Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Feb. 7, 2002, edition 1 / Page 21
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Feb. 7, 2002 Arts & Entertainment Page 21 Surprise: -Birthday Girl’ pleases And! Petrini Reporter In the Nicole Kidman movie “Birthday Girl,” the cast graces the screen with ironic comedy and artistic expressions. The movie is a far cry from Hollywood’s predict able romantic comedies. Its understated humor and ex cellent acting make “Birth day Girl” a refreshing expe rience. The plot focuses on a Brit- ish bank clerk, John Buckingham (Ben Chaplin), who orders a Russian bride named Nadia (Kidman) from an Web site. As soon as his new bride moves in with him, his uneventful life endures countless surprises. A language barrier con fronts Nadia and John, and the first 45 minutes of the movie are awkward for the viewer to watch. John gives Nadia an English/Russian dictionary one afternoon, and she shows him the porno graphic magazines she found while snooping in his closet. After this key scene, their re lationship focuses on sex. The two live blissfully until Nadia tells John it’s her birthday. The day is met by the arrival of her cousin, Yuri (Vincent Cassel), and his friend, Alexei (Mathieu Kassovitz), from Russia. Nadia and John’s relation ship soon twists, and provid- she can portray virtually any character. Cassel and Kassovitz, both French ac tors, turn in fine perfor-, mances as the “good” Rus sian and “bad” Russian as the Mlramax/KRT Ben Chaplin and Nicole Kidman play a British banker and a mail-order bride in the unusual romantic comedy, “Birthday Girl.” ing viewers with enough comedy and drama to keep them hooked. The most impressive part of “Birthday Girl” is the un usual turns in the plot. Chaplin’s role helps make “Birthday Girl” British com edy at its best. Kidman had to learn to speak Russian for the role, and does it almost flawlessly. She proves once again that story unfolds. “Birthday Girl” was writ ten by Jez and Tom Butterworth; Jez Butterworth also directed the movie. Although he has previ ously directed just one film, Butterworth’s use of rear view mirror shots and close- ups gave the viewer a glimpse into the intense feel ings of the characters and adds to the art of the film. Satniha Khanna A&.E Editor Cracker released its first album of original material sincc 1998, “Forever,” hist week. It’s too bad the band’s shining rock appeal could not have lasted this long. The comeback’s open^ ing track, “Brides of Nep tune/’ holds the most prom ise as a successful single. Singer David Lowery’s Tom Petty-esque vocals md a dreamy oif an part tmj magnetic, but the album fails to hold attention, pre senting multiple soiigs with a four-four time signature. Cracker is also limited by, the appearance of the Hammond B-3 organ on every track, which takes the listener back to Counting Oows’ 1993 release ‘‘Au gust and Everything After.” A jaz?.y piano accompa niment covers the oigan on the sassier track “Bring Us Down,” which ha.s shoe- siring remindiers of Neil Diamond’^ famous “Sweet CarolMe*' laced within^'tt; A cello pid violin duet at the start of the odd "Guarded by Monkeys*’ no sotmds'llke it came right off the gorgeous,, sotmdinjck to “Rei^iem forjj Dream/’The' song soon de,lvj faster, heavily-distorted gui tar rilT, The combination of these elements is a step in the right direction, but not the leap the album needs, “Miss Santa Croz Coun try” has an unejqpected pop appeal with a high-pitched, four-note hook and a har monica, but the annoyingly repetitive, unorigintil lyrics; drown out its potential. “Superfan” is the Cracker strays from its de cade-old sound. Starting \^^th a pleasing skittering bek and Eastern-influenced organs and chimes, it quickly and], imnfiiily dips into mono^«J nous vocals by guitarist Johnny Hickman. His limited range is reminiscent of STP singer ^cott Weiland’s solo album, recorded while he ^as ftghring a heroin addic tion and decided he would take up singing in falsettq. “Sweet Magdaicn(i-of My Misfortune” i&a tiraw'n- out, simply-constructed tune featuring Lowery’s trademark gravelly vocals and guitar solos that appear on several previous Cracker albums. The chann of this track mirrors that of the band's hit “Eurotnish Girl,” but ruefully lacks the pre cise lyrical genius of which Lowery and his comrades were once capable. The soulful “Shame less” marks a slower tempo that is laden with luscious background vocals that tmly stand apart from the rest of the album. , Desphe aifew shiny mo ments, the l^St thing ever” has to oifrer Is the tal- «3it of new bassisiand vo calist Brandy Wood. Her smoky vocals wonM p^her in thegood grac^ c^5ifeiyl .Crowfans; ■'''"y-■ Wood may liave more luck in the sdo'cm^r that slie is simulUuii^isly pttr* suing. D (^Campus Candids What CD can you listen to from start to finish without getting sick of it? "Tink Floyd—Pulse. I’ve listened to them since I was little. It’s kind of comforting.” —Hillary Sherman, senior '‘''Cast Iron Filler—Further Down the Line. It sums up college life in a nutshell.” —Ben Slizewski, sophomore ''Alicia Keys—Songs in A Minor. Her vocals are so original. The beats are exactly my taste.” —Deanna Daly, sophomore ''Jay-Z—Blueprint. It’s definitely one of his best albums, if not the best.” —Lawrence Chetty, freshman LINES TO LIVE bY ll ^ ^ When news becomes gossip And the hounds begin The rich man’s inspiration Becomes the be«j»ar’s greed And there's no to stop it servicing the need ‘Cos the scared cry out They possess an e> erlasting grief —the living end “blood on your hands" roll on ^ ^ 0 2000 reprise records ^ share your favorite lyrics: pendiiluin(^eloii.edii
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 7, 2002, edition 1
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