I . Q. >< , h c PsO1A, November 6.1995 pbrodite'is full of warmth, wit NeOl C. Crrut perfected in almost 30 films. Acts Writer When we first meet these characters, . oody Allen's new picture "Mighty Amandahasreachedthe decisionthatshe Mighty Aphrodite ,te" is a charming New York fairy wants achild. Therefore,whenthe oppor- that represents his most interesting and tunity to adopt presents itself, the couple Written and directed by gngeffortinseveral years. It is a wel- can't resist. Their new child, Max, turns Woody Allen; with Woody e comeback after the disappointingly out to be highly gifted and intelligent. So, Allen and Mira Sorvino "Bullets Over Broadway" and the whenthemarriage beginstofalterLenny erslight"Manhattan Murder Mystery ." is drawn by curiosity to track down the At Showcase le the film will not draw those who are woman who gave birth to theirwonderful diehard Allen fans, it does have a great child. of dumb blonde banter with Allen, which to offer in the way of a clever script, Aftersome detectivework,Lenny finds bring to mind the great Judy Holliday in performances and genuine warmth. that the mother is Linda Ash, a prostitute "Bom Yesterday." She also manages to len stars as Lenny, a sports writer andporno film actress(a.k.a. Judy Cum), suggest an emotional depth that makes se marriage to art gallery manager star of such hard-core gems as "The En- the character all the more interesting. anda (Helena Bonham Carter) is on chanted Pussy." As it turns out, young This is, without a doubt, the greatest rocks. There is an interesting and Max was conceived accidentally duringa female role in an Allen film since Diane aling chemistry between Allen's tryst with one of Linda's clients. Keaton's turn as the title character of bish bravado and Carter's bitchy re- The heart and soul of "Mighty "Annie Hall." ent. And it is nice to see the delec- Aphrodite" is Mira Sorvino's extraordi- In Greek and Roman myth Aphrodite e Carter in a film that is not a period nary performance as Linda. Sorvino was or Venus was the goddess of love, who . In fact,it is rather jarring to see her previously in Robert Redford's "Quiz managed to charm and captivate all men. ed in contemporary as opposed to Show"and Whit Stillman's"Barcelona," Allennotonly wryly transplantsthismyth standard Merchant/Ivory Edwardian as well as the current release "Blue in the to modern times with great irony and on. Lenny, of course, is the lovable Face." This statuesque and voluptuous verve, but also subtly comments on what and hapless romantic that Allen has actress absolutely sparkles in her scenes is universal in the human condition be- and love tweenantiquityandmodem-day America. This is highlighted by Allen's use of a traditional chorus, a common feature of Greek tragedy, used to provide a com- mentary on the action. The masterful and under-used F. Murray Abraham leads the chorus and is supported by Olympia Dukakis, Jack Warden andDavidOgdenStiers. Initially they areconfinedtoarusticamphitheater, in scenes that were filmed at the ancient Teatro Greco in Taormina, Italy. As the film progresses Abraham shows up, in theatricalmakeupanddrapery,in Allen's daily life to provide criticism and advice. The chorus provides some of the film's greatest gags and one-liners, aswell as its most inspired lunacy. In addition to these echoes of Greek civilization, Allen employs the oft-used Pygmalion myth. As Lenny probes Linda forinformation abouthergenealogy (and the origin of Max's intelligence), he de- velops arealaffinityforher,intheshadow of his crumbling marriage. He attemptsto turn around Linda's dead end life by creating a legitimate existence for her, balanced with atouching tale ofloveend absent ofpimps, pomo and pushers. This redemption. Also intriguing is the way friendshipis beautifully handledbyAllen Allen alternates the grim realism of and is not allowed to become maudlin, Linda's situation (her menacing pimp formulaic or manipulative. and trouble-ridden past) with the highly "Mighty Aphrodite" is vintage Woody illusionistic, Fellini-esquechorusscenes Allen in that much ofthe humor is gener- Like a master, Allen brings these myriad ated by the commingling of high culture elements together for an ending thatcan with banal concerns. This humor is deftly only be described as sublime. Cultural review gives glimpse into the 'Mystery of India By NIkhI Chawla Perhaps the best feature in the cultural segments in the main plot. The fate of a For the Daily R EVIEW show was the Bharata Natyam dance