ARTS The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 9 7 'Sea Inside' a stunning, inclusive biopic By Jeffrey Bloomer Daily Arts Writer In his fantasies, poet Ram6n Sampedro swept across the Spanish countryside and its expansive beaches, soaring above the landscape with transcen- dental grace. In reality, he was a quadriplegic man who wanted to die, masking his sadness with insuffer- able wit and fighting a nearly 30-year-long battle for the right to end his life. "The Sea Inside," winner of this year's Academy Courtesy of ABC Just like "Law & Order," except it gets a special parking spot. Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is a dramatized take on the true story of Sampedro (Javier Bardem, "Collateral") beginning 22 years after the diving accident that paralyzed him from the neck down. The film opens as two new women enter his life: A sensitive lawyer (Be6n Rueda) and a local The Sea Inside At the Michigan Theater Fine Line ABC doesn't see the j flaws in Blind Justice' By Samantha Force Daily Arts Writer The premise - a police officer blind- ed in the line of duty fights to get both his respect and his job back. He goes through many tri- als and tribula- tions, but finally demonstrates that he is fully capable of being a detective Blind Justice Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ABC with a loaded gun. Seems like an odd setup, yet ABC expects its primetime audience to swal- low this pill without choking on its obvi- ous flaws. The story of Jim Dunbar (Ron Elrond, "Ghost Ship") in "Blind Justice" does accomplish its goal of grabbing the atten- tion of the viewer. Dunbar works hard to prove to both himself and his fellow offi- cers that he is still capable of doing his job after an act of bravery leaves him blind. He also struggles with past infidelities in his troubled marriage with his wife, Christie (Rena Sofer, "Melrose Place"). When he is partnered with young female detec- tive Karen Bettancourt (Marisol Nich- ols, "Vegas Vacation"), who is trying to prove herself capable as well, but does not want to be hindered by his disability, they form an interdepen- dent partnership. What makes "Blind Justice" lose its credibility are the obvious oversights in realism in the premise of the show. The idea of a disabled cop returning to work is believable, but the idea of a blind cop getting his job back is farfetched. Another obvious zing is the idea that he can carry a loaded gun because of a liability waiv- er - this comes off as ridiculous. The disregard for reality is enough to make audiences uneasy about their own police departments. Though many aspects of the show are hard to fathom, "Blind Justice" maintains a fair amount of credibility by pointing out many of its oversights. For instance, fellow detectives Marty Russo (Frank Grillo, "The Shield") and Tom Selway (Reno Wilson, "Fallen") challenge Dun- bar and express serious concerns at the possibility of a blind man covering them in a situation of crisis. Actual life peers through the melodrama as Dunbar's boss, Lieutenant Gary Fisk (Michael Gaston, "Ransom"), tries to keep him from high- profile and dangerous jobs because of his disability. The saving grace of this show may be the acting talents of Elrond and Nichols. Elrond rises to the challenge of playing the role of a blind man. He makes Jim into a strong, independent, yet vulnerable character that knows when to ask for help. Nichols portrays Karen as a street-smart girl who is struggling to prove herself. The chemistry between the two makes the show interesting. "Blind Justice" is a decent show with a premise that keeps the audience's atten- tion. Its stylized cinematography gives the viewer the opportunity to visualize the crime scene with Dunbar's other senses and gives it a unique edge over other crime dramas on television. Though melodra- matic at times, this show is a good watch if the viewer is able to suspend disbelief and take the premise at face value. For those viewers out there who want their dosage of realism in drama, "Blind Justice" is not the pill for you. radio host (Lola Duefias, "Talk to Her"), both of whom eventually fall in love with him in their own ways. "The Sea Inside" explores Sampedro's final years, during which he was living with extended family and refused to leave his bed. Sampedro publishes his best- selling memoirs and engages in a "life is a right, not an obligation" legal battle and the very public end of it all in 1998. Directed by Alejandro Amenibar ("The Others"), the film is a marvel of visual mastery. Cinematog- rapher Javier Aguirresarobe photographs the breath- taking Spanish landscapes with grandeur, including the stunning sequences that follow Sampedro along his psychological escapes and the recurring flash- backs that take an unflinching look at the day of his accident. Amenabar, working from his own screenplay with Mateo Gil, considers every character beyond his or her mere function in the plot and emphasizes the humor and genius of Sampedro rather than his depression' and internal conflicts. Some moments of the screen- play don't hold together as well as they perhaps should Courtesy of Fine Line Making fun of this movie might be in poor taste. (his relationships with the aforementioned women often seem shapeless and distant), and the humor, though warm and genuine, often becomes so heavy that it undermines the film's dramatic edge. But these problems are overshadowed by Amenibar's technical prowess, similar to the situation with his underwhelm- ing but atmospherically effective chiller "The Others." In addition to providing the film's superb score, he handles extremely complex material with an inclusive, complete feel, a rare feat among biopics. Beyond the efforts of the production, the always outstanding Bardem executes yet another astound- ing performance as Sampedro, aided by makeup effects that earned the film an additional Oscar nomination. He injects an emotional life into his