(03/28/06 5:00am)
Hey! Sean Penn! You've been keeping kind of a low profile lately, haven't you? In fact, I'm not sure that I've seen much of you since you tried to rescue those people during Hurricane Katrina. You remember that, don't you? You were on television, and I think you were wearing a flak jacket? It was white? And your boat, you had all these people in it - photographers, reporters, whatever - sprung a leak and then the next day in all the papers there was that picture of you trying to bail it out with a plastic cup? It was kind of funny. You didn't laugh; of course, you never laugh at anyone's jokes, so I kinda thought the world was ending when I heard what had to be a joke. I mean, Ann Coulter is really annoying, but a Voodoo doll? Page Six tells me that you bought a plastic Ann Coulter doll and you use it to take out your aggression? I know, I know, Ann Coulter is insane and her very being is like nails on a chalkboard (my whole body vibrates) but: "'We violate her,' the ornery actor told The New Yorker about his mini-Coulter. 'There are cigarette burns in some funny places.'" Dude. There have been a series of rumors flying around since Isaac Hayes announced that he was leaving South Park (did you see the episode where he dies? Comedy Central has only re-run it about 136,392,857,352,986 times). Proving that Scientology really is the creepiest of all religions, Hayes announced his departure from the show because of "creative differences" stemming from the episode in which Tom Cruise, John Travolta and R. Kelly lock themselves in the character Stan's closet, while Stan is touted as the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard. After a couple of weeks of hypocrisy-bashing, a news story emerged from FoxNews.com that Hayes had not actually issued the statement announcing he quit, and that his Scientology mentor was made the decision. The story claimed Hayes had been hospitalized in January not for exhaustion, as his publicist had said, but because of a stroke. The source said that Hayes was still at home resting and recovering from the stroke and that he was "in no shape" to quit the show. Well, today EOnline.com reported that "The press release did come from him,' [Amy] Harnell [of Isaac Hayes Entertainment] said. 'He is the one who decided to leave South Park.'" Personally, I was hoping the Scientologist-interference rumor was true. Oh, Isaac, it's so sad to see you go.
(03/07/06 5:00am)
Students agree that while guaranteed housing is a perk of the three Thematic Learning Communities for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, students said TLCs lack sufficient structure and focus. TLC, which houses 19 students this year, its pilot year, places participants with similar interests in the arts, health and wellness or justice, service and change in housing communities in the Castle, Rosenthal and the Village, respectively. Elana Kieffer '07, a justice, service and change TLC resident, said the lack of guidelines made for a "rocky start," but her community has since developed a rhythm. "TLC is an extreme form of a self-directed community," Kieffer said. "It does not just have basic rules but needs to further specific areas of interest." Arielle Katzman '07, the Community Advisor in the health and wellness community, said the program intentionally sets rigid guidelines, and is meant to be molded by residents."Being a pilot program, navigating a self-directed, student-directed program is difficult because there was no plan set out for us," Abigail Weiner '06, who lives in the justice, service and change community, said. "We were given vague programming requirements and were told to make a community and decide what that means for us and every TLC is going to decide what that means for them."Participants are given amazing opportunities to connect and work with very important people in their fields, both on and off campus, Saara Johanson '07, CA in the arts TLC, said. "It is up to the students to make the most of these connections."Johanson said participants take on leadership opportunities by planning programs on campus. The students in the arts community were given the opportunity to help organize parts of the Festival of the Arts, Johanson said.Sean Lewis Faupel '08, who lives in the health and wellness TLC, said the name "health and wellness" is too vague. "There are a lot of different ways of defining it," he said. Katzman agreed that people have different conceptions of health, but said it is up to the residents to define it together. "People ask if the [TLC members] are against alcohol or if they only eat carrots and celery because health and wellness are such nebulous terms. We help to define what these two things are essentially," Katzman said, adding later that her residents do eat candy. Adi Shmuel '08, a resident of the arts community, agreed with Faupel that TLCs need to be more specific. "Arts is too big of a topic. All of the members thought of art in a different way when we applied, so we are different." Students also said the small size of the communities is a concern because it makes it difficult to have an impact on the community."I don't think our name has gotten out there. We had hoped to be a resource to Brandeis," Faupel said of his eight-member community.Ziv and Ridgewood Quad Director Amanda Daul said the TLCs must be cohesive before they can reach others. "Without creating a community, they can't effectively share with the Brandeis community, so first they have to focus on their community," she said.Shmuel disagreed. "A TLC should fill a whole hallway, not just three rooms. It is hard to know our purpose on campus when there are no more than five people."Weiner said the Department of Residence Life has implemented changes that residents have suggested.One change for next year is to add a "global citizens" community" for students who wish to share their study-abroad experiences, while the arts community will not continue due to lack of interest, Daul said."They have a very thorough feedback process that involves the CAs and the TLC members themselves," Weiner said.Shmuel said TLCs have the potential to be great. "Don't expect something to be right for you if you don't put your whole self into it," she said.
(02/07/06 5:00am)
The Rev. Walter Cuenin, an outspoken advocate for gay and women's rights in the Catholic Church and a vocal critic of Church leadership, assumed his new position Monday as the University's Catholic chaplain."It will be different," Cuenin, who resigned last September from Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton, said of his new position. "Young people help keep you young, and they have questions and challenge you to think about your own faith in different ways." Cuenin replaces the Rev. David Michael, who was reassigned by Sean P. O'Malley the Boston Archbishop in December to serve as pastor at St. John Chrysostom Church in Boston.Cuenin was forced by the Archdiocese of Boston to resign from Our Lady Help of Christians after he was accused by the archdiocese of mishandling church funds. "I was not happy about the way I was treated, but I try not to harbor any anger toward anyone," Cuenin said. "I'm trying to get on with my life." The archdiocese accused Cuenin of receiving stipends from the parish over the limit of $5 a day. However, an internal audit at the parish found that the stipends were within church policy and had been approved by the parish's finance committee, Cuenin said."Some people have suggested it was because I was an outspoken kind of priest," Cuenin told the Newton Tab.Cuenin raised his profile in the church with his welcoming attitude toward gays and women and his condemnation of Cardinal Bernard Law, the former archbishop of Boston, for the cardinal's handling of accusations of sexual abuse against area priests. Cuenin also led a group of priests in demanding Law's resignation. (Law resigned from the Boston archdiocese in December 2002 and was subsequently appointed by Pope John Paul II to several posts in the Roman Curia, the Vatican's administrative body.)"I've been a very outspoken advocate for the rights of gay people," Cuenin, who established a gay and lesbian outreach program at his former parish and performs baptisms on children adopted by gay couples, he told the Justice. "Gays should know that they're blessed in the church," he said, adding that all religious groups should be at the forefront of being a place of welcome and safety. Although the church does not ordain women, Cuenin said it has an obligation to make sure women have high levels of authority and leadership. "I don't think future Catholics will be satisfied with only hearing the scripture interpreted through men's visions," he said.Jonathan Sham '06, a Catholic Students Organization executive, said he expected to be involved in the search process, until he read officially that Cuenin was coming to Brandeis in a Jan. 31 Boston Globe article.Sham said the University was planning a search process until the archbishop appointed Cuenin to Brandeis. "They decided to take him this semester with the provision that was contingent upon how it worked out with students," Sham said. At the end of the semester, students, the administration, the other chaplains and Cuenin will decide if Brandeis is an appropriate fit for him, Sham said.The University hires and pays the salary of the chaplain, Sham said, but the archdiocese appoints Catholic priests to their positions.Since Michael's departure, the traditional four recitations of Mass each weekend were cut to one on Sunday evenings. The services were led by priests from other area parishes.Cuenin's first service is this Sunday, though he has not yet finalized his worship schedule. "I'll meet with the Catholic Student Organization on Sunday and work with them to develop a mass schedule," he said.Cuenin said he met with leaders of the CSO last Wednesday to discuss his work at Brandeis. "I was very energized by the meeting," he said.Sham, who attended the meeting, said Cuenin made clear that although he is a liberal priest, he is committed to following ecclesiastical teachings. Additionally, Cuenin discussed the nature of his resignation from Our Lady Help of Christians. "He was very open about his past, which I appreciated a lot," Sham said. Cuenin said he worked heavily with the Jewish community in his previous job and came to appreciate Jewish spirituality. He said he looks forward to facilitating and participating in interfaith discussions on campus.-The mugshot accompanying this story was taken by Jim Walker for the Newton Tab.
