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®ttp iaily ®ar UM 'Way of the Gun' Saves Snoozefest With Surprises By Justin Winters Staff Writer With its main characters chatting about cards and religion, getting caught up in bloody gunfights and C-sections and donating bodily fluids for money, the offbeat and unique “Way of the Gun” has some thing for every desensitized view er. It’s too bad about the film’s , rstmov/e> rev/ew “Way of the Gun" ★★★ schizophrenic story and stop-start pac ing. These elements alone drag down a remarkably accomplished cast in the unfortunate end. Taking a page from his twist-filled, too-smart-for-its-own-good “Usual Suspects,” screenwriter Christopher Don't Waste Time Watching Corny, Predictable 'Watcher' By Shindy Chen Staff Writer Ugh. This horribly wack, slow, corny, predictable piece of crap will make you want to leave the theater and go home to watch infomercials. It will also make you wonder how films like this got then budgets when “Scary Movie” worked on a measly sl9 mil lion. There is absolutely no rea son to see “The Watcher” unless / jiTndv/e> Moew/ "The Watcher” 1/2 you have some Keanu Reeves infatua tion, but even then, his acting is lamer than usual, and yes, subtle hints of Ted still manage to leak into Reeves’ char acter despite the 20-odd films he’s made since his Hollywood debut. Reeves plays a nameless, disturbed serial killer who follows FBI agentjoel Campbell (James Spader) to the Windy City from Los Angeles, where his track record included the murders of many young, single women by strangling them with piano wire. The killer maintains his occupation despite the change of scenery, so it’s not long before Reeves starts haunting Campbell with death threats against Zellweger Charms in Laßute's Heartwarming 'Nurse Betty' By Jeremy Hurtz Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor It’s official: Renee Zellweger has inherited Meg Ryan’s Cute/Sexy/Naive Character crown. She proves her charm again in the title role in “Nurse Betty,” an equally charming comedy with a violent noir underbelly. Betty’s a diner waitress who obsesses over the hospital based soap opera “A Reason to Love" as an escape from her life with her phi- ley few/ “Nurse Betty" ★★★★ landering husband (Aaron Eckhart). When Betty witnesses hubby’s murder at the hands of two hired killers (Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock) over a stolen drug cache, she blocks the trau ma in a fascinating way. Believing herself to be a character from her beloved program, Betty embarks on a road trip from Kansas to Los Angeles. She’s seeking the love of the soap’s lead doctor (Greg Kinnear) - not the actor but his character, who she thinks is real. Of course, Betty unwit tingly brings the stolen drugs along, and the hitmen follow. Crafted in the tradition of the Coens’ “Fargo” and “Blood Simple,” “Betty” showcases the best in social commen tary, screwy characters and smart dia logue. These blend seamlessly, creating a heartwarming film that still has serious things to say. That’s rare. /7 < topi ten) —J/Aug. 27-Sept. 2 1. Golden Arm Trio - Why the Sea Is Salt (Loveletter) 2. Various Artists - Cambodian Rocks (Parallel World) 3. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Climb the Ladder ( Heartbeat) 4. Kronos Quartet - Caravan (Nonesuch) 5. Superfine Dandelion - Superfine Dandelion (Sundazed) 6. Hazel Dickens - It's Hard to Tell the Singer from the Song (Rounder) 7. Japanese Telecom - Japanese Telecom (Intuit - Solar) 8. Kid 606 - Down with the Scene (Ipecac) 9. King Tubbys meets Larry Marshall - / Admire You in Dub (Motion) 10. Various Artists - Italian Treasury (Rounder) McQuarrie goes for broke by directing his own story about two criminals who have found their next, and hopefully final, score - kidnapping a young woman carrying the baby of a very wealthy, influential and dangerous cou ple. Of course, the two bumbling cons, played admirably by Ryan Phillippe (“Cruel Intentions”) and Benicio Del Toro (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”), end up getting in way over their heads. Soon the duo are chased by some unfriendly guys, includingjames Caan (“Mickey Blue Eyes”) and Taye Diggs (“Go”). What sets apart “Gun” from virtual ly all not-so-smart crime flicks thus far this year is its ceaseless willingness to surprise. Its perfect opening scene sets the film up for fun with a skewed new victims. He does this by sending photographs of women he intends to kill, giving the police and the entire city a specific amount of time to locate her before he gets medieval on her ass. That’s all there is to the