S _ 14B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magiule - Thursday, April 11, 2002 Audrey Tautou and French film 'Amelie' are pure movie magic Frozen Four trip makes hockey No. 1 By Jeff Dickerson Daily Arts Editor No other film from last year cap- tured the hearts of men and women around the world like the French film "Amelie." Directed by Jean- Pierre Jeunet, the romantic comedy has grossed an impressive $31 mil- lion at the domestic box office thus far, becoming the highest grossing French film of all time in the United States. "Amelie" is a rare movie with inventive filmmaking and real emotion. The story may seem borrowed; it has several elements from Kar-Wai Wong's Hong Kong romance "Chungking Express," released in the United States in 1994 with the help of Quentin Tarantino. "Amelie" even includes similar shots, but the stylistic ingenuity of Jeunet makes for an original cinematic experience, no matter how many: similarities. A m e l i e Poulain is a waitress in a small restau- y rant in Paris, spending most of her time imagining the lives of those around her while ignoring her own interests. The film strays from a typ- ical romantic comedy with its fan- tastical approach to the tired genre. Amelie is a magi- cian in the way she interacts with people, helping ~'~ others find love with her unique behavior. "Amelie" is most successful in appealing to both genders, where typical romantic come- dies tend to grav- itate more to females. The film manages to be cute without being too cute, giving it an infec- tious charm with- out a desire to cringe. Men can enjoy the love story without feeling that their masculini- ty was being assaulted, while simul- taneously admiring the overpowering charm and vitual magnitude of 23-year-old statlett Audrey Tautou. The young actress steals every second of the movie with her charisma and magnificent beau- ty. Tautou is a synthesis of the girl next door and a super model, with a hint of shyness that makes her that much more desirable. Mesmerizing does not begin to Courtesy ofMiramax describe the sheer power her smile has on male viewers. Jean-Pierre Jeunet has a filmogra- phy as original as "Amelie," ranging from the big budget sci-fi-sequel "Alien Resurrection" to the bizarre surrealist comedy "Delicatessen." Jeunet is more than a director, he has scribed most of the movies he has directed. The self-taught film- maker is keen on presenting the viewer with unique visuals that combine rich col- ors with hyper- kinetic camera movement. "Amelie" daz- zled the masses and critics alike, and was nominat- ed for five Acad- emy Awards, including Best Foreign Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Art Direction and Best Original Screenplay. Although the film failed to take home any awards, the popu- larity of the film in the United States has yet to fade away. For many, "Amelie" is that rare date movie where both men and women can enjoy a romantic film together without having to lie about their opinions. The magic of the film stems from Jeunet's ability to expertly balance the humor and charm of the story. And for those who were drawn in by the story, the 1994 foreign film "Chungking Express" is an equally gratifying experience with its own distinct visual style. By Matt Grandstaff Weekend Magazine Editor DAtVIDu DCHKNDu/aily The Michigan Theater and its arch-rival, the State Theater. Michigan Theater is ideal venue for films By Jeff Dickerson Daily Arts Editor For Ann Arbor residents, there are several options when it comes to seeing a movie. On campus, students have the choice between the State Theater or the Michigan Theater, both within mere yards of each other. Theaters out of walking distance include two megaplex- es, Showcase and Quality 16, and the lone bargain theater, the Village Theater. But the true film buff, there is only one place to see a movie, the Michigan The- ater. Since its construction in the 1920s, the Michigan Theater has been an Ann Arbor landmark. For years, patrons have enjoyed seeing the best from Hollywood and the art scene in the expansive 1700- seat main theater. But the Michigan Theater is not restricted to motion pictures. Every year, the venue hosts an array of plays, events and musical acts, from Travis to The Ann Arbor Film Festival. The Neighboring movie house, the State Theater, has been entwined with the Michigan since 1997. Prices for films are identical, but the cinematic experience between the two couldn't be more contradictory. The State features broken seats, atrocious concessions and awkward stadium seating. Of all the accolades that can be placed on the historic theater, none is more deserving than having the best popcorn. Unlike other theaters who use artificial butter and salt substitutes, the Michigan Theater uses the real stuff. Film goers often go over to the Michi- gan to get concessions before viewing a movie at the State. Through generous donations, the Michgan Theater is able to maintain its historic beauty and provide Ann Arbor residents with the finest films available. Whether it's "The Deep End" or "The Lord of the Rings," the Michigan The- ater is the ideal venue for films. While the