The event- issue 121- 31st January 2001

The Event's great pop ruckus game!

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Interviewed: Stephen Fry, Webb Bros, Grandaddy

Beats working: Dedbeat Weekender previewed Here fishy fishy: how to ha~e sex with dolphins

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The latest interviews from the ents'n'arts front line

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Webb Bros/Grandaddy Brothers and daddies get us up the family way Dedbeat Weekender You heard it here first. .. it's the best hip hop/dance event Norfolk's ever seen!

Experience The trials and tribulations of being a young artist in Narch Stephen Fry On literature, happiness and being an LGB icon

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In-depth features, comments, analyses and gubbins

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Adrian Mole His morbid spottiness is back on screen 09 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon The directors speak!

10 Kill Tom Hanks The time has come. He must be judged . . .

11 Point Break Ad rage ! lt's all the rage, you know .. .

12-13 Pop trumps Celeb fights- the game!

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Everything reviewed and previewed for your pleasure

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Music: Arab Strap; Fun Lovin' Criminals; All Saints Film: Traffic; Almost

Famous; Women on Top Video: X-Men; Gone in 60 Seconds; My Dog Skip Arts: Kaos Volpone; Rich Hall; The Winter Guest TV/Radio: Boy Meets Girl; The Riddle of Pompeii Interactive: Alien Trilogy; Dean and Nigel, the funniest website ever. Really

Eventhorizon 20-23 The best guide to what's on in Norwich. Ever.

The Event is published fortnightly by Concrete: PO Box 410, Norwich, NR4 7TB Tel: 01603 250558 Fax: 01603 506822 E-mail: su.concrete@uea.ac.uk Printed by: Eastern Counties Newspapers, St Andrew's Business Park, Norwich

' ' 11 t had to happen eventually. Eminem , the worthy media's flavour-of-the-month folk devil, has been blamed for 17 year old Brit David Hurcombe's suicide . Why? Did the illust rious Mr Mathers send letters to the teenager's house encouraging him to jump in front of a train perhaps? Or maybe the real Slim Shady travel led to Britain specially to hand David guns, razor blades, pills to OD on, nooses and other suicide implements? Or maybe , and th is would clearly be the greatest sin of all, he wrote a song two years ago entitled Rock Bottom, containing the lyrics: " Live half my life and throw the rest away ."

The tragic death of David Hurcombe has been turned into a pop-related charade because of the coroner's reaction to the fact that the 17 year old had the lyrics of Rock Bottom printed out in his room. Hamish Turner admitted that he 'd never heard of Em inem , stating: " I felt rather like the judge who said, 'Who are the Beatles?' - I did ask my great nephew , who told me he had heard most of the songs and he did not think there was anything wrong with them . it struck ine as pretty miserable stuff. I think the references to death are a bit off."

Unfortunately for Eminem , who prides himself on being the newest-shockingest-confrontationalest brat on the block, he is not the first to be accused of influencing murder or suicide through music. Actually, he 's in good company: Marilyn Manson , Ozzy Osborne , Judas Priest and AC / DC have all collided with misfortune due to their fan's choice of hobbies. Even the Beatles came under fire after singing 'happiness is a warm gun .' AC / DC's Night Prowler is alleged to have inspired serial killer Richard Ram irez, while a Judas Priest video with the words 'do it' in the background is said to have encouraged two American teenagers to shoot themselves in the head.

All forms of popular culture are subject to this kind of blind accusation from people who appoint themselves moral guardians. Literature, cinema and video (especially 'video nasties') ,

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"How misgu.ided- and arrogant - of musicians and pop stars to accept sole responsibility for something like suicide" pornography, television, video games, and finally music. People have always needed something to blame for the bad things that happen. Apart from this being immensely cowardly, the people they choose to ladle the blame onto are nearly always the obvious choice, which indicates a depress1ng lack of imaginat ion. Ozzy Osborne is famous for l1is live bat-guzzl ing onstage, while Maril yn Manson incorporates Nazi imagery into his live performances. Naturally, it was with no great su rprise that I discovered the trend had reached th is side of t he Atlantic. Equally , it is hardly astonisl1ing that Eminem is the one to inherit these dubious laurels. In true postmodern style. he even anticipated it, re leasing Stan, the ode to an obsessive fan who kills himself.

But how misgu ided - and almost arrogant - of musicians and pop stars to accept sole responsibi lity for something like that. Indeed , how stupid and narrow minded of those who blame them. Suicides and murders occur for hundreds of different reasons, and surely musical influences make up only a tiny part of that. Quite besides from that, there are thousands more musicians that make infinitely more depressing , suici de-inducing music than goth-comics Manson and Osborne. The Smiths, for a start. Now they've got a lot to answer for ....

Astrid Goldsmith

What 's the most depressing song you 've ever heard and why?

"Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel because it 's so short. lt 's so sad. lt just states the truth and leaves it there. " Chrls Weiher EAS 3

"That one in the film Ghost, Unchained Melody , because it reminds me of my girlfriend who died."

Marcus SOC1

"My Mummy·s Dead by John Lennon."

Hannah Urpeth CHE 1

"Space Oddity by David Bowie. lt took me about three years to work out who died. He's left up in space dying for years. Horrible " Charlotte Stratta MUS 1 "Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton, because it's about his son who fell out of a window and died."

Kimberly Kels, SYS 3 "Lucky by Radiohead. lt sets out to be hopeful but the content is disturbing."

Tlm Rlchle SOC

"1.' 11 Be Missing You by Puff Daddy. lt reminds me of my mate that died."

Anon

"I Will Always Love You by Whitney Hust on.

Because they're not together anymore and he doesn't love her anymore. " Jullanne Frisble EAS 3

"Reach by 5 Club 7. Because it is pants. And it stops all good music from being recognised."

Chrlstlne Bradley HIS 1

"Anything by Space. lt 's irrational but there's j ust something about them. " Mathew Oliver EAS 1

"Scat man John - cos it's successful but crap. " Nell Hotter MGT 1

"Bob Oylan, Written in Wind. Just is. " Cella MGT 1

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001

Editor-in-Chief · James Goffin • Editor · Steve Collins • Arts Editor · Jim Whalley • Film Editor · Merek Cooper • Assistant Film Editor · Astri d Goldsmith Music Editor· Elin Jones • Assistant Music Editor · Anthony lovell • TV/ Game Editor · Markland Starki e • Assist ant TV/ Game Editor · Kathryn Hinchliff listings Editor · Katherine Everitt • DTP · Elin Jones · Adam Chapman · Steve Collins · Nick Henegan · Markland Starkie · Merek Cooper · Jlm Whalley • Thanks to · All of the above and below • God of the fortnight · Cieran Contributors · Cieran Barnard · Gemma O'Donnell · Nigel Gosling · Steve Quirke · Phil Colvin · Daniel Ellis · Miles Taylor · Jonathan Rolfe · Metin Alsanjack · Nlkki Mallett · Joss Stacey-Waddy · Faye ~homsitt · Ben · Slmon Howarth · Charlotte Ronalds · Chloe Garrett · Natalie Buhagiar • THANKS again y'a ll , please come again .. .

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as any to give y'all some Interesting facts about the king of rock n' roll ...

How to have sex w1th a free w1lly.

Valentine's Day likely to be a bit dry this year? Fear not, there's plenty more fish In the sea. Why not take the plunge and get frisky with Flipper ... ?

• Elvis' hed 62 Jbs at the time of his autopsy. it was filled with " a dense, clay-like substance". Yum. • Elvls was obsessed with brushing his teeth, yet refused to shower towards the end of his life.

• Elvis carried his own silverware everywhere he went .

• While filming the movie Harem Scarum, Elvls refused to leave the house without wearing a turban.

• Elvis would eat a tray of cheeseburgers whilst working out on his exercise bike • When he simultaneously watched three TVs, he would wear a football helmet.

• Elvis' favorlte football team was the Cleveland Browns, now the Baltimore Ravens.

• The name of Elvis' pet monkey was Scatters.

Thankyeverrymush ...

Stuff that always had to be stocked at Graceland: "Yes, there were times, I 'm sure you knew/When I bit oH more than I could chew. " - My Way

1. Fresh ground round 2. 1 case of Pepsl 3. 1 case of orange drink 4. Hot rolls 5. Buttermilk biscuits 6. Pickles 7. Potatoes 8. Various fresh fruits 9. Sauerkraut 10. Wleners 11. 3 bottles of half & half 12. Thin, lean bacon 13. Mustard 14. Peanut butter 15. Fresh squeezed orange juice 16. Banana pudding {freshly made) 17. Ingredients for meat loaf 18. Brownies, made every night 19. Ice cream {vanilla and chocolate) 20. Shredded coconut 21. Fudge cookies 22. El Prodicto cigars 23. Cigarettes 24. Gum : spearmint, Doublemint & Juicy Fruit 25. Drlstan 26. Super antihistamine 27. Contact 28. Sucrets 29. Feenamint , the laxative gum 30. 45 books of matches

Items that always had to be in the 'kit' (carried by the Memphis Mafia in the car): 1. Uppers and downers 2. $10,000 In cash and a wallet 3. Drivers license 4. Makeup 5. Jewelry

olphins are great, aren't they? Unique in the animal kingdom, our grey slippery friends are famed for their intelligence, ability to empathise and general cuteness. But not many people know that they are also distinguished by their capacity to engage In sexual activity for the purpose of enjoyment alone. And there's no other animal that does that, not in the whole world . Erm .. . Is there?

Oh. it had to happen sooner or later. http:/ ; www.dolphlnsex.org a website devoted to shagging Flipper. This caused such a stir up in Event towers that we thought we'd give it a special super-sized article. Not that this proud organ would endorse bestiality or anything. This is Zoophilia. it 's different.

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1: Ascertain the sex Before you embark upon your aquatic encounters with our squeaking cousins, just remember to find out first of all if your chosen squeeze is lady or manly of fin. This could cause embarassment later in your relationship, not to mention technical problems. Just take a peek at the ir hospital parts. Easy . Now for the fun part.

2: Be sensitive

To find out if a dolphin finds you sexually

attractive, get in the pool with him/her. If your partner is male, he will swim around, sporting an erection {anywhere between 10 to 14 inches long for a Bottle-nose), and will have no bones about swimming up to you and placing his member within reach of your hand. He may then rub it against your body , or wrap it around your wrist or ankle. His winkle Is prehensile, rather like Mr Snuffleoffagus' .nose, and he can wrap it around objects, and pick them up with it. His belly will also be pinkish in colour, which denotes randiness.

The lady will give you the come-on by going all pink down below. If you are out of the water, she may swim up to you and roll belly up, exposing herself to you and thrusting her pelvis in a rather promiscuous manner that would give Rlcky Martin the gush. If you are in the water, she may press her ha'penny up against your soldier, nibble your fingers, nuule your crotch, or give you a lil' bit of bump'n'grind with her fishy hips. Yummo.

3: Dlvelnl Once your date has made his feelings clear, it's time to consummate the relationship. Boyfin likes to be masturbated by his bathtime buddies.

But take note chaps - don't let the blighter take advantage. You should never, ever, ever Jet a male dolphin attempt to have anal sex with you.

Billy bottle-nose's jimmy riddler Is about 12 inches long, very muscular, and what with all the thrusting and the force of ejaculation {a male can project his fishpaste as far as 14 feet) would cause serious internal injuries, and could result in peritonitus or possible death. Try explaining that one in casualty.

The lady also enjoys such watery comminglings, and apparently has the knack of timing her orgasm with her partner's, which is nice. Do try to be considerate and kind with lady dolphins, though- stick around for cuddles, share a c igarette, take her home to meet your parents.

Unless the guards catch you, in which case run like billy-a! Ahem.

Readers please note: engaging In sexual practices with dolphins Is bad. Please don't. At least not before marriage.

he mullet is that most timeless of barnets: combining both the sensible 50s c rop with the 60s Jong-haired style, this cultural chimera somehow manages to straddle decades and stylistic genres like a colffery Collossus of Rhodes, but w ith better hair. In fact, so great is its Jure that the Internet has given over several sites paying homage to the strangely shaped beast. http:/ j www.mulletsgalore.com/ features hundreds of pictures of the great Norwichian tradition, proving that it's not only confi ned to this fine city alone, but does in fact spread its ample coverage to other shores. There are some truly hilarious pies on the site, and it 's actually quite Informative, too. Did you, for instance, know that the first recorded use of the word ·mullet' appears in the film Cool Hand Luke? Or that in other lands it is also referred to as the '7' {the shape of the number) , the achy-breaky-badmistakey, the ape drape, the beaver paddle, the 'busmess in the front, party In the back ' {or the 'whorehouse cut'). the coupe longueuil, the kentucky waterfall, the mlssourl comprimise, the mudflap, the neckwarmer or the squirrel pelt?

Thought not.

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WinWinWinWinWinWinWinWinWin!!WinWinWinWinWinWinWinWin!!WinWinWinWinWinWinWinWin!!!!!!!

rner!

Baggery

Just take a look at what's fallen from the sky into our big bag of pop delight! And you can have it aaaall! Well, you can if you answer the.se questions and pop your answers on paper, beer mats, underwear, whatever, into the competition box in the Hive. Ta.

Items that always had to be in the ''cigar box'' (a box carried by the Memphis Mafia), used in Elvis' den or office: 1. wood tip cigars 2. cigarettes 3. Blistex 4. Drlstan 5. Contact 6. eye drops 7. nail file 8. emery boards 9. Occullne eyepads, only In LA 10. gum 11. sourballs 12. gloves 13. sunglasses 14. Crest toothpaste

Almost Famous stuff!

Ex-Spandau Ballet tickets!

Win a Dedbeat day pass!

Almost Famous is a coming of age seventies rock flick starring Goldie Hawn 's daughter as a groupie who follows an American band on tour.

Which means it's got a fantastic soundtrack, and, er, some good hats too. Wish we had some to give away. Oohl What 's that? Why, it 's a soundtrack and some baseball caps for the film , Almost Famousl Lawksamercy .

Gold! (Gold!) Always believe in your soul! You 've got the power to know ... You 're indestructibuuuuuuuuull!!!!!!! Yes. If you yearn for the old New Romantic frilly shirts and angular haircuts,and you can 't afford a time machine, then today is your lucky day . We 've got three pairs of tickets to go and see those old fopsters Spandau Ballet sans Kemps up for grabs! Just answer this:

Read all about it on page 51 it's the hip hop/dance event of the year! And it's happening In Norfolk! Andy Weatherall, Aphex Twin, Mixmaster Morris, The Pharcyde, Big Daddy Kane ... and it's in a holiday park to boot. This is a simply unbelievable event, and you might just be able to snap up a ticket before the national mags get hold of it if you answer this:

Q: How many corners does my three-cornered hat have?

Q: Are you Indestructible? ( Proof of Indestruc-

Q: Where Is Dedbeat being held?

tibleness Is welcome but not essential)

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

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Steve Col/ins met some brothers who are, coincidentally, in a band together called the Webb Brothers. Odd ... around on the scene," says Justin "everybody 's three or four yea rs older, yo u find that the mystique get s lost. And that 's a lot of what the record is about: it's like hey. don't be fooled by all this bullshit. it 's a lot easier to make yourself a big shot in the club scene than it is to make yourself a big shot in the music scene or as an actor. it's usually artists that hang out there, and it's easier to make yourself important in this other world , y'know?"

This sen se of artifice, of playing a part , seems to

"You get to live out this fantasy, these rock'n'roll fantasies. lt's all about dressing up." allowe'en on the Chicago bar scene is scary for all the wrong reasons . Like an extended version of Stars in their Eyes, the motl ey group of actors, artist s and musicians that dri ft in and out of the Liar's Club on the spookiest night of the year wil l forgoe the rubber frightmasks and fake blood to dress up like their rock'n'roll idols- year in , year out . This is where The Webb Brothers, mi llionaire sons of legendary songsm ith Ji mmy Webb ( Wichita Lineman, MacArthur Park - ask your dad), used to work as bartenders. Understandably, they seem to be all too familiar with j ust how ridiculously , depressingly fake that great hoary theatre of rock ·n·roll can be. "lt 's like a tradition now . You dress up like a band and then you go out and pretend to be them,·· says Christiaan, the older sibling half of surf-pop elegists whose stunning debut album,

Maroon, looks set to fill the job vacancy for college rock eligism left by Ben Folds Five's recent departure . "You get to live out this fantasy, these rock 'n'roll fantasies. it's all about dressing up. When we first moved to Chicago we we re mighty impressed with some of the people that were hanging out on that scene , but you get to know them and you're not so impressed .'"

Hallowe'en was just the one night in the year when wearing a mask, dressing up . was actually required. Most of the denizens of the Liar's Club used to do that every night. The first song on Maroon is about the club: "We're the Liar 's Club/ We get together to pretend that everything is fun/ Where everyone is perfect and the party's never done ... " Like the rest of the record, it's a song about disillusionment , about the desperate, lost reality behind the smi les.

"Yeah, after three or four years of hanging

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linger uneasily in the wings throughout the album. lt 's in the the grand orchestral flourishes whic h open and close the performance, and the knowing Intermission which appears halfway through. it's in the strange incongruity of dark lyrics concerning death ( Powder Pale), loss ( I Can 't Believe You're Gone) drug abuse (A// The Cocaine in the World) and pull ing mingers whilst pissed ( Flourescent Lights) that lurk behind the upbeat music . it's in the absurdly chaotic theatre of their drunken, goofy live shows. Ch rist , they even look like the gruffer half of Bjorn Again.

Make no mistake, this is pop music as pure, poignant pantomime.

"Flourescent Lig hts is a song about th e mating dance," explains Christiaan, "about taking home a girl that you don't even find very attractive or you've taken so many drugs or you're so drunk

that you couldn't even begin to accomplish the act of... uh , y'know what I mean? I'm not saying I've never been that guy, but working in bars it's hilarious to watch. And if you can find the humour in that, you can escape the lifestyle. it 's easy to forget that's not reality . it's when you take it seriously that you' re really in trouble. and you start th inking that it's all for real."

And it's this wry, sober bartender's observation which makes the Webb Brothers so special.

They' re not fooled by the whole pop game, they're under no false illusions, but at the same time they seem desperately aware of the importance of big, dumb rock n'roll fantasies.

