(Eljp ®atly (Ear 3HM
Romantic Flick Flirts With Success
By Matt Mansfield
iStaff Writer
Everyone grows weary of trite het
erosexual romantic comedies, and as the
public now slowly accepts homosexual
ity, it also must become accustomed to
trite homosexual romantic comedies.
■ - Jim Fall’s new movie “Trick” cutely
examines the tribulations of a couple
trying to find a place to
hook up while
exploring
pockets of
New York
.City’s gay cul
'ture.
The film
H, Movie Review
“Trick"
iff
delves into a delightful day in the life of
..aspiring musical theater writer Gabriel
; ([Christian Campbell) who decides to
shake up his social life by sauntering
into a gay strip bar.
■I There he plays glance games with a
-dancer named Mark (John Paul Pitoc),
And the two coincidentally meet later in
a subway train and flirting ensues.
. While searching for a place to let
Love Hurts in One Stinker of a Comedy
By Daniele Eubanks
Staff Writer
It’s not a vile stench or fetid odor, but
the new “unromantic romantic come
dy” produced by Independent Artists
called “Love Stinks” does, well, stink.
The premier film from the new
entertainment company just doesn’t
deliver the dazzling blend of humor,
romance and
intrigue its
massive adver
tising cam
paign promis
es.
French
H Movie Review
"Love Stinks"
if
Stewart (“3rd Rock From the Sun”)
struggles in his role as Seth, a sitcom
writer who bases his shows on his per
sonal life -a life that is ravaged by
super-sensuous Chelsea (Bridgette
Wilson, “Mortal Kombat”). This calcu
lating temptress lures him into her
clutches on the first date and proceeds
to make his life a living nightmare.
Chelsea’s overdone maniacal pursuit
T* s=-
‘f mso s *“’ s
ARLINGTON ROAD (R)
Daily 7:00. 9:40 Sat/Sun 145, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40
BIG DADDY (PG-13)
Daily 7:10, 9:30 Sat/Sun 2:00,4:30. 7:10,9:30
AMERICAN PIE (R)
Daily 7:20, 9:50 Sal/Sun 2:15, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50
: OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE^
■ Daily 3:10.5:10. 7:10,9:35 K
love Stinks
STIGMATA k {■;*
Runaway Bride
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
DUDLEY DO RIGHT —*•
' AN IDEAL HUSBAND 1
Dally 3:05, 5:10, 9:20 iBrU
MYSTERY MEN
Dally 3:45.7:00,9:30 r.-u
THE 13TH WARRIOR
Dally 3:15, 5:20, 7:25, 9:35 K
THE IRON GIANT
Daily 3:00,5:00 w;
CHILL FACTOR
Daily 7:00, 9:15 R;
THE SIXTH SENSE
„ Sat/Sun 1:00 Daily 3:10,5:20,7:30,9:40 nnt
Isl Off
loose his sexual abandon, Campbell
meets quirky characters, like his friend
Katherine (Tori Spelling), who distract
him from his momentary goal.
Though not intentionally typecast,
Spelling’s role as an obnoxiously garru
lous aspiring actress reminds viewers of
her traumatically superficial life on
“Beverly Hills, 90210.” She fits the role
well, sometimes too well, grating on
even the audience’s nerves.
But Campbell does a good job of
keeping Gabriel disquietingly deferent
to Spelling and other characters, making
his shy personality more dynamic.
Gabriel’s roommate, Rich (Brad
Breyer), takes control of their apartment
to fulfill his own lustful desires, and his
antics seem cruelly humorous.
The movie creates awkwardly amus
ing tension between the two aroused
roommates, competing for the apart
ment, but any potentially romantic sit
uations between the two fizzle.
Although the film possesses an inter
esting array of characters and roving
scenes that delve into numerous aspects
of gay life, it only qualifies as cute at
of a marriage proposal plays on all the
stereotypes of single women struck by
the wedding bug. Her vile manipulating
lack of concern for anything holy make
her “demon-woman” character flat.
Chelsea is devoid of any redeeming
qualities that would provide depth and
“grayness” to the black and white con
flict between good and evil'
Additionally, the film is plagued by
futile attempts at humor and chronic
overacting by all the leading characters,
including supporting actors Bill Bellamy
and Tyra Banks. Banks struggles the
most, projecting a sappy sweetness that
becomes very valley girl-esque.
Chelsea’s whining complaint during
one altercation with Seth - “You are so
unfunny” - offers an ironic twist in this
straggling attempt to create comedy.
JjKSKSa mM
2-4:10-7-9:10 4.%&iw 0 2:10-4:20*7:10-9:20
CATI OLIN a
THUMBS IIP! j
j 9:20, weekends 4:20
BETTER THAN
CHOCOLATE
7:00, weekends 2:00
“A Delicious Comedy \
From France’s Premier
Romantic Movie Poet.” f
ERIC ROHMERS ??§
AUTUMN TALE
7:00, 9:20; weekends 2:00, 4:20
~ "A CLASSIC FARCE!
Jlever, amusing...it’s irresistible!” [
Dinner game
K 7 :10, 9:10, weekends 2:10, 4:10
NE OF THE YEAR'S BEST FILMS! TANARUS"
A powerful, original work!"
twin falls Idaho
20, 9:30, weekends 2:20, 4:30
DIVERSIONS Movies
■Blri
§JU •♦■Eg!!