(01/31/06 5:00am)
Grade: 3 stars.Directed by Wayne Wang. Starring Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Giancarlo Esposito, Alicia Witt and Grard Depardieu.Queen Latifah has finally proven herself. In this remake of the classic Last Holiday (1950), taking on the role originally played by Alec Guinness, the sassy rapper-turned-actress has shown she can do more than simply belt out jazz ballads and advertise Wal-Mart gift cards. Director Wayne Wang brings the story into the 21st century, using New Orleans and the Czech Republic as gorgeous backdrops for this lighthearted film. Last Holiday, while predictable from the first 10 minutes, is the epitome of a mindless feel-good comedy. Queen Latifah leads a less-than-stellar cast as Georgia Byrd, a department store clerk who leads a mundane life full of microwave dinners and clipped coupons. To compensate for the tedium, Georgia keeps a book of "Possibilities," highlighting various passions upon which she is too shy to act: gourmet cooking, traveling and fellow clerk Sean Matthews (LL Cool J, back and as bland as ever).However, after experiencing a traumatic run-in with a cabinet and receiving a CAT scan, Georgia learns she has a terminal illness, leaving her with only three weeks to live. This discovery propels Georgia to begin making her "Possibilities" into "Realities," in order to live her last few weeks to the fullest.At times, the movie can be too predictable and frustratingly simple, complete with cinematic clichs like the typical, comic relief-providing "crazy foreigner" and the easy-to-hate villain to contrast with Georgia's saintliness. Although much of the plotline is fairly implausible and a wee bit over the top, Queen Latifah brings an element of excitement and fun to Georgia's journey. Contrary to the many romantic comedies that stress the drive for companionship, this film reminds us that the most important thing is to live for oneself and one's own happiness.Apart from its predictability, Last Holiday is a great escape from the trivialities of our busy lives. While cheesy, it nonetheless serves as a good reminder of the importance of living life to the fullest. In the words of the film itself, "It's not how you start, but how you end.
(11/15/05 5:00am)
Answering a reassignment request from the Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley, Father David Michael, the campus Catholic chaplain, said he will leave his position here at the end of this semester for a parish in Boston."This change in my ministry and my subsequent departure from Brandeis comes unexpectedly, and I know that it will cause feelings of dislocation and losswithin our community," Michael wrote in an e-mail to the Catholic community Nov. 4, adding that he is currently working to ensure "that the life of the Catholic community here may continue to be a vibrant one."I would be remiss if I did not thank you-the Brandeis students-who have been such a precious source of richness in my life," he wrote. "I hope that I have returned the gift."Michael, who has held the position since 1997, is widely credited for his efforts to bring together those of different faiths both on campus and in the larger Boston community during his time here.Michael's approaching departure has left some Catholic students worried about the future of their community here, but they said they understand his departure is for the greater good."Many of us feel a great sense of loss and sadness that such a great friend and leader is departing," Catholic Student Organization President Jonathan Sham '06 said. "However, we know that he is following God's call and will be serving many more in his new position," at a 1,500-member Boston parish.Michael said he is working with the Archdiocesan Office of Campus Ministry to find a replacement. "I am already arranging for visiting priests to offer Mass here on Sunday evenings next semester," he said. Mass will be offered once a week, down from the four weekly services currently offered, Michael said. Anny Jones '06, a coordinator for the Catholic Student Organization, said that while she is concerned about the "profound transition" the community will face as a result of Michael's reassignment, she is confident they will remain strong. "Father Michael ... has been our shepherd and we his flock," Jones said. "The nature of Father Michael's ministry has been and continues to be an extraordinary instance of virtue" and will continue to be a reflection of his work after his departure, she said. University administrators are "concerned about and committed to" sustaining the Catholic community through the period of transition, Michael said.Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that Michael "is doing what is absolutely needed to ensure that services are going to be provided during the transition period," such as looking into hiring a part-time priest, but noted that all plans are tentative.But the situation is not completely in the administration's hands."When it comes to Catholic ministry on campus, it is a joint effort with the appropriate persons in the Boston Archdiocese and our community," Sawyer said.Michael's departure reflects the shortage of parish priests, Catholic student Dana Sawitz said. "It's disappointing, but in the same respect it's very much a reality of what's going on in the Church right now." Michael joined the Brandeis community in 1997 after working in Catholic-Jewish relations for the Boston Archdiocese. "One of the factors in my favor in the judgment of the [hiring] committee seems to have been my work in interfaith relations," Michael said. Sham said Michael has been a leader for hundreds of Catholic students and has "promoted understanding and respect between people of different faiths."Michael described religious life at Brandeis as "rich and diverse" and said that his hope for the Catholic community has been that it maintain a strong sense of faith while preserving open communication with other religions."It has always been my goal that the Catholic community should be rooted in its Catholic identity-should be unambiguously Catholic-without becoming a closed insular community," he said. Michael contributed "in important ways to religious life on campus, as well as inter-religious dialogue," University President Jehuda Reinharz said. Reinharz also recalled one of his fondest memories of the Chaplain: Michael helping to trim the Christmas tree in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium."Being a Catholic priest is not an automatic ticket to respect on this campus," Michael said. "You have to earn respect, and it's a hard process. I hope that I have risen to the occasion, but that is for others to say, not me.
