___ a + s yx y , E i f s ' y!e 1 ;. s a'^ Page 5 Tuesday, November 7, 1995 Persuasion' fails to convince RECORDS Prashant Tamaskar ily Arts Writer Although the production team of erchant and Ivory has had great ccess converting classical literature tofinemovies, manyotherlike films ve not fared as well financially or itically. Merchant andIvory are con- tently able to transform the plots of mous novels into entertaining films at revitalize often outdated mate- 3l. Unfortunately, director Roger ichell's new work, "Persuasion," sed on the novel by Jane Austen, onot make this claim. Despite an cellent performance by its lead ac- :ss, the film turns out to be a stag- nt ordeal, utterly devoid of emo- n. The story begins with thefinancially uggling Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) tving her father's home and moving with her sister and brother-in-law. As entlemannamed Captain Wentworth iarin Hinds) begins to frequent the use, he courts one of the women siding on the estate. Although it is er revealed that Anne rejected Cap- n Wentworth's proposal of marriage arly 10 years earlier, he seems to ve very little interest in her. That is, until Wentworth's romantic :erest is seriously iniured in an acei- dent. The tragedy causesAntne to return back to her father in the town of Bath, where she is pursued by one of the town's most eligible bachelors, her highly regarded cousin Mr. Elliot. All is well until Wentworth himself arrives in Bath. It is obvious that he seeks to reunite with Anne, creating an interest- ing dilemma forher. She must choose between theimysteriousWentworthand the more popular Elliot, whom every- one seems to adore. At its simplest,"Persuasion"is atypi- cal love triangle story, where the main character must choose between a bor- ing, but convenient suitor, or a passion- ate, emotional person, who obviously will win out in the end. Unfortunately for the viewer, neither of the two men competing for Anne is particularly in- triguing. AlthoughCaptain Wentworth is pushed as the more romantic option, he himself lacks vigor or pizzazz, and is ultimately as mundane as Mr. Elliot. However, the film does not focus on love as the central issue throughout many parts of the film. At times it concerns itself with the acquiring of prominent social status. The scenes re- garding these situations are rather dull, and although they are meant to enhance the dilemma Anne faces, they merely take up time, and are not fully resolved at the conclusion of the film. As Anne Elliot, Amanda Root steals the movie with a fine performance in a difficult role. Asa woman of the Victo- rian period who cannot show too much emotion, Root expresses herself per- fectly through her eyes, reminiscent of Holly Hunter in "The Piano." Despite being limitedby social customs, Root's Anne is both endearing and charming, which is quite an accomplishment. However, there are really no other per- formances of note from the rest of the cast. Just as many people may regard clas- sic novels as slow reading, "Persua- sion"turns out tobeslow watching. Itis obvious that it was never meant to be presented in a cinematic format. It's just too bad that unlike the novel, there aren't any Cliff Notes to save people their time. VOorell, catalogues Leakeys' 'passions' Green Day haven't slept a wink since they got big, and it shows in "insomniac." Elizabeth Lucas ily Arts Writer Ten years of research ... one hundred ars of history ... some five million ars of prehistory. It seems like an im- ssiblescope forany booktocover. But tazingly,itisdonejusticein"Ancestral ssions," Virginia Morell's biography renownedpaleoanthropologistsLouis, ary and Richard Leakey. Morell actually began thinking about topic in 1982, when she wrote a ofile of Richard Leakey for "Equi- x," a Canadian science magazine. e then wrote a proposal for a biogra- y of him, and publishers suggested e extend it to cover Louis and Mary akey. "The original proposal was for 15 apters, and they gave me two to three ars to do it," Morell said. "This was fore I saw the amount of material I d to go through. When I saw that, I lized it wasn't going to be done in ee years. I actually worked on it for out a decade." The finished version ofthe book is 42 chapters long, covering a hundred years of Leakey family history. It extends from Louis Leakey's childhood in Kenya to his son Richard's recent po- litical activities there. The first half of the book focuses more on the family and their early re- search. "They're a very contentious family," Morell commented"Theintensity oftheir quarrels surprised me - for example, RichardandhisbrotherPhilipdidn'tspeak for 10 years. But I started off admiring them for their accomplishments, and I endedupadmiringthemevenmore. They never had any money, but they were so dedicated to their research." Morell's biography has been noted for its attention to Mary Leakey, whose discoveries have been somewhat over- shadowed by her husband Louis's. "I was always wondering how I'd handle Mary, because she has a diffi- cult personality," Morell said. "But I found in her letters