They're on their way Down
Pantera's Phil Anselmo is the brains behind Down, a band that also
features members of the group Corrosion of Conformity. Their heavy new
record mixes the best of those two groups while maintaining a unique
quality. Catch 'em tonight at St. Andrew's Hall; call (313) 961-MELT for
more information.
Page 5
Monday,
25, 1999
-LJ September
'Belle' strikes rich tone
By Joshua Rich
Daily Film Editor
Under the auspicious title of "Mar-
tjn Scorsese Presents," Luis Bunuel's
classic 1967 romance, "Belle de Jour,"
sweeps onto the silver screen with fan-
tastic images of sex and sensuality.
This film exists amidst a world of lov-
ers; namely, those who survive life's
daily grind only to find romance around
every corner. But it is also a world of
the demons that constantly seem to be
in the way of achieving greater bliss.
In the middle of it all, the viewer is
tangled up in a modern-day fantasy.
"Belle de Jour" concerns itself with one
woman's exciting struggle to rid her-
self of the re traints that control her
sexual instinct s, while at the same time,
she embarks tan an erotic journey to
becoming a tr ie lover.
Belle De Jour
Direcred by Luis Bunuel
withi Catherine Deneuve
and Jean Sorel
At the Michigan Theater
The always I eautiful actor-goddess
Catherine Deneuve stars as Severine, a
vibrant young newlywed housewife
who, given an inability to fully satisfy
her husband's s xual desires, sets out to
work in an excluasive brothel as a high-
class prostitute While she no doubt
wishes that she a.nd husband Pierre could
have a wild set. life, something is un-
doubtedly missing.
In her secret daily work, Severine
becomes Belle cle Jour ("Beauty of the
Day"), a timid y et wonderfully sensual
alter-ego. Belle is so romantic and so
skilled in bed that she develops a large
regular clientelie of businessmen and
gangsters.
As Belle and Severine gradually be-
come one and th1 same, Severine uncov-
will embrace foreign pictures if given
the proverbial "stamp of approval" by
our most acclaimed director.
Regardless of all the political shuf-
fling and sales pitches that surround the
film, "Belle de Jour" remains a spell-
binding array of colorful, refined pho-
tography that beautifully complements
an equally vivid and shining story. From
the outset, the viewer in instantly drawn
into Severine's tumultuous life, and we
remain avid witnesses ofthe more excit-
ing and erotic adventures of Belle.
Deneuve, in one of her early roles, is
most appropriate. Not only is she a fine
actor capable of executing the most dif-
ficult of actions, but, more importantly,
she is such a beautiful figure on screen
that the viewer neither wishes nor dares
to take his eyes off her. Such manipula-
tion is essential in capturing the whims
of Severine and sending theni into the
soul of the audience.
In many ways, this is a story that
viewers will find hits close to home. At
one time or another, we allsuffer roman-
tic and sexual dissatisfaction, yet we
only wish we had the drive and determi-
nation that Severine possesses in order
to achieve greater passion.
Belle, therefore, exists not only as an
escape for the hapless housewife, but
also as the audience's guide into discov-
ering all of our subconscious sexual
desires, She is a daring and romantic
figure that opens our minds, rids us of
our respective demons and ultimately
Catherine Deneuve is ready to play Parcheesi.
ers the missing links in her marital bond.
Thus, in attempting to heal her suffering
marriage, she ultimately - and not so
involuntarily -changes the lives of her-
self and her husband forever.
When first released almost 30 years
ago, the film caused a sizable stir. Under-
standably so, for the world ofthe late '60s
was probably not ready to witness and
accept such a troubling, yet ultimately
uplifting and cerebral tale of sex and
deception.
Ever since that time, the film's original
producers retained its rights and blocked
its re-release eitherintheaters oron video.
Oflate .meg-indeendent fmmcmnanv
Miramax purchased the rights to both this
and an assortment of other previously off-
limit French movies as part of their effort
to promote French cinema in America.