plot, yet director Joe Charbanic tries to get in some sort of subplot involving Campbell’s ex-girlfriend, who was one of Reeves’ previous victims. Or not. At this point die film gets so muddy and confusing that playing with the cool, twisty Pepsi cup from concessions is more interesting. Charbanic also tries some camera ingenuity by mixing realistic, video camera-esque elements (recall Vinterberg’s “Celebration” or “The Blair Witch Project”) juxtaposed with the otherwise normal-looking parts of the film. This technique, borrowed from the European Dogma 95 film school, is use ful in forming the killer’s perspective, but is so unpolished and poindess that it serves no dramatic purpose and gets no bonus points for effort. From the weak storyline, spotted here and there with lame jokes, Spader’s fatigued, migraine-cursed cop character is really the most memorable element. Also uncommon is the honest sensi bility of the plot’s unforeseeable twists. When Betty finally catches up to the actor who plays her dream doc, their conversation is totally surprising - yet in no way contrived. The characters also endear them selves in a straightforward manner, thanks to the principal cast’s inspired portrayals. We often have seen too-too witty rapport between hitman duos, but Freeman and Rock make the mold fresh with a genuine father-son dynamic. It’s tough to imagine any modem actress but Zellweger in the lead role. Her usual gee-ain’t-I-cute schdck main tains a true edge. “Betty” is director Neil Laßute’s third film. It’s a blunt departure from “In the Company of Men” and “Your Friends and Neighbors,” two of the most bleak ly cynical pictures ever made. Laßute didn’t write this film, and its on-the-road plot forces him to shed his usually stagy style. It’s also downright hopeful -a surprise along the same lines as David Lynch’s “The Straight Story” or David Mamet’s “The Winslow Boy.” America’s darkest directors are look ing on the bright side of life, it seems. After popping the high-quality happy pill administered by the final moments of “Nurse Betty,” that change is difficult to lament. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. 20-50% off, 5 days only Fn-Sat-Sun, Sept 15-17 Fmmoo Contemporary Fashions 171 E. Frgnklin St. Chapel Hill 929-0803 DIVERSIONS Movies barfight. And the picture’s bloody conclusion rings more like a showdown from “True Grit.” The film’s main car chase - usu ally a high-speed action staple - ends up being very slow as the good guys outwit the bad guys in the strangest manner. In short, expect the unexpected from this movie. To put it best, one inquisitive charac ter asks Del Toro who the smart one of the pair is, and he replies, “I don’t think this is a brains type of operation.” The middle portion of “Gun,” which provides much of the exposition, also holds most of the picture’s problems. The film’s ultra-dark tone, combined with its attempts to set up a multi-lay ered story with double and triple cross es, ends up slowing the film to a snooz ing halt. But even he gets a little too dramatic at times. There’s also an action sequence toward the film’s conclusion, which has lots of exciting fire and explosions. As for Marisa Tomei, what the hell was she doing in this film - besides making a dent in her career? Her char acter - the sweet, pretty psychologist - could have been played by anyone, and /The ( Princeton Coming i V Review October 12: Verbal Accelerator Help for the most important section of the MC AT, and the most painful I Call 1 -800-2-Review www.revLew.coin VX Cfohtu RfilfawiMd QUfdm With this coupon ot UNC Student ID, get... SI OFF Dinner Buffet vF 968-3488 Dine-in only University Square offer expires 3/22/00 MARATHON 708 W. ROSEMARY STREET, CARRBORO Hours: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Seafood Plates 9 All our Seafood Plates served with French Fries, Slaw, and Hush Puppies _ FLOUNDER - $5.50 M POPCORN SHRIMP $5.50 3 FLOUNDER & POPCORN SHRIMP COMBINATION $6.50 TROUT - $4.95 $ Salads 3 GREEK SALAD - small $2.95, large $4.75 O CHEF SALAD - small $2.95, large $4.75 GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD - small $3.50, large $5.25 _ GARDEN SALAD - small $2.75, large $4.50 Add grilled chicken to salad $2.00 OAII of our dressing are home-made! French, Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Thousand A Island, Greek, Creamy Greek • For those watching their calories, try our Fat-Free Ranch or Fat-Free Thousand Island 5 On The Side 5 * Try our new cheesy breadsticks $3.99 Q French Fries SI.OO Onion Rings $2.00 Pita Bread SI.OO Q Cheese Fries $1.50 Slaw SI.OO Vj Pint $1.50 Tzatziki Sauce SI.OO /.