"The whole rock n roll experience has been turned up on it's head, "' muses younger Webb Just in. " Like the whole groupie t hing - there's a presumption about pulling chicks after shows. I think it actually hurts your cha nces for picking up chicks. Although I think if we got much bigger, then it would all change again. I guess if we got really really huge then all of a sudden gorgeous gi rls wou ld li ke, appe ar!"

He rummages in his backpack, produci ng a pai r of knickers and holding them aloft with pride.

"We got sent these the other day . They seem like they 've been cleaned. There's nothing visible here ." He gives t hem a sniff. "No, they 're clean.

When we we re on tour with the Bluetones Mark Morris used to wrap them around his hand and ejac ulate into them ."

Er really?

He laughs, but doesn 't answer, before placing th em back in his bag. I spot a copy of porn mag Club in there amongst the guitar leads and, and suddenly t he whole Tom Jones image is shattered. lt 's a perfect Web Brothers moment.

Wel come to the liar's club.

David Bowie's a fan, and they recorded their latest album in a shack. Anthony Love// spoke to Grandaddy's Aaron Burtch to find out more.

' He's

There 'd be tracking or recording going on , then you'd hear chatter down below , and Jason would have to stop the track and get pretty angry." lt seems as if Aaron is a very to lerant guy who doesn 't get worked up over anything . Surely the constant touring and its ensuing problems would get him annoyed? I ask if he likes touring the UK. "We kind of feel like we short-changed the UK. The first tour of the album was a litt le spotty.

We're more than happy to come back . The UK was the first place that liked us! " But Grandaddy do 11ave a bit of edge to them, as is shown by Aaron's response to my enquiry about their sending a joke album to their record label as a response to demands that they finish The Sophtware Slump quickly. Aaron recalls with amusement that " lt was done over a couple of

like a bear', the press officer for Grandaddy 's label informs me. 'He's a great big man. Really nice though'.

Bearing in mind Grandaddy's background (they 're all from tiny rural towns in California), I prepared a few days later to speak to a moonshine guzzling, hog-rogering hillbilly. who would in all probability be drowned out by the sound of chew ing tobacco and duel li ng banj os. However, all my humorous typecasting jokes were negated as soon as he speaks. 'Hi ,' he says softly. 'How are you?'

Grandaddy are one of the best kept secrets in American music. Intelligently written and pleasant songs have made t hem popular w ith press and fans alike, and t hey are shortly to visit these shores for the second time in a year. The band's frontman Jason Lytle is an undoubted star, a talented musician and lyricist who produces all of the musical output. He also has a penchant for wordplay - as shown by the tit le of their latest album The Sophtware Slump. Why is this? "The Sophtware Slump is when a band make a good first album", Aaron says, .. and then a shitty second album:· I quiz him further about the record, as he is a modest man who requires gently drawing out. He hesitates a lot , and seems reluctant to commit himself to firm opinions. So what was recording like? "We recorded in a shack," he says. "lt was actuall y attached to a garage . The landlord lived on one side, and an old lady on the other. He was a Portugue se farmer guy, and he had a basement underneath the control studio . The basement was where he hung out with l1is friends. And he makes wine too.

"Everybody just got ripped out of their minds and just recorded these horrible f-ed up songs." weekends . Eve rybody just got ripped out of tlleir mmds and just recorded these horrible tucked up songs. Stupid, childish stuff." Was this to say to you r record label 'Get off our backs '? "lt was JUSt to say that it's not that big a deal. I th ink some people knew it was a JOke. it's tucking dirty , gutter llumour.'· Like a Blink 182 record? " Maybe even a littl e b1t stup1der." he repl ies t ell ingly.

Even Aaron must have got excited when Oavid

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Bowie came to meet them . He' s a fan, you see.

What was he like? " He was really nice. He's not on ly one of the most famous people in the world. but one of the greatest artists music has ever seen. And he knew my name, and the words to our songs. We were thankful that he was so willing to public ly say that he likes us. We're big fans of his ." Would you like to be as famous as hi m? " I wou ldn't mi nd having a litt le bit more

cash on me. But I don 't want to be walking round an airport and have people come up to me. But I like playing in Grandaddy ."

I think that that sums Aaron up. He's a small town guy, humbled by the praise his band receives. He'll always return to his roots, and as long as he 's earning a living. he'll happily let the world go hurtling round whilst he relaxes and watches on . Ai n't life gran d?

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The Dedbeat weekender is taking place In February ... ln Great Yarmouth. Yes, that's Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. And yes, the likes of Aphex Twin and Mixmaster Morris are going to be there. Organiser Sam Reid took time out to talk to Elln Jones about the Ideas behind the event, and what we can expect ...

ow many times have you sat in the Hive moaning about being stuck in Norwich where the nearest we get to a festival is the Royal Norfolk Show and everyone's idea of a good night out is a trip to the LCR or, even more exciting, Chicago's? lt's easy to get complacent and to slag off Norwich for being cut-<>ff, using it as an excuse to sit in front of the tv with a can of Stella and your comfy slippers on, but not many people would actually have the bottle to do something about it.

Cue Sam Reid, who took the advice of the Why Don't You team and did it himself. Sam and a group of friends were sitting in the pub (the birthplace of many a good Idea) discussing the dead local social scene when they hit upon the plan of trying to organise something themselves.

A bank loan later (Sam: "my balls are on the line, basically") and the Dedbeat team have built a line-up to rival any of the top festivals. Big names including Aphex Twin, Mixmaster Morris and Mr Scruff are falling over themselves to be a part of this unique weekend event, mainly due to its main feature - no sponsorship.

As a stark contrast to the Playstation/Red Buii/Reebok (delete as applicable) sponsored dance tents and festivals, the Dedbeat weekender is solely financed by the aforementioned bank loan and ticket sales. "If someone pays £85 for a

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"lt's pleasing to see that events driven by quality music rather than huge profit still exist" ticket the last thing they should be subject to is another banner telling them how to further part with their cash," says Sam. "I see the weekender as a sanctuary away from all the 'wannabe cool' corporate bullshit. Furthermore if we had energy drink day-glo logos slapped all over the flyers the chances of securing the acts that we have would be minimal." As well as being a major plus point to the event, this policy also made the endeavour a big risk for the organisers, none of whohl have attempted anything on this scale before.

However, they were more than happy to take the risk in the hope that interest In the event would take off and make it all worthwhile. The team's faith In their idea has definitely paid offmagazines such as Mixmag, the NME and Dazed and Confused all carry features on the Dedbeat weekender this month and Sam is off to be interviewed by The Face on Monday. lt would be easy to assume that Sam and co are in it for the money, but his obvious enthusiasm and genuine love of the music Is evident, and is part of the reason that they have secured such big names.

He explains, "Dedbeat is about listening to good music, seeing skills and most importantly having an attitude free smile. The idea to do the event without sponsors was to emphasise how serious we are about the music. • This admirable policy has made the event unique in terms of the modern music scene which is usually littered with

logos and flyers, detracting from the main feature -the music and atmosphere.

The artists involved obviously share Sam's love of music: J Saul Kane (aka Depth Charge aka Octagon Man) being one: "There aren't enough independent events. it's pleasing to see that events driven by quality music rather than huge profit still exist. Apart from that, the reason I want to play at Dedbeat Is because it sounds like a great laugh and isn't too serious. The line up speaks for itself really. I will be joining the Rephlex Disco Assault system with Aphex Twin, Mike Dred, Grant and Ed DMX. I also want to see Big Daddy Kane not to mention all the others."

The building excitement surrounding the Dedbeat weekend is evident from the media coverage, and the impressive line-up, but Sam is still having one problem: nO-<>ne believes that the artists are coming to Norfolk! "I've had about fifteen phonecalls from people who have seen the advertisements and just won't believe that Aphex Twin etc are coming to Great Yarmouth. They think we're just going to play records from behind the stage or something." it would have t;>een easy to have moved the venue to London once the lineup had been finalised, and a guaranteed market had been tapped into, but that would go against the whole philosophy behind the event. "Hopefully the weekender will be happening annually, and we're planning on a university tour later this year.

We want it to have a unique atmosphere which we just couldn't get if it wasn't a weekend event." Holding it in Great Yarmouth was also

central to the original idea as it was conceived as1•11111• a tonic to the local music scene and so, despite interest from all over the country, to move it would be to go against their own ideals. "As far as I'm aware, an event of this nature is the first in East Anglia; it would be really encouraging If the eastside students supported it. If people are coming from as far as Moscow, San Fransisco and Munich, surely the likes of Norfolk and Suffolk can follow suit."

There is, of course, the perennial problem of the perceived 'small town mentality' and distrust of new ideas in Norfolk. Sam doesn't think this should be a problem, once everyone gets their head around the fact that there is actually something happening in the area. "People around Norfolk find it hard to believe that something like

"I've had about fifteen phonecalls from people who just won't believe that Aphex Twin Is playing In Great Yarmouth!" this is coming to Great Yarmouth. They're so used to having to travel to the West country to go to festivals that they're a bit sceptical of anything that's being held here." Judging by the popularity of skater fashion and the alternative music playing in the Hive at the LCR, there is an untapped market for hip-hop/funk in the area, which Sam hopes will be satisfied by the Dedbeat weekender. He is also planning to make the University tour•more of an P'!31':7111111!!11111 "experience" rather than just a few DJs who are saturating the music scene at the time going round and playing in the main hail. He plans to combine a Dedbeat tour with skateboard demonstrations and just try to spread the general attitude which goes with their philosophies.

With a dedicated team of music fanatics, a highly professional and exclusive line-up and the whole of the music Industry behind it, all the Dedbeat weekend needs is local support to make it the resounding success it deserves to be. After all, who wants to drive for six hours to stay in a muddy tent in the middle of the West country when you can catch a train to the coast and enjoy the best the British music sce_ne can offer? See you there then.

Tickets for the Dedbeat weekender are on sale from Soundclash, Dogfish and Catfish In Norwich for a paltry £45 for the whole weekend {excluding accomod~ tion). For more lnfo, phone Dedbeat on

01493 853899.

Wednesday~

Januar,y 31,

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The arrival of photography exhibition eXperience looks set to highlight the often overlooked talents of UEA and NSAD photographers and musicians. Adam Chapman talks to artists James Webster and Neil Alien about the difficulties of being an artist in the twenty-first century and what the exhibition means to them.

ast year Norfolk Magazine touted the Golden Tri angle as Norwich's equivalent t o Notti ng Hi ll. The gist of t he magazine 's argument was that Notting Hill has artists in it and, lo and behold so does the Golden Triangl e. lt stand s to reason, therefore, t hat t hey must be one and t he same. Reasonabl e, t hat is, if you adopt the confused logic of a Norwich resident.

The one part of the compari son that holds much weight is that the area, like its London "counterpart" has become home to a grow ing number of artist s waiting to be di scovered. Artist s James Webst er, 23, and Neil Ali en , 26, despit e dismissing the term "discovered" as 'wanky ', are j ust t wo of those arti sts. They li ve above a but cher's shop on t he out sk irts of Norw ich 's Golden Triangle.

Looking around Dereham Road, it does t ak e quite a leap of the imagi nation t o c ompare one of th e most expensi ve postcodes in London w ith the 24hour garages and post-war architec ture of t his less than sal ubrious end of NR 2. Plus James and Neil's flat smel ls of meat. it may be a fa r cry from lopping off one of your ears, but by t wenty-first century st andards it's about as near as you ca n get t o suffering for yo ur art .

L

Both st udents at Norwich Schoo l of Art and Design, James and Neil are preparing to exhibit a selection of their photography in a new exhibition called eXperience, t aking place at the Waterfront on February 7. eXperience, which they have both helped to organise, is designed to give students from bot h NSAD and UEA an arena wit hin wh ic h they can show thei r work, yet also to bring photography into the consciousness of a st udent audi ence t hat is stereotypicall y seen as

"Whether its your grandma or the rest of the world, if someone likes it then that's all that matters." being more inte rested in drinking, dancing and getti ng ex t ensions on essays. The theme of the exhibit ion, as the name suggests, is experience, and wi t h such an open subject it is no surprise t hat the.work on show 1s of such an eclectic nature, ranging from the very personal to t he abst rac t. One of t he most striking aspec t s of the event is t hat it is solely managed by students like James and Neil for students like you, in an attem pt to counter t he lack of attention focused on both student artists and young music ians.

In a worl d whe re millions of young artists are being forgotten or overlooked, it would appear as if the artists themselves are now taking the initiative in order to get their work out there, organising events themselves in order to gain coverage. Neil puts this situation down to the fact that artist s are

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001

now being forced to feed an ever-growing demand for provocation and t itillat ion, thus mak ing it ever more difficult to even get their foot in the door.

"There are so many people out there and it's really hard. it's got to a point where so much has been done; it's real ly hard to do the next big thi ng, the next new thing which will grab people's attention. There are a lot of absolutely fantastic artists out there who are so talented, yet they don't get as much recognition as other people who do something a b1t more provocative. Yet _.y'--still have the fundamental _ __t_he ta lent to be someone really good. " Neither of them are under any illusions how difficult it is fo r yo ung art ists hoping to get their wo rk seen. Both are, in fact, quite reticent about the who le "fame t hing", as they put it . "The fame's not why you do it," ex plains James. "Whether it 's you r grandma or the rest of the world looking at your work, if someone likes it then that's all that matters."

This is a sentiment that Neil who leheartedly supports, albeit with the help of four bottles of wine, a curry and a couple of jotnts. after which his sentences start to trail off into a drug-induced haze. "No matter what I do in my life, how I earn my money, I will be an arti st. Whet her I get fame and fortu ne from it, I w ill always produce something. I think there will always be an audience . Every art ist strives to have fame and fortune but at t he end of the day t hat 's not why you do it".

Despite the numerous diversions from the topic, incl uding the loss of a pashnani order and the even split over whether Melan ie B's new haircut suits her; James agrees that "t he fame th ing" is secondary. "Art is about personal expression. lt doesn't come from a wage packet, or a degree or a qualifi cation. lt comes from peopl es' personal percept ion of you and it 's t he people who go off and do t heir own thing and who have t he balls to stick to it who deserve to be more successful". t is the precarious nature of being an artist in today's atmosphere that has meant many art ists are now safeguarding their future . They realise th at the road to success often ends with a roadb lock and are now trying to gain other skills that wou ld allow them the ability to continue doing what they love. Neil hopes to complete a PGCE aft er finishing his BA in Fine Art and James, who is still fazed by the idea of being an artist, having been accepted on the spot by NSA D after being ch ucked out of UEA for not doing any work, hopes to gain experience with skills like stonecarving and metal work .

James points out that 1t is very easy to get stuck in t he nine to five routine . especially as a teacher. "A lot of teachers slip into the administration side of their work and their own work becomes secondary, which is, to a certain extent , soul destroying." eXperience co-ordinator Ruth Blomiley is adamant that there is a need to go for something new, which is why photography was chosen as the area of ta lent that she wanted to expose. " I think that photography, which is qu1te a silent form of talent, gets ignored. People are now more [IIPIII!ll!ll. .

I

concerned with looking for the latest boy band and the latest model. ..

The inclusion of music into the evening would seem t o back th is c laim up. eXperience would not succeed as a financial mitiative if it were just about photography, which is a shame but sadly ind icati ve of t he hierarchy of wort h we as a society place on art. Whi le the musical line-up for the eventng is as diverse as the photography, its

"With the help of four bottles of wine, a curry and a couple of joints Neil's sentences start to trail off into a druginduced haze." appearance on the evening's billing ill ust rates j ust how fa r art, and st udent art at th at, sti ll has to go before we realise the untapped talent that is being ignored on a daily basis. But with the photography exhibits being projected around the gig downstairs, the organisers have done the ir best to make sure that the photography never becomes secondary.

Surpris ingly, though, Neil and James are part of a generation who do not put all the blame on the government. As Neil explains, "Without the government being able to help with the financial stuff I wouldn't be able to be an art student and neither would Jay. Art IS just a wonderful thing ... but it's a luxury . I wish they could encourage it, but I can understand why they can't at the moment because the world isn't perfect". And in this not so perfect world what do they expect to get out of the ex hi bit ion? Well, Neil is after " loads of money" and James 11as set h1s sights a little bit higher with "sex. a hol1day abroad, a couple of vouchers and international stardom".

Here 's hoping.

___ evelitt:============='n==focus

7

Stephen Fry loathes the Daily Mail, loves The Coun.t of Monte Christo and can turn an office in EAS into Jerusalem. Kathryn Hincliffe met the man who is almost happy ...

'' 5

o this is the Wailing Wall", says Stephen, standing up and pointing out the shelves lined with books, "and on the other side of the wall" -indicating the room for cleaning utensils- "is the most Holy place in all of Islam, it's that close. it's absurd."

Unfortunately I'm not interviewing Stephen Fry, one of Norfolk's most loved sons, in a plush hotel room in Jerusalem with views encompassing the birthplace of the three largest religions in the world. Instead, we are in an EAS office, overlooking the almost-as-beautiful concrete landscape. Nevertheless, Stephen is doing an awfully good job of recreating the setting for his latest film, The Discovery of Heaven. The desk has now become the scene of Christ's crucifixion whilst underneath the window is where Mohammed ascended into heaven.

Fry is here at UEA for the literary festival and to promote his latest book The Star's Tennis Balls.

As he reclines back in the chair, his legs crossed and his trousers not quite covering up his bright green socks (nicely co-ordinated with the }'jellow checked shirt and the essential tweed jacKet), I ask him to explain the gruesome plot of the novel. lt comes from Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Christo, something Fry realised after he began to think about the idea. "I saw the last twenty minutes of the Robert Donat film of it, which just happened to be on television. I then rushed into Norwich and bought a copy. I was pleased to read in the new Penguin edition that Dumas' plot was not original, so I don't feel too bad about that, and I just think it is one of the greatest plots ever written.' Although essentially about revenge, The Star's Tennis Balls is also about learning and teaching, something that crops up in all of his previous novels, "There is a crucial bit in the middle of the book, where from being the absolute lowest, tortured and deprived of company and completely bewildered and innocent - innocent of any crime but also an innocent person - he suddenly learns; and I think that's a wonderful idea somehow, the idea of teaching." Stephen's love of academics is obvious. He would have been perfectly happy as a professor if his path had taken a different turn, as demonstrated by his reaction to the I Concrete

photographer's late arrival: "COME IN" Fry booms "I love doing this in someone else's office, You're late with your essayl" Fry's favourite academic is his alter ego Professor Trefusis, from The Liar and various radio programmes, whom he describes as "A mixture of tweed and skippy sprightness. I

"Hugh Laurie phoned me the other day and $aid 'I'm sitting in bed now watching ourselves, we're awfully good you know"' love that sort of thing: good old fashioned tweedy academics."

