6 - Friday, March 21, 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

6 - Friday, March 21, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

UNIVERSAL
#UMDivergent
Talking'Divergent'

'Watch 'The Fall'on Netflix starringme,Gillian Anderson.
Star power can't save this 'Crisis'

Maggie Q and
Mekhi Phifer
discuss blockbuster
By SEAN CZARNECKI
Daily Arts Writer
The Young Adult novel domi-
nates the literature market, and
sci-fi and fantasy have been its
most electrifying genres. Beyond
even literature, this youth-tar-
geted genre has spawned film
franchises, video games and even
Lego sets. For reasons inconceiv-
able to outsiders, fans continue to
swarm global premieres, scream-
ing for autographs and for pic-
tures - one box office record
broken after another. "Divergent"
is a dystopian sci-fi film based on
the Young Adult novel of the same
name, hitting theaters this Friday,
with the promise to thrill audi-
ences as much as ever before.
Earlier this month, The Michi-
gan Daily participated in a screen-
ing of "Divergent" at the Emagine
Theater in Royal Oak, hosted by
actors Maggie Q ("Nikita") and
Mekhi Phifer ("8 Mile").
"To be honest, I saw this film
the other week," Q told the Daily.
"I freaked out ... I had so much
fun! I felt like I went and got
everything I wanted. I had fun,
I was threatened, I was scared, I
was emotional, I was cheering."
Many comparisons have
already been drawn between
"Divergent" and "The Hunger

Games," and rightfully so. Both
involve a young heroine, ordinary
in many respects, trained to fight
to the death, living in a society
divided by castes, called upon to
perform extraordinary acts of
courage. Phifer, too, conceded the
similarity between the two fran-
chises, yet also believes "Diver-
gent" could stand on itsown merit.
"We're basically almost the
same genre, but I think we also
have an adult element that grown
people will reallylike," Phifersaid.
"It just deals with a lot of adult
things. It deals with politics, it
deals with socioeconomics, it deals
with discovery of who you are."
Speaking of discovery, both of
these actors are still learning their
characters; "Divergent" is, after
all, only the beginning of a trilogy.
"We'll just have to see what
Max is up to, I'm curious myself,"
Phifer said. "I don't know what's
gonna happen in number two
or number three. So I'm looking
forward to see it just like you."
As for Q's character, part of her
appeal can be attributed to her
"mystery," as the actress puts it.
"She's an interesting cat," Q
said. "And I think we're gonna get
into her in the next one in a real
way. There's a real strength about
her, but also whenever someone
doesn't give you a lot you're dying
togetmoreoutofthem, and Ithink
that mightbe the case with her."
Both actors agree that
maintaining a consistency in
the portrayal of their characters
throughout the trilogy poses the

greatest challenge to them.
"You're makingsa film decision,
but it's kind of like a TV decision
where you have to decide where
the character is going, and if
that's interesting to you," Q said.
"I thought (the build) for this
character was real."
"Divergent" fans made an
impressive showing at the
Emagine Theater. In the lobby of
the theater was a red carpet along
which fans with outstretched
hands held their copies of the
book. Theycheered, tookpictures,
took home autographs. One girl
came forward and rolled up her
sleeve and asked Phifer to sign her
arm. She had no paper; she'd just
take a picture of her arm.
Phifer can count his son among
these admirers - autograph
notwithstanding.
"He's gonna come with me to
the premiere when we do it in
LA," Phifer said. "This is the first
time he's ever been excited about
me doing anything."
We went into the theater, the
rows filled up, the stars made one
final speech to the fans and the
room went dark. The screen lit
up and the film began. Laughter
was rolling throughout the
runtime, punctuated by the crack
of applause, giggles, whispered
jokes. Of course, much of these
adolescent thrills left older
audiences unfazed, but it was for
the most part, a young audience.
They left that night yabbering,
woozy still, each with their
memories and an autograph.

By CHLOE GILKE crimin
DailyArts Writer Taylor
You do
NBC's "Crisis" has quite a to see
bit of hype to live up to. The their
combination of its aggressive comin

ad campaign
(approxi-
mately ninety
commercials
during every Crisis
hour of NBC's Sundaysat
Olympics cov- 10p.M.
erage), buzzy
ensemble NBC
stars, respect-
ed showrun-
ner (Rand Ravich, "Life") and
ambitious action/thriller con-
cept makes "Crisis" one of the
most anticipated shows pre-
miering this spring.
But hype does not always
equal substance. The first
hour of "Crisis" is wildly
entertaining, but underneath
the gimmicky conspiracy
elements and slew of big name
actors, the mystery fails to
carry any real intrigue. Most
of the characters are flat and
one-sided. Gillian Anderson
("The X-Files") is wasted talent
playing the frigid Megan Fitch,
a wealthy CEO and devoted
mother. She steals every scene,
but even she is not enough to
save the show's unoriginal and
obvious dialogue. Watch for a
cringe-worthy exchange with
FBI agent Susie Dunn (the
Call: #734-418-4115
Email: dailydisplay@gmai.com
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If th