Michigan football team carries the most tradition of any team at the University, the Michigan hockey team is probably the University's most exciting team. This comes as no sur- prise as this year's icers reached the NCAA Frozen Four for the second consecutive year. But while the Frozen Four was a great accomplishment, it is but one of the many memorable moments provid- ed by this year's team. In Michigan's first regular season game of the year against Michigan State, the Wolverines played in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game. Held outdoors at Spartan Stadium, atten- dance at the "The Cold War" reached an amazing high of 74,554. While the Wolverines did not win the game, they Showed great intensity in their 3-3 tie with the Spartans. On the subject of the Spartans, vlichigan students can thank this year's iockey team for not succumbing to the ;ame failure that football and basket- )all suffered against our northern rival. Although the Wolverines started the ;eason with two ties and a loss, they achieved ultimate success by beating he Spartans in the CCHA Tournament ,hampionship game held at Joe Louis Arena. Led by the gritty play of senior goaltender Josh Blackburn and captain Jed Ortmeyer, the Wolverines captured their first victory in over a year against the Spartans, 3-2. In addition to capturing the Mason Cup for winning the CCHA Tourna- ment, the Wolverines shocked many when they won the regular season crown in the final weekend of the sea- son. Winning nine of their final 10 reg- ular season games, the Wolverines edged out Michigan State for the title. In a year in which the hockey team did everything but win a national championship, several Wolverines on the team also succeeded on an individ- ual level. Junior forward Mike Cam- malleri and sophomore defenseman Mike Komisarek capped off a great season by being honored as American Hockey Coaches' Association First Team All-Americans. Even with a Frozen Four appearance, regular season and playoff conference championships and two All-Americans, fans of this year's team might remember Michigan's spirited victories in the' NCAA Regional most. Hosted at the friendly confines of Yost Arena, the Wolverines played their best against St. Cloud State and No. 1 Denver. In the end, this year's hockey team provided some of the most memorable moments for students around the uni- versity. And hopefully, with a young roster returning and continued bril- liance from head coach Red Berenson, the Wolverines will continue to capture the hearts of students next season. Audrey Tautou. Take me now. Eccentric Liberty Street Video has everything film By Joe LeFavi For The Daily The people, the popcorn, the porn. From foreign films to "Facebath 69," Liberty Street Video has catered to film lovers of all kinds. For years, this trendy stop for video fun has been a favorite of Ann Arbor and its residents, and this year it proves again to earn the title it will expect- edly continue to deserve, the best video store in Ann Arbor. Now everyone knows that, although Blockbuster and Holly- 'wood video have their clear stake in the city, true locals and students alike know only two video stores, Liberty Street Video and Campus Video. Sure, you can drive to the monster chains, but this is Ann Arbor. Most people here are either incredibly lazy or picketing against evil big-business conglomerates like the Blockbuster monopoly. What is it that makes Liberty Street Video the top video store in the area? "It caters to film lovers of all kinds. No one has such an exten- sive adult, NC-17, unrated, foreign and gay/lesbian collection. It's a movie store for movie lovers," said general manager Steve Smith when describing his store. Even the layout of the store is unconventional. The more mainstream genres like action and drama are relegated downstairs while the center of the main floor is devoted to their extensive gay/les- bian section. "If it wasn't intentional to start that way, it was intentional to stay that way. It's something that people have in the past been ashamed of and that's a lousy thing. These people have been ignored. We are proud of our diversity. It's our bread and butter. It's what we're most proud of, so we want to show that more prominently." With the surge in popularity of DVD over the past few years, video stores are adjusting to accommodate their customers. Smith said of Liber- ty's growing DVD selection, "Every- thing's going that way. It would be silly, an unwise business decision not to. You have to if you want to compete, to stay open." Competition on campus isn't an issue for Liberty Street Video. Gen- eral Manager Smith said of his com- petitor Campus Video, "We don't hate them because we don't see them as a threat. They are more exclusive- ly student-centered. We tend to be local video store of choice. We cater to the townies as well as the stu- dents." He continued, "I just want EMMA FOSDICK/Daily Where else can you find "Shakes the Clown" on Beta? people to know that we don't hate Campus Video. We reserve all hatred exclusively for Hollywood Video and Blockbuster. We all form a brotherhood against the evil corpo- rate empire."