(11/15/05 5:00am)
Sex. See, that got you reading. I bet if I'd started the article off with something like, "God, I hate this school," or an unorthodox statement about minorities, or something to do with beer, you would have started reading, too.As editor of this paper's forum page, one of my jobs is to keep a gauge on what readers want, and give it to them if possible. Of course there are other factors that go into our decsion-making (like what the paper considers important) but I love satsifying Brandeis' craving for appealing pages: Brandeis likes to talk about our party scene, or lack thereof; it likes intelligent debate, but nothing it could read just as easily in The New York Times; it likes the controversial, but not the pointless; and anything mentioning sex or booze is pretty much a winner.A few days ago, Sean Lewis-Faupel '08 came into the office to pitch an op-ed idea to me. He wanted to talk about his group, Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), and all the progress they've made in their efforts to raise awareness about Darfur.I had to break it to him. "You know, the problem is, Brandeis really isn't interested in articles about Darfur right now." It's true: From what people have told me, articles mentioning Darfur get about as many reads as articles about the women's tennis team. Brandeis students are pretty well-versed in Sudan's problems-and they all seem to agree it's unfortunate-but that's about the extent of their interest. "I'm not saying it's impossible," I said, "It's just that it would have to be more than P.R. for your cause-you'd have to analyze the issue, and not just spew the usual STAND platform. It would have to be really, really good."Sean, a soft-spoken, intelligent guy, agreed. He said he thought that would be hard, but one of my writers could try to tackle it if they wanted. We both paused and sighed a little, I said something stupid like, "Well ... good luck saving everybody..." and he left.About 15 minutes later, it began to dawn on me-with that creeping, stomach-twisting guilt you get when you realize you've just done something terrible completely by accident-how very disturbing the whole situation was.Brandeis, and, for that matter, the rest of the United States, isn't overly concerned about the slaughter of millions of people in Africa. Not to the point where action is demanded beyond the realm of convenience or extracurricular amusement. And then my stomach took another turn: For much of World War II, America really didn't concern itself with the slaughter of millions of Jews in Europe. A major reason for that was the indifference of the press. The New York Times kept stories about the Holocaust off its front page (check out Laurel Leff's new book Buried by the Times if you don't believe me) partially because most of America didn't warm to the idea of joining a war to save the Jewish people.It's disgusting. I'm not Jewish, but some of the best friends I've ever had in my life, including my boyfriend, are. My grandfather, who was a colonel during the war, led the freeing of some of Hitler's concentration camps, and he was never the same afterward. The fact that no one in America cared about the murder of millions is so maddening to think of.It's happening again, only it's in Africa this time. And I was only furthering America's famous indifference to foreign need.So here it goes.Over 400,000 men, women and children have died in Sudan because of conflict in the region, and more than 2.5 million people have been displaced. Sean Lewis-Faupel is vice-president of regional outreach for the Brandeis chapter of STAND, which is a national student movement that has helped to raise over $1 million in aid. The Brandeis chapter alone is responsible for raising over $2,000, and they helped put together a huge rally in Boston, which Sean himself co-chaired. STAND is now working to encourage Brandeis and the state of Massachusetts to stop investing in companies that help fund the ongoing violence.After the World War II, the world swore that genocide would never happen again. But they underestimated how easily people separate themselves from a problem that seems far away. We let genocide take place in Cambodia, Iraq, Bosnia and Rwanda, and neither the press nor the government gave these human exterminations enough attention until it was too late. To those of you who are still reading this, thanks-I guess people do read articles about Darfur, after all.
(10/25/05 4:00am)
Tabloids beware: Britney Spears is suing anyone daring enough to publish stolen photos of her month-old son, Sean Preston. Following a photo shoot of Spears, her husband Kevin Federline and their baby, the pictures were stolen, Spears reported in a press release on Friday. In the past, Spears has been very welcoming to the media's invasion of her privacy-as long as she benefited from it, of course. For example, Spears commissioned official coverage of her wedding to Federline, and she even sold camcorder footage of her and Kevin to UPN for Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, a reality series featuring the couple. Spear was originally planning on continuing this profitable habit by selling her photos of baby Federline to People magazine. However, Spears ended up backing out of the deal, telling the New York Post that she was afraid of "selling out her baby." Thus far, Spears' baby has maintained a low profile. Only poor quality, telephoto lens pictures of the baby have made it into the papers. This sign of responsibility and respect for her baby comes as a surprise from the same person who asked the crew of her reality show what their favorite sex positions were while on camera.Lil' Kim (right) is once again causing controversy and this time it's not for wearing nothing but a pastie to the MTV awards. Following a New York Daily News report that the rapper wrote bounced checks for the crew working on her latest music video, Lil' Kim fought back against the allegations. Lil' Kim blamed the monetary mishap on the video's director, Kirk Fraser, and his company. A representative for Lil' Kim explained that Lil' Kim and her record company, Atlantic Records, fulfilled their financial obligations to Fraser and that it was his job to pay the staff working on the video. Fraser turned around and laid the blame on his line producer, Heidi Tannenbaum, whom he claimed did not keep accurate records of finances, resulting in a need to reissue the checks. He also insisted that the check fiasco has now been taken care of, and the crew has been paid. While, Lil' Kim may be off the hook for this scandal, she's not out of the doghouse yet. She recently entered the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, where she will be serving a one-year sentence for lying to a grand jury about a 2001 shootout in New York involving her posse and a rival hip-hop group.
(10/18/05 4:00am)
(not for publication)I would just like to express my heartfelt disappointment at the publication of Preston Neal's editorial criticizing the hard efforts of so many students, not only at Brandeis but across the world. These people are giving up massive amounts of time, energy, and money to help save lives in Darfur. Make no mistake: they are having an effect. It is exactly the sentiment of Neal that leads to complacency and a lack of action.While Preston Neal has every right to voice his opinion on Darfur and STAND, I as a reader do not wish to see such articles in my campus newspaper. It is editorial choices such as this one that would make me more likely to read another campus publication rather than the Justice.Sean Lewis-FaupelBrandeis University STAND
(10/11/05 4:00am)
Sean Lewis-Faupel '08 stood before the audience and spoke to the crowd with passion."On this day the world turns its head to Darfur and says 'we will not forget you,'" he said. "Never again means never again."Lewis-Faupel was one of approximately 120 Brandeis students who gathered at Boston City Hall Plaza Thursday as part of an international solidarity fast for Darfur organized in part by the Brandeis chapter of STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur), a national coalition that includes over 200 schools across the United States and Canada.STAND's rally called on supporters to sacrifice a luxury item for the day and donate the money saved to a humanitarian or relief organization. Lewis-Faupel said that by fasting, he joined with thousands of others, including high profile individuals like Desmond Tutu, Bette Midler and Bill Cosby, to show solidarity with the people of Darfur.STAND collaborated with the Massachusetts Save Darfur Coalition-an alliance of 134 faith-based, humanitarian, and human rights organizations with a membership of over 130 million Americans-to reserve the City Hall Plaza.Although the spacious venue made the turnout appear small and about 30 signed-up students didn't show, event director Weldon Kennedy said he was impressed by the number of Brandeis students in attendance."The turnout [of Brandeis students] was really incredible, especially for downtown on a school day," he said. "It really shows a commitment on campus to this issue."Kennedy said the rally had lofty goals, and that STAND had hoped to have 1,000 in the crowd. He expressed particular disappointment with the turnout from other universities in the Boston area, especially those with parallel STAND organizations like Harvard and Tufts Universities.Several speakers stressed the power of generating a grassroots movement to end the genocide in Darfur. Many called for an international peacekeeping force in the Sudan, as well as divestment from companies that do business with the Sudanese government.Kate Auspitz, issues director for U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), read a statement of support signed by senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), as well as the remainder of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.The statement criticized the United States government for failing to take a stronger stance against the genocide, and said the country must work with the international community "to uphold the promise of never again.""We hope that your vigil will awaken the consciences of all who see and hear you, and inspire them to demand more of our government," the statement read.The rally also included musical performances by students from the Berklee College of Music and a rap performed by Jamele Adams, Brandeis' assistant dean of Student Life in support of diversity.In closing, speakers asked rally participants to pledge to make two weekly phone calls to the White House urging the government to take more action in Darfur. Dozens of students on the City Hall steps took out their cell phones and dialed.Kennedy said STAND hopes to spread awareness of the Darfur genocide to the general public through events like the Boston rally."Darfur is a hot issue for university students, but it hasn't grabbed the attention of the public," he said.Kennedy worked with other STAND members over the summer to create a Web site at www.darfurfast.org. The Web site initially focused on Thursday's fast, but it also provides background information about the crisis in Sudan and encourages viewers to donate to relief efforts.Kennedy said the Web site helped disseminate information quickly and in doing so facilitated the creation of similar events in support of Darfur. He said the site received 87,000 hits on the day of the fast from people in over 20 different countries."An event is more press-worthy and more participants are able to come out if they feel they are part of something big," Kennedy said. "The Web site helped make it big.