H
eqi
li

one of
"Crisis
are c
weake
are ur
"teen
Aithou
their b
are giv
to dev
"token
"angst
and "
in a
they a
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When
have si
all I ca
attenti
The
with
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"Tyler
Payne
most 1
show.

ally underused Rachael rational secret service agent,
of "666 Park Avenue"). just with the misfortune of
'n't have to be a detective supervising the president's son
the "twist" concerning on the wrong day and suffering
previous relationship a brutal wound on the job.
g from a mile away. (We've all been there.) If there's
e adult power players are a reason to continue tuning in,
it's for our hero Marcus and
Gross' star quality.
But aside from all the hype
Type doesn't surrounding "Crisis," there is
the dark cloud of another fallen
ial substance conspiracy drama. There is a
reason that CBS's "Hostages"
n new NBC failed so fantastically. It's a
a fine line separating legitimate
r -a stakes and silly plot contrivanc-
es, and it is difficult to pull off
an entire series based off a hos-
the stronger elements of tage situation that seems more
," the teenage hostages suited to a 90-minute action
definitely the show's film. "Crisis" could easily fall
st link. The characters into the same trap of lazy story-
ninspired and dull, the telling, and judging by the pilot,
romance" spark-less. it seems the show might be
gh the young actors do headed down that path already.
est with the material they However obvious the twists
'en, the show barely tries and broad the conspiracy,
elop its characters beyond though, "Crisis" has a wealth
overachiever girl," of talent and potential under its
y teen with daddy issues" pulpy surface. If the show uti-
devoted boyfriend." And lizes its strengths and builds up
crowded ensemble cast, its weaknesses, we could have
re often pushed aside for a great quality drama with a
interesting characters. unique premise (or at leastsome
ever the hostage teens do halfway intelligent network
ignificant screen time, it's fare). The conspiracy could very
n manage to maintain my well be more dynamic and bet-
on. ter planned than anyone could
only young character guess by viewing the first epi-
any real intrigue is sode, and maybe subsequent
Roth (Joshua Erenberg, episodes will develop some of
rgatory") who is smartly the one-dimensional teens a bit
with fellow underdog more. But this is wishful think-
s Finley (Lance Gross, ing and straight speculation.
Perry's House of The mystery is still foggy and
"). Marcus is easily the undeveloped. As it stands now,
ikeable character on the "Crisis" is fun but tragically
He is a competent and unengaging.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS
1 Chess ploy
7 Antique cane
topper
11 Home of the N.Y.
Rangers
14 Fundraising
targets
15 Wrath, in a hymn
16 Scarfed down
17 Annual.
Christmas party
group
19 Small group
20 Brightened, with
'up"
21 Bible book
22 "Let it be sot"
24 Thrice due
25 Wetlands
protection org.
26"Driving Miss
Daipsoleting
29 Humorthatwon't
offend
31 Lung poem
33 One oftwo
Pauline epistles:
Abbr.
34 " for Innocent":
Graftton navel
35 Pentecost, e.g.,
and what tan
literally be found
inthispuzzle's
four other longest
answers
40 Same old thing
41 "This American
Life" host Glass
42 Run
43 Exercised
caution
48 Theatergoer's
option
49 Fla. NBA team
50 Maker of "3
Series" cars
53 "Beloved" author
Morrison
54 Fromage hue
55Yay relative
56 Part of a disguise
57 Singer withthe
debut solonalbum
"Love. Angel.
Music. Baby."
61 Loan letters
62 Lisa's title
63 Passes
64 Relaxing retreat
65 Against

66 Winning run,
perhaps
DOWN
1 Pens for
Dickens?
2 Caine title role
3 Civilian garb
4 ASCAP rival
5 Grow
6 Jams
7 Social group
8Org. co-founded
by Gen. George
Wingate
9 Knucklehead
10 Happen to
11 Got some
attention
12 Flier that may
have four lines
13 Prefix with
thermal
18 "Right away!"
23 Key abbr.
26 "He makes no
friendsbwho
never made _
Tennyson
27 Grass-and-roots
layer
28 '0s em.
presidential
hopeful

29 Good, in Hebrew 45 Its hardto
30 Brilliance untangle
31 Effort to equal 46 Fifths on a staff
others 47 Knifelike ridges
32 Relative of a 50 Support
T-shirt launcher 51 - ray
36 Hill worker 52 Chef's tool
37 Creamy spread 54.. B'rith
38 Flowing out 56 Nintendo's_
39 Tankard Mini
contents 58 Finished on top
40 Tach no. 59 Dr.'s specialty
44 Dark side 60 Distant
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

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IF YOU LOVE IN-
DEPTH ARTS
REPORTING
ABOUT CAMPUS
LIFE
CHECK THE ARTS
SECTION EVERY
THURSDAY FOR

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Rv ihn Qm tta..r.u.

THE
B-SIDE

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03/21/14


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