Another passion of Stephen's is his absolute hatred of anything he terms Daily Mail. A gentle prodding of this issue produces a long tirade in response. "Throughout history they've always been wrong. As a newspaper they have always taken the point of view of little, middle England which has always been wrong. For example the Daily Mail was an appeasement newspaper that said that 'Hitler had no plans to invade Czechoslovakia. Hitler was probably making the trains run on time and we could use a dose of that ourselves'. Actually I'm doing Room 101 next week and I was thinking I might go for those Franklin Mint commemorative plates that they advertise 'in the Mail on Sunday magazines. The wonderful irony is that inside some art critic goes on about how terrible Damien Hirst is and what a con it all is and in their magazines they have these plates with the most disgusting low art you have ever seen in your life, with a vole questing through blackberries in the autumn or a glass ballerina by international sculptor Hello Nobody's. ever-heard-of-her. lt is the most creepy compound of hypocrisy, fear, aggression, homophobia, racism and xenophobia. That's why they are always so uniquely wrong. They always have been and always will be_"

eeling from this sudden onslaught (and unbelievably relieved to be from Concrete) I manage to ask my next question, "Will there be a Fry and Laurie reunion?"

"Funnily enough they're repeating quite a lot of them and I got a phone call a couple of days ago from Hugh and he said 'I'm sitting in bed watching ourselves, we're awfully good you know'. So I turned it on as well, and we were. We always see each other and we always talk about it.

One day, I don't know" .,H~~~~~ If Fry and Laurie do get together again :i for TV, it won't be for a few years yet.

Stephen is about to do an English film with the director Robert Altman; after that he hopes to direct Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies, the screenplay to which he wrote last year. Then, maybe another book, which unfortunately for his fans won't be the second volume of his autobiography. He goes on to explain, "The trouble is the first part ended with me about to go off to university, and if I was to pick up from there it starts to become slightly showbiz.

Which means you're either very rude about everyone you know, saying Rowan Atkinson is an absolute arsehole, or Hugh Laurie can't even sit the right way on a lavatory or you say how wonderful and gorgeous they all are and how talented 路and lovely they all are, in which case people vomit all over the book. So I may have to wait until I can be more honest. Or until everybody's dead."

R

Stephen Fry was born and brought up in Norfolk, and has many ties-to Norwich and UEA in particular. I informed him that the latest UEA honour to be bestowed on him is his appearance as the LGB's pin-up of the month, "Oh how thrilling, I've never been more honoured in my life.'' Stephen must also be one of the only people aside from Delia Smith with a season ticket for Norwich City Football Club. He tries to get to the games as often as possible and sometimes sits with Delia herself. "I did for the Fulham game which was really good fun, she really yells and shouts. I won't tell you how rude she is to some ot tlole players. You would be absolutely astonished."

After Fry's well-publicised breakdown, he has now reached a stage in his life where he is content, with a boyfriend of whom he won't talk. So can he finally declare his happiness? "I think it was PG Wodehouse that said when you're feeling your most cheerful, you can be sure that just around the corner fate is quietly slipping the horseshoe into the boxing glove.

English people very rarely allow ourselves to stay happy. I'm more or less within the bounds, just about, within the ambit and scope of what one might call something that .wasn't unhappy_ That's as far as one dare go .. ."

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Adrian Mole is soon to return to our screens - bigger, badder, and more miserable than ever before. Jim Whalley wonders just how excited we should be ... n February 2 the BBC w1ll transmit the f1rst ep1sode of Adnan Mole: The Cappuc cino Years, a six -part adaptation of the best selling novel by Sue Townsend. The novel is the fifth in Townsend 's Adrian Mole series, this time focusing on Adrian as an adult. The adaptation. also written by Townsend, features relative newcomer Stephen Mangan as Adria_n backed up by an all-star supporting cast including Helen Baxendale, Alun Armstrong and Alison Steadman. lt is one of the most high profile productions of the BBC's winter scl:ledule and has the usual promotional blitz behind it .

For the previous month Mangan's bespectacled, grinning face has been difficult to avoid, whether on the front of the Radio Times or shoehorned · between the Beeb's primetime programming. By all accounts this is Event Television.

0

Mole 's bespectacled, grinning face has been difficult to avoid, whether on the front of the Radio Times or shoehorned between the Beeb 's primetime programming.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001

Initial signs were promising . The previous volume of Mole's exploits was published almost a decade ago, so Townsend must have had good reason to continue her character's saga. As she explains: "I'm more mterested in what's happening in this country and Adrian Mole is a character who gives me a way into writmg about what it was like for the average person living in Britain before and after the Blair election. At the time, I recall people saying to me that the weather was mucll better and the air smelled fresh, because Labour had been elected. That was said to me over and over again. lt seems curious now. but those details from your own experience help capture the moment."

Look ing at the numerous plot lines in The Cappuccino years Townsend has certainly attempted to cover every aspect of the New Labour phenomenon. Adrian is now thirty-one years old and working as an offal chef in a fashionable Soho theme restaurant (Hoi Pol loi).

He is divorced with a son and still wants to be a novelist. Pandora, his former girlfriend, is now a Labour MP who will stop at nothing to further her polit ical ca reer. During t11e course of the novel Mole has his DNA tested to see if he has fathered another ch ild and the parents of Adrian and Pandora have a variety of hilarious affairs.

All in all it looks like more than enough from which to create a s1x part television series.

Town send claims the idea for the adaptation was not her own, but once it was suggested set to the task of writing the scripts with gusto.

However, on the eve of filming, only two episodes were ready. For some time the author had been partially sighted, but while working on the scripts she had a haemorrhage in her eye. "The result was that I cou ld hardly see at all. Technically, I 'm now considered blind. I can read with a very large magnifying glass, but it ·shard going. Blind people manage th ings every day and in a way it 's been quite exhilarating, a rollercoaster. I've managed to work by learning to dictat. which has made me change the habits of a lifetime" et wh ile there is an abu ndance of information regarding the programme 's inception and potent ial, facts about the actual filming process and the finished product are more thin on the ground. Stephen M angan, for example is delighted to report that " When you are growing up , you always imagine you're going

Y

to be playing James Bond or some great hero.

Then you get cast as Adrian Mole and all your friends tell you that you're perfect for it. .. But when it comes to the actual production he has very little to say. In fact, the nearest to an on set anecdote comes from Keith Alien. who has a small part as Peter Savage, Adrian's boss. "I had hurt my arm somehow and it was infected. The day we were shooting in Soho, it ballooned to twice its size. I carried on as best I could, but I found I just couldn't continue. They took me to hospital and I got treated. The scenes had to be re-arranged to work around me." Somehow it's difficult to imagine even Keith's mother finding that story worth her time. lt may be nothing, but it's hard not form the opinion that The Cappuccino Years may not be the classic piece of television everyone was sure it would be. Largely this is the BBC 's own doing.

The material they sent out to the press 11as clearly been edited to the point of total irrelevance. Actors can only repeat how much they enjoyed the first book and how strong the characters are before something seems amiss.

What is interesting about the press kit is not what it says, but what it doesn't say . Neither the director or the producer are interviewed, but for some reason the last two episodes of the show were directed by the producer. Was this because the director was fired? Probably not , yet the kit presents no alternatives or enough distractions to prevent such ponderings. The cast restnct the1r comments to their characters' motivations and immediate plot lines. While all claim to love Adrian Mole, few comment on the new book past admitting to having read it, perhaps unsurprising considering the novel's poor critical reception .

When it comes to discussing the actual series silence reigns. Helen Baxendale, no stranger to having to promote dud roles (remember Friends?), actually resorts to talking about Cold Feet. a hit show for a rival channel. The most revealing vignette she proffers on The Cappuccino Years is that she shares her character Pandora 's dislike of Whelks. Enlightening. lt doesn't have to be like this. Only recently the BBC showed sense by allowing Charlie Higson , Vie Reeves and Bob Mortimer to be totally candid in interviews about their seri es Randa/1 and Hopkirk: Deceased. Everyone acknowledged that the show would be badly received - when a Big Issue interviewer called the pilot "quite good", Bob said it was the kindest thing he'd heard all day - but thanks to quotable answers and funny on-set stories the press coverage was a success

Adrian is now thirty-one years old and working as an offal chef in a fashionable Soho theme restaurant (Hoi Polloi ). and Randa/1 and Hopkirk posted impressive viewing figures for the first episode.

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years probably doesn't need much publicity_ Viewer cu riosity will guarantee initial success. lt may even be very good. But it seems worth reporting anyway that "Zoe Wanamaker [playing Pandora's mother] wore a wig, to contrast with the character she plays in the hit BBC One comedy My Family ". it's the kind of information the BBC would like you to know. The question is why do they want you to know this? Presumably, there must be some kind of story behind The Cappuccino Years and presumably, because the BBC have gone to such pains to hide it in a mountain dross, it must be bad. At a guess The Cappuccino Years will be appalling television, that's about all the problem could be. Roll on February 2, to find out if that 's right.

__ eveiit

Insight

9

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the crossover movie hit of the year and it's only February. Merek Cooper finds out what made director Ang Lee decide to mix Jane Austin with Bruce Lee and produce a film that's got everyone talking. n no way can Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon be described as an average film. Anyone who has seen it will certainly vouch for it being one of the most astounding movies that they have ever seen . lt not only breaks wellestablished lines of genre division in the most unconventional of ways, but also manages to be the most stunningly beautiful and side-splitti ngly funny movie I have had the fortune路 to stumble across this year. Pigeonhole this film if you dare.

Its director Ang Lee is equally difficult to place, born in Taiwan and gaining his film educat ion at NYU film school in New York . He Initially made his name as the director of Jane Austin 's Sense and Sensibility. Written by and starring Emma Thompson, Sense and Sensibility was the most faithful of adaptations, winn ing Ang Lee praise for its realistic depiction of a more gentile Ehglish period, a startlingly accurate portrayal of intricate class division and marital intrigue. No one could quite believe someone so removed from the period could hit the nail on the head with such deft precision . The film was a huge success and did no harm whatsoever for its stars Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet, whose careers could not fail to prosper after such performances. Ang Lee himself followed this pastoral English study with, in my humble opinion, one of the best films of the nineties, The Ice Storm.

An emotionally frozen treatise on moral malaise in Watergate-era seventies America, The Ice storm stars Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver as a pair of cheating spouses bored by family life and hopelessly lost in the midlife crisis. The Ice storm showcases a fine collection of period details and knowing cultural reference points, proving again that Ang Lee has an amazing talent for recreating a period one assumes he has little first hand experience of. By the time Ang released his third English language film, Ride With the Devil, an

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American Civil war drama, it became clear that he neither perceived or respected any film-making rules about directors becoming mired in any one genre. And to be frank , his films were evidence that these rules could be broken, and wonderful cinematic moments would result_ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sees Ang returning to his native tongue and producing a globally marketable Asian film . This seems to have always been the plan for Ang Lee who views this film as a kind of wish fulfilment : "To me it is important after three English language fil ms that I go back to my cultural roots , to fulfil my boyhood dreams". In a sense it also marks the birth of a

"The movie was a logistical nightmare sandstorms, lost in the desert ... and flood. In the desert, two weeks of rain!" new breed of films that can be huge box -office hits in China and elsewhere in Asia, while at the same t ime they can also translate to a larger audience abroad. Breaking down these barriers can be difficult , and Ang himself sees the problerAs of satisfying two very different audiences. " it 's a good exam - how to tell a story with a global sense. lt means more layout of the texture of society, more explanation of the rules of the game. Also, it has to hit Asia like a summer blockbuster, but at the same time it has to be in the art-house cinemas and the New York film festival. " The cultural gulf between the two audiences was

. .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. . initially difficult to bridge and this chasm nearly led to Ang and his English scriptwriter James Schamus producing two separate versions: one in English and one in Chinese. ._,....,.. &..~~,.._. "lt seemed to be a waste of t ime to shoot two versions. Am I going to direct them with equal intensity? All of the actors had better Chinese than English. Are they going to struggle with their Engl ish?

Production-wise it didn't make sense. Unless there were like, 50 lines in the movie, then maybe I could manage to do it . But there are too many lines in the movie. So I decided not to do that and stick with mandarin. " his decision to film in Chinese proved to be somewhat of a headache for Schamus who although a Professor of Film at Columbia University, does not speak any Chinese. This meant that the scriptwriting process was protracted and fraught with problems. "We started with a Chinese language draft, then I wrote this completely entertaining swash-buckling romantic, adventurous epic movie, that was a joke to the Chinese who read it. ng really transformed the film , put in a lot of the cultural references and the soul, which I had misread . The process became six months of mutual torture through bad translation " .

With the script complete, Ang was then faced with the prospect of bringing the film to life on celluloid:

T

A

no mean feat , for a film that had be already shelved by Ang years previous due to Chinese political restrictions. With Ang now clear to film in as many places in China as he wanted, he found that although you may have the location, the elements could still prove to be less than perfect. As Ang explains "For about two and a half months we had to reschedule everything. lt was a nightmare. The movie had just started shooting in the Gobi desert - it was just a logistical nightmare 路 sandstorms, lost in the desert .. .and flood . In the desert. Two weeks of rain! " James Schamus continues the story: "The locals went up to our producer, Bill Kong, who had been burning incense each day for good luck and getting none of it. They said 'thank you so much for burning that incense, because that's what we do when we want rain!"

With the elements tamed and the script in place, Ang then set about organising the martial arts aspect, for this he brought in the services of Yuen Woo-Ping . Woo-Ping is the grandfather of the kung-fu movie, well known and highly respected in Asia. " it 's one of those great ironies," James Schamus bel ieves, "that when we mention Yeun Woo-Ping over here in the west it 's always suffixed by 'of Matrix fame ' . Because he did do the choreography of The Matrix, which we loved, but of course we know him as the guy who created Jackie Chan 's career and Jet Li's career.

it's amazing t o see 30 years later, full circle, the cultures revolving, and so Yuen Woo-Ping returns to us as the guy who did The Matrix " . Suffice to say the fight scenes l i v~ up to their grandiose billing .

No matter which way you look at it , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an exotic blend of Eastern mysticism, spectacular action and heartwrenching love story that deserves all the acclaim that it's getting. The one worry seems to be that many people may stil l miss out on this

"I grew up with subtitles.

To us reading subtitles is the mainstream" treat by virtue of it being a foreign language film and therefore subtit led in the west. Ang Lee however is hopeful his movie will buck the trend .

"I think it could be the beginning of a good development in terms of subtitled movies, and I hope it can break out of the art-house ghettos. I grew up with subtitles. To us reading subtitles is the mainstream. I just hope that the cultural exchange can be more bilateral. There 's a big world out there. People, you know, they have a lot of stories to tell. Just read the goddamn subtitles! Enjoy moviesl Join the world! " I couldn 't have put it better myself. You need to see this movie.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001 .

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Insight

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1n As Cast Away- a Robinson Crusoe style epic - rakes in millions in its first week, the question everyone is asking is, what is all the hype about? Nikki Mallett investigates the phenomenon that is Tom Hanks ... s Cast Away continues to make big bucks in bot h the States and the UK, it has become increasingly difficult to believe that this Californian actor could ever make a film that isn't a success.

After hitting the big-time with the chick-flick of the cent ury, Sleepless in Seattle, Hanks has never known the problems so many other actors face when their fi lms stop sel ling. Moreover, Cast Away, like all the Tom Hanks films before it, is proving that his winning formula is still working wonders.

Cast Away, which reunites Hanks and Forrest Gump director, Robert Zemeckis, is based on Hanks' own vision, a Robinson Crusoe-type story about Chuck Nolan. a time conscious Fed-Ex worker, who, following a tragic plane crash is marooned on a desert island for four years with only a volleyba ll for company. In a sty le t hat has become very well known as a Hanks movie, the film is a journey in itself. Indeed, any film that can make its audience care about the well-being of a volleyball has got to be commended.

Of course, the fi lm may sound twee to those who share a common hatred for Hanks, the American star who seems unable to do wrong in the eyes of cinema-goers. However , Cast Away is one of those films that actually makes you sit back and think.

With about 60 noiseless minutes in which Hanks explores his island and learns to make fire, there is a lot of time for the audience to reflect on Nolan's situation . Of course there are always those that are going to regard the film as an egot istical ploy - after all it is a whole film devoted to Tom Hanks with only 30 minutes in which other actors feature. However, it is important to remember the work that Hanks put into his role as

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Nolan. Indeed, it is becoming obvious that Hanks seems to thrive on physical discomfort, evident when he submitted to military boot camp in order to better understand his role as Captain John Mil ler in t he 1998 epic Saving Private Ryan .

Similarly, the hardships he undertook in his latest role, reiterates his passion for method acting .

After gaining 401bs for the role , he then had a year to lose over 401bs and grow a beard that any cave man would be proud of. just for t he sake of

"lt is becoming obvious that Tom Hanks seems to thrive on physical discomfort" one role. I can't imagine Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise paying homage to their Neanderthal side w ith the same gusto. Not only that, but whilst filming, Hanks found himself adrift in the Paci fic Ocean, after the rope that tied his dingy to the boat snapped. He also spent some time in hospital, when a blister on his knee turned sceptic in the heat. Stil l, for his pains it is likely that he will soon be making anot her of his Oscar accept ance speeches, however anyone who has seen the film will know that it is well deserved.

Of course this film isn't for everyone, and Hanks haters should be warned, if you don't like him don't go and see it. However, Cast Away is a remarkable piece of filmmaking. Any film that has the ability to provide entertaining si lence without a cheesy soundtrack a la Titanic, has definitely achieved something very different from the run of the mil l Hollywood movie.