(10/11/05 4:00am)
Wallace and Gromit: The Cure of the Were-Rabbit - 5 StarsDirected by Steve Box and Nick ParkStarring Peter Sallis, Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes.Anyone who was fortunate enough to see the Wallace and Gromit shorts in their childhood-A Grand Day Out (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995)-is bound to recall them fondly. These lovable little films, showcasing the Claymation adventures of the cheese-obsessed inventor Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) and his silent, faithful and infinitely wiser canine companion Gromit, are filled to the brim with creator Nick Park's distinctive blend of plucky British wit and heart. Now, after years of production, the duo's first feature-length film, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, has finally "hopped" into theaters. The question is: Can it possibly live up to the series' spotless track record of beloved family hits?Hell yes! Curse of the Were-Rabbit is the type of kid's movie that makes you want to run out and start a family, just so you'll have someone else to introduce to this fantastic world. Though it's a terrible clich by now, there really is something for everyone in Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It takes an icy spirit not to warm to the lovable plot, in which Wallace and Gromit, newly organized into the pest-control company Anti-Pesto, attempt to capture the mysterious garden-pillaging Were-Rabbit (in a humane manner, of course) before he ruins Lady Tottington's (Helena Bonham Carter) annual Giant Vegetable Competition. As is the case in many family films nowadays, the jokes here are both silly enough for the kids and clever enough for the adults-but Curse of the Were-Rabbit goes the extra mile, relying on brilliantly thought-out set pieces rather than irony and snarky pop culture references. That said, older filmgoers are bound to dig the loving nods to classic Universal horror films (the interplay between Wallace and Gromit, the townspeople and the savagely herbivorous Were-Rabbit precisely mimics the brave heroes/frightened villagers/misunderstood monster format) and the subtly cheeky humor (the MPAA has benevolently let Curse of the Were-Rabbit go by with a G-rating despite quite a few deliriously naughty gags). If you're already a fan of Wallace and Gromit, you can guess why it gets the full five stars. If you haven't been initiated yet, snap to it!-Jennifer MorrowSerenity 4 StarsDirected by Joss WhedonStarring Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres.For fans of the short-lived show Firefly, Serenity ends a long wait for satisfaction. Axed by the FOX network in 2002 after only 11 episodes, Firefly had been the latest brain child of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), but lacked the ratings necessary for survival in its competitive timeslot. When a DVD set of the first and only season did extremely well, Whedon decided to try to take his series to the big screen. Surprisingly, Serenity, the final product, should appeal to not only to the initiated Firefly geek, but just about everyone else as well.The movie more or less touches upon the plot of the first season of the show, with the key actors reprising their roles. Nathan Fillion returns as the tough-as-nails Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, a rebel fighter-turned-small-time crook and captain of the Starship Serenity. Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite and the particularly hilarious Adam Baldwin form his lovably ragtag crew of fellow bandits. Although their roles are a little archetypal (the techie, the badass warriors, the pilot, etc.) they pull them off with gusto, much to the constant amusement of the audience.Serenity takes place some 500 years from now, in a future where the majority of humanity is united under the authoritarian Alliance government. It's those outsiders in the minority, however, who make up our heroes-most notably the troubled and tortured psychic River (Summer Glau) and her physician brother Simon (Sean Maher). Much of the film follows an arc from Firefly in which the siblings, fleeing from Alliance scientists who are interested in experimenting on River, attempt to take refuge on board the Serenity. As Mal struggles between his desire to turn a profit and keep his passengers safe, the crew finds themselves hounded by a relentless Alliance Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor). The plot follows a fairly standard sci-fi line from there on out, with plenty of gun fights, knife-wielding maniacs, goofball martial arts combat, and a solid dose of galaxy-saving. Although it tends to be formulaic at times, Whedon makes sure it is also chock-full of his trademark brand of humor and quirky character moments. For junkies and casual moviegoers alike, it proves to be a ridiculous, yet fun, thrill ride. -Matthew Wright
(09/20/05 4:00am)
Those disappointed by Mos Def's decision to cancel a performance at Brandeis last April can breathe a sigh of relief. While the star of The Italian Job will not be stopping by Waltham any time soon, his long-time friend and lesser-known collaborator, Talib Kweli, will perform Sunday Oct. 9 with Mighty Purple and one more yet-to-be-announced special guest in Gosman Gymnasium in a concert sponsored by Student Events.Kweli, a Brooklyn native whose name means "the seeker of truth or knowledge," is the son of two college professors and has collaborated with some of hip hop's biggest names. He has worked with everyone from The Neptunes and Mary J. Blige to Jay-Z, The Roots and Anthony Hamilton. He appeared most recently with Kanye West on "Get Em High," a track on 2004's The College Dropout, which launched West into the mainstream music scene. Kweli developed his literary skills as early as elementary school, when he began to write poems and short stories. It was not until meeting Mos Def that hip hop became an outlet for his creativity. Another chance meeting-this time with Tony Cotrell (DJ Hi-Tek) during a 1994 trip to Cincinnati-cemented the idea in Kweli's own mind that he could have a successful future in hip hop. Kweli's biggest success to date was arguably his 1998 collaboration with Mos Def and DJ HI-Tek on the amlbum Black Star. The trio of on-the-rise artists was immediately praised by many hip-hop purists for temporarily reviving the genre's roots and providing a true alternative to the increasingly violent gangsta rap of artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, and the diluted pop-rap of Sean "Puffy Daddy" Combs.Absent on Black Star were the flashy, overworked beats that have become the standard in mainstream hip hop. The album was full of intelligent, thought-provoking rhymes set to simple yet perfectly complementary beats and instrumental grooves. Black Star-hailed as "desperately needed" by Rolling Stone-was filled with uplifting, inspirational lyrics that, while never preachy, admonished the hip-hop community for focusing on violence, hatred, sex and drugs. Unfortunately, while Black Star proved to be one of the decade's most critically-acclaimed hip-hop releases, it failed to make a significant commercial impact.Talib Kweli-along with The Roots, Kanye West, Common and others-is part of a new class of hip-hop artists threatening to break the monotonous and overdone themes of violence, sex and drugs prevalent in much of today's mainstream hip hop.Fronted by brothers Steve and Jon Rogers, Mighty Purple has been developing its live show while touring for just over a decade. Hailing from Hamden, Conn., the five members of Mighty Purple have played over 2,500 shows in the United States and the United Kingdom, and even shared the stage with such well-known acts as Dave Matthews Band, Guster, Bright Eyes, John Mayer, The Violent Femmes, The Wallflowers and Barenaked Ladies (to name a few) along the way. On the track "Breaking Up," from their most recent album, the group evokes the sounds of Guster and rock luminaries Coldplay and U2. Mighty Purple and its members have released a total of seven albums on three different indie labels since their inception in 1992. Their most recent effort, Prefables, came out last year. Talib Kweli will perform on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Gosman with special guest. Doors open one hour before show time.
