10A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, September 26, 2005 ARTS Briarwood venue opens with second- run movies By Jeffrey Bloomer Daily Film Editor In the midst of what has become the worst box- office slump since the emergence of home video in the '80s, many filmgoers have turned away from the theatrical experience of the movies. But the opening of the new Briarwood Dollar Movies 4 last Friday aims to change that - if only on the local scale. The new theater, located near Briarwood Mall lots 26- 28 (in place of the former Madstone Theater), adds a fifth venue to Ann Arbor's four existing theaters - but is the only one to offer second-run films for as low as 50 cents at select showings. Alan Teicher, owner of the new theater, said that the cost alone offers a strong incentive for theater patrons, particularly University students. "I hope that we get a lot of students because of our price. I'm sure a lot of students are on budgets and cannot afford $9.50 (per ticket)," Teicher said. He added that in the coming months, the theater will likely begin another program aimed directly at student audiences: midnight movies. "We're thinking about, after football season, hav- ing midnight movies on maybe Friday night ... Now- adays, I don't know how much stuff there is to do after midnight on a Friday night. Kids don't want to go to bed at the midnight hour." Comparing his theater to the defunct Madstone, Teicher said the venue offers second-run features nearing the end of their theatrical run, which is unique to Ann Arbor. "What people don't know (is that) ... Ann Arbor is a very, very, very good movie town. The grosses that come out of this town are very strong. And we find from experience ... if there's a strong first-run base, then second-run theaters are very good. And it's a Foster propels tense airline potboiler Ctes~tiyoflTouchIstUo EUUN EUROBRTSON/Uaily Patrons stand outside the brand-new Briarwood Dollar Movies 4, which opened Friday. beautiful mall, so how can you go wrong?" he said. Still, Teicher said, the former theater's legacy also worked to his advantage. "This theater is so beautiful ... because of Madstone. They put down tile floors; we have an overkill of bathrooms - I've been in business 50 years, (and) never have I seen a woman's bath- room with 18 stalls." For patrons who came to see movies during the theater's debut weekend, the bargain price seemed to be the primary incentive. "It's worth waiting to see the movie to keep the price down," said Sue Bergum, a resident of nearby Pinckney. David of Ypsilanti agreed: "It's a good, inexpensive Saturday night to get the kids out of the house. I don't avoid (paying full price); I just don't go out of my way to go to movies (at the major the- aters)." Elizabeth, an Ann Arbor resident who came to the theater to see "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," said the new venue also offers a selection of movies that are no longer playing in other theaters. "This is the only place that's showing it, and it's not really expensive like all the other big theaters, like Qual- ity 16," she said. Still, Saline residents David and Anne Turrentine said the theater's second-run features, not the price, is what most attracted them to the theaters. "(We're here) because we've been loyal dollar movie fans for years. A lot of faces around here are the same from the people who worked at the Village Theater ... We pay the normal prices, (then) come here and watch it a second time," Anne said. As of the theater's opening on Friday night, Tei- cher said the community response has far exceeded his expectations. "(The turnout) has been way better than I ever thought ... To set a good theater up, it really takes three years. There are people who don't read the papers, people who haven't been to the show in years because they can't afford it, so we have to get those people. (But) if this keeps building for three years, I don't know what I'm going to do," he said. "Take me to your leader." By Imran Syed Daily Arts Writer Learning to read by age three, mas- tering French by 14, winning her first Academy Award at 26 and backing it up with another at 29, Jodie Foster really can do it all. ............_ But can she save Flightplan a grim, shadowy airplane thriller At the Showcase with shades of and Quality 16 Hitchcock from Touchstone the unholy clutch- es of predictable plot twists, moronic villains and mostly mediocre support- ing performances? The answer is an emphatic yes: "Flightplan" soars above its flaws thanks to the grit, skill and grace of its star. Kyle Pratt (Foster) is an aeronau- tical engineer stationed in Berlin. Through flashbacks, we learn that she has recently lost her husband to a tragic "accident," and along with her daughter, she boards a plane to escort her husband's body back to the United States to be buried. Oh, but this isn't just any aircraft. It's the huge, new Big Bertha of a plane that Kyle helped design - with two floors, a bar and about 600 flat-screen TVs (kind of like a GameWorks with