh. ;iii) 4; WITH A S 9 AM