(09/13/05 4:00am)
Apparently, the stress of tribunal councils and eating bugs are nothing compared to the evasion of the IRS for original Survivor winner Richard Hatch. Hatch was indicted on 10 charges Thursday. These charges include a faiure to pay taxes on his one million dollar prize for winning the show, filing a false tax return, mail fraud and bank fraud. In addition to not reporting his prize money, Hatch also neglected to mention the $327,000 he earned from hosting a Boston-based radio show. As if Hatch's ruthless and conniving personality wasn't established enough on the show, his image was darkened further when he was accused of dipping into donations meant for his charity, Horizon Bound, for personal expenses. The discovery of Hatch's devious behavior first came to light in January when he was indicted for two counts of tax evasion. A guilty verdict could mean millions of dollars in fines and up to 75 years in jail. Too bad the court doesn't offer challenges with a chance to win tax immunities. Not content with just donating money to disaster relief, many celebrities are taking a hands-on approach helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. Sean Penn made headlines when he took it upon himself to obtain a boat and wade through toxic waters in order to rescue close to 40 people stranded in New Orleans. While some people criticized Penn's efforts, claiming it was a publicity stunt for his next film-All the King's Men, which was shot in New Orleans-others commended his proactive behavior. Author Douglas Brinkley, who witnessed the rescues, told the New York Daily News that in the case of Katrina, Penn "was an American hero." Other celebrities, working as a part of Oprah Winfrey's "Team Angel," also provided hands-on relief for victims. Some notable efforts: Chris Rock helping to staff a food bank in Houston, John Travolta and Kelly Preston flying in supplies to Baton Rouge and Lisa Marie Presley trucking in food and toiletries to Mississippi. Maybe instead of criticizing Oprah and company for using Katrina as a publicity stunt, the media should be criticizing President Bush and his administration for not following their example.
(09/06/05 4:00am)
The Brandeis chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) was chartered at last night's Union Senate meeting, culminating a summer of planning to support aid efforts in Darfur. But the group's work-raising awareness about the genocide in the Sudan and encouraging the U.S. government to send more relief-is far from over. The next big date is Oct. 6, when STAND hopes three to five million people worldwide will fast from one meal or refuse luxury goods and donate the money saved to relief efforts in Darfur. Known as Darfur Fast, this movement aims to be "a luxury fast simple enough that everyone can be involved," according to Weldon Kennedy '06, who helped write STAND's national bylaws and worked to create the Darfur Fast Web site.STAND began last September at Georgetown University, and has since expanded to about 200 schools in the U.S. and Canada. It became a unified national coalition at a conference at Georgetown this August. According to Masaya Uchino '06, this status as a national movement helps the organization achieve more than many other student groups. STAND has partnered with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and mtvU, the college-oriented branch of MTV.Extensive outreach has attracted famous participants for the Oct. 6 fast, including actor Bill Cosby, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.The list even includes NBA player Dikembe Mutombo and the chief rabbi of Poland-two strikingly different figures. "This is not a partisan issue; this is for everyone," Kennedy said. The celebrity names "give more legitimacy to the student movement," said Patrick Schmitt, a senior at Georgetown who is one of the key players in STAND's national endeavors. Kennedy said that the fast can be a "foot in the door" for people, and a way to "register your discontent with genocide." He said that most people are aware of the Sudan crisis, but are not aware of its complexity, or of "how terrible and minimal are the efforts" to end the killing."The U.S. has been idly sitting by, with declared genocide," Kennedy said. "This is almost disgusting to me."In early 2003, two rebel groups in Sudan attacked military installations, leading to retaliations by Janjaweed, or government-sponsored militias. This intensified a 20-plus-year civil war, and quickly escalated into genocide, as officially recognized by U.S. Congress in July 2004 and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell in September 2004. The Darfur Fast Web site (www.darfurfast.org) cites recent reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International Justice: 3.5 million people are now hungry and 400,000 people have died in Darfur since early 2003.In addition to the fast, STAND-Brandeis plans to hold a vigil and teach-ins led by students and professors. The chapter is encouraging Brandeis students to call the State Department all day on Sept. 13 and urge the government to increase aid to Darfur. A benefit dinner is slated for early October, with a panel of speakers including John Prendergast, advisor to the president of the International Crisis Group. On the agenda for the fast day itself is a rally in Boston.Sean Lewis-Faupel '08 is working with the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur to plan this event. Oct. 6 is an appropriate date, as it occurs during Ramadan, a period of fasting in Islam, and is also Tzom Gedaliah, a fast day in Judaism that commemorates the assassination of a religious leader. STAND is merging with Brandeis Against Genocide in Sudan, a group formed last spring. Matt Rogers '08, one of the presidents of last year's group, said that the merge will allow more work on a national level.Kennedy said the group can make everyone at Brandeis more aware and knowledgeable. "This is going to be intense," Kennedy said. "We are going to push people to the point of compassion fatigue.