Tori Spelling plays aspiring actress
Katherine in "Trick."
best. The cheesy flick lacks an overall
deeper meaning, like the campy musi
cal theater lifestyle Campbell lives.
The Arts & Entertainment Editor can
be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Tension and some genuine humor do
build up toward the end of the film, and
the witty banter between Bellamy and
Stewart in the final scenes ultimately
saves “Love Stinks” from the trash heap.
A sadistic and surprising twist at the
end will leave viewers chuckling, and it
almost overshadows the poor quality of
the rest of the movie.
Also, there are some steamy
moments that jazz up the predictable
chain of events, as Wilson’s character
has an affinity for prancing around in
sexy lingerie.
Independent Artists chose their slo
gan for this movie well: “Sometimes the
best sex in the world just isn’t worth it.”
The Arts & Entertainment Editor can
be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Khank^
Sir Until) Sir Mrrt
VIDEO\I
Briefs Tl
By Justin Marlowe
Staff Writer
New on Video: “200 Cigarettes”
In case you missed it in theaters, go
rent “200 Cigarettes” as soon as you
come up with enough money to return
yourself to the video store’s good
graces.
Featuring Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck,
Christina Ricci, Courtney Love and
Dave
Chap ell e,
among others,
this wonderful
movie was
sadly over
looked by
audiences on
the big screen
last year.
The ’ story
follows several
||f Video Briefs
“200 Cigarettes"
ffff
"Dazed and Confused"
ffff
groups of potential partygoers as they
wind their way toward a 1982 New
Year’s party in New York City. The plots
seem unrelated at first, but as the movie
progresses, so do the connections
between storylines.
Movies which attempt this structure
often die horrible deaths due to the fact
that one or more of the sub-stories can’t
measure up, resulting in annoyed audi-
PAVEMENT
A j, x
~. SUNDAY,
§ SEPT. 26 Nov.* . . Ben Harper 1
(sl2) Nov. 11 ...Stereolab
' Nov. 17... Medeski, £
PLive at the Ritz l
Presented by Cat's Cradle *
2000 Industrial Dr., Raleigh J
ft
advance tickets at Schoolkids’ r
■ £_m M (Raleigh. Durham, Chapel Hill) or call 7
lwww.catscraale.com
v *l# | J
0 jI * Lai 144 I I
***** AV J I i** I v
■ < AJI a | V-' ••. |K
j I’j I; 'L"
■ *
CHAPEL HILL - DURHAM
open til 4 a.m. nightly
serving the best burritos in the universe
#
128 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Mill (960-3955 tor take out)
9th and Pern St. in Durham (286-1875 tor take out)
(positive or negative feedback: call 286-9967, (checked daily)
WmV.COSMICCAMPA.COM •
in>i)su\>ui)
: y 1 [•Mpj IOK coil l(. I'll SIC ML,II I
i j jk ) if! M nit loiM.t
mi
' , ■MHO] uis'iK ( \' in\ min k>i ,'i
.# T 4 SEE OI K WEBSITE
IIHBI WBBBBSSiu ounn 2iif) 7iii miens
ences who care to follow only the more
interesting plots.
Luckily, “200 Cigarettes” is blessed
with enough quality stories to maintain
consistency and keep the audience inter
ested.
And the weaving of the characters
together provides a creative and sur
prising ending to the film. Adding to the
movie’s appeal is some excellent early
’Bos scenery and an incredible sound
track, featuring some classic ’Bos pop
from Blondie, the Go-Gos and Elvis
Costello. A true video gem.
Pick of the Week: “Dazed and
Confused”
Can’t get enough of period flicks with
great soundtracks featuring Ben Affleck
as the requisite dumb hunk?
Try “Dazed and Confused.” Though
it seems inconceivable that anyone has
not seen this movie, here’s a quick recap
of the story: On the last day of school in
1976, rising high school seniors initiate
rising freshmen into the ways of post
pubescent life.
Hi S NOT Hißi
on the Village Green
FRI. Sept 17th... SLACKMATES 9 12am
SAT. Sept 18th...SPUT DECISION
SUN. Sept 19th... Karaoke Night ic-iam
TUESDAYS: BLUE CUP SPECIAL 52.75 - SUNDAYS: KARAOKE NIGHT
Thursday, September 16, 1999
Now a cult classic, “Dazed and
Confused” helped set the standard fcSr
early ’9os comedy. I
The film, along with “Friday” anji
“Mallrats” (also featuring Ben Affleck $
the requisite dumb hunk), began tlfc
drift away from physical comedy anjl
outrageous situations, two themes whicji
dominated the ’Bos comedy scen£
Instead, they focused on the ordinary
(or even mundane) daily existence
familiar to the majority of regular peo
ple.
And who can forget the music? '•
Although it seems that even half-hour
TV sitcoms have their own box sefc
today, not every movie was required to
have a platinum soundtrack in 1993. Blit
the movie’s music was so good that
“Dazed and Confused” was the first film
since “Dirty Dancing” to have a sound
track spawn a sequel of its own - Evtn
More Dazed and Confused
The Arts & Entertainment Editor can
be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.
7