FRIDAY Focus The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 29, 2004 - 12 4ILM & MUSIC k ., ~ _t 1) Tell Us the Truth Tour Throughout 2003, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Steve Earle and Lester Chambers traveled throughout the country under the banner of the "Tell Us the Truth" tour. These socially conscious troubadours urged the media to be more forward with the American people, and fought to keep the current administration get so much free reign of the airwaves. The Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) was a huge focal point for these musicians, who asked the fans in attendance to travel to Miami to protest it. APR. -2004 A MAY1 7 I - , ( I Control Room Rock Against Bush: Volume One This album, released early this year, united many bands from the punk scene against one man and his policies. The album was #1 on the Billboard indie chart, and its popularity led Fat Wreck Cords to release a second volume in August. While most of the songs were taken from the bands' previously released albums, both CDs did include new songs from a few big-name punk bands like Sum 41, Yellowcard and New Found Glory. Both volumes were sold for under $10 because the bands involved, 52 in total, agreed that getting Bush out of office was more Important than money. Fahrenheit 9/11 The documentary "Control Room" examines how U.S. television networks and the Arab satellite news chan- nel Al Jazeera reported about the early days of the Iraqi war. Directed by Jehane Noujaim (www.startup. com), the film chronicles Al Jazeera reporters - and to a lesser degree, those of CNN,'fOX News and NBC - as they attempt to remain equitable and objective in reporting the war's a" course, despite personal sentiments against the Bush administration's Change tour. al wave of political activism to curb voter apa- ecision at the polls. The upcoming election has ry of activity in all the areas of the Arts: the Arts the human desire >n Network, ing patterns ton. Conser- buy liberal purchased atical to the >le who use vinced that they are right. Swing voters are assailed from all sides by opinions that resound with anger and choruses of "We're right! They're wrong!" This arrogance of conviction has served two purposes: to reinforce the beliefs of those who already shout their own viewpoints and to drive away people who are attempting to learn about politics. Besides the existing electorate, the large number of first-time voters has resulted in a pitched battle over their votes. The incredible amount of interest in the youth vote has resulted in a campaign in which P. Diddy tells young people to Vote or Die, and the daughters of both John Kerry and President Bush make appearances at the MTV Video Music Awards to encourage people to vote. This has resulted in basic pop politics, with rap stars, actors and athletes tell kids to go to the polls. They are geared toward young people, with witty, sometimes crude humor on late night television and glossy book pages. His- torically, however, shows that the turnout for young voters has been low and their affiliation fickle. Politics seems to be invading every arena of modern life, not just books. Whole TV networks are either conservative or liberal; radio waves are filled with the loud voic.es of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. People are being bombarded. from by the combined voices of both sides. The question is whether this is effective in persuad- ing people to vote. Perhaps voter apathy can be JULY The Manchurian Candidate A remake of John Frankenheimer's clas- sic thriller could only be acceptable in light of present global affairs. Director Jonathan Demme tweaks the plot to make the film politically relevant and uses the first Gulf War as the film's point of origin. Denzel Washington takes on Frank Sinatra's role with great aplomb as a paranoid veteran. Meryl Streep's caricature of Hillary Clinton and the mocking tone with which Demme attacks Washington politics make the film somewhat worthwhile. The most successful documentary of all time and this summer's major pop culture phenomenon, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is Michael Moore's most scath- ing documentary yet. By connecting the Bush family with the Saudis and arguing that the current Bush admin- istration used the tragedies of Sept. 11 to push its own agenda,'Moore's overall portrait of the president is far from flattering. The heart of the film however belongs to grieving mother Lila Lipscomb, who lost her son in Iraq. Topped with astonishing footage and a plethora of interviews, "Fahr- enheit 9/11" just may be credited as the first film to ever help get a presidential candidate out of office. AUG. 13 ( L AUG. Future Soundtrack Outfoxed: Rupert Mur- doch's War on Journalism A documentary attacking "America's most watched cable news network," "Outfoxed" rebukes FOX News Channel's "Fair & Balanced" label and accuses the implicitly conservative network of evArthine short of miurdet The film Organized by1 John Flanst U- had nu" 9 pinion, w ?Upon en a a ;d n fictitious Colorado gubernatorial race, which is centered around a murder mystery and a George W. Bush-esque candidate named Dickie Pilager. With- out sugarcoating anything, Sayles's narrative delves Into environmental issues, illegal immigrants and how cor- porate greed can influence the govern- ment. Thanks to its bold nature, "Silver City" is an honest and intriguing look at modern-day American politics. American Idiot rock opera was revitalized the release of Green Day's an Idiot.'ts chart-topping indeed tunning overtly I lyrics. OCT. Vote for Change Tour The Vote for Change concert tour represented a coalition of musicians who were dedicated to getting the American citizens to not simply vote on Nov. 2, but to vote for change. In an unprecedented effort, more than 17 different artists and musical groups were involved in playing about 40 shows, in 30 different cities, in nine battleground states, over the course of only 10 days, with proceeds donated to the work of America Coming Together (ACT). The Vote for Change Tour brought together performances by Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dave Matthews Bald, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Metienqpamp and many others. " 0 OC- - - Political Cabaret Today and Tomorrow at 8 p.m. Free At the Trueblood Theatei itt off'4 5' - 'v z. tY o $1 c~r - l