(05/24/05 4:00am)
Hello, Below is our press release relating to supporting our troops while opposing the IRAQ war. Also, I clicked on 'classified' link on left, it doesn't seem to work. Thank you. JacobSANDS LLCwww.supportandhome.com **************************Contact: Ed Zagorac, 573-635-6119 573-635-1390 ed@supportandhome.com August 18, 2005Support Our Troops - Oppose The WarThere are many people, some say a vast majority of Americans, that love and support our troops in foreign lands but oppose the war in Iraq. It causes a real challenge to express those feelings and thoughts. So what do you do?Ed Zagorac and his son, Jacob, started a company and created 5 different magnets, to be displayed on cars, mailboxes or any other public place that say "we support our troops-bring them home" or "stop the war." The magnets are made in the USA. They developed a website, www.supportandhome.com that gives people access to magnets that allow them to express their position on the war. Is it possible to both support the troops and oppose the war? In a recent conversation that Jacob had live with Sean Hannity, a national conservative radio and TV personality, Mr. Hannity said, "yes, you can." He went on to say, "It must be done in a civil, kind way, no name calling, respecting everyone's opinion and simply stating why you are opposed to the war. You also need to physically do things to show support for the troops -write letters, send care packages, visit families, make donations to veteran's causes."Right after the war in Iraq started, the yellow ribbons with "Support Our Troops" appeared. No one seems to know who invented the design ... we have heard some people wonder if it was a creation of the Department of Defense, as a means to help keep people from protesting.The company, SANDS LLC (abbreviation for Support AND Stop) has three basic goals.First, provide a means for people to express the feeling "support our troops - bring them home" or "stop the war", in a non-confrontational way.Second, a fund raising effort to provide donations to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance For Survivors). Supportandhome.com will donate $.50 from the sale of each magnet to the two organizations. "There are some real needs to help families be with their loved ones in Walter Reed Army Hospital and other facilities, as well as some need for legal assistance to sort through the bueacratic process. And, TAPS.org is a total volunteer organization and receives no government support. It provides help to those families that lost a loved one in the war." Ed explained.And, the third goal is to cover expenses and provide for one, very modest, salary.There are various magnets for sale in stores and on the Internet. Supportandhome.com is the only company that is devoted to helping people express both support for our troops and a desire to bring them home, as well as raise funds to help wounded troops
(03/29/05 5:00am)
Having one of your Final Four teams knocked out in the first round of the NCAA tournament is like running a marathon and finding out after the gun fires that your shoes were tied together.Having your next Final Four team knocked out in the second round of the tournament feels a bit more like running an eighth of the marathon and then getting flattened by a renegade oil tanker. Quite simply, after that first weekend of tournament action, the only thing more damaged than my bracket was my mangled ego. But on Easter weekend, my two saviors came through in a big way. With the field whittled down to four, I still have my predicted championship game intact: the University of North Carolina against the University of Illinois. And when the Tarheels beat the Fighting Illini, I will celebrate the resurrection of my bracket.There is no doubt that UNC will be the national champion this year. Illinois versus UNC in the championship game is the pick everyone shied away from in the beginning because it was just too obvious.But since they both emerged from the melee unscathed, there is just no doubt that they will both be there in the end. When the two best teams during the regular season come to the tournament and dominate, it reinforces the notion that they're good. But when those teams both come within a hair's breadth of elimination and make the clutch plays needed to stave off an upset, it's clear that they came to win it all.On the biggest of stages under the brightest of lights, only star players lift their teams to championships, and UNC has two stars: center Sean May and swingman Rashad McCants. May leads the Tarheels in scoring, but McCants was injured for a large chunk of the season and that gives him motivation to excel. They were both money in the regional final against Wisconsin; McCants had 21 points and four assists, while May scored 29 points with 12 rebounds.One of these players will be the hero of the tournament, and junior point guard Raymond Felton is one of the guys who will make sure of it. He is averaging 6.9 assists a game, and it is because of his tremendous ball-handling that UNC can run at such a break-neck offensive pace. He is extremely adept at getting the ball into the low post for May or driving in and dishing out to McCants for the three-point shot.The Fighting Illini are the definition of a solid basketball team, with five players averaging above 10 points a game and the best group of guards in the country. But while they are talented, none of them are stars of the caliber of May or McCants, and that gives UNC the edge.The Tarheels have been beaten and bruised, disgraced and dismissed, but since Easter Sunday, everything has changed. Just two years after Roy Williams' triumphant return to his alma mater, UNC will be fully resurrected from the dust and take its place at the top of college basketball.And along with the Tarheels' rise to glory, my bracket will emerge victorious.
(03/15/05 5:00am)
Imagine it's 1998. In the two years since the violent murders of iconic rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., mainstream hip-hop has drifted away from the hard-edged style prevalent during the first half of the 1990s. Artists-cum-entrepreneurs like Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Master P now dominate the radio waves and MTV, polishing their gangsta roots with a commercial sheen. Having pulled their lyrical foci from America's ghettos-and placing them squarely in the realm of night clubs, Jacuzzis, Cristal and bling-hip-hop has become further removed from its old-school roots than ever before. It was two young rappers who, in the summer of that year, provided an intelligent alternative to the hip-hop status quo. Channeling old-school progenitors like Run-DMC and KRS-1 and the early-'90s jazz-rap collective Native Tongues, Mos Def and Talib Kweli released one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time: Black Star. Just as Native Tongues' socially-conscious rhymes and jazz-inflected beats had brought a positivity to counterbalance gansta rap, Black Star's unique Afro-centrism and informed, philosophical style provided a foil to less substantive artists like Combs, catapulting the two rappers to the forefront of the hip-hop conscience and heavily influencing the mainstream and underground rap communities ever since.That same iconoclasm will come to Waltham on April 7 when Mos Def-who in the seven years since the release of Black Star has crafted an acclaimed solo career and dabbled successfully in acting-brings his intricate, energetic flow to Gosman Gymnasium.Born Dante Bez in Brooklyn in 1973, Mos Def reached maturity during the 1980s-the golden age of hip-hop. He was influenced not only by the vibrant music scene, but by the surrounding culture as well, developing a strong social conscience that would later influence his music. He began rapping at age nine and eventually formed the hip-hop ensemble Urban Thermo Dynamics in the early '90s, which released the single "My Kung Fu."After that group dissolved, Mos Def was invited to join the Native Tongues crew and he appeared in songs by members De La Soul and Bush Babees. This provided the impetus for his rise in New York's underground hip-hop community and he soon became a regular performer at the famous Lyricist Lounge. He first collaborated with Talib Kweli in 1996 on the single "Fortified Live."Mos Def and Talib Kweli were thrust into the national spotlight two years later with Black Star, named after black nationalist Marcus Garvey's Black Star shipping line. As its namesake suggests, the record sought to infuse the hip-hop community with a political conscience absent since the early days of Public Enemy, as well as to counteract the violence, negativity and even the pop sheen prevalent at the time. One year later, Mos Def released his critically-acclaimed solo debut Black on Both Sides, which elaborated on Black Star's Afro-centric themes and jazz-rap beats by exploring genres like reggae, soul and hardcore punk.Several cameos notwithstanding, Mos Def disappeared from music until last year, when he formed the all-black rock group Black Jack Johnson, which hoped to revive the legacy of '80s rockers Living Colour. Although they have not yet released a record, Black Jack Johnson appeared on several cuts of Mos Def's sophomore album, The New Danger, released last fall. While it received mostly lukewarm reviews, the album proved even more adventurous than Black on Both Sides.Long before his rap career took off, however, Mos Def had built a solid rsum as an actor. After his graduation from high school in the late '80s, he landed a number of television roles-most notably on the short-lived The Cosby Mysteries. After the success of Black on Both Sides, he returned to acting, appearing on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog, on television in MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera, and on the big screen in Monster's Ball, Bamboozled, The Italian Job and The Woodsman. He will star in an upcoming film adaptation of Douglas Adams' A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