that she was a very interesting person. Ifshe was overshad- owed by Louis, she chose that role. She's ashy person. Louis liked dealing with the press, for example, and she hated it." Another notable feature of the biogra- phy is the work that went into it. The comprehensivesection ofnotes and other sources clearly indicate the amount of research that was involved. "I went to the National Museum of Kenya, where most of Louis Leakey's papers were," Morell explained. "In the basement was just box after box of corre- spondence, stacked from floorto ceiling. The man was just engaged in so many fields of research." An equally important part of research was for Morell to visit the Leakeys' ar- chaeological sites. "I had such fun, be- cause when I got there, Richard had an expedition going on the west side ofLake Turkana. He said I had to come up,-and they actually had me excavate. I was very lucky; I found the vertebra of a 1.6 mil- lion-year-old Homo erectus.." In the second half of the book, the Leakeys' discoveries become the subject of controversy among other scientists. But, as Morell explained, "The reasons reallyhadnothingtodo with science-it was very personal. This was difficult in some ways, because Don Johanson and Tim White - who are the main opposi- tion to the Leakeys - declined to give interviews for the book. This made it harder to get thir side of the story." Lookingatthemodernresearchprojects depictedtoward the end of the book, one question that comes to mind is Morell's opinion on recent Congressional cuts in scientific funding. "It's a tragedy," Morell said emphati- cally. "It's very shortsighted. I can't tell you the number of fields in which I've heard scientists say, I was working on a project, but the funds aren't there any- more. It'sawholegoldenageofresearch, and suddenly the money's drying up" She also cited some ongoing projects which could be completed. "We're get- ting closer to finding out the origin of upright walking, which is what really separates the human line from the apes. The other really interesting thing is the emergence of early Homo sapiens.." The completion of those projects would not only advance our knowledge about human prehistory. It could even lead to further biographies as informa- tive as "Ancestral Passions." Green Day Insomniac Reprise Pinhead Gunpowder Carry The Banner Lookout! Records With his snotty British accent and punky-pop melodies, Billie Joe Armstrong took his Northern Califor- nia punk band Green Day on a trip up the charts and around the world last year, shakingthe music business harder than it had been shaken since Nirvana hit big in 1991. Green Day's third album and major label debut "Dookie" proved that the band had developed its own style, and that they had no intention of ever changing that style. On their new fol- low-up release "Insomniac," Green Day produced another Green Day record. No ifs ands or buts about it, the Day hasno intention ofever chang- ing their sound. But by this point, Green Day's two- and-a-halfminute teenage angst songs have become a bit repetitive, and also a little less catchy than on "Dookie." The two albums seem so similar mu- sically, its hard to think why they were deliberately so similar in pro- duction, unlessthe band hasjust fallen into some type of formula for creating platinum rock records. "Insomniac" has 14 tracks, just like "Dookie." Its first single was also the fourth track, "Geek Stink Breath," like "Dookie"'s "Longview." Nevertheless, "Insomniac" serves up another good batch of East Bay/Gilman Street punk. Even with their formula for success, Green Day's music still has a very sweet attraction. Songs like "Walking Contradiction" and "Armatage Shanks"havethetraditional Day appeal, and are good songs mixed in with many other good songs on the 33-minute disc. But where Nirvana made their fol- low-up statement to the rock industry '95 UM-OSU Blood Battle Save a lifel Beat OSU! Give Blood Today! Stockwell 1-7 with "In Utero," Green Day slumps back, shuts up and graciously accepts the millions of dollars without even acknowledging their success. On "Brat," Billie Joe sings: "Mom and Dad don't look so hot these days/They're getting over the hill ... Got a plan of action and cold blood/And it smells of defiance/ I'll just wait for Mom and Dad to die / And get my inheritance." Hopefully Armstrong has a bit more dough saved up after selling nine million records so he isn't waiting for Ma and Pa to kick it. All in all, "Insomniac" is just more of the same from Green Day, with songs a bit less catchy and an album 15 minutes shorter than the last. But while "Insomniac" is more of the same, Billie Joe's side project, a group called Pinhead Gunpowder's debut EP "Carry the Banner," brings that extra variety and edge into the nasal singer's typi- cal music. On the band's debut, they take nine songs in only 15 minutes to show that Billie can do a little more than his usual poppy polished punk. Along with members of Crimpshrine and Monsula, Pinhead Gunpowder thrashes from the down beat of the record to the click of the CD player