"I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!" lames Goffin sees Tom Hanks as the ultimate pawn in evil corporate Hollywood. Here's why...

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Wednesday, Ja~uary 31, 2001 ,_

y friends have told me it's wrong to do it.

They don't understand my obsession, saying it 's abnormal. deviant . But I can't help it. I hate Tom Hanks. lt started a long time ago. I could just about take his fresh-faced antics in Big . I was ten, and the idea of swapping bodies with a grown up seemed kinda cool, and we all know that those seaside amusement machines just swallow your money and then bugger you about. But by the time he got, just one year later, to Turner and Hooch, my ambivalence had turned to hate.

Perhaps I was overly precocious for a child - perhaps I still am- but the fact that he was happy to star alongside a dog marked him out as a figure of ridicule. Especially when the mutt put in a better performance. and ran way ahead in the looks stakes.

His looks are one of Hank's major problems. He's not phwoar attrac tive- you never see girls rushing out of the LCR poster sale with dozens of pictures of Tom tucked under their arms. stopp1ng only to get blue tac from the Paper Shop and per-

haps give their photographed deity a peck on the cheek - he's just ordinary, hence his status as bankable romantic comedy guy. Christ, they even made Sleepless in Seattle twice - with the 'kooky ' add ition of email thrown in second time round because Hanks is such an inoffensive schmuck.

He never plays arseholes- his characters are almost-cute reformed new men, who, if they do have a brusque outer shell are always using them to protect their soft and vul nerable underbel lies. I try to use my outer shell to protect me from vomiting.

"The simple thought of spending two hours alone with Tom is just too much to bear" What really galls me at the moment though, is that this gluttonous emotional ooze that Hanks applies to everything blinds people to what a tool of Holl ywood he is. Philadelphia and Forrest Gump are both sickly, unsettling films, because they let the great American studios off the hook in their portrayal of AIDS and mental disabi lity. Stick man-next-door Hanks in front of the lens, generate a few tears, and we can avoid dealing with the harsh realism of both conditions for a few years.

And Tom, here's an Oscar for reminding the world that there's still something Good about the OI'USA .

Cast Away, though, is Hank's real payoff. it's the ultimate in Hanksophillia, which is why I hate it so much . The simple thought of spending two hours alone with Tom, looking into those sensitive eyes, is just too much to bear. Actually watching it is even worse. Whoever gave the thumbs up to a film that shows. in real time, the bedraggled Hanks spending ten minutes tryi ng to Iight a fire?

If only he wasn't too clean cut to smoke, we cou ld have been saved some pain. And if only he didn't have to triumph over the odds- because that's what Tom does- we could have watched his pain as, in real time, he starves to death. (I wasn't joking about hating him. The only thing that would make me endu re The Green Mile wou ld be the guarantee that the 'realistic execution scenes' included Tom getting a lethal jab, or preferably, electrocuted. In real time.)

Anyone that watched the BBC's version of Cast Away (yes, I know it's not exact ly the samethey opened the ir post) knows that real life can be extremely boring. Add that to the fact that Hanks as Chuck (Chuck, chucked, cast away, geddit?) has no real life to get on with , and you have a very boring film, however nice the scenery.

This is a worthy. man triumphs against the elements, portrayal, and like Hanks' other fare it's basically humourless .

Joanna Lumley shipwrecked was entertaining she had jokes and bras strapped to her feet . What does Hanks have? A beard. Never trust a man with a beard. And please stop going to see his films.

Insight

•

•

11 T

!Knowledge

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45

Simon and Garfunkel

Advertising on television seems to be echoing general television trends in the increased violence and general anger that seems permeate our screens. Steve Quirke asks the question, does this really make good advertising? ...

few years ago, the angriest that television seemed to get was "Dear Anne Robinson, why oh why oh why ... " However, it appears that all has changed at television central. Adverts (so often better than the programmes they buttress) have started to get more bitchy, whiney and downright angry. And I for one would like to know why. Decades are often labelled once they're all over. So, we had the greedy 80s; the caring sharing 90s; and I'd like to put the case for the OOs (how do you say that?) as the angry decade.

How can I make such a sweeping statement so early in the decade? Well, I'm basing it on the humble television advert · an art(?) form that can be seen as simultaneously reflecting and forming public opinion. Even if you feel you're immune from the seductive charms of these 30-second television programmes, you're just lying to yourself: if you've never said "Wasssup!!" to someone in an incredibly annoying way, I'm sure you've been greeted by a drunken acquaintance bellowing it him or herself.

If this trend persists, if ads continue to be able to shape behaviour, we 're all going to be getting very tetchy very soon. Mind you, we're all famil· iar with domestic arguments; for some they become a way of life: all students sharing houses, for instance, fall out over washing up and tidying at some point. But television exists to allow me to escape all of that, right? Well, not any more, it seems.

The advert that started me thinking about this new trend initially was the AA insurance ad, featuring two young married professional types arguing over the job of sorting out their insurance.

"Have you phoned all the companies on this list like my Dad said?" "I haven't got time, I work too, y'know. I'm not your Dad am I?"- that one...

The point of the ad isn't missed, that the AA web site checks multiple quotes and can provide instant cover- but who cares. I mean, really! The

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way these two bark at each other you begin to hope they have legal expenses cover to defend one or the other of them when they end up in court on GBH charges ... if nothing else, it could pay for a divorce lawyer. Basically watching things like this is something of an uncomfortable feeling, that you are intruding on an argument, something that's both personal and the sort of thing most of us hope to avoid. At the same time, it' s a little like picking a scab- you know you shouldn't do it, but it's a little addictive. We're all voyeurs, into someone else's domestic. One gets the impression that the old bill will be round before long to put down some chalk outlines...

Saying that, it's a good job that.she's "done it and we're covered" - I mean, what if the "size matterrrrs" Renault Clio woman came round to visit?

With her sledgehammer. And smashed everything in the house to bits... Why does she do that? To remove tension before driving her car is what Renault would like us to think. But I'm not convinced.

If this is what she's like before leaving the house, one dreads to think what kind of road rage incident could occur if someone cuts her up on the bypass.

Cars and more arguing couples have been fe atured in a recent Fiat commercial. A car .hurtles round a series of tight mountain roads, as a volcano erupts in the background. The car swerves left - then right to avoid debris. Then all of a sud· den it screeches to a halt. A couple gets out, and she shouts at him "Okay, if you think you can do better, you drive!" Funny? Maybe.

Convention breaking? Well yes, all right, if you insist. But it's still a bloody argument that's tak' ing place in front of us. If I wanted people contin-

"We had the 'greedy' 80s; the 'caring' 90s; and I'd like to put the case for the OOs as the 'angry' decade. " ually stressing out at each other I'd be sit and watch Eastenders, or I'd bring up the subject of whose turn il is to do the dishes at my house...

Then there's the ads for a kitchen appliance company (I can't remember which one, proving once again that this is a bad way to sell things, at least to me) featuring someone smashing the aforementioned appliance In some kind of temper tantrum, before the slogan "Hejshe wants a [insert brand name here]". No, I don't think that's the answer. Hejshe wants some valium, or a course in anger management. I'd certainly avoid sharing a kitchen with these people - or anywhere that contained things with pointy edges...

You may have seen some similar tantrums over Christmas. No, not in your house, but on the telly, as Jack from Bread (y'know the series with the interchangeable family who seemed-to have a different actor playing each character every

three episodes) gets stroppy until he gets a Virgin Mobile. "With cheap calls and no line rentalll" he shouts at all and sundry, looking like he's about to burst into tears or hold his breath until he turns blue. Funny, or irritating? I for one am fairly pleased he's finally got his phone maybe he'll leave the rest of us in· peace.

Besides, what does he use his phone for when he finally gets it? To get his long-suffering wife to make him a cup of tea! You just know that he'll be the guy on the train or bus in the seat in front playing with ring tones, as he clearly has no· friends and isn't going to receive any calls.

Then there's the banal and ridiculous McCain HomeRoasts (roast potatoes) ad. I suppose the OXO family were known to have the occasional disagreement. but in comparison this is full blown war. Well maybe not. Although, ironically

"I think the idea behind all this would appear to be: 'Look, these. people are arguing! Aren't we clever!

Buy our product. ' Well, I'm not buying it."

OXO mum, Lynda Bellingham, revealed last year that she had endured 18 years of physical and mental abuse from her (now) ex-husband, who was subsequently fined shed-loads under anti· stalking laws. A weird reflection, it seems.

Anyway, back to the HomeRoast family: it's very depressing that a family can argue about something so banal. They could be talking about their day, sharing experiences and rejoic ing in the chance to catch up with each other that family meal times provide. No, what they're doing is arguing about who has the most HomeRoasts.

Not roast potatoes, no, no - these are McCain HomeRoasts - hence they're worth arguing about.

So we're treated to discourse about the relative merits of the roast potato over broccoli. Thrilling stuff. Of course, I'm not saying that every family who sits down to dinner has an inspiring tete-a. tete, solving the world's hunger problem in the process, but television - even in advertising should be entertaining and, to a certain extent, escapist; yet what we seem to be receiving through our aerials at the moment is just boring, old, bickering drivel that doesn:t really entertain or inspire at all. Which is a big problem. I think the idea behind all this would appear to be: "Look, these people are arguing! Just like your family does! Aren't we clever! Buy our product."

Well, I'm not buying it.

So: 'angry adverts' · they'll define this decade and we' ll spend the next ten years being nasty to one another. You mark my words, and just remember where you heard it first. NO I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN! WELL IF THAT'S · YOUR ATTITUDE THEN JUST FORGET IT!!

Don't know who Simon and Garfunkel are? Shame on you!

Quick, read this handy guide while no-one's looking••• Who? Don't give me that. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were assuredly one of the finest singer/songwriter duos to grace the musical stages of the world. A blend of delightful vocal harmony and sensitive, understated acoustic guitar, they recorded between 1964 and 1970. Meeting when they were just nine, and performing in bands together from the age of 1.3, when they parted company they were the most successful duo in music history.

Many of their records can rightly be regarded as classics.

Which ones, then?

Wednesday Morning, 3am, Sounds of Silence, Bookends and The Simon and Garfunkel Collection were all successful in their own right, but their towering success is Bridge Over Troubled Water. A number one in both the United States and Britain, it sold over 10 million copies, and gave the pair a number one single in the form of the title track in both the aforementioned countries, as well as Canada.

Hmmm. Any more hits?

Plenty. The Sound Of Silence sold over a million copies, as did Ceci/ia (latterly covered by skarnonkey Suggs). Other famous ones include Homeward Bound, Scarborough Fair and America.

But perhaps most famous is Mrs Robinson, the main song from your Dad's favourite film , The Graduate. it is particularly apt that a which featured the ostracism of the main character due to his defiance of convention, and which captured the imagination of a generation should be given a soundtrack by the duo who stood apart from 60's musical normality.

film

Weren't ~he two quite different characters?

Not too different, but Paul Simon was by far the more talented of the pair, writing virtually all the music and lyrics. Despite Gartunkel's marvellous voice, his contribution to the process was rarely credited. When the pair split, it was due to Paul Simon wishing to move beyond the type of music they had been making, and Art Garfunkel's desire to appear in films. Simon undoubtedly used the split more wisely, making one of the greatest albums ever in Gracetands.

Ukely to refonn, are they?

In 1981, Simon and Gartunkel reformed to play a free concert in Central Park, New York . One of the most famous concerts in music history, it is estimated that 500,000 people attended. lt looked as if they would reform permanently and record another album, but this fell through when Art Garfunkel refused to record at the same time as Paul Simon, insisting on recording his vocal part separately.

In retrospect•••

So here's to you, Mrs Robinsonjlesus loves you more than you will know...

Anthony Love//

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

:..

As the cult of celebrity becomes ever more infantile Adam Chapman explains why pop stars insist on acting like tossers whenever t hey attend award ceremonies like the Brits and t he Brats. iam Gallagher can spell. He is also a keen observer of homosexual culture.

His assertion that Q does, indeed, stand for queer was a perfect illustration that he is really a very intellectual man. However, the ramblings of a mad, wssed-up .hasbeen over the dubious sexuality of one of this country's most charmless performers wouldn't usually give any rational person any cause for concern (that being the reason why Heat magazine, that doyen of hard-hitting journalism, went arse over tit about the whole affair). The playground antics of Messrs Gallagher and Williams do, though, serve as a good illustration of what the awards ceremony stands for in modern Britain, as well as our frivolous obsession with the cult that is celebrity. Put bluntly, awards ceremonies like the Q Awards, the Brits, the Brats and other such mutual appreciation shindigs are simply a good example of just how puerile and childish today's pop stars really are becoming. Give them a couple of bottles of (free) Veuve Cliquot, hand them ii microphone and a badly designed award and you've got a situation that would cause seasoned sailors to feel morally outraged.

The supposed distinction between the Brats and the Brits, despite a bit of unimaginative word play, is that the former celebrates "quality" music while the latter is tainted by the encroachment of the more c!)mmercial side of the business. Case in point: this year's nominations see Moloko sharing the bill with the likes of A 1 and Atomic Kitten, a rather uneasy combination of credible and... well,

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"I can hardly see J from Five stilletoing Posh Spice in the forehead, as lovely an idea as that may be." shite. That is not to say that the Brats are always · renowned for their superb taste in prizewinners with Embrace being presented with one in 1998.

The Brats, however, do hold a long and varied tradition for proving that when.it comes to drunken ranting, good old rock n' roll will always surpass its more pedestrian pop cousins. This is hardly surprising though. Organisers of the Brits could hardly expect the likes of. Steps to come up with a Liam Gallagheresque tirade against S Club 7 now could they? As much as they might want a mass pop star massacre on stage in order to boost ratings, it's not going to happen. I can hardly see J from Five stilletoing Posh Spice in the forehead , as lovely an idea as that may be. The most controversial thing they could possibly get from the pop masses is Geri Halliwell emerging from a giant inflatable vagina. And she's a slapper so there's no surprise there. lt has instead been slightly more left-field pop hooligans who have had to make up the excitement.

Never mind the likes of Westloife, who are all too rigidly regimented by their managers to be even. allowed to express an individual thought, let alone do something as sacrilegious as crash the stage during Michael Jackson's delusions of religious grandeur in 1996. That was left to Jarvis Cocker, who took it upon himself to bare his arse to all and

sundry after taking exception to Jackson's Christlike dance routine and the fact that the man who was once accused of paedophilia had surrounded himself by a whole medley of underag~ children.

This was probably a good idea, as the bad behaviour quota at the '96 Brats had been sorely lacking, with Cocker instead announcing on receipt of his Best Video Award that he was going to "fall over and be sick in the gutter''. He subsequently did.

This performance was hardly on a par with its more commercial brethren.

1t would appear that while the Brats excel at drinking and swearing (something we all do every day, just with slightly cheaper alcohol to throw up) the exploits at the Brits are usually of a more interest-

"Robbie Williams decided that he would completely destroy a female fan by telling her that he was, in fact, homosexual." ing nature. Take, for example, Chumb'lwumba (failed anarchists who look like Big Issue sellers).

The resentment felt by King Tony's attempts to try and gain New Labour a little bit of credibility (the short-lived Cool Britannia period) resulted in John "Mafioso" Prescott getting an ice bucket chucked over his head, to the seeming astonishment of his wife Pauline. Hardly a political statement up there with the poll tax riots but it made the headlines and gave Chumbawumba an, admittedly bief, resuscitation back up the charts. it just went b show that there's nothing a pop star likes more than being the centre of attention, and what better way than to attack the deputy prime minister.

Perhaps that is the reason for the emergence of early signs that the manufactured work:! of British pop has been built on dodgy foundations, as identified by this month's The Face. Mel C recently got hammered and, ironically enough, slagged off manufactured bands like Westlife (perhaps the Prozac has given her selective memory loss). Britney Spears decided that a decent way of celebrating Hallowe'en was to get pissed on Pina Coladas and fall down some stairs. Christina Aguilera passed out in the_bar of London's St Martin's Hotel. Robbie Williams decided that he would completely destroy a female fan by telling her that he was, in fact, homosexual. The shiny faces that regularly appear on the cover of Smash Hits don't want to appear as if they thrive on a daily cocktail of smiles and day glo colours any more. And what better place to stick two fingers up at the people who turned you in to such a zombie than a big hall full to the brim with music execs and PR people. The notion that there might be d rink and drugs there isn't exactly a nobratner now is it? So as today's boy and gir1 bands begin to emulate their rock cousins to a growing extent we should all keep our eyes on the Brits this year. 1t is only a matter of time before the fragile pop star ego, forever dependent on the next fix of adulation, is bound to come unstuck, and with fame being such a precarious business the Britney/Robbie/Christina/Beckham meltdown that must surely happen some day soon is going to be monumental. Hiroshima had nothing on this, so take cover... but keep watching.

But, in the meantime why not partake in a game of celebrity top trumps so that the destru~tion of the likes of Robbie, the Spice Girls and Christina "common as muck" Aguilera can be completely in your hands. '

· Wednes~y, J.anuary 31, 2000

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001

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The Fun Loving Criminals

loco

They may have totally sold-out in their recent project (writing their latest single, Loco, specifically for a Miller advert}, but the FLC haven't lost any of their unique sense of humour or raid-back style.

From the orgasmic 'oohs' and 'aahs' of The Biz to the driving beats of Swashbucklin' In Brooklyn, this album could have been released under the title Music to Shag Girls By. Huey's growling voice resonates throughout every track, reassuring you that he's •gonna go slow" and providing that essential smooth cheekiness that only he could get away with. it is on Half a Bock that Huey's blatent sex-appeal comes into its own - the 'lighters in the air' twirling guitars and soft bass line provide a romantic setting which his sensual groaning and pleading sex-up and make a seemingly tender ballad almost into a unique form of

foreplay (well, it does it for me, anyway}.

Despite Loco being a commercial venture, it is one of the best tracks on the album, with a fantasically memorable guitar riff forming the main focus - and one of the most trashy videos released for a while.