(02/08/05 5:00am)
The Merchant of Venice - Three starsDirected by Michael Radford Starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes and Lynn CollinsIn an effort to win the hand of the beautiful Portia (Lynn Collins), Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes, Enemy at the Gates) convinces his benefactor, Antonio (Jeremy Irons, Lolita) to borrow money from a Jew, Shylock (Al Pacino, The Devil's Advocate). The contract entitles Shylock to a pound of Antonio's flesh should he not repay the debt. When Shylock's daughter runs off with a Christian, he turns against Antonio, seeking revenge. With the help of Portia, Bassanio returns to Antonio's side in an effort to save his benefactor's life.Although the film is based on William Shakespeare's play, it maintains a modern relevance under the direction of Michael Radford (Il Postino). A scene in which Antonio gives Bassanio a ring resonates with today's gay marriage debates, while other scenes remind us of the anti-Semitism of the Renaissance, conveyed by Pacino's portrayal of his character's hatred for the persecuting Christians.Regretfully, Radford chooses to cut out nearly all of the humorous moments in Shakespeare's original. The film's few comic gags are tempered by bleak backgrounds with thunderous skies. While the film is well-acted and the production is intellectually and emotionally stimulating, the lack of comic relief in Redford's version should disappoint most Shakespeare purists.-Rebecca WebberThe Woodsman - Four starsDirected by Nicole KasselStarring Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Mos Def, Eve and Benjamin BrattIt is rare for a movie tackling a sensitive issue to take the form of an in-depth character study. It is even rarer for a first-time director to do this well. But Nicole Kassel's The Woodsman does just that. It is the story of Walter (Kevin Bacon, Mystic River), a man returning to his hometown after serving 12 years in prison. Though we do not initially know the nature of Walter's crime, his return makes his fellow townsfolk seem wary. Bacon captures a man torn completely in half by terrible guilt and the frustration that no one will give him a second chance, not even himself. Bacon's wife, Kyra Sedgewick (Creature Comforts), delivers a moving performance as Vickie, a co-worker who sees the potential for redemption in Walter. Bacon's performance makes the viewer empathize with Walter without ever excusing his actions. His portrayal of Walter's continuing battle with his problem is convincing to the point of discomfort.In the end, what Walter discovers is not redemption, but humanity. Through his eyes we see not only society's hypocrisy, but also the pain of someone aware of his own mistakes. "When will I be normal?" he asks repeatedly. The Woodsman is complex, raw and powerful. Kassel and her excellent cast tackle a difficult subject and create a movie that is honest. And though that honesty makes it difficult to watch at times, the film's stunning performances make it a must-see.-Ezra BrooksThe Assassination of Richard Nixon - Three starsDirected by Niels Mueller Starring Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle and Jack ThompsonOn a clear morning, Sam Bicke (Sean Penn, Mystic River) gets out of his car, hides a pistol in his leg brace, and walks into an airport. What he is about to do-and what has led him to this forlorn act-is shown in this fascinating yet disturbing character study by first-time director Niels Mueller. Based on the life of Sam Byck, who in 1974 attempted to hijack a plane and crash it into the White House, The Assassination of Richard Nixon depicts a man's descent into madness. In a performance that proves why he is one of today's best actors, Penn portrays Bicke as a man with an unreasonably rigid sense of right and wrong. Speaking earnestly into tapes recorded for composer Leonard Bernstein, whose music he adores, Bicke addresses the injustices of life-how the everyday man gets lost in the American system, swallowed up by hopes of the American Dream.Mueller's film features a backdrop laced with a deep sense of irony. To the modern viewer, Nixon's constant talk of the strength and resolve of the American people during the Vietnam War reeks of hypocrisy, raising an interesting question: Is Sam Backe right, or is he simply naave and weak, unable to cope with the pressures of the modern world? Perhaps the most effective aspect of the film is this deliberate ambiguity, which pushes the viewer to contemplate the validity of the American Dream. -Amit ShertzerBoogeyman - One starDirected by Stephen T. KayStarring Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Lucy Lawless and Skye McCole BartusiakHad Boogeyman come out several years ago, it would have been amusingly bad. Of course, it still would have been poorly produced, directed, edited and not at all frightening. But at least the clichd cinematic tricks it steals from recent American and Japanese horror movies would have been interesting and fresh.Boogeyman is of the flourishing "blurry unsteady camera" school of horror films. Its villain, a generically depicted evil demon, is always blurred and twitching on screen. The monster is supposed to look out of control and unbound by the laws of physics, making it that much more menacing.But the effect only makes the monster appear hazy and out of focus, much like the rest of this clumsily-structured film. A scene in which protagonist Time Jenson (Barry Watson, Sorority Boys) survives a traumatic boogeyman attack is the movie's most redeeming moment, even if only for not confusing the audience. After that, the movie becomes an incoherent mess, making laughable use of the nonlinear pacing that obscures the film's focus. Watson is no help, either. His vague, noncommittal acting seems particularly amateur, and the supporting characters are the usual band of spooky children, conventional ghosts and superfluous dead bodies. Even the presence of Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) cannot save the film. Fortunately, the movie is only 86 minutes long; it would have been more unbearable at two hours. This Boogeyman should have stayed in the closet. -Randolph Brickey
(02/08/05 5:00am)
Tom Brady may have won his third Super Bowl in four years on Sunday, but the quarterback also received another honor later that night-being immortalized in a guest role on the animated TV hit, The Simpsons. The post-Super Bowl episode, in which Homer produced the game's halftime show, spoofed The Passion of the Christ. Brady voiced his character himself, and his animated counter-part helped Simpson orchestrate a Bible-themed halftime show. Forty years ago, The Beatles were considered racy by cultural critics, but on Sunday, Paul McCartney was seen as the savior of the Super Bowl Halftime show-a "safe choice" after last year's "wardrobe malfunction." Gone were the scandalous costumes and scantily clad crowd surrounding the stage; this year's halftime show was all about classic music as McCartney performed three of the Beatles' greatest hits: ''Drive My Car," ''Get Back" and their anthem "Hey Jude." Though this year's show may not have been as arousing to younger viewers, McCartney and the music of his legendary group are as classic as Super Bowl Sunday itself. Also on PC-overload were this year's Super Bowl commercials, which toned down the typical raunchy content and provocative imagery in order to avoid the FCC's wrath in the post-Janet era. However, some companies weren't afraid to mock the FCC; in Godaddy.com's ad, Nikki Cappelli mocked Jackson's Super Bowl boob blunder by having her halter-top "fall off." In my mind, the funniest ad of the night was a Lays commercial that spoofed the movie The Sandlot. In the ad, a group of rag-tag kids toss a bag of the potato chips over a fence in the hopes of getting their baseball back from a reclusive neighbor. They neighbor is so grateful for the Lays that he tosses all the kids' old belongings over the fence-including MC Hammer, whom the kids decide they don't want and throw back over. Although Lays' old-school humor left us college-kids laughing, ads like the "I am Diana Pearl" commercial left us scratching our heads about what ex-NBA oddball Dennis Rodman and football coaching legend Mike Ditka had to do with counter-tops. Also, the Cadillac V-Series ad boasted a car that could accelerate to 60 mph in under five seconds, but the commercial itself felt like five hours. In addition, Careerbuilder.com's commercial didn't seem to realize that monkeys don't always equal funny. Although it took a while, Hollywood finally turned out for the big game on Sunday. Burt Reynolds, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler showed up for a taping of Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period to promote their new football movie, a remake of The Longest Yard. Sandler explained that he prepared for his role as a quarterback by training with former QB Sean Salisbury, commenting, "[Salisbury] worked his ass off with me." Although Sandler grew up in Manchester, NH, the actor shocked Pats fans by declaring that he was hoping for an Eagles victory. ''I'm sorry, New England," Sandler said. Along John Travolta, national-anthem performer Alicia Keyes and former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush were on hand to promote the tsunami relief effort in South Asia. Prize for worst promo appearance of the night goes to Will Smith, who happened to be in the crowd while his new film, Hitch, was being promoted during the broadcast.