- Pint $1.50 0 Chili Fries $1.50 Calamata Olives SI.OO Hummus SI.OO V. Pint $1.50 2L Chili & Cheese Fries $2.00 Pepperoncinis SI.OO Baklava $1.50 || Drinks SI.OO 7. Gallon Tea $2.00 1 Gallon Tea $3.50 .ymr; FREE DELIVERY $7.00 Minimum Luckily, naptime is interrupted every time Del Toro or Caan grace the screen. Their first scene together, a conversation about crime over coffee, simply oozes cool - both men are character actors at opposite ends of their successful careers. On the other hand, Diggs and the still annoying Juliette Lewis (“From Dusk Till Dawn”), look happy just to have work. Although McQuarrie ends up batting average on his first directing job, the film’s conclusion gives hope that he has a witty full-out western movie in the works. Guns blaze, no loose ends are left dangling, and the film is tied up into a remarkably nice - while not that neat - package. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. the dishevelled, under-eye-circles look just isn’t working out. Consider yourself warned. “The Watcher” is not scary, suspenseful or gory. It was a complete waste of two hours of my life, but at least I got a cool Pepsi cup out of it. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. HARD-HITTING BLUEGRASS * GOSPEL JERRY 4 MI TAMMY SIU.UYA \ fresh from tih Grand Oi.e Ophy X \\ ■ Friday, Sept 1 sth at 12:00 noon ' t ON THE TERRACE OF GRAHAM MEMORIAL ' Vv \ * . \ \\ . ' free \ \ w Chinese 'Shower' Refreshes With Quietness, Simplicity By Allison Rost Staff Writer In China, visiting the bathhouse is one of those old traditions slowly being ushered out by the new economy. There’s nothing racy about it. It’s just a bunch of older men relaxing in the bath, getting massages and watching crickets fight. This disappear ing phenomenon is examined in “The Shower,” a Chinese film that r • ./nokvel cey/ew/ "The Shower". ★★★★ has already passed through the festival circuit and picked up several awards. Da Ming, a businessman, returns home to Beijing when he suspects his bathhouse-owning father has died. Instead, his father is just fine. He’s working hard at pleasing his customers and taking care of Da Ming’s retarded brother, Er Ming. And everything there is just the same: the same men come to the bathhouse every day, the houses look just as they did decades earlier. But when the bathhouse’s existence is threatened by the expanding city and his father’s ill health, decisions must be made about who is going to take care of Er Ming as well as the extensive cus tomer base that now has nowhere else to g°- uio/Jc fiojJ. ... fio/cd- * •/ A t xs +OC south t thottMoJL. • qollt/JoL • - 9z9-+ftf Back By Popular Demand Starting This SaUuxtay “jjSX Please join us this Saturday and get in FREE! Everyone 18 & over Af invited w/ID 137 E. Franklin St. • Chapel Hill • 933-61 149 l/2E Franklin St Chapel Hill, NC 960-8688 Best known secret in Chapel Hill Offering burgers, chicken sandwiches. and specialty sandwiches for lunch and dinner ’ with a late night menu and ' yoOfiM 23 beers on tap./Ml ABC permits, jHHRgSZSSHK'I domestic bottles and | late night jazz 'Hies* $2.00 Pints ‘Weds* Ail you can eat spaghetti $5.00 and $2.00 micro and import bottles Rfg9VnM|mfl| • Thurs • $2 .00 Local Brews I • Daily lood specials and S1 OO off • appetizers from 4:00-7:00 Monday thru Saturday Thursday, September 14, 2000 It’s a simple, no-frills story, but it’s funny and touching in its own way. Er Ming provides a lot of comic relief, and his childlike wonderment at things like singing in the shower is delightful. Actor Jiang Wu does a fabulous job as Er Ming. He’s entirely believable as this child in a grown-up body with all of his emotions. He is the true star of the film. The film’s only flaw is a random flashback scene. As Da Ming’s father is telling a story, the scene changes to the Chinese countryside with no explana tion of who or what the audience is see ing. Things are halfway explained later on, but with no context for the scene, it just feels out of place, and the movie would be better had it been left out entirely. Otherwise, the quiet simplicity of the film is truly refreshing, a respite from the classic adrenaline-pumping movies of the summer. But what ties everything together is this prevailing sense that the old is bet ter than the new. In the film’s world where a shower is regarded as some thing newfangled, it’s suggested that maybe what we all need is just a good soak in the tub. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. 7
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 14, 2000, edition 1
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