given film often rests on the popularityof The month-long Festival of India closed segment.In its truestIndian classical dance these song and dance segments. The song with abang, with the Indian Cultural Show Mystery of form, the Bharata Natyam is performed "Muqabala," performed here, has very presented by the Indian American Student India solo to a strict beat. Eye and hand move- difficult dance steps which were adapted Association. Over the years, the annual cul- ment are a key feature of this dance. A and performed very well,to thedelightof turalshowhasbeenameanstoshowcasethe Hill Auditorium cymbal-like attachment, the ghungaroo, the crowd. rich heritage andculture of India. The show November 4, 1995 is put on the ankles such that the dancer An adaptation of the popular Indian opened with an auspicious dance of lights, can create avery enticing rhythmicframe- game Antakshriwasperformednext.This whichwasveryappropriateconsideringthat ditional Indian garment wornby women, work. The group of eight women in this game is now a popular game show in the Indian Festival of Lights, Diwali, was wrapped around the waist and draped dance performed admirably to a very India, where a contestant sings vases celebratedonlytwo weeksago. Thisyear's over the shoulder). supportiveaccompanimentofmusic,per- from asong,andthenextcontestanthasto show revolved around the premise that a Folk dances from the states of Tamil formed live, composed in part by noted pick up the last syllable and start a new thiefstoleararediamondfromamuseum. In Nadu and Gujarat followed. In the Tamil sitar player and composer Ravi Shankar. song. Five singers went through a pre. order to solve this "Mystery of India," the dance, dancers played off one another to a It was refreshing to watch and listen to a planned potpourri of old songs (no game audiencefollowedthethieftovariousstates catchy tune from the movie "Bombay." combination of traditional South Indian was played here), but a break between and regions in India, while glimpsing each Also very fast paced was theGarbi, a tradi- and North Indianclassical dance and mu- songs was not given. The result wasthst region's culture at each stop. tional folk dance from the region at the sic. the listener could not quite catch thel W The first dance did not particularly borderofGujarat andthe state ofRajasthan. What followed was a view of the glitz syllable of a given song. belong to a given state, but depicted an The circular formations in this dance were and glamour in India - the eastern seg- The next segment, a dance from the ancient Indian custom of marriage, the pleasingtotheeye,butthelighting onstage ment of the fashion show and the Hindi state of Bengal, portrayed the national. swayamvara. Inoldentimes,whenaprin- dulledthecolorsofthegarments. Film dance. Models in the fashion show istic feeling ofindependencefromBrlt. cesswasready tobemarried,suitors from A short video divided into three seg- wore very extravagant and expensive- ishrule. In this dance, participants wore far and wide would come assemble in a meats was shown next. The first two looking Indian clothes. The Hindi film simple red and white clothes.Themood large hall. The princess would look upon segments, while somewhat humorous, dance consisted of a rendition of what is was more subtle and the movements those gathered and place a garland or a seemed out of place. The third segment currently one ofthe mostpopular films in more graceful than that seen in previ- piece of garment, the chunni, around the provided a behind-the-scenes view ofthe India, "Humse H ai Muqabala" (crudely ous dance segments. chosen one. The participants inthis dance, preparation for the cultural show, which translated, means "The Dispute is with After a brief skit on the life of a all women, each had a chunni and were might have been more appropriate at the Me"). Unlike most Hollywood films, typical IASA student,the Westernfash- wearing beautifully coloredsaris(thetra- end of the program. most Hindi films attach song and dance See MYSTERY, page 8 E7777177 a uaggeas or 195: Cnrstina Ricci an old' doesi Kristin Long y Alt Writer ictire this: Two 13-year old girls, a reckless tomboy and the other a histicatedcity girljoining together reakhvoc in a small town thinking they have more sense than all their ers. In "Gold Diggers: The Secret of r Mountain" we have exactly that only worse. e' film begins with Beth Easton ristina Ricci) and her recently wid- ed mother, Kate (Polly Draper), ving into Kate's childhood home