Oct. 19, 2000
• Arts and Entertainment •
Page 13
Ryder’s newest: loss of pride more than of souls
Lisa McChristian
Editor in Chief
“Lost Souls” is appropriately
titled, because anyone with strong
enough constitution to sit through
this horrendous error of a film will
be in great risk of losing their soul
along with their sanity.
Maya Larkin (Winona Ryder)
is an exorcism poster girl who, now
purged of her demons, must save
the world from theirs. Her new
project is real-crime rrovelist Peter
Kelson (Ben Chaplin), who doesn’t
believe in evil. But Maya believes
Kelson fits the profile for the per
fect vessel for Satan. He was bom
of incest and wasn ’ t baptized. Maya
sympathy and are as vacant as a
college party after a police bust.
Chaplin does not change his facial
expression for the entire film. If
Satan is as powerful as the Bible
-Rough Ryder-
A comparison of Winona’s ^
last three" film^ „= '
, , Filin ‘S . Opening Gross
&irlj Interrupted “ ~ : $932
Autumn in New York $10*99 in
^LostSouls r $7.95ih_
and Peter fight the Dark Lord by
walking through houses with bad
lighting and drinking twenty pots of
coffee.
These characters invoke no
Maya Larkin (Winona Ryder) faces a murderer
posessed by Satan in”Lost Souls.” photo ©
Line Cinema
says, there is no chance he would
pick the dumbest man in the world
to be his host on Earth.
What in the name of all that’s
holy happened to Ryder’s career?
Looks like she spent all her money
getting “Girl Interrupted” made and
now is signing on to any piece of
trash thrown at her to turn a profit.
“Lost Souls,” coupled with the ro
mantic nightmare “Autumn in New
York,” makes fortwo strikes against
Ryder. One more bomb and she can
kiss the gifted actress ballgame
goodbye.
This film was doomed from
the beginning. Meg Ryan was origi
nally signed to play the chain-smok-
ing heroine in 1997, but backed out
to do “City of Angels.” Ryder filled
her spot, Chaplin grabbed the role
of Satan’s body-to-be and Janusz
Kaminski (cin
ematographer of
“Schindler’s List”
and “Saving Pri
vate Ryan”) de
cided to make this
film his directo
rial debut. “Lost
Souls” was all set
for a fall 1999 re
lease, then the stu
dio yanked the
abomination
when “Sixth
- Sense,” “Stir of
Echoes,” “End of Days” and “Stig
mata” were released. The movie hit
another speed bump when its Janu
ary release was delayed because of
the “Scream 3” opening. During the
stall, “Sixth Sense” editor Andrew
Mondshein was hired to make the
film scarier.
Dialogue consists of such riv
eting phrases like “Thanks bro” and
“The time of transformation is near.”
The only decent films cells can be
seen on the 30-second television
trailers. “Lost Souls” is not scary, it
is not suspenseful and it is not a
movie. It is a repulsive $35 million
ego trip for its creator and cast.
Shyne debut reminiscent of Biggie, lacks originality
Brad Pinkerton
Contributing Reporter
After months of delays, the
self-titled debut album from Bad
Boy rapper Shyne finally hit the
shelves.
Much anticipation has built
around the release of the Brooklyn-
born rapper’s CD due to the re
markable likeness of his voice to
that of Bad Boy artist, and perhaps
the most prolific rapper of all time,
the late Christopher Wallace, a.k.a.
Notorious B.I.G.
“Shyne” features 16hard-hit-
ting tracks, including an introduc
tion titled “Dear America” and two
interludes. Shyne’s rough-edged
lyrics in “Bang” and “That’s
Gangsta” bring to life the harsh
realities of the street on which
Shyne, given name Jamal Barrow,
grew up.
Like rappers of present and
past, Shyne’s songs offer an un-
apologetic view of urban life, de
scribing the drug scene and murder
as a way of life.
Although his deep, coarse
voice sounds monotonous at times,
Shyne’s innovative beats, like the
ones found on the track “What You
Gonna Do,” mixed with a variety of
guest artists provide diversity where
the album lacks originality.
Shyne gets the help of Bad
Boy R&B artists Carl Thomas and
112 to somewhat soften his hard,
streetwise anthems and Jamaican
artist Barrington Levy adds a reggae
flavor to the first single released off
the album, “Bad Boyz.”
Overall, “Shyne” is rhythmi
cally and lyrically diverse, how
ever, the “song of the streets” has
been heard before.
The stories of drug dealing
and homicide are cUches of hip-hop
and Shyne does nothing to break
the mold with his album.
Fans of the Notorious B.I.G.
will appreciate Shyne’s freshman
release without mistaking it as a rip-
off of Biggie.
However, those looking for
an artist with a unique style, ready
to take hip-hop in a new direction
should pass on “Shyne.”
“The Mole” has packed its bag
and gone to the College Music
Journal Convention in New York
City this week. Look for more
details when "Dirt From the
Undergound” returns on Nov. 2.
On Tour
Oct. 19: The Elements of Hip-
Hop, Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro
Oct. 20: Athenaeum, 5
Points Pub, Raleigh
Oct. 20:38 Special, NC State
Fair, Raleigh
Oct. 20: The Samples,
Ziggy’s, Winston-Salem
Oct. 20: The Push Stars,
Room Four, Chapel Hill
Oct. 21: Victoria Will
iams, The Art Center,
Carrboro
Oct. 21: Soulfly w/ Slaves
on Dope, The Ritz, Raleigh -
Oct. 21: Superdrag, The
Brewery, Raleigh
Oct. 21: Jucifer, Track 13,
Greensboro
Oct. 22: Emmylou Har
ris, The Ritz, Raleigh
Oct. 23: Alice Cooper,
War Memorial Audito
rium, Greensboro
Oct. 23: Death Cab for
Cutie, Go! Rehearsal Hall,
Carrboro
Oct. 23: Blues Traveler,
Cat’s Cradle
Oct. 24: Jimmy Eat World,
Cat’s Cradle
Oct. 26: J Mascis and the
Fog, Cat’s Cradle,
Carrboro
Oct. 27: Barenaked La
dies and Guster, Dean. E
Smith Center, Chapel Hill
Oct. 27: Indigo Girls,
Wake Forest University,
Winston-Salem;
On Stage
Oct. 19: Elon College Chamber Orchestra, conducted by
David Bragg Whitley Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 31: Sigma Tau Delta Lecture, Paul Wilkes, author of
“Beyond the Walls” and other books on contemporary
spirituality. Whitley Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1: Joe Clark, “Laying Down the Law.” Whitley Audito
rium, 7:30 p.m.
On Screen
West End Cinema
(538-9900)
Meet the Parents
Get Carter
Contender
Urban Legends: Final Cut
' Remember the Titans
' Digimon
' Almost Famous
• The Exorcist
• Dr. T and the Women
> Bait
► Lost Souls
• What Lies Beneath
• Ladies Man
»Bring it On
On Disc
Music Releases: 10/17
www.billboard.com
• Limp Bizkit
“Chocolate Starfish and
the Hot Dog Flavored Wa
ter”
• Everlast
“Eat at Whitey’s”
• Squirrel Nut Zippers
“Bedlam Ballroom”
• Violent Femmes
“Hallowed Ground”
• Faith No More
“Introduce Yourself’
• Talib Kweli/ Hi Tek
“Reflection Eternal”