The majority of the album is fairly similar in style, with the unfortunate exception of Dick holder which is a hill-billy rock style number. Not what we've come to expect from the FLC. Nevertheless, the rest of their offerings stick to the same old formula- a relaxed, tropical-sounding backing with ample bass and sion, and rely upon Huey to add a slick layer of polished gangster sleaze over the top. This slightly repetative method isn't a negative though- if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

My Vitriol press release "As we all know it all comes down to the music - does it move you?". How right he is, and how redundant I feel now trying to say something about this album. Normally I would probably try to place a piece of music into some kind of trend or fashion. But looking around the current scene there is no nicely tailored movement, into which I can snuggly. tuck this little gem. This is timeless music, impossible to place and all the better for j t . it could, by turns be compared to sixties psych-pop or seventies stoner • · but then again that doesn't really cover it. . Stephen Malkmus first rose to prominence fronting the fantastic Pavement, fringes were long and lank, the outlook was bleak and the noise coming from across the pond was grunge. When the inevitable antiAmerican backlash came post-grunge, Pavement were

Always Your Way

one you c ng your gazelles along to, while still maintaining your new found Britpop nous.

They continued their quest into the .alternative sound until last year when they, very quietly, split up to concentrate on solo projects and parenthood.Songs like Trojan Curfew and Deado languidly make their country-tinged way to beautiful before your very ears.

While in the song Jenny and The Ess-dog, Malk~us outlines his dismissive attitude to supposed notions of 'cool': ·They kiss when they listen to Brothers in Armsjand if there's something wrong with this/they don't see the harm"" he sings .

Which just goes to show who needs to be cool when you've got great music like this. No more words then, just listen.

it 's the return of summer '96. With the thrashing guitar sounds of Ash's 1977 and the enthusiasm of Green Day, their Vitriol couldn't have got it more right. it's time to say goodbye to the girijboybands who have defaced our corrupt music scene ...the big boys (and girl) are back in town. Ten out of ten for jump-around-your-roomability!

Natalle Buhaglar

Also Released: The Llama Farmers Note On The Door

The opening riff suggests a promising track and it doesn't disappoint. it has restrained jangly guitars and a catchy chorus. The B-sides focus on repetative guitar riffs, quite dull, but easy liiiiiriiiiiiid~~m~~lll!lllll~~m~~llll!lilllllllllll!11111111illillllllllim!lmlllll!lllllllmllA!lllli!IMIII!IIIIl!!llilllllll!lilll!lllll!!llilll!lll!llilll!llllliiiiiiii~MIIIIII~m~~!llllii!iiiaiiMiiMmiiitiimmmmilim4 listening. Track 5, a demo of track 1, adds a hint has eclipsed any serious and impartial critique of the of synthetic pop to the single.

Forget the recent on-off-on-again status of the band, forget the fact that Nicole actually got to strip Robbie musical content, with the band splitting up and con· Chloe Garrett of those tiger pants (grr) , forget all the usual crap stant arguments over lead vs backing singing. associated with All Saints, and you will be able t o However, bitching aside, the Saints are as fantastic as ever with their voices blending beautifully and their appreciate thier latest album for the masterpiece it is.

Shazney's song-writing abilities are very much the kick-ass attitude shining through on every track. The Chemical Brothers - good. Mario Brothers good. focus of Saints and Sinners, as though she has 1iinally undoubted gem on the album has to be the latest sinWarp brothers... oh dear. We Will Survive is realised that she'd better prove herself and f - the gle All Hooked up, which gets extra brownie points for actually Ok-ish, sounding like a mix between flat featuring the word ·ass'- a lyric which is criminally others if she's going to get a solo deal after they split beat and Higher State of Consciousne~s. In fact sounding almost exactly like Higher State. Throw D!l!llllll~~~~~~~~~~~t~h=e~::~~~~~~t~he~a~lb~u~m~~~un~d~e~r~us:e~d~i~nmodern~~-.. . . . . .~~ !l in a tasteless video and the fact that you'll have forgotten it by next week, and well - let's put it this way, they won 't survive more than two drinkridden LCRs. In ancient Eastern theology there is a myth that tired tramps, contrast sharply with his lyrics, which Stephen Qulrke speaks of an invisible red thread, which connects soul still contain the bite that keeps Arab strap from mates throughout time and distance so that no matter falling into the abyss of unlistenable dirge. how far they are from you, they will always be a part Middleton's understated guitar provides the perfect of you. An uplifting, idea, yes? Well, don't let that put melancholy soundtrack to Moffat'sjaded views on Anastacia' s latest offering to the charts is the you off; Moffat and Middleton are still as raw, bleak love and relationships, while the use of strings has typical chilled-out sequel to the usual chartand sardonic as ever. Well, almost. busting, energetic debut single. Despite this also been put to great effect on the record, but not The Red Thread sees them return to their original your usual "This is a slow song, bring out the string tedious record-selling effort, her.second single is label, Chemikal Underground from a brief spell with section to really eke out that pathos" kind of way. good. Not fantastic. Not awful. But good.

Go! Beat. This return to their roots has not, however, Even though Arab Strap's latest offering does seem However, her voice is incredible and she counts rather cheery in comparison to the band's early work, Elton John among her friends. We'll be seeing equalled a regression in their music, the direction this is still a moody and claustrophobic album, and loss Stacy-Waddy Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton have taken on more of this soul diva. should be approached with an air of caution: it fhe Red Thread has proved successful - after all a guy can only stay that intense and angry for so long demands attention. But, if you are willing to put a little bit of effort in then The Red Thread will be worth before he quietly implodes.

M arkland Starkle Moffat's mumbled vocals, like the quiet ramblings of every penny you spend on it.

Great music to chill to, but with a bit of an edge to it. A well-balanced mixture between anger and calm. In Wounded, the beautiful acoustic guitar

----------------------------

Warp Brothers

We Will Survive

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Anastacia

Not That Kind Of Girl

JJ72 Snow

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There's nothing quite like a small venue to create a good atmosphere. Even if the crowd are unresponsive ...in fact, even if the crowd are dead, it still looks like there's a good turn out at the least. Alas, such a crowd is what the Webb brothers got. I dread to think what they would have been like if it wasn't for geriatric support act Johnny Bramwell's avid attempts at stand up comedy. Even so, it looked like even the bassist from I Am Kloot was falling asleep, resulting in a performance as energetic as their age would suggest. The three-piece from Manchester provided an acoustic, folk-rock style which had a great sound to it but left nothing to the imagination.

Nevertheless, they provoked a few laughs and cheers the audience and made them as warmed up as they gonna get for the support.

After e~er anticipation, the Webb Brothers made their appearance. And they.definitely had it. They had the look. had the confidence. They even had the Monkees Justin and Christian were joined by youngest James on keyboards (with drummer and bassist in ) . And from the moment they entered the stage with

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

tastic combination. While in the other songs the their typically indie style clothing and their glowing vocals were used in many styles, achieving excelenthusiasm, they had total control. If ever there was lent effects. Surrender finishes the single with a ultimate stage presence, these boys had it. Their set bit of grit, and more electronics and drums, makincluded favourites from their albums Beyond the Biosphere and Maroon such as the spaced out· tune of All ing this the punchiest song.

Faye Tllomslt The Cocaine In The World which was proceeded by the follow-up song Low Grade Fever- a song about "the after . .- - - - - - - - - • effects of the mountain of cocainen. The two prominent brothers alternated in lead vocals and provided complimentary harmonies to their wide array of musical styles. showing their great ability to perform both sensitive mope music and driving, energetic rock songs with equal power. Just before the encore we were treated to their dream of their forthcoming single Can't Believe transcending in dinosaur form to trample on the houses of every boy and girl groups in the world, and a new musical dawn breaking ...how nice would that be? They close the set with I'm Over and I Know lt. As the musicians drop off the stage one by one, they are far from over.

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16

Traffic

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Catherine Zeta Jones

Soderbergh's latest offering, featuring Mexican scenery, political shenanigans, complex plot Involving drug cartels, and Catherlne Zeta Jones looking concerned I know what you 're thinking: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones in some honeymoon production about a philandering husband who finally sees the error of his ways but then loses it when he gets stuck in traffic on the way to marry that laser-bending w o nder-wom~n. Actually no. it's about drugs. lt certainly is an ambitious film. Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich) tries to connect .a series of gripping stories in to a film about the 'war on drugs路 being fought by our friends the US in and around the Mexican border. it's probably best t o ignore the fact that the newlyweds are in this film . Not that they are particularly bad, just boring. Best to concentrate on the fantastic performances by Benicio Del Toro ( The Usual Suspects) and by Luis Guzman (Car/ita's Way).

The film generally adopts a mature no-nonsense attitude. lt hits you with convincing stuff: the real deal, 'we can't do shit about the drug problem' statistics and facts. lt features improvised material from the genuine Mexican border authorities and Soderbergh uses real politicians in the shmoozy political scenes. All this gives the film a documentary-style edge aided of course by that trusty SteadiCam. The idea is that there is no real 'bad guy' in the film. The bad guy is the system: bureaucracy, redtape, corruption, etc . it's the old story of the law protecti ng the guilty as wel l as the innocent. I

won't bother telling you the fate of that crucial witness for the prosecution against a Mexican drug cartel. You get the picture. The good guys get held up in 'traffic'. Get it?

The problem is that you need bad guys in films so that they can be ruthlessly and barbarically annihilated by the good guys (that is, the Yanks). it's a clever film but not ingenious enough to displace the need for red路b looded violence. Those of you expecting action will be sorely disappointed. After the opening sequence, the guns stay strictly in their holsters. There are moments when the story drags slightly and in those moments the film seems long and directionless.

Those of you who think that drugs are harmless may take offence at the way the issue of drugs is handled, especially in the story about the politicians daughter becoming a drug addict . it's all so simplistic and overblown at the same time: Drug abuse and sexual abuse become unsatisfactorily (con)fused in a few scenes.

More to the point, there 's simply not much of interest for a British audience here despite the fact that is based on the Channel 4 series Traffik .

Traffic is targeted at middle-aged, middle-income, do-gooders so don't expect too much from that lot.

They must have made up all that stuff about the 1960s. Just say no.

Daniel Efffs

Remember the Titans

18 Directed by: Fina Torres Starring: Peneope Cruz, Murilo Benicio

Directed by: Jerry Bruckheimer Starring: Denzel Washington

Sexy Penelope Cruz is a cursed chef In a charming, kooky love story, Involving salsa, voodoo, adultery and cooking.

An adaptation of a true story, In which an American football team get their first black coach, and overcome their racial prejudices through sport.

with up-and-coming rock stars Stlllwater. (Crowe himself went on a Led Zeppel in tour for the same reason aged just 16.) Despite the protestations of his mother (brilliantly played by Frances McDormand - the phone calls received by the band from her are the highlights of the film), William travels around America with the fractious group, but begins to find objectivity difficult in his writing . Although advised by his mentor Lester Bangs (Talented Mr Ripley star Philip Seyomur Hoffman) to 'be honest and unmerc iful' , he becomes particularly close to the guitarist Russell Hammond, played with world-weary subtlety by Billy Crudup. Kate Hudson (who is Goldie Hawn 's daughter, though of course, she's reaching for stardom all on her own .. .) plays one of the three 'band路aids' and calls herself 'Penny Lane '.

Hudson gives a performance that Drew Barrymore might once have been proud of.

Fug it gives just the right number of awe-struck and/ or love-struck glances to make his own character bel ievable, although at times the film seems a little too sentimental for its own good .

But as you 'd expect, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll all appear with a respectful nod to an age where lif.e suddenly became more complicated than the tail end of the sixties had promised .

The " Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don't fall for it " tagline is gold dust for anyone who's ever tried to make it to mega-stardom . You can 't fai l to be drawn in by the moving 'family' atmosphere and genuinely funny scenarios within the band. crowe seems quite happy to wal low in his own selective memory to create an original and charming snapshot out of an increasingly overused formula . There's a feel-good factor here t hat isn't as bittersweet as fi lms such as Alan Parker's The Commitments, or the very English Still Crazy, and Crowe's gift for one-liners makes for a quirky outing that revels in nostalgia whilst playing up to its twenty-first century audience.

Take, for example, "if you think Mick Jagger will still be doing this at fifty , you ' re very , very wrong." Quite . And as you'd expect, the soundtrack quite lidderally rocks .

lsabella Oliveira (Penelope Cruz) is a gifted chef, but was born with a terrible curse. Wait for it...uncontrollable motion sickness. The only way to prevent it is for her to take charge : she insists on driving herself, and she must always be on top.

Her husband Toninho feels the need to take charge for once in his life, and cheats on his wife . Feeling betrayed , lsabella runs off to live with her childhood friend Monica in San Francisco .

There lsabella tries to restart her life, and becomes the star of a cookery show, whilst Toninho embarks on a mission to overcome voodoo magic and win back his wife.

Fina Torres has createa a romantic comedy that actually works. She incorporates fairy tale moments throughout the film, wh ich not only help build the story, but make Women On Top stand out among the mountain of romantic comedies about.

However, you can 't help feeling that at times Torres does rather lazily rely on voodoo magic to explain the actions in the story .

Penelope Cruz is perfect for the role of lsabella as her charm and good looks help to convey lsabella's want to be recognised , but occasionally the film focuses a little too much on her rather than the story . Although most of her work has been for Spanish cinema, she is definitely a talented actress who is bound to find fame soon when the film adaptation of Captain Corelli 's Mandolin comes out (in which she stars).

Murilo Benicio is equally good as lsabella's husband. Initially convincing as the deceitful man who doesn 't deserve lsabella, Benicio is able to turn opinion around by the end of the film that he needs lsabella as much as she needs him .

This is a fi lm worth watching, although it probably won 't win any awards. it 's not earth-shattering, but I can think of worst ways to spend a rainy winter's evening. This is a spicy, mildly amusing film , which helps you escape from our rainy climate to another world full of salsa music and voodoo magic .

When thinking of the history Hollywood has in dealing with the issue of racism, individuals sul:n as Spike Lee and Melvin Van Peebles might naturally spring to mind as important figures . Not , however, Jerry Bruckheimer: better known as producer to Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop. it's a surprise, therefore, to see his name attached to Remember the Titans, a true story of segregated communities being brought together through a single American football team .

However, despite any initial reservations, the resul t is a surprisingly effective account boasting some strong performances and a marked lack of dumbing down.

Will Patton is the coach of a successful all -whit~ team who, in an act of appeasement to Civil Rights legislat ion , is ordered to relinquish cha r~e of his team for a black coach: Denzel Washington . He must confront the Patton's prejudices, as well as those within the team itself and the community at large in order to bring the first mixed race squad to the field. What makes Titans a far more interesting film than it initially seems though, is the character if Washington.

Rather than being a peace maker or soft touch, he's as much of an outspoken, racially opinionated character as Patton, who 's prepared to put his team through the harshest training regime to win.

The inevitability is, of course, that through sport every character will find t hemselves equals and that only their performance on the field should be a divisive factor . Unfort unately for us Limeys, that sport is American football and if you consider that be a sport where grown men simply run at each other wearing body armour then Titans will do nothing to alter that view . The film's central message is, of course, universal. However, when many of the team 's differences are rather easily resolved through the passions of the game, it can be difficult on this side of the Atlantic to see precisely why. lt may , therefore, not be the best film ever made on the subject , but Remember the Titans has a lot to ' cred it, especially its Intell igence.

Jonathan Roffe

Cleran Barnard

Phfl Colvln

Directed by: Cameron Crowe Starring: Billy Crudup, Frances Mc Dormand, Kate Hudson

Goldle Hawn's daughter stars as a groupie supremo, following an American rock group on tour In the early 70s. Sex, drugs and rock' n'roll all make an appearance In this coming-of-age tale As we boldly step forward into a new era, what better than to immediately head back to the start of the 70s for a reverent glance at life on the road with a never-quite-to-be rqck band? Almost Famous itself is regarded in America as the box office smash that should have been, but never was. The concept of the film is entirely the brainchild of writer and director Cameron Crowe, whose last big hit was Jerry Maguire, and the former Rolling Stone rock journalist quite clearly was 'shown the money ' to film this semi-autobiographical account of his formative years in the business.

Set in 1973, it focuses on the unusual 'coming of age' of 15 year old Will iam Miller (Patrick Fugit).

Inspired to write for an underground rock magazine after hearing his sister's record collection, he is given a chance by Rolling Stone to go on tour

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Jesus· Son Directed by: Alison Maclean Starring : Billy Cudrup, Samatha Morton, Dennis Hopper and Holly Hunter

lt was a lonely trip to see this on the big screen, now you can all make amends. A lovingly rendered study of how to be a junkie and survive with the odd brain cell.

The most amazing thing about going see this film at the cinema was the fact that when the house lights came up, you suddenly realised that you were practically the only person in attendance. I mean, as if you weren 't gob-smacked already by what you had just seen, you also had to come to terms with the fact that Jesus' Son was probably the most criminally under-attended film in movie going history. lt hit our screens slap-bang in the middle of the summer heat wave aided only in this scorched cinematic desert vacuum by the skimpiest of publicity. And why, why I cry, would anyone not want to come and see this absolutely fantastic film. Oozing charm by the bucket load and boasting an amazing cast .

Denis Hopper , Holly Hunter and Denis Leary all turn in stunnmg cameo 's, all being professionals and all leading a hand purely for the love of their art. And make no mistake this is a fine example of what you can do with a camera and a good idea , future directors should take note.

You, the viewing public should also take note , don't continue being force-fed the same old garbage. The next time the corporate movie machine comes at you with a spoon. turn your head and scream: No! Practice with me now: No! This film may have been hard to find in the cinema listings but we all must be prepared to work much harder in the future , it is absolutely unacceptable that Jesus ' Son was ignored.This brings me to the end of my disciplinary lecture, and it 's lucky for you people that I'm pre-

Gone in 60 Seconds Directed by: Jerry Bruckheimer Starring: Nicholas Cage, Christopher Eccleston , Angelina Jolie, Vinnie Jones

Nicholas Cage and Vlnnie Jones ride shotgun in this brainless piece of highspeed dross. Fasten your seatbelt your in for a bumpy ride -the road 's full of plot-holes.

Snatch Directed by: Guy Richie Starring: Jason Stratham, Benicio del Toro, Brad Pitt , Vinnie Jones (again!) and Mike Reed

Mr Madonna has made another film, how lovely. I hope it's as good as the last one. Oh it's a carbon copy, how fantastic. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels plus some Americans.

