2 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 14, 1999
The General's Daughter
Paramount Pictures
At Briarwood and Showcase starting June
18th
Can John Travolta play a cop?
In the '90s, Travolta has been most
acclaimed in his roles as gangsters in
"Pulp Fiction" and "Get Shorty." "The
General's Daughter" really puts him to
the test when he plays the hard-hitting
military investigator Paul Brenner.
Travolta is forced to dispense with his
usual roguish style and assume the guise
of a man firmly cemented in his princi-
ples ofjustice.
Can Travolta pull this off?
Yes, he can.
Brenner is called down to an army
training site where he finds the beautiful
Captain Elisabeth Campbell (Leslie
Stefanson) raped and murdered. As
Brenner had just met Campbell the pre-
vious day, he his doubly shocked to dis-
cover she is the general's daughter.
When Brenner tmeets General Campbell,
a somewhat stiff performance by James
Cromwell, he becomes uncomfortable
with the aura of secrecy that pervades
his office.
By a chance of fate, Sarah Sunhill, a
rape investigator and former flame of
Brennan's played by Madeline Stowe, is
assigned to work with him on the case.
With only two days before the case goes
public, Brennon leaves all discretion
aside as he boldly tears apart the arny
bureaucracy in search of the truth.
As Sunhill, Stowe beautifully balances
Travolta as she takes a far more subtle,
but equally aggressive approach in her
investigation. Together they uncover a
truth far worse than they ever imagined.
Director Simon West returns in fine
form after his debut with "Con Atr."
West keeps the film quick but sophisti-
cated with a sublime flow of mystery and
suspense. The excellent cast is rewarded
with a top-notch script from screenwriter
extraordinare William Goldman, adopt-
ed from the novel by Nelson DeMille.
Goldman's script is inflected with a
quick wit that truly challenges the actors.
Without a frivolous scene, "The
General's Daughter" is masterful story
telling. Wow, what a ride!
Jonah tictor
Spike and Mike's
Sick and Twisted
Animation '99
At the Michigan Theater starting June
18th
*
"Spike and Mike's Sick and
Twisted Animation '99" is a series of
alternative cartoons that take come-
dy a few steps further than what is
humorously expected. The extremely
short yet graphic cartoons use vari-
ous parts of the anatomy, gore a
cocaine embedded in the animati
as a form of jest.
While some of these rather differ-
ent short stories are funnier than oth-
ers, "Sick and Twisted Animation"
isn't meant to be taken seriously.
Highlighting "Sick and Twisted
Animation" is the two original "South
Park" shorts, "Frosty the Insane
Snowman" and the incredibly crude
incredibly funny "Spirit of Christmab
in which Jesus and Santa square off.
It pushes stereotypes to the limit, often
with a strand of distasteful crudeness.
Some of the cartoons do have
occasional elennents within them that
are funny, however, the majority of
short sketches are repulsive.
These short, simplistic films are the
furthest thing from being politically
correct, and perhaps this is what
makes them strangely laughable.
The explicitness of body parts tt
borderline crude humor may not be
suitable for the tender-hearted and
may be somewhat of an insult to any-
one's itelligence.
"Sick and Twisted Animation"
when taken lightly may be a easy
way to spend lazy weekend after-
noon, for those who have that kind of
time to waste.
Neshe Sarko-
John Travolta investigates a rape-murder in the thriller "The General's Daughter."
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners are seeking persons interested in
serving as Washtenaw County Commissioner for District 11.
Dave Monforton, Commissioner for District #11 has resigned effective at the end of
the Board meeting on June 9, 1999. Under Michigan law (MCLA 46.412), the Board must
appoint an individual to fill a vacancy on the Board within thirty days after the vacancy
occurs. The appointment is only temporary, and is only until a special election is called.
District #11 is Ann Arbor City, Ward 1, Precincts 1, 2b, 4, Ward 2, Precincts 3a&b,
Ward 3, Precincts 1, 2, Ward 4, Precincts 1, 2b, 3a, Ward 5, Precinct 1.
Persons interested in appointment should submit a letter of interest and resume to
Tammy Richards, Washtenaw County Administrator's Office, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor,
Michigan 48107. If you wish to forward via the internet or fax, letter and resume should
be addressed to Tammy Richards at richardt@co.washtenaw.mi.us or faxed to
(734) 994-2592. Those resumes received by June 29,1999 will be considered by
the oar of Commissioners.
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will appoint an Interim Board
member on July 7,1999.
For further information, please contact Washtenaw County Administration at
(734) 996-3055.