(01/18/05 5:00am)
First in a series about Boston area musems.Though we all love the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, sometimes a museum-goer wants to add a bit of diversity to their art-related excursions into the city. Even if you're not really a fan of museums, Boston has so many to choose from that you're guaranteed to find one that's right for you-whether it's completely unconventional or strictly traditional. Listed below are institutions that are not only easily accessible from the Brandeis campus via public transportation, but also that will satisfy your art-thirsty palette and your quest for a fun weekend afternoon activity.Institute of Contemporary Art955 Boylston Street(617) 266-5152Web site: www.icaboston.org/HomePublic transportation: Take the Green Line B, C or D train to the Hynes Convention Center/ICA stopHours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 12 to 5 p.m.Thursday, 12 to 9 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Admission: $5 for studentsThe Institute of Contemporary Art has built its reputation by showcasing the likes of Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman. Two special exhibits are opening on Jan. 19. "Entitled Likeness: Portraits of Artists" by Other Artists. The exhibition consists of 50 pieces by artists including Robert Mapplethorpe, Deborah Kass and Sean Landers. The other show, "Momentum 3/ Kanishka Raja," pays homage to Indian and American culture through depictions of unusual interior spaces.Sports Museum of New England1 Fleetcenter (617) 624-1234 Web site: www.sportsmuseum.orgPublic transportation: Take MBTA Commuter Rail to the North Station.Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Admission is limited to 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.)Hours are subject to change due to FleetCenter events, so call ahead. Admission: $6 for adultsDivided by sport (hockey, basketball, football and baseball), the museum showcases a wide variety of sports artifacts in addition to temporary exhibitions comprised of both works of art, multimedia and interactive exhibits. Not only can you see a Bobby Orr sculpture kiosk and a Boston Celtics locker display, but you can also view a show dedicated to the history of Olympic posters.Museum of Afro American History14 Beacon Steet(617) 725-0022Web site: www.afroammuseum.orgPublic transportation: Take the Red or Green line to Park Street. Walk up Park Street toward the Statehouse on Beacon Street. Turn left onto Beacon, then right onto Joy Street. The Museum is located at 46 Joy Street.Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Admission: FreeThe institution is "dedicated to preserving, conserving and accurately interpreting the contributions of African-Americans during the colonial period in New England." Its three permanent exhibitions focus on the history, community and education of 19th century African-American Bostonians. There is also a traveling exhibition on view as of Jan. 14, entitled "Threads of Faith, Recent Works from the Women of Color Quilters Network."Gardner Museum2 Palace Road(617) 566-1401Web site: www.gardnermuseum.orgPublic transportation: Take the Huntington Avenue no. 39 bus or the Green Line E-train to the Museum stop, cross Huntington Avenue (toward the Texaco) to Louis Prang Street and walk down Louis Prang Street for two blocks. The museum is on the left.Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 5 p.m.Admission: $5 for studentsOpened to the public in 1903, this museum reflects the eclectic tastes of its founding collector, Isabella Stewart Gardner. Ten portraits of her can be found throughout the museum, amid the approximately 2,500 pieces of artwork including paintings, sculpture, furniture, textiles, drawings, silver, ceramics, illuminated manuscripts, rare books, photographs and letters. In the 1860s, Gardner traveled extensively throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe, collecting the art of ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, Renaissance Italy, Asia, the Islamic world and 19th-century France and America. Today, you can go see this vast permanent collection in its quaint house near Fenway Park. The museum's latest special exhibition is "Chairs," a photography show by artist Dayanita Singh, which opens on Feb. 11.
(11/23/04 5:00am)
The last time Nicholas Cage worked with Jerry Bruckheimer in Gone in 60 Seconds, he stole a lot of expensive cars. In National Treasure, they're just stealing our time. Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, the latest member of a family dedicated to finding the treasure of the Knights Templar-the group of medieval Christian warriors who allegedly stumbled across the riches of King Solomon after the First Crusade.National Treasure opens with a flashback to Gates's youth, when his grandfather (Christopher Plummer, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) tells him of the family legacy. Charles Carroll, a Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress, was the oldest surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence and a keeper of the secret location of the Templar treasure, which somehow-in a montage of poorly designed cutaways of ancient Egypt, Roman legions and the American Revolution-traveled from the Dome of the Rock to the East Coast.When Cage first appears, he is zooming across an Arctic landscape in a snowcat with Sean Bean and Justin Bartha. Bean is the ultimately sinister benefactor of Gates expeditions, while Bartha is trying to make up for his appearance in Gigli. Bean, who can usually make a basic villain interesting, fails here in what is obviously an attempt to reminisce about his turn as James Bond's nemesis in Goldeneye. Bartha, as Gates klutzy computer-whiz sidekick, is in an even more difficult spot-after National Treasure he now has more, not less, to repent for.The Arctic expedition is the search for a marooned 18th-century ship containing an ornate pipe. After finding the relic, Bean's character, Ian Howe, predictably turns bad, proposing to steal the Declaration of Independence. Of course, Gates and the sidekick object and are abandoned and exploded by their newfound rival. Unfortunately, the protagonists survive, and the movie continues.The rest of National Treasure is an idiotic chase through the great cities of the East Coast-Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. In the capital, Gates meets Abigail Chase, a curator of the National Archives played by Diane Kruger, who last bored audiences in her somnambulant portrayal of Helen of Troy. Kruger is a gorgeous woman, but her talent ends there. After hearing her light German accent, Gates asks if it is Pennsylvania Dutch. Kruger insists she sounds Saxony German, but throughout the movie, she just sounds like a moron.The theft of the Declaration of Independence is turned into an absurdly elaborate sequence. Bartha hooks up to the National Archives surveillance system through a maintenance closet in a nearby Metro station. (In yet another Washington security failure, the stumbling sidekick is able to bring a cache of electronic devices into a transit system where commuters are arrested for talking on their cell phones.) Gates, as the protagonist, uses the tried-and-true method of a plumbers outfit over a tuxedo (conveniently, there is a gala the night of the theft) to gain access. Bean, also trying to pull off the heist, takes the obvious antagonists route of a smash-and-grab operation with the help of a few henchmen. There are expected mishaps and a bothersome chase down Constitution Avenue ensues.Jon Voight, as Gates's father, is wasted in this movie except for his first appearance where he points out the plain stupidity of the treasure hunt. But he soon joins the band, as National Treasure tries to invoke the father-son bonding of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. As the Gateses fail to keep up with the Joneses, we are led through Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Trinity Church at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street.The director, Jon Turtletaub, ought to consider a career change from filmmaking to waste management. National Treasure is his biggest heap of garbage to date, following other dreck like The Kid and Phenomenon. For Bruckheimer, this kind of movie is his bread and butter: a cast of well-known actors in a mindless plot to save something important. However, nothing can save this movie.