Here's a scary thought: if you spend a minute reading this then Nicholas Cage could have already stolen your car. Actually though. based on strictly unofficial timings I took watching Gone in 60 Seconds I reckon it's closer to thir· ty. lt seems that neither Cage nor anyone else in this film likes spending a lot of time doing anything, from theft to holding a conversation.

So if you like fast cars or have a low attention span, this is the film for you.

Of course, a single car theft lasting a few sec onds obviously does not make for much of a movie. So, handily for us, Cage has got himself into a spot of bother which means he must steal fifty cars for resident psychopath Christopher Eccleston in a single night or his brother, a rather dopey looking Giovanni Ribscini, will be 'k~ l led . Teaming up with Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall and Vinnie Jones (yes, Vinnie Jones) we're treated to a roller coaster night of grand larceny, high speed chases and the occasional snatch of conversation between thefts.

The mix of high speed and adrenaline could work in 60 Second's favour. However, it's not quite fast enough to cover its flaws. Although under the wing of action supermo, Jerry Bruckheimer, most of the chases themselves seem a little muted and perfunctory. it's not only that we've seen it all before, but that the makers have as well and are finding it hard to fmd new things to do. And I feel it was a mistake to endow Eccleston's character with a love for furniture renovation. Truly scary people should not get sentimental over tables.

Of course, with a cast this big it would be a surprise if the film didn't offer some pleasures. And it does, with Cage and Duvall especially giving weight to the few scenes long enough for them to actually work with. One of the surprise delights is actually Vinnie Jones, whose hard man 1mage is helped immeasurably by his charac ter 's virtual silence. I see a great career '!-'lead of him as a goalpost.

Guy Ritchie 's first feature film, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, was a hugely popular comedy gangster film . it launched the movie careers of Vinnie Jones and made Guy Ritchie a top man in Hollywood (and got him married to Madonna as wel l). Rumour has it that this is why so many Hollywood stars wanted to be in his next project. So in Snatch you can spot among the Cockney regulars, American stars like Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina (Out of Sight) and Benecio Del Toro (Traffic) which in all fairness makes no real difference to this highly entertaining film.

Everyone manages to hold their own and make Snatch a successful follow up to Lock Stock . it's not an Oscar winning film by any means. The plot centring on the highjack of diamonds, mixed with the seedy underworld of illegal boxing is almost unexplainable until you watch the film. lt is certainly stupid and completely unbel ievable, and full of stereotypes , from the criminal bosses, down to the Gypsy 'pikeys·. This however does not matter because the film is truly a good laugh, and on video is definitely one to rent with all your mates for a good night in. The plot while rather stupid is interesting and actually has a few good twists in store (although the end is never rea ll y in doubt) and while there are no real in depth characters, the sheer amount and diversity of them is impressive. Perhaps the most central and entertaining of the characters is Turkish, played

by Jason Statham, a small time boxing promoter in above his head who narrates most of the film, and gives it a real comic edge. The supporting characters are all brilliant as well. Alan Ford 's Brick Top is a nasty villain, Vinnie Jones is again a 'bad moma' , and even Mike Reid (or Frank from Eastenders) gives a top-notch performance. Not to be forgotten too is Brad Pitt 's 'one punch Mickey' who is great as the dodgy boxer. All in all, great characters, a good plot,flashy soundtrack and camerawork, make Snatch a worthy follow up to Lock Stock. lt maybe a little too similar in style but it's still well worth a rent.

Ph// Colvln

Chrls Hasklns

pared to give you all a second chance. So don't let me down, if I go into a video shop in the next few months and find myself able to rent a copy of th is. I will be extremely angry indeed .

Jesus ' Son tells the story of a boy called F-head played by the charming Billy Crudrup , that's right F-head - if I te ll you that this film deals with drug addiction on the 1970's and takes its name from the Velvet Underground song Heroin, then I think that you can guess the reason for the protagonist's rather unusual moniker. Jesus ' Son is told through the mind of th is terminally damaged casualty of one too many hedonistic nights ... and days too probably. This might at first seem a dangerous thing to do considering that he can't quite remember it all, but it actually leads to one of the most charming aspects of this film: it's hopelessly cracked narrative, just as flawed as the crazy characters that appear intermittently through the drug induced haze. We fo ll ow F-head through a bleak yet somehow beautiful cultural landscape of social misfits and glorious losers, slowly warming to his less than complete explanation of events, while at the same time gaining a compassionate insight into the reason for the wanton pharmaceutical abandon. He meets a girl, he falls in love. he loses girl and fol lows her across the country. Driven by love on both sides of the camera. Jesus· Son really is wonderful stuff.

Merek Cooper

iS

X-Men

Directed by: Brian Singer Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, lan McKellen, Anna Paquin

X-cellent costumes , X-cellent effects , X-cellent sequel? Probably. Brian Singer sets the scene for a blockbuster feeding frenzy in this X-cellent film.

Ah, the great British summer. Lazy days, blue skies and always a top summer movie blockbuster with which to while away your time.

Hmm. Well at least this summer had a blockbuster in the shape of X-Men. And now XMen is out on video, you can re-live the crap summer weather in February with 90 minutes or so of explosions, bad dialogue and lack of plot exposition, in the comfort of your own home!

Having said that, X-Men is a surprisingly good movie.

The special effects are great and there are all manner of stars, including Sir I an McKellern as the expected English bad guy, with Patrick 'Jean-Luc Pi card' Stew art as his nemesis Doctor Xavier. The plot is of course ludicrous: at the beginning of the 21st century, people begin to develop mutations. In the Un ited States, proving that they are unable to learn any lessons at all from their poor civil rights record in the past, they decide to persecute the mutants, which certain politicians feel are a threat. As a result , the mutants are separated into two camps, those who wish to live in harmony with the rest of humanity , and those who wish to destroy it.

The main narrative focuses on Storm and Wolverine, two mutants who are 'discovered' by Doctor X, and they introduce us to the world of

X-Men. But, don't worry if you've never picked up an X-Men comic book, or watched the cartoon series (too early on a Saturday morning for me)- as it's all explained, you don't end up fee ling lost or out of your depth.

But as the tag line reads: "Trust some, fear the rest" · the re st are the bad guys. led by the evil Magneto. Magneto is plotting to turn the leaders of the free world into mutants too , as he claims it's the only way to protect the interests of mutants. He needs Storm's abilities to do so, and kidnaps her. Does he succeed? Do the forces of evil take over the world? Well, what do you think happens? Shift your brain into neutral, sit down with a bag of microwave popcorn and enjoy the explosions, the costumes and the effects.

The on ly real criticism I have of the movie, is the producer's transparent attempts to keep the ending as open as possible , to the extent that it 's almost not an ending but the beginning of the sequel. Someone at the studios thinks the X-Men is a cash cow , and looking at the enduring popularity of the comics and the cartoon series they 're probably right. So enjoy this one whilst you can, just don't be surprised if X-Men spawns even more sequels than Police Steve Qulrke Academy.

!Wednesday, January 31, 2001 '• I

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__ even The Kaos Volpone Norwich Pia eo 7 Ben Jonson 's Volpone, a classic satire of cunning, deceit and greed, has been manipulated by the Kaos theatre company into a production that is exciting enough to stir the most lazy among us out of bed and down to the Norwich Playhouse.

The play is on from the February 7 to February 10 with each performance starting at 7 .30pm, and eight of your shiny pounds will be well spent on a production that has been hailed as "outrageously funny and inventive" by Time Out magazine.

As an added incentive, the Playhouse has a groovy little bar so you won't be missing out on your alcohol intake for the day, plus you can mingle with arty types and pick up some big words to use in your essays. Or maybe not.

According to the director of The Kaos Volpone, Xavier Leret, the plot has been 'hacked to pieces' . In a brave yet well called-for move, he has scrapped the duel (or is that dull?) storyline involving an English traveller named Sir Politic Would-be, concentrating instead on Volpone (the fox) and co, whose names reflect their animalistic traits.

Admittedly, the translated names of these characters does sound like those in The Animals of Farthing Wood but rest assured that the plot here goes a little bit further than owl squabbling with badger. This dark comedy follows Volpone, a rich

bachelor who pretends that he is dying in order to draw gifts from hiS would-be heirs (this play pr-dates the Beatles' words of wisdom that money can 't buy you love). One penniless desperado, Corvino (the raven) , even attempts to sacrifice his wife in order to grab the loot.

Like Basil Fawlty and Manuel , Cyril Sneer and his son Cedric or even Tommy and Chucky , every genius schemer needs a hapless sidekick .

Cue Mosca (the fly) played by Oliver Parham, who was party to Volpone's sly plan . In a not-very-well thought out attempt to snatch the cash , Mosca blackmails Volpone, played

by Jack Corcoran . Not to be defeated by such a loser, the fox turns chicken and confesses all to the authorities. Sadistic punishment ensues and, given that Kaos ' style is described as " .. physical story telling at its most extraordinary .. " this scene could prove to be interesting if not a I ittle risque.

In fact , director Xavier Leret picked this particular play because it presents plenty of opportunity for physical characterisation, something that this company, known for its practice of physical theatre, endeavours to explore to the full . In past productions, Kaos have used stunts such as trapeze artistry and magic tricks, so it will be interesting to see how Leret adapts this contemporary style to a classic such as Volpone.

Notorious for breaking the rules, we can be sure that The Kaos Volpone will be innovative to say the least . Leret described the way in which, as a fairly young director, he has responded cinematically to the text, also picking out surrealism as a standout feature of their production . Prepare to be entertained in the widest sense of the word since this production includes music composed by the cast in the style of junk opera: good old slapstick, poetry, dark humour and an overall feeling of roughness and edginess.

The posters dotted around campus, which you may not have noticed in your rush to be educated, bill this as a "comedy of sickness, lust and pure animal greed," where "wildly ludicrous personalities romp their way through an outrageous cycle of abuse, lechery and avarice."

Sounding to me something like the average Prime Minister's question time, th is play is perhaps so appealing precisely because The KaosVolpone presents a society driven by greed and lust that is strikingly familiar.

I'm sure we have all met a few foxes in our time, not to mention greedy leeches, abusive personalities, lustful bachelors, wild animals .. .

1., The Winter Guest . i â&#x20AC;˘ Maddermarket Theatre Jan 25 - Feb 3 Comedy Preview: The 1997 film version of The Winter Guest starred Emma Thompson and was directed by Alan Rickman, who was also responsible for this play.

This version is produced by the Maddermarket Theatre Company and for that reason is perhaps slightly more amateurish than the one that premiered at the West Yorkshire playhouse in 1995.

Nonetheless it works well in the small but pleasant Norwich venue.

The play tells the story of four separate couples, all of whom can feel the atmosphere of death that surrounds them. There 's Franc is, the recently widowed, struggling photographer and her mother, Elspeth whose conversations are exclusively concerned with recriminations and memories of a better past . Alex is the grandson who is obsessed with the beautiful Nina and Tom and Sam are schoolboys skiving from school and messing about on the frozen lake.

They represent the younger generation whilst Chloe and Lilly sit on a bench act out the day to day concerns of the elderly generation The play explores the relationship between mother and daughter and

also between the different generations. lt is split into snapshots of the different lives, which are all linked but also separate. The result is a montage, where each scene contains a short glimpse into the characters' lives.

The actors are extremely good; Joy Davidson who played Elspeth particularly stands out . Her portrayal of the eccentric, slightly mad old women was spot on, as were the elderly couple whose lives consisted of reading the Paper for the obituaries everyday, presumably to see If they were in it yet . The opening night had a mixed audience, including children which it wasn't really suitable for. The younger generation was represented as very crude, with every second word being a profanity of some sort .

There were other problems, some of the Scottish accents were on the dodgy side and the scenery was far from impressive, a play with themes rather than a plot. However on the whole it is well worth seeing, just for ~he bri ll iant portrayal of the elderly, which is rarely done as well as this.

For several years in Britain, Rich Hall was famous largely for his guest appearances on The Eleven 0 ' Clock Show and various productions by Jack Dee. So it comes as something of a surprise to discover that he has been huge il) America for over a decade, with a succession of best selling comedy books and stints with David Letterman. Yet for various reasons (apparently we have a higher calibre of humour, just look at Joe Pasquale) he has chosen to spend most of his time on this side of the Atlantic, a strategy that finally paid off last year when he was awarded the Perrier Award .

Winning the Perrier is usually a sure-fire route to fame- previous winners include Eddie lzzard and Steve Coogan¡ and few deserve it more than Hall who, in the guise of his alter-ego, Otis Lee Crenshaw, has crafted a genuinely remarkable, and hilarious, live show.

Crenshaw was created by Hall three years ago because he wanted to incorporate music into his act.

Rich Hall The Playhouse Theatre Feb 3 Hailing from Tennessee, the character has spent most of his life in and out of prison for car theft and general robbery and at the last count has been married seven times, always to women called Brenda. At some point he taught himself piano, and uses his time on stage to entertain the audience with songs inspired by his experiences. In the past numbers performed have included 'Women Call lt Stalking ' and 'He Almost Looks Like You', a ballad about prison rape . Between tunes expect rambling monologues by Crenshaw regarding his many philosophies on existence, all delivered in painfully rasping tones that imply Hall prepares each night by swallowing razorblades .

Also, there have been reports of involuntary audience participation, so unless you enjoy being serenaded by boozy, red-necked trailer-trash, it 's probably advisable to request a seat towards the back .

Jlm Whalley

Rich Hall: he plays the piano

Best of the Rest: Minotaur Special As the 46th annual National Student Drama Festival approaches (April 4th11th in Scarborough). the Minotaur Theatre Company presents three productions- all based on new writing- for selection. Last yea~. out of the 126 productions entered, two of the final sixteen selected were by Minotaur, so hopes are high for another strong showing .

Storytime Jan 30 and Feb 1 UEA Studio Storytime, by Emily Hunka, tells the story of twins, Sam and M oily Small, who

grow up depending on fairy tales to escape reality. However, as childhood draws to a close, Sam commits an act that shatters their innocence. Both Hunka and director Emma Hewitt have won awards for previous work.

Rhian and Ripley Jan 31 and Feb 2 UEA Studio This new monologue from Ashif Verjee explores the positive and negative effects of cinema through a nine-year-old experience narrator Rhian had with her boyfriend. Also discussed is "ho.,.,..look-

ing like Bono from U2 does not grant one licence to eat during a movie ".

Black Boxes and Amber Rooms Jan 31 and Feb 2 UEA Studio Another play by an award winner (Tom Morton-Smith - Theatre Exchange's Int ernational Playwriting Competition) .__ Black Boxes ... deals with the habit of~ knowing people as oppose to having friends, about forgetting the everyday and being left with the detail.

Wednesday, January 31st, 200"i

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So you have the time and money to get a Playstation? Then you probably sit there waiting for it to do something interesting. Sorry mate, after spending shed loads on the grey lump of plastic you're then going to have to buy something to put in the shed. Or something.

Very sensibly we will first look at the plot.

The premise for Alien Resurrection, unsurprisingly, follows the film plot of the same name: Ellen Ripley has had various unresolved relationships with big, black, scary monsters before, which results in her kill ing herself to protect the rest of the human race for the umpteenth time. Bless.

But no! The ever-reliably stupid men in white coats (the scientists) have decided to bring back "EIIen " from her early grave for a fourth instalment of blood, sweat and alien goo (you can't even commit suicide with much success these days). "My veins course with acidic blood, I have super-human strength and I feel a strange bond with the creatures, due to genetic cross-mutation (as if we need a reason)."

In case you haven 't figured it out by now, the baddies are aliens and the goodies are humans.

In order to stop the ever-breeding aliens you don't subt ly slip rat poison into their cups of tea. No!

Essential Game 02:

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Essential Game 03:

Burstrick Wakeboarding ( Playstation)

The huge number of tricks that ex ist in wakeboardi ng (a combinat ion of water skiing, surfing and skate boarding) should provide pl enty of gameplay, and trying to pull them off amid a blinding spray with the ever-present threat of drowning and sharks should be a hell of a laugh, while the sports close association with the cool, surf style sub-culture should provide it with plenty of street cred. Burstrick has only two modes of play. Obstacle challenges you to race against the clock whilst performi ng tricks and co ll ecting rings in order to beef up your score. Tri ck mode invites you to fo llow the on screen prom pts in order to perform increasingly complex Ariel stunts. it may feature nine courses, six extreme boarders, five radical boards and it might even be the first wakeboarding game ever, but there is an odd

sense of deja vu about it. Even the gnarl y dudes which feature within the game seem fi rmiliar, all offering different board stances and sty les that aren't actual ly that different at all. For this game of limited size to be successful, both of its modes of play would have to be special, however t hey are not. The ramps included in the obstacle mode seem to defeat the object of 'wakeboarding, and the necessity of staring at the on screen instructions in trick mode means that you miss all the action of t he animated tricks (well you don't miss much).

There is lit tl e sense of pace in either mode of play. nor is there much in the way of a challenge for the player. The tricks are too simple and fail to successfully mimic the fun and skill that the real sport offers .

N/ge/ Gosling

Pregnant?

Worried?

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·Call us for help • FREE pregnancy tests • Confidential advice and information • Time to think through your choices with a trained counsellor • Practical care and support, whatever you decide

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OPENING HOURS Mon 1Oam - 4.30pm Wed/Fri 1pm - 4.30pm

Please call to arra nge an appointment Norwich Pregnancy Crisis Centre, The Fishergate Centre, Fishergate, Norwich, NR3 lSE (01603)768777 Registered Charity No. I 061535

Wednesday, January 31, 2001

The noble art, eh? I doubt that Harry Carpenter wou ld approve of this bloated exhibition of pugilistic extravagance. But, if ya know what I mean 'Arry, violence like this may not be big or clever, but it sure is funny.

Ready To Rumble Boxing: Round Two has a wealth of options. A healthy selection of characters to choose from (ranging from hard punching fatties to preening madams) will lead you into one of three games.