in wnjust beyond nowhere. Beth finds sniall, northwestern village to lack fastspeedandfinesseofthebigcity. isconvincedthatthere is nothingto communityexcept a bunch of trees country folk. atis true,however, until she meets fearless Jody Salerno (Anna umsky),knownthroughout the com- ity as a rugged, rebellious young an. Having lost her father a few back,she finds herselfliving any- re but home for fear of the abuse of mother's boyfriend Ray (David th). Her mother (Diana Scarwid) rs her little support because she is busy consuming alcohol with her n man. ven though Beth would normally e had nothing to do with this delin- t, she is so desperate to find some itement that the two immediately Sa unique friendship. ody tells Beth the legend of Molly rgan: Withinthenearby BearMoun- lies a golden treasure to whose tion she holds the map. The defiant venture into the mountain and en- nter nothing'but trouble. Beth gets ped under rocks and cannot move, Jody fights to help her desperate nd.Throughoutthestrugglethetwo ind themselves to "Believe in ly," the inspiration of their adven- Jpont arriving at Jody's house one Beth finds Jody missingandreal- that Ray has gone on a drunken ipage. Bethknows that the trouble is wing again over at Bear Mountain shesuddenly becomes the all-know- leader of a rescue mission to save friend. Shegiveseveryone form her ther to the sheriff orders on what to nstead of having audiences on the e of their seats with tension, this k has audiences laughing at its dis- I brushes with reality. "Gold Dig- a" leaves little that is unexpected. predictable events only have us efllywondering when the movieis ng to end. d Anna unumsky. n't gitter whoepitomizesthespoiled city rat, and who walks into the countryside expect- ingeveryonetomeether demands. Anna Chlumsky, remembered by most as the flamboyant Vada Sulfenfuss in the"My Girl" series, takes a step away from her Geld Diggers: Bear Mountain Directed by Kevin James Dobson; with Christina Ricci and Anna Chlumsky At Showcase comedicrolesandmakesapoorattempt - to be adventurous. Director Kevin James Dobson, known throughout Australia as one of the foremost in film, has also directed Australia films "The Mango Tree" and "Suizzy Taylor." For the two films, het has received a total of eight Australian Academy Award Nominations, but this movie certainly does not stand up in$ such fine company. With little else to offer, it is unfo nate that the weak plot so heavily weighs Everybody and their Little Sister down this film. Mostpeople would prob- Austin, Texas funksters Little Sister bring their funk-rock-soul combo of great ably be amused by the way the kids run danceable music to the Blind Pig tonight. with their musical inluences rangingfrom the lives of the adults. This creates Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Elton John to Tool, the band's end product is sure to more of a parent's worst nightmare be one interesting trip down the roads of music past, present and future. Patrice Pike, than a film for the whole family. As a Little Sister's little vocalist with a big voice said the band Is like "Aretha Franklin, Led result, "Gold Diggers" only provides Zeppelin, Elton John and Carlos Santana all having a car crash, and everybody waking its audience with a faux treasure than up in the '90s." They'll play tracks from their great live debut, "Free Love and Nickel with something really worth keeping. Beer," and others from their new self-titled release. The band will be playing a19-and- over show at the Pig tonight, with tickets only $6. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. "EIGHT REASONS WHY MEDICAL SCHOOLS REJECT APPLICANTS & HOW TO AVOID THIS FATE" A Seminar on the Medical School Admission Pocess and the Successful Student's Approach Featured Topics include: * How Medical Schools Evaluate Applicants * Suggestions for Undergraduate Coursework * Strategy and Timetable for Admission + Free Comparative Guide to Medical Schools Presented by EXCEL Test Preparation WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th 7:30 PM MICHIGAN UNION-- ANDERSON ROOMS ALL STUDENTS WELCOME - NO CHARGE UM Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations The Newspaper Strike Differing Perspectives and Different Realities Presentations by Louis Mleczko President, Local 22 Newspaper Guild John A. Taylor Senior Legal Counsel and Dir., Labor Relations Detroit Newspapers moderated by Theodore J. St. Antoine James E. and Sarah A. 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