wings). But aboard this Titanic of the sky, a sinister plot involving the disappearance of Kyle's daughter is only the beginning. "Flightplan" has probably the most intriguing first 40 minutes of any film this year; the gray, melancholy, understated tone is set from the first scene. Despite the release of its equally well-made sis- ter film ("Red Eye") earlier this year, the movie proves to be just as thrilling and even more rewarding than its predecessor. The confined-space setting is also simi- lar to the one Foster dominated in 2002's "Panic Room," but despite the loss of visual magician David Fincher ("Se7en"), the film distinguishes itself nicely from that movie as well. Never at any point in the film is the audience left in a lull. The action is absolutely nonstop, though not wildly overdone as in other recent thrillers. Contrary to what this film's poorly made trailer suggests, Kyle does not spend the whole flight simply run- ning around like a maniac; she actu- ally portrays a sense of forced calm and more alertness than despair, and this makes her situation feel genuinely heartwrenching. The film's predictability should be expected by now, but Foster infuses so much flair and charisma into the story that we forget how impossibly pathetic the villainous plot of the film really is. Despite its drawbacks, young director Robert Schwentke deserves credit for setting a tone that is perfect for his story and character - understated, with just the right amount old-fashioned charm (complete with the classic German dia- logue at the beginning). As far as Foster goes in saving the film, it still could not have been done without the brilliantly subtle perfor- mance of supporting-actor extraor- dinaire Sean Bean ("The Island"). After bigger roles like Mr. Carson the air marshal and Stephanie the flight attendant collapse miserably under the weight of their over-the-top perfor- mances, Bean's Captain Rich steps up and gives instant credibility to the fast- sinking plot. The film ends the only way it possi- bly could, and though it's predictable, the stark imagery of the finale is pow- erful, even touching. Playing only her second major role in the past six years, Foster proves she has not lost a beat and has grown even more as an actress. She became a queen of horror with her Oscar-winning performance in "Silence of the Lambs," and with this compel- ling performance, she has conquered the thriller genre as well. Rosie Thomas brings experimental style to A2 0 By Lloyd Cargo Daily Arts Writer For Rosie Thomas, every live per- formance is a gam- ble, but it's a gamble she's grateful she has the opportunity to make. "Life is about taking risks and seeing what Rosie Thomas Tonight at 8 p.m. At The Ark is best known for her live perfor- mances. Often mixing in a stand-up comedy routine centered on a pizza delivery girl named Sheila with her introspective song, Thomas leaves herself vulnerable to the mood of the crowd, something she's become quite comfortable with. "It's hard to be confident in who you are to a level of being humble and recognizing your flaws and failures as a writer and as a human being," she explained. "If you can be confident in all those complexities of what makes you a person, then how do you choose to voice that to peo- ple? I've chosen music as my expres- sion," Thomas explained. That form of expression has been con- stantly expanding for Thomas as she's incorporated additional influences into her already eclectic sound. "Being in Seattle around so many talented people has been great for me. I have the luxury of being around people who are working on such dif- ferent projects that it gets my wheels spinning," she said. "I've thought about doing everything from dance remixes to stripping my songs down completely. I haven't nailed down my official sound yet, and I think its going to take a lot of experimenting to get there." Monday night at The Ark will be the perfect opportunity to see Thom- as doing what she does best - exper- imenting and having fun with her happens," Thomas said. Rosie's recently released third album, If Songs Could Be Held, has garnered rave reviews for its unique take on the oft-hackneyed role of the singer/songwriter. Still, Thomas Courtesy of Sub Pop Thomas will perform tonight at 8 p.m. music. If you're willing to take a risk with Rosie, she's willing to take a risk with you. _1 I I 0 UBS is a global financial powerhouse because of the ideas, skills, and commitment to excellence of our employees. We offer talented individuals a world of opportunities. A diverse culture of mutual respect and support gives all our employees the opportunity to excel. Our world-class training prepares you to be successful. Your skills and ambition are recognized from day one. RESUME DROP REMINDER Equities Sales & Trading: September 28, 2005 Information Technology: September 29, 2005 Municipal Securities: October 6, 2005 Please apply online through your career services website. UBS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in its workplace. (MF/DN) 0 6