2B - Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
The Daily Arts guide to
upcoming events in Ann Arbor
and the surrounding area.
Today 11.13.08
Michigan Comic Book Writer William
Messner-Loebs
7 p.m.
At Nicola's Books
Free
Signing - Katy Lederer, Acclaimed
New York Poet
7 p.m.
At Shaman Drum
Free
Tomorrow 11.14.08
Tattoo Art Exhibit and LGBT "Art
Date" Event
6 p.m.
At The Gallery Project
$20 donation
Charlene Kaye, Ann Arbor Indie
Singer-Songwriter
8 p.m.
At Canterbury House
$10, $5 with student ID
Saturday 11.15.08
Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild 17th ,
Annual Tellabration
7:30 p.m.
At Genesis of Ann Arbor (2309 Packard at Eastover)
$10
"Dances Sacred and Profane" Pre-
sented by the Ann Arbor Symphony
Orchestra
8 p.m.
At the Michigan Theater
Tickets from $10 to $47
Sunday 11.16.08
"26 Years of Buying Local All Around
the World": Talk by Zingerman's
Owner Ari Weinzweig
3 p m
At First Unitarian Universalist Church (4001 Ann
Arbor-Saline Road>
Free
Please send all press releases and event
information to arts@michigandaily.com.
THE so 'NEWSIES' (1992)
Broad way hits
the streets
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By ANNIE LEVENE
Daily Arts Writer
"Open the gates and seize the
day." Inspirational words from a
motivational speaker? Perhaps, but
not in this context. That phrase is
one uttered many times through-
out Disney's 1992 film "Newsies."
Blatant optimism is typical in Dis-
ney films, but for a movie about the
Newsboy Strike of 1899, it's just the
tip of the iceberg when it comes to
the film's endearing oddities.
For those who have seen it,
"Newsies" is the kind of film that
either inspires sheepish recogni-
tion or proud acknowledgment.
Chances are, either reaction is
for the same reason. "Newsies" is
pretty much a weird little film that
arguably had no reason for exist-
ing. Nevertheless, for those who
love the film, it's easy to admit
that it's silly yet charming. It's the
equivalent of an inside joke: Either
you get it or you don't.
If a film - a musical, nonetheless
- focusing on a two-week battle
spurred by an increase of 10 cents
in the price of newspapers seems
like an odd choice, box office his-
tory would agree. "Newsies" was
originally a terrific flop, ending up
as one of Disney's lowest grossing
and most expensive live-action
films. Despite its initial failure,
in recent years the film has man-
aged to reach cult status, especially
among those college-aged and
older.
It might be difficult to imagine
why our generation would embrace
a film set so far in the past, but
the general themes of the film are
essentially timeless. As a cohesive
group, college students idealistical-
ly like to believe we can change the
world - or at least sway a presiden-
tial election - and "Newsies" is a
film that capitalizes on that notion
of teamwork and accomplishment.
It's fun to watch a group of raga-
muffin newspaper boys in jaunty
caps and suspenders navigate the
harsh streets of New York in order
to fight against publishing giants
Pulitzer and Hearst.
The cast of "Newsies" helps
make it so entertaining. In 1992,
the biggest star in the film was
arguably Max Casella, who had
been putting in time on TV's "Doo-
gie Howser, M.D." Today, it's safe
to say that most moviegoers would
be-far more interested in the young
actor who plays Jack 'Cowboy'
Kelly - Batman himself, Christian
Bale. While watching Bale twirl
and leap down the streets of New
York City isn't exactly the same as
seeing him kick ass in Gotham, it's
immensely entertaining. Today's
broody Bale may seem miscast as
a hoodlum with a heart of gold -
truth be told, he does look a little
See a young
Christian Bale
sing and dance
his heart out.
out of place - but it's that awk-
wardness that make his presence
in the film so endearing.
While a singing and dancing Bale
is more than enough to put "News-
les" into your Netflix queue, it can't
be ignored that the real pay dirt is in
the musical numbers. Directed and
choreographed by Kenny Ortega
("High School Musical"), "News-
ies" presents scene after scene
of zealous dancers rocking some
over-the-top dance moves - in a
good way. It's not the subtlest film
ever produced, but it doesn't have
to be. It has heart and energy, and
that's more than enough to make it
a film worth checking out.
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