You can fight your way to the top of the rankings through 12 bouts, or play the more challenging 'Championship' game. This involves you taki ng control of a fighter, and trai ning him or her over the cou rse of several months. Eve ry so often yo u w ill have a prize fight (a win gains you money to purchase training aids) and a championship fight to push you up the rankings. Ultimate victory in this game depends upon careful training and a mastery of the fighting skills of your boxer.

Web Review: This issue the Web Review looks closer to home for inspiration ... a little too close to home, perhaps. Dean and Nigel's Guide to Blending In is a website dedicated to showing its viewers the, erm, finer side of Norwich 's (and neighboring Norfolk towns' ) citizens and , more importantly, how to get by in our fine city without sticking out from the crowd.

Over the past couple of years Dean and Nigel have steadily risen in cult status, having been repeatedly mentioned on Chris Moyles' and Jo Whiley 's Radio 1 shows, plus achieving "Website of the Week " in The Sunday Times and The Mirror and simliar award gubbins.

Basically , the premise of the site revolves around our eponymous heroes, who go on the look-out into Norwich for amusing looking folk, and then attempt to impersonate the unsuspecting model without being discovered . The "blend " is then recorded on camera for posterity and shoved up on the site.

And boy is it funny . I mean we all knew Norwich people are not exactly well-known for their strik ing beauty and elegance, but this really just proves what we've all been thinking.

They also have a calendar avail ible! So you can always keep organised with the knowledge that there are people out there dedicating their lives to things far more pointless than your own .

Dean and Nigel: it 's a tough job but somebody 's got to do it. http:/ j www.deanandnigel.co.uk

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You BLAST BLAST BLAST them until the out-ofhand wily little pests are no more! That is, until they come up with the Re-resurrection, Part 673, Return of the Return of the Return of the ...

If you only buy one game this year (as if) buy Tony Hawk 's Skateboarding 2. The graphics are perfect, tricks taxing and you can even build your own course. If you buy two games, and loved the Alien movies, returning to the scene of death is great fun. The sound effects are taken from the movie, which adds to the suspense and feeling that you are Ripley herself, senses alert, on the edge of your seat as aliens fly from the ground, the walls or the ceiling. The game moves quickly and barely a moment goes by when you are not eithe~ firing your weapons in a manic fashion, running away, or generally being shit scared by the tense atmosphere and suspicious lack of creepycrawlies. The graphics are also pretty stunning, sustaining impressively clear images regardless of the fast pace. Despite having three levels of difficulty, Alien Resurrection, as w ith most shoot-'emups, lacks the longevity of games like Tony Hawk and Fifa. However, it ranks up among the best games of its type: absorbing, moody, and stylish.

5/mon Howarth

Ready to Rumble Boxing 2 ( P!aystation) The final choice allows you to fight team against team, one fighter at a time. However, it is the ex tras wh ich rea lly make the game. The attention to det ail on each character is superb. Fri lly cuffs with boxing gloves? You got it. Taunting of the opponent? Yes please!

The robotic fighter Robox Rese4 goose-steps and gives you a Nazi salute! Best of all are the numerous ce lebrity characters. Hilary Clinton proves herself an iron lady, and Shaquil le O'Neal will doubtless intimidate with his tattoos and towering gait.

So, if you li ke the thoug ht of spinning Michael Jac k son (aged 25, so his fighter fact s say!) around like a t op with a right hook to the body, before sending him flying into the ropes with a left uppercut, then this is the game for you.

The Marquess of Queensbury must be spinning in his grave.

Anthony Lovell

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Boy Meets Girl February 6 at 9.00 m

lt seems that after the Big Brother phenomenon we are to be subjected to a different version of group experiments (all in the name of psychology of course) every week. Whether it's a group of people placed in a prison and given the time it takes to get Channel 5 some viewers in which to escape, or taking a completely inept 21st century family and transporting them to the 1940s where funnily enough they were still inept, we are going to get it.

The latest in this long line of programmes is a three part series beginning next week. it's main aim is to push the boundaries further than any of its predecessors, by challenging eight contestants to temporarily change their gender and convince the rest of the world that they are the real thing . Naturally, hilarity ensues.

The four boys and four girls will go through a different stage of transformation each week, at the end of which a judge will vote off the least convincing. The final show will consist of the best four going onto the streets (in a none prostitute sense) and seeing if they can pull it off in the public arena.

Hopefully by then we will have learnt lots and lots about gender and how men and women think.

Yeah like that was ever the motivation for this show ... "Hmm, I know what would be funny: men dressing up as women and vice versa. Do you think we could find some daft wannabes to do that?"

Among the contestants stupid enough to think that this was a good idea is American writer Blaine, His reasons for doing the show were that he thought it would be, "camp, silly and fun and a

Essential Radio:

good opportunity to push the boundaries by trying to pass as a woman ." A drag queen alreadyMiss North Wales 2000, Blaine was perhaps better prepared than some of the other contestants, such as Stan the father of three.

The make over involves the taping back of genitals, hair removal and a new wardrobe.

The women have it slightly easier, although they describe the process of binding their breasts and growing their armpit hair, as making them feel unsexy, insecure and uncomfortable. The psychology part of the programme reveals that . the men and women take on the personality they associate with the opposite sex, the women became aggressive, aloof and tough, whilst the men become highly sexual and seductive. That must be the fantasy idea of how women act on a day-to-day basis.

Another issue that came out of the experiment was that the contestants were often unhappy with the men or women they had created, as Blaine states, " lt was as if we didn't consciously decide who to be, but the women or man inside just came out ." Although the final contestants could almost pull it off, there was still something missing . None of them were able to interact that well as the opposite sex, and it is unl ikely they would go unnoticed . The best thing according to Blaine or Jessica was having breasts (oh, so that's how they got contestants) and the worst thing was not quite being able to capture the spirit Gf a woman. I can 't wait to see what experimental TV will think of next to beat this, but no doubt it will. Probably something involving animals.

Kathryn Hlnchllff

Worldwide with Gilles Peterson Radio 1 Wednesda s at 12.00am

As a regular sufferer of 'Wednesday Syndrome' last year (y'know , having nothing to do on Wednesday nights, the Union Bar being dead, and there being no films on in the lecture theatres, aka campuscrapuswednesday), I was extremely pleased to discover one of those late night radio shows with a deep voiced, mellowedout DJ, just like the eighties American TV series, Midnight Caller.

Simply titled Worldwide, and broadcast every Wednesday from midnight until 2am on Radio 1, the BBC blurb boasts that the title "refers as much to having an open attitude to musical genres as it does to geography and the globallsation of musical influences." A broad and ambitious statement, but with the very smooth, relaxed voice of Gilles Peterson picking out track after track, it somehow manages to ~et

everything from Cuban Iatin to drum 'n'bass under its wings in the space of two hours. lt is an ideal antidote to that dull , midweek feeling .

Amongst the record labels which regularly feature, such as Ninja Tune, Inertia and Blue Note to name but a few, there are also exclusive tracks from big names like Erykah Badu , Mos Def and The Wu-Tang Clan. But this is mixed with white-label, independently released underground records, which, unless you have a lot of friends who make their own records, you wouldn't otherwise hear.

The show also features its own 'Zzub Chart'. made up of the favourite tracks that the listeners pick every week, which means that by 2am you cannot help but feel impressed by the soulful and jazzy sound that is Worldwide.

Metln Atsanjak

Essential Soaps The main storyline in Eastenders hitting our screens at the moment concerns the aftermath regarding Phil and Mel 's secret festive fling.

Phil is enjoying making Mel utterly miserable, whilst also being a complete bastard to Lisa "pass the - hie · bottle" Shaw (his girlfriend). He is enjoying his power over Mel by being able to harass her while she is powerless to blow the whistle on the nasty serial love-rat. Remember that, for Phil, much of the attraction of Mel is that she is (rival) Steve Owen's woman.

Although, the lines between emotional obsession and true love seem to be becoming a bit blurred for the old bulldog. Anyway, Lisa is cracking up big time and hitting the bottle harder and harder, and Mel is suffering from a combination of guilt and Mitchell·centric pressure. The real shocker,

though, is: will either of these 'emotional ' women be involved in a plot that finds Phil staring down a gun barrel in a few weeks time?

On a totally separate matter, I have been receiving much e-mail on the question ofZoe Slater's~., mother: a plot line yet to come.

Having consulted various resources including contacts in the tabloid press and official BBC press releases, I have found the answer. Cast your mind back to what was said in the Slater household when Sonia gave birth · where one would expect criticism, there was merely sympathy · almost empathy ... and we all know that Kat got pregnant at a very young age! Dnnh dnnh dnnnnnnnnh .. .

Till next time .. .

Ben Cannon

Essential TV 02: The fascination surrounding the buried city of Pompeii seems to go through phases, and new 'revelations' are bound to appear every once in a while. Although the mere mention of the Roman city lost under about 20 feet of volcanic ash and pumice stone in AD79 conjures up camp images of Frankie Howard, the city once boasted a lucrative trade in wine and oil, and many large Roman villas were situated there. Historical research has stated until now that 2000 of the 20,000 population were killed , though the city was then forgotten until the 18th century when excavation work haphazardly began . Titter ye not (sorry about that).

Meticulous digging on the site has continued surprisingly slowly for centuries, and this programme shows the latest research , presented as a two-part special for the Secrets of the Dead season. Professor Haraldur Sigurdsson is a world authority on volcanology. and has spent many years examining the layers of rock that cover the area, as well as the stages of the eruption that led to the engulfing of the city by Mount Vesuvius.

Parts of the site still remain undiscovered, and so far the ash 'moulds' of about 1000 ancient

people have been recorded within the city, though many more died outside. The volcanic ash was thought to have forever preserved the shapes of many of the inhabitants long after most of their actual remains disappeared, but as the documentary shows, this is where the aforementioned 'riddle' appears.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the cause of the deaths was fairly indisputable. Think again though, for this new programme examines the processes and conclusions of 20 years of research , and has asserted that the 'burying· of the people was not quite as straightforward as we might believe. On the basis that the 'bodies' show no sign of injury that could be caused by falling stone or molten lava, the programme presents a 'radical ' new notion, but at the moment this theory seems t o be under wraps. it is enigmatically referred to as a "rare volcanic event " that apparently ki lled all of Pompei i's citizens at exactly the same moment. No doubt the forensic experts will be out in force, but it seems they might have one hell of an uphill struggle convincing us of its results. Watch and learn, or nit-pick mercilessly, as the case may be.

Jonathan Rolfe

Wedne~day, January~ 31,.200

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Eventhorizon: Film

The essential guide to what's on in Norwich over the coming fortnight

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FI~SR= Eilm Cam us Film Billy Elllot

Thursday February 2· 8.30pm Set at the end of the Great M iners Strike of '84, with an army occupying the ir village, and the community beginning to fracture . Billy goes against the wishes of his father and his brothers and takes up dancing lessons.

The film focuses on his relationship wit h his dance instructor, and the ...Ji(n pact of the strike on the comm unit y.

The Wonder Boys

Friday February 3 · 8.30pm In th is comedy drama, Michael Douglas is a University literary professor who can't follow up on his previous best seller. He's having a bit of a bad day when his wife leaves him , his girlfriend announces that she is pregnant . and her husbands bl ind dog almost ki lls him. As the story unfolds we are drawn deeper and deeper into Douglas problems.

Essential Film: Cast Away This is the fi lm that made Julia Roberts a Hollywood star. She plays Vivian a prost it ute with a heart of gold who befriends busi nessman Richard Gere.

As t hey spend more t ime together romance slow ly evolves. this is a heart· warming fi lm that you can't help but love. The screening wi ll precede the Valenti ne's Disco at the LCR.

City Film Beautiful Creatures

Another Briti sh Gangster fi lm, where some women do gansta type things and it all gets a bit nasty . Alright if you like that type of th ing I suppose .

Tuesday February 6 · 8.30pm Jake (Belushi} and Elwood (Aykroyd} are the former front men of a broken ._down blues band which disbanded after Jake was arrested . Upon his re lease. he discovers that his boyhood orphanage home is about to be c losed down for non-payment of taxes. Jake and Elwood then set off on a fundraising ex hi bit ion to save the orphanage. However their blatant disregard for the law leads to one of the most expensive car chases in history . A classic film wit h cameos from Aretha Franklin, Cab Gal loway and James Brown .

Hollow Man

What Lies Beneath

Friday February 9 · 8 .30pm Harrison Ford is a research sc ientist who lives in a lakeside mansion with his wife (Pfeiffer} . She begins to see strange images and st art s heari ng th ings, and before Y<?U know it all types of supernatural things are happening and it all gets a bit scary . An interest ing fact is that director Robert Zemeckis made th is fil m when he got bored half way through making Cast Away , he'd probably seen enough of Tom Hanks.

Pretty Woman

Tuesday February 13· 8 .30pm

UCI Cinema City ·Wednesday January 31 at 5.45, Thursday February 1 at 2.30 and 8.15 102 Dalmatians

Those adorable dogs are back, pl us an extra one t hrown in for good measure.

Cruella is back and has a new vision . but it s ok, because its all in t he name of fashion.

Showing at:

UCI Ster Century

UC I Ster Century

Dinosaur

Billy Elllot

This is a heart warming ta le about a wee nort hern lad who loves to dance, much to the dismay of me family. Yet more proof that we British can make good films when we want to .

Showing

at:

Family Man

Black and White

Showing at:

This is one for the thinkers, looking at rac ial polit ics on modern New Yo rk, with some star cameos from Robert Downey Jr and Mike Tyson .

UC I

Cinema City . Wednesday January 31 at 8 .15, Thursday February 1 at 5.45

The Golden Bowl

Set in Europe in 1903, we follow the tale of Prince Amerigo and Charlotte (Uma Thurman } who get themselves caught up in a compl icated love quartet

Bounce

Showing at:

Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow star in this love story about two strangers who meet by chance and fal l hopelessly in love · but was the meeting really by chance?

UCI

UCI Ster Century Cast Away

Tom Hanks, a Fed Ex press delivery man, get s washed up on a desert island and nedds to use his primal instincts to survive. Only go and see this if you're a fan of Mr. Hanks, as for the most part it 's two and a half hours of watching him alone .

Showing at:

UCI Ster Century

Goldeneye

Continuing their Bond season • Ster Century are showing the first of Pierce Brosnan's outings as 007 . Th is has got all the usual women, fights, chases and gadgets. So sit back and enjoy, them go out drink Martini and pretend to be a secret agent .

A war documentuary . wh ich looks at the British efforts in 1938 to evacuate thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Germany by train to the safety of Britain .

Showing at:

Showing at:

Ster Century

Cinema City · Saturday February 10 at 2.30, Sunday February 11 at 5 .00, Wednesday February 14 at 2.30

The Grlnch

it may be Febuary, but if you already need another hit of the festive spirit, you can st ill catch Jim Carrey 's Christmas flick . Carrey plays the green furry monster who wants to steal Christmas.

Showing at:

Charlle's Angels

One of t he biggest films of last is sti ll about , the general idea is three gorgeous girls. in tight clothes. kick ing arse. Nice.

Showing at:

Ster Century Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

This breatht aking marti al art s epi c brings the t raditional kung fu fi lm bang up to date. Part romantic tale with

Katherlne Everftt

Ster Century

Do you ever wonder 'What if I made the other choice? ' Well this film does. and than it tells us, interesting.

Showing at:

Personally speaking I think Tom Hanks is one of the best actors in the world and I always look forwa rd to his latest film. lt all starts off when Chuck Norland (Tom} leaves his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt} to go on a routine business trip wit h the fated words "I'll be right back". Then it all goes wrong . In a chair gripping and breath hol di ng scene the plane malfunctions and crashes. Chuck is washed up on a deserted island and is there for the next four years. He has to use every bit of resource, cunning and mental wil l to stay alive. The story of his survival on the island is enthralling; you don't often get a film where a lack of dialogue goes unnoticed. Of course there is some dialogue (Hank creates an imaginary friend!} No one has been near to rescuing him in four years although he has seen the light of a ship in the distance at the same time each year. He builds a makeshift raft and sets out to sea, determined not to die on t he island .

He is finally rescued and when he gets back he real ises how much life has changed and moved on. including the love of his life, Kelly . Castaway is bri lliant and is another one guaranteed to have you both laughing out loud and sobbing quietly into your hankie. Remember to look out for Wilson!

Disney film about dinosaurs. kind of like the ones in Ju rassic Park, but on Prozac .

UC I

Showing at:

Thursday February 8 · 8 .30pm In this remake of 'The Invisible Man' a doctor experiments on himself and thus becomes invisible , as the plot unfolds the mad inv isible professor di scovers his ex is having a secret affai r, and things begin to tense up for an all action finale.

Showing at:

Showing at:

Showing at: Blues Brothers

Jackie Chan style fight sequences. and Matrix like effects, a must see fi lm.

UC I Ster Century Hlmalaya

Set against the backdrop of the Himalayas, the people of a remote village must make the dangerous trek across the mountains if they want to survive.

Into the Arms of Strangers

Les Destlnees Sentlmentales

This French cost ume Drama is set at the turn of the century . lt is a romantic tale which spans decades, and is based on a novel by Jacques Chardonne.

Showing at:

Cinema City · Friday February 2 at 7.45, Saturday February 3 at 5.30, Sunday February 4 at 5.00, Monday February 5 at 7 .45, Tuesday February 6 at 5 .30, Wednesday February 7 at 2.00 and 5.30, Thursday February 8 at 2 .00 and 7.45

school? Well, probably nothing like the little vampire in th is fil m, but you never know .

Showing at:

UCI Ster Century Lost Souls

Winona Ryder stars in this supernatural thriller, where with the help of a priest she must try and stop a demonic plot that woul d let the devil walk the earth in human form.

Showing at:

UCI The Man who Cried

Johnny Depp and Christi na Ricci star in this World Way Two tragic love story, where a Jewish girl (played by Ricci} joins an opera company to raise money to find her father, and is att racted to a gypsy horseman (Depp) when the Germans arrive and interrupt their burgeonning affair.