The "Martin Scorsese Presents" heading
will grace many of these upcoming re-
leases; This is a clever scheme by which
KA -,,.t L., - 1,, A.,o.,.. - -
Darling, let's water the chla pet." I
31fs reggae-punlk mix is funky fun
By Karl Jones j
Daily Weekend editor
"Hey, sorry I called (45 minutes)
late, but we were just, uh, goofing
around on the bus, you know," 311
lead singer Nicholas Hexum apolo-
gized in a mellow, barely audible voice
in an interview last week. It was dif-
ficult to believe that the demure
Hexum on the phone was the same
man who jumps on stage every night,
grabs the mic and belts out lyrics like
"Don't you know that the devil is in
me / and God', she is too!" Perhaps it
was a piece of Nebraska surfacing in
the Omaha raised, Los Angeles based
band.
Wherever it came from, Hexum's
dual nature was mirrored by the crowd
at 311 's sold out St. Andrew's show
last Friday. It's rare to see a band who
can whip the fans into a kicking, claw-
ing, moshing frenzy, and then bring
them down to a peaceful grooving
level, all within the same song. But
leave it to 311 to do it with their
unique blend of punk, reggae and ev-
ery other interesting sound under the
sun.
Not surprisingly, Hexum cited a
Wide variety of bands from Cole Por-
ter to DeLaSoul as his personal musi-
cal influences. "Bob Marley really
affected my life," he stressed.
SThe sheer mass of fans at Friday's
show reflects an upswing in the band's
popularity. SA Martinez (co-vocalist
and master oftux n-tables) even paused
toward the end of the show to thank
the crowd for sl owing up. "Yeah, we
played downstairs (at St. Andrews)
last year to like six people, so it's cool
to see so many people here now," he
311
St. Andrew's Hall
September 21, 1995
said.
311's growth in popularity may
have happened recently, but fans
seemed equally familiar with the
band's older material as they were
with newer sorigs. "Nix Hex" and
"Hydroponic" (friom 1993's "Music")
drew just as many screams, applause
and increases ini crowd surfing as
"Don't Stay Horne" and "Hive"(from
their latest, self-tittled release "311.")
Perhaps, as H ,xum pointed out,
that's because th e new album is 311
at their explosivie:, intense best. "We
always said one day when we felt
like we had totally kicked ass, we
would call (our album) '311' be-
cause it would b4! the best represen-
tation of who wxe are," Hexum ex-
plained. And if thlte album never gets
consistent radio play, that'sjust fine
with him.
"We model ourselves after bands
with huge, live followings like
Pantera and Phish," said Hexum.
"Building through the under-
ground... is a longer, harder road,
but it can be done."
The band has been on a long, hard
road of touring hell since May and
plans to continue on until Christ-
mas, take a break, and then head
right back out again. Since Hexum
has already hinted at the afore-men-
tioned "goofing" on the bus, one
might wonder what touring with the
band is really like. Words of ad-
vice: When you ask a band like 311
what the craziest thing that ever
happened to them on tour was, be
prepared for the obscure.
"I guess the craziest thing was
driving down the road in an RV that
was completely on fire and ready to
explode," Hexum said. "It was a
huge inferno like something out of
Die Hard 3. We lost all of our equip-
ment."
There is some confusion as to
how the fire started (goofing gone
awry?), but the point is that the
band pulled themselves up from that
flaming low point, got some new
equipment, and kept on truckin.'
They even have a new video for
"Don't Stay Home," that has ap-
peared on MTV exactly twice, ac-
1
What's the 311? Only Hexum knows. STEPHANIE GRACE UM/Datly
cording to Hexum. "We're just grateful that (our often as possible."We'rejust gonna
"It's basically a crapshoot popularity) happened from the keep touring and building through
whether it gets played or not," he fans," he said. He described the the underground," Hexum said.
explained. Hexum didn't seem fans as "stoners, skaters," and then And if a little "goofing" occurs
overly concerned about video hype, lovingly added "people like us." In on that underground road, with
however, and once again praised the future, 311 plans to stay loyal to 311's fun, funky, altogether joyous
the off-beat road to popularity, their following and hit the road as sound ... it can easily be forgiven.
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