medium that no production team, even one this skilled, could hope to match. As in his acclaimed turn as famed Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas in 2000's intimate "Before Night Falls," he takes the life of a man living under circumstances that most viewers can't relate to and breaks down the emo- tional boundaries as few other actors can. Among the supporting players, Rueda and Duenas shine as Sampedro's late-life loves. Receiving much less but equally deserved recognition are those por- traying his family, most notably Mabel Rivera and Tamar Novas as his sister-in-law and nephew. Most remarkably, the film is neither downbeat nor depressing, but rather strangely uplifting. It is the story of a man who wants to die, yes, but that is the least notable thing about him. Ram6n Sampedro was a man with a sharp eye and an even sharper wit, a writer and poet who embodied the human spirit. The movie is a stirring testament to him, not to his beliefs or decisions. It may end with a death, but as this film and a handful of others have shown in the past, sometimes there couldn't be a happier ending. FESTIVAL Continued from page 1 smaller screening room - the Film Fes- tival presents a wonderful opportunity to see the crown jewel of Ann Arbor's film scene come to vibrant life. Unlike other festivals constructed around a specific niche idea, or those like Tribeca and Sundance which function mostly as meet-and-greets for industry insiders looking for a bit of indie cred, the AAFF is an inde- pendent, nonprofit event seeking pri- marily to connect emerging talents in the independent film scene with an involved and attentive audience. Hamilton states that the ultimate goal of the festival is to provide "an open forum for conversation" between innovative filmmakers and the several thousand film enthusiasts who will journey from as far as Australia and Iraq to be involved with the festivities. Given the organic and genuine rela- tionship that has developed over the years between artists and the festival, with many talented filmmakers opting to return year after year to display the evolution and growth of their abilities, this description of the AAFF as a kind of continuing dialogue of ideas seems particularly apt. Hand-picked from more than 1,000 entries, this year's selections represent the very best in narrative, documen- tary and experimental film from the United States and abroad. Two of the most highly anticipated works debut- ing at the festival are the documenta- ries "High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music" and "The Dream of Sparrows." Produced by Ann Arbor- based Glu Studios, "Soul" explores the origins of techno music in Detroit and the impact of artists such as Juan Atkins and Derrick May on the nation- al music scene. "Sparrows," the brainchild of Iraqi filmmaker Hayder Mousa Daffar and his team of contributing directors, is an account of daily life in postwar and pre- reconstruction Baghdad that attempts to reconcile the discordant Iraqi points of view concerning Saddam Hussein and the American occupation. Daffar's 77-minute documentary will make its international debut at noon on Sun- day. Tickets for the screenings will go on sale one hour before curtain at the Michigan Theater box office; tickets are $8 for the general public and $6 for students, or $80 for a full festival pass. At the close of the weekend, the festival's three-member awards com- mittee (led by Judge Emeritus and AAFF founder George Manupelli) will dispense more than $18,000 of prize money in the form of some 20 named honors. Selected winners will also be asked to participate in the Festival Tour, which will visit several U.S. campuses and museums over the next few months. With the recent proliferation of digi- tal video allowing independent film- makers to realize their artistic visions with minimal studio interference, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is now more relevant than ever. It is a showcase for the best and brightest stars of Ameri- ca's most democratic artistic media; it is a celebration of the direct communi- cation between filmmakers and filmgo- ers; and an important testament to the viability and vitality of culture in the Midwest. U U - I ' be WY / 1~ You're invited to e4 L 104, a series of free, fun workshops sponsored by the Alumni Association that are full of practical advice and tips to help you get ready to enter the real world. You'll, get: * Helpful information from seasoned professionals in lively presentations geared specifically to college students Take-home materials that you can use for future reference Free pizza, pop and a special gift The chance to win a $50 Best Buy gift card at each session Register in advance for two or more sessions and you'll be entered to win a $250 Best Buy gift card (can you say new iPod?) I. R OPPORTUNITH There's still time! Application deadline EXTENDED to MARCH 18N " Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors: EATT NT IN Internship Opportunity Right on Campus!!! " Full-time positions available for the Fall '05 semester " Sell advertising to local and national businesses " Manage your own account territory - Earn a commission based pay " Flexible hours that work around your class schedule e Management opportunities available Tuesday, March 15 Good Credit: Bad Debt Christine Riggenbach, Account Executive, MBNA Business Development The importance of establish- ing good credit Effective tools to manage debt Thursday, March 24 Six Degrees of Separation: Building Your Network Through People You Know Vickie Austin, Founder, CHOICES Worldwide: Business, Executive and Career Coaching The importance of loving what you do and doing what you love Tuesday, March 29 Investing in Your Future Ronald Eppler, Senior Portfolio Manager, Beacon Investment Company Investment options with limited resources Understanding stocks and mutual funds 4 Pick up an application today at TNI i mic! n DarILII N