at the end of the disc. "Carry the Banner" scuffs up Billie Joe's shoes a bit with harder and rougher songs than usual like "Find My Place" and "I Used To," both of which are great tracks. "Reach for the Bottle" and "I Am the Stranger" are also awesome tracks, along with the majority of the EP. A rough and tough cover of Diana Ross' "Mahogany" finishes up the album with a bang, proving that Billie Joe may still have a bit of angst and originality left in him. -Brian A. Gnat Doug E. Fresh Play Gee Street/Island Records Ever since my first exposure to him back in the 1980's Reagan Era, I have had a love/hate relationship with Doug E. Fresh. He was creat- ing some of the freshest beats, mixes and other dance sounds, combina- tions of his own musical creations and excerpts from other hit dance songs. But, for all his production skill, his ability in the rapping de- partment was null and void. Doug E. Fresh rapping was more of a joke than the thought of an honest Con- gressman. It's 1995, and after what seems like an eternity of inactivity a much older Doug E. Fresh has returned to the fold trying to show he can still duke it out with the younguns. Noth- ing has changed. His songs still have some of the best dance beats you can expect to hear, and Fresh still can't rap worth a damn. Take "Where's Da Party At?," the first song in "Play." It features hit song excerpts including Run DMC's "Peter Piper," L.L. Cool J's "Rock the Bells" and the "The Ed Lover" (the "Yo! MTV Rap" theme song). But, Doug E. Fresh's rapping is just outlandish, like a joke on "Def Comedy Jam." Ya know, back in the day carefree rap like that performed by guys like Doug E. Fresh and 2 Live Crew was a welcome change from the highly political, militant rap that had gained popularity during that time. While necessary, it failed to dis- cuss the fun side of Black life; guys like Fresh filled that void. But, it's not back in the day any- more, and the demise of popularity of 2 Live Crew and the apathy most have had (and will continue to have) to the release of "Play" have shown that what was humorous in the past has grown old and tired today. We could identify with them when they were in their horny twenties. Now they're in their limp-dick 30s, and the only reason they're still rapping the same old "Me So Horny" shit is because they're trying to make up for what they no longer have. While "Play" follows the party- over-here pattern that can still hype up a gig to this day, in hearing Fresh talkin' about "Freaks," "Freak It Out!," "Doug E. Got It Goin' On" and whatever else he wet-dreams about I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. This is "Play"'s downfall: It's beats are the best, but Fresh's attempt to be like the young whip- persnappers who've replaced him turns it into something weak, pa- thetic and a waste. - Eugene Bowen ;namoer music society makes sweet music amber music doesn't get much better than this. When members of the Chamber tsic Society of Lincoln Center perform tonight in Rackham Auditorium, It will be sweet treat for Ann Arbor audiences. in its 27th year, the CMSLC consists of claimed musicians who perform together In various combinations. Violinist and troit-area native Ani Kavaflan (left) will be joined by four preeminent strumentalists in a diverse program of works by Beethoven, Dvorak and Edgar eyer, the evening's double bassist. Tickets are $14 to $26, and rush tickets iy be available. The 8 p.m. performance will be preceded by a presentation on e art of violinmaking in the Michigan League. Call the University Musical clety box office at 764-2538 for more information. 'Billiard & Dart Pro Shop -ALLSTATE P-- e pool cues & Accessories Cue Repair Services & BSteel&SoftTpDas SDartboards, Below Retail Prices Bring this adfor $5 off a Cue or Dartboard 3408 Washtenaw Ave Call (Just west of US 23) 677-3278 Israel & Judaism experience them together! - A community oriented study and work program in Tzfat and Jerusalem forJewlsh men and women 21.30 with little or no Jewish background.LearnaboutIsraelandJudalsminanopen, questioning atmosphere, do community service and building projects and hike throughout the Land. 3-month sessions:Dec. 10 -Feb.11, Mar. 10-May19,'96 3-week sessions: Dec. 24 .Jan. 11,June,July&August'96 Livnot U'Lehibanot contac:110 East 59th St. 3rdf., NYC, NY 10022 Tel: 212-752-2390 Fax:212-832-2597e-mail:livnot@jer1.co.il he Cellular Biotechnology Training Program will offer Cellular Biotechnology 504 in the Winter '96 term. T opics covered include biomolecular recognition, cellular differentiation control, signal transduc- tion and transcription regulation, microbial adaptation and response in environmental bio- technology, cellular biotechnology applications to disease treatment at the organ level, retroviral targets for therapeutic drug design, and modern bioanalytical methods. rerequisites: Introductory course in Biology and Biochemistry L ectures will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays rom 5:30-7:00 p.m. in 5623 Med. Sci. II For more information, call Dr. Jerome Kukor at 763-5833.