Showing at:

Showing at:

Little Vampire

Cinema City · Wednesday January 31 at 2.30

Did you ever wonder what t he gang from The Lost Boys were like in primary

Cinema City · Friday Febru ary 2at 5. 45, Saturday February 3 at 8.45, Monday February 5 at 5.45, Tuesday February 6

Use our searchable listings database at >Wedn.es~.~y, Janua~y 31, 290~

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Eventhorizon: Film/Clubs

5UK Film Chart 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Cast Away Vertical Limit Meet the Parents Unbreakable Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 102 Dalmations Bounce The Grinch Sexy Beast Pokemon: The Movie 2000

at 2.30 and 8.45, Wednesday February 7 at 8 .45, Thursday February 8 at 5.45 Meet the Parents This film dwells on most peoples worst nightmare. Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) finally decides to propose to girlfriend Pam, but before he does he wants her fathers permission. When he meets her father (DeNiro) he finds he is an overprotective ex-CIA agent, and whatever Greg tries to do seems to go wrong.

Showing at: UC I Ster Century Pay lt Forward When a schoolteacher (Kevin Spacey) challenges his class to do something that will change the world, a young boy comes up with a simply idea. Where acts of kindness are paid forward to strangers rather than back to the giver.

Showing at: UCI Pokemon the Movie 2000 I'm sure you know what this is, it 's the one about strange young ch ildren wondering about trying to catch little monster , probably to go in some sort of big zoo.

Showing at: UCI Sexy Beast From the guy who made the Guinness ad with the horses, this is a British gangster film, which is up there with Lock, Stock. Ray Winstone is a retired criminal living in Spain, when a sadistic psycho arrives on his doorstep to try and lure him back of one more job.

Showing at: UCI Cinema City- Friday February 9 at 8.15, Saturday February 10 at 5.45, Sunday February 11 at 7.30, Monday February 12 5.45, Tuesday February 13 at 2.30 and 8.15, Wednesday February 14 at 8.15 Stuart Uttle This is a film about a family who adopt a talking mouse, so you can leave reality outside sit back and enjoy .

Showing at: St er Century Towns and Cities From the East Anglian Film Archive, we see how town have changed and developed over the last 100 years, with footage of Norwich!

Showing at: Cinema City - Monday February 5 at

announces war on the drug world.

However he find his whole world is threatened when he finds out the enemy is part of his family . This is a stylish film with interwoven story lines, from acclaimed director Steven Soderberg ( Erin Brockovich).

Showing at: UCI Ster Century Unbreakable Bruce Willis and Samual L Jackson team up wit h director M . Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense). David Dunn (Willis) is t he sole survivor of a train crash, but how did he survive?

Brittle boned Elijah Price (Jackson) may have an answer.

Showing at: UCI Ster Century Vertical Umlt This is a high action, high adrenalin film where Chris O'Donnell is a retired climber who is forced to climb again when his sister gets trapped in an avalanche on K2 (sound familiar, Cliffhanger anyone?) Anyway the climbers set out and high action and big stunts ensue.

Showing at: UCI Ster Century Women on Top Penelope Cruz is lsabella, a talented chef who feels resented by her husband, and when he cheats on her she sets off to restart her life. But is it really what she wants?

Showing at: UCI Cinema City - Friday February 9 at 5.45, Saturday February 10 at 8.15, Monday February 12 at 8.15, Tuesday February 13 at 5.45, Wednesday February 14 at 5.45

commercial pop, and irritating people, if not avoid like the plague.

up some big beats and uplifting house for you listening pleasure.

Reverb: January 31/ February 7 Po Na Na Tonight the souk bar gives us funk, soul and big cushions, what more could you want on a night out. £1 after 9pm

Friday

DJ Jam: January 31/ February 7 Hys Come and shake you bon bon on the glass dance floor, any try your luck with the ladies, or men, or both .

WeRK: January 31/ February 7 Manhattans DJ Shaun Johnson gives you his selection of bangin ' choons for the week, respect.

Thursday Gasworkz: February 1/ 8 Kafe Da The Russian bar acts as great pre-club warm up to Time, with funky, uplifting house, plus you get a free vodka with every drink between 8 and 9pm.

Spank: February 1/8 Time If you looking for a spanking good time, (like the puns) head to Riverside for dance music minus the cheese. £1 b4 11pm (NUS) 70's night: February 1/ 8 Hys Its time to don you flares and nylon shirts and head up those tiny stairs to the magical world of Hys 70's night.

Than you can boogie the night away without a care of the world to Abba and Aretha . £2 (NUS) Value for Money: February 1/ 8 Liquid Thankfully Vanessa Feltz is nowhere in sight , so you can stop hiding behind the lava lamps and spend your time getting merry and dancing silly. Then when you wake up in the morning just keep tell ing yourse lf it was all just a bad dream. £2 b4 11pm, £3 after (NUS)

The Yards An ex-con takes a job with his well connected Uncle (James Caan), but find himself going down a road of sabotage and murder. Also stars Mark Wahlberg, Joaqui n Phoenix, and Charlize Theron.

Showing at: Cinema City - Saturday February 3 at 2.30, Sunday February 4 at 8.30

The LCR disco: February 1/ 8 UEA it's close, cheap, and you can laugh at your mate trying to pull the girl his been following for the past month.

What more could you possibly want, than to come back again next week. £3/£3.50 on the door

Clubs

Charty Handbaggy: February 1/ 8 The Loft

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comeanddoyour

1.00

Wednesday

Toy Story .

Buu and Woody are back on the big screen, in their original fi lm. I don't really need to tell you about it, sti ll worth seeing again at the cinema.

Showing at: Ster Century

SuperFiy: January 31/ February 7 Moj os With a mix of Funk , R'n 'B, and Hip Hop you'll be hard pressed to find better music in Norwich, so go and ch ill to funky beats. £3

Traffic Michael Douglas is a judge who is appointed drugs czar of the USA and

Flockln' Sheep: January 31/ February 7 Ikon This is great if you li ke, annoying

thing around your handbag, at this popular gay night , in the city . If you are wondering just where it is look out for the great big zebra building .

DJ Twister: February 1/ 8 Joe Alan 's The little bar down Prince of Wales gives

The Loft Funky Jau , hip hop, Iatin, soul music , and not a hint of westlife, an excellent night open to all SO's Night: February 2 The Waterfront Time to re-live the decade that gave us Thacher, Bros, and New Romantics, Urgghhhh ..... £4/3

Elegance: February 2/ 9 Mojos Tonight this little underground goldmine gives us smooth R'n'B grooves to dance the night away to, and not a hint of 'Mister lover lover' Shabba Ranks anywhere.

Rumble: February 9 The Waterfront With Mickey Finn. Get ready for a night of pure drum ·n· bass \--£4/3

lt 's the Business: February 2/ 9 Liquid And who are we to argue with a title like that; so go and enjoy, but don't touch the lava lamps, they can get dangerously hot . £2 b4 11pm, £3 after

·Saturday Meltdown: Feburary 3/ 10 TheW aterfront In the dungeon bit, its all indiejrock and people wandering about murmering. On the Feb 3 'In The Bag ' are playing in another room, and on Feb 10 Rawkus are· doing their nuskate thing (whatever that is). £3 (NUS)

Hytlmes: February 2/ 9 Hys DJ Rob Mac is back on the decks (I think he used to run a mobile disco, and did my sisters 12th birthday party , but he's obviously hit the big time now.) £3

Satisfaction: February 3/ 10 Hys Hys offering Saturday night satisfaction, sounds suspect to me.

One piece of advice if you a bloke wit~ bloke friends, and your all trying to get in , go early cos the bouncers don't like lots of men. £4 b4 11pm, £5 after

Hot: February 2/9 Ikon Hot, just w hat you need on a frosty winters night, so head down to and watch all the kiddies with their fake ID's trying to get in. £4 Parkslde: February 2/ 9 Po Na Na The place don 't change but on fridays Po Na Na's traets us to lovely garage tunes.

Top 50 Disco: February 3 LCR Expect disco, expect drunkenness, expect people you remember but you

Marvel: February 2/ 9

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001 ~

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Wel l what can I tell you about th is place that you haven't heard before? If I remember correctly Monday night equals cool funky hip hop type stuff.

Now That 's what I call t he 90 's: February 1 0 LCR Just when you thought you'd manage to lose. songs like No Limit and Rhythm Is A Dancer, its all back, but this time as a club theme n1ght. Hooray!! £3.50

Tuesday

Sunday Sunday Service: February 4/ 11 Manhattans What a marvellous choice Norwich gives us of a Sunday night. However, if this ain't your type of thing why not try a night in with a bottle of Tequila.

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Monday Flockin' Sheep: February 5/ 12 Ikon Those damn sheep are back, their like lurgy as soon as you think you have lost then they jump back in your face at unfortunate moments.

You know the drill and remember to be nice to the big burly bouncers. £2 b4 11pm Funky Carwash Jam: February 5/12 Li quid ,.;..., Disco is back, so it's a night of coo l tunes, good atmosphere, and stupidly priced drinks between 9-10pm Underground Bands: February 5/ 12 Mojos A night of Lo-fi indie music, surrounded by like minded people. just what you need to start your week.

Play: February 5/ 12 Po Na Na

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Student Night: February 6/ 13 Liquid This is pretty much your normal student night, NUS equals entry to a fun filled clubbing frenzy £1 b4 11pm Slinky: February 5/ 12 Hys Expect the usual Hys vibe and 16 year old children getting drunk. =Could you rea lly ask for anyth ing more, well apart from people your own age and good music?

Salsa: February 5/ 12 Po Na Na You either get the chance to learn some sexy Latin dance, or you can watch some poor sod protest ing that he's half Spanish and that its in his blood.

Lessons begin at 7pm and last until 9pm. £3 (NUS) Life: February 5/ 12 Time Come and get drunk , with cheap drin ks all night , an d a mix of music to dance the night away.

Plus you can play a great game with you friends who had to queue the longest. £1 (NUS) Funk Friction: February 5/ 12 Owens Cafe Bar Ok you got us Owens is a cafe/bar and not a club, but who cares its not like you really care you can still go out and get pissed.

Gigs

Essential gig:

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NM E Carllng To ur: Wednesday January 31 LCR - 7.30pm Multi band night with JJ72, Amen (the bad-ass. scary one), Alfie and Starsailor. All these bands are up-andcoming so you could be paying three times as much to see them at Wembley in the future. £9.50 adv . ( NUS)

.

BaUet

Th e era of the 1980's is back on the scene and we are currently experiencing a major return. The dodgy fashion is on the catwalk, the music is in our Retro nights and the punks are back on the streets. What better way to celebrate this than with one of the most popular New Romantic bands of the last millennium?

Ex -Spandau Ballet are now Without Gary Kemp (our loveable bad-guy Steve Owen from East Enders) and have moved with the times. They sound different and they look different but they are sti ll jUSt as good. Tony Hadley , Steve Norman and Gary Keeble are the rema111ing trio and are successful ly managing to keep the bad alive following a court case some years ago which hit them hard. Get back to your mnocent childhood days (yeah right) tonight and make sure you get w1th the vibe and you have your '80's punk or Glam gear on. Sequinned T-shirts here we come.

Katherlne Everltt

Neil Stacey: Thursday February 1 Norwich Arts Centre- 8pm Hot club/jazz night . £6 (N US) My Vitriol: Saturday February 3 Norwich Arts Centre - 8.30pm Alternative rock night. Grunge and rock sounds of Nirvana and My Bloody Valentine are the original My Vitriol. £6 adv.

The Waterboys: Sunday February 4 LCR- 7.30pm A 'raggle taggle ' folk rock band. £13 adv. (NUS) Ex-Spandau Ballet: Tuesday February

6 LCR - 7.30pm This old (wel l for us) New Roma ntic band have moved with the times, they are less one member and have changed their sound for the new mi llennium. Check it out in our very own LCR. £12 adv. (NUS) Celtarabla: Saturday February 10 Norwich Arts Centre- 8.30pm East meets West and ancient meets modern to create an evening of high energy, world-fusion music.

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£6 (NUS) King Adora: Monday February 12 Norwich Arts Centre- 8.30pm

King Adora give rock and roll a much needed shot in the arm. Comparisons to early Manics are unavoidable ...

Luckily, the music's just as bracing.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2001

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Eventhorizon: Gigs/Theatre/Mise ~::;:::o::::::':::::::::::::::-::~23~

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Contributors wa

11

If you would like to be part of the country's most successful student newspaper then we want you.

Writing for Concrete offers you invaluable experience in the media, as well as something rather impressive to put on your CV. So, if you want to write, photograph, draw or proof read as well as possibly get onto the editorial team then there's no time like the present.

Meetings take place every Monday at 1pm in Room 1.33 in Union House "Savour the breathless, si utty, glitterstained trash of these sticky-fingered stars-in-waiting."- NME £6 adv.

boys in blue, how .will we cope without them? £3.50-£18

Theatre Mise Mack and Mabel: Monday January 29 Saturday February 3 Theatre Royal- 7.30pm and a matinee on Sat 3 at 2.30pm A wonderfully moving musical, ce lebrating the life and work of Mack Sennet, the great Hollywood comic director of silent films. Performed by the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society . Guaranteed to be a blast . £3-£13.50 The VIllage without a Name: Saturday February 3 and Saturday February 10 Norwich Puppet Theatre - 2.30pm Based on a traditional African story that unfolds with music , puppetry and mime to tell that tale of a village which has not heard the sound of happy children playing for many years, and the part the holy bird of happiness takes to resolve this situation. Make sure you bring your hot chocolate, this sounds like a nice bedtime tale. £3.75 (NUS) Richard Alston Dance Company: Tuesday February 6 - Wednesday February 7 Theatre Royal- 7.30pm and a matinee on Wed 7 at 2.30pm Richard Alston is a mature choreographer and has made successful dances for 30 years and he's back in Norwich with three brand new works. Here for two days only. £3-£14 The Kaos Volpone: Wednesday February 7 - Saturday February 10 Norwich Playhouse- 7.30pm "In this visually stunning new production, wildly ludicrous personalities romp their way through an outrageous cycle of abuse, lechery and avarice.

Combining shameless slapstick, wit and singing, Kaos opens wide a society driven by greed and lust that is all too familiar." Sounds interesting . £8 (NUS) The Blues Brothers: Monday February 12 - Saturday February 17 Theatre Royal - 7 .30pm and also at 6pm and 9pm on Fri 16 and Sat 17 The well known smash hit musical is back but it's the last one ever (ahhh) .

This is the final tour for those musical

Jeff Innocent; Russel Brand: Thursday February 1 Norwich Arts Centre - 8.30pm Stand up comedy from Jeff Innocent, a dapper East-End hard man . We hear tales of him growing up in the EastEnd in the 1960's. " Part history lesson, part sociology lecture, all funny ". £5 (NUS) Rich Hall: Saturday February 3 Norwich Playhouse- 8pm Very funny stand up comedy (as most stand up comedy is). Otis has been married six times to women all called Brenda, and has now been released from the Tennessee jail where he penned heartfelt songs about love and alcoholism. £8 (NUS) eXperience: Wednesday February 7 The Waterfront Ever wondered what to do in the wasteland that is a Wednesday night in Norwich?

Hang out with the 15 year olds at Mojo's? Nah! You're a grown up now ... so why not partake in one of the most eclectic collections of UEA and NSAD photography? And if all that sounds a bit dull and arty then downstairs plays host to an incredibly wide range of musical talent, from funk and R&B to guitar and hip hop.

Definitely worth it for something new .

Drink offer and prize draw. The exhibition lasts until 10.30 and the gig until

lam .

For feature see page 6. £2.50 (UEA box office) / £3.50 (door) ·Chrlstopher Wllson on the French lute: Thursday February 8 Norwich Arts Centre - 8pm 1630's Christopher Wilson, one of the world's greatest renaissance lutenists, is now turning his attention to the refined world of the early French baroque.

Your chance to be among the first to hear this exquisite new repertoire. £6.50 (NUS) Norwich Philharmonic Society presents Prlya Mltchell: Saturday February 10 St . Andrew's Hall- 7.30pm

The first concert of the New Year has a romantic theme. Violinist Priya plays Rossini , Sibelius, Bruch and Tchaikowsky for an evening of classical music entertainment. £27-£38 Juan Martin - Flamenco: Friday February 9 Norwich Arts Centre- 8pm An evening of vibrant rhythm and melody with the man colloquially known as " Dr. Flamenco". £8 (NUS)

irect

ABC Taxis All Star Taxis Beeline Taxis Bettacar Taxis Five Star Taxis Loyal Taxis Cinema City Fat Pauly's Liquid Maddermarket Mojo's Playhouse Po Na Na's Ster Century Theatre Royal The Loft The Waterfront Time UCI UEA Union Ents

Ustings were written and compiled by Katherine Everitt and

u

Vet

nef'd pubiicfty for then ge-t tn touch by phone • 0100

250558 ·through our pigeonhole or c-mait on

Cieran Bamard.

All details were conect at the time of going to press.

01603 666333 01603 744444 01603 767676 01603 747474 01603 455555 01603 619619 01603 62204 7 01603 441044 01603 611113 01603 620917 01603 622533 .._ 01603 766466 01603 619961 01603 221900 01603 630000 01603 623559 01603 632717 0870 6078463 0870 0102030 01603 508050

;u.concret~uea.ac.uk ~nd

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Use our searchable listings database at

www.concrete-on Ii ne.co. u k

Voice Workshop: Saturday February 10 Norwich Arts Centre - 10am12.30pm Samia Malik returns again teaching classical and popular vocal melodies in another voice workshop.

Open to all ages and abilities. £5 (NUS) The Fujlta Trio: Monday February

12 Lecture Theatre, John lnnes Centre 7.30pm Arisa, Hoooka and Megumi Fujita, playing the violin, cello and piano respectively, perform pieces from Bridge, Debussy and Shostakovich . £3 (NUS) TVP Poets: Tuesday February 13 Norwich Arts Centre - 8pm Pl atform for local & national poets, with open readings, and contemporary film and music .

Plus the lovely Arts Centre bar to he Ip the muse on its way.

To get involved contact Jason on (01603) 789918. £2.50 (NUS)

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Tuesday ights Drink first at Squares, then "'explode into Time NightclubJ .

1~0- pint~ Smiroff Ice, Bacardi Breezers, and Miller Genuin!!

PLUS! free sidekick designer shooter with every pint Choose from A .

vanilla - apple - cranberry - grap~fruit

Outrageous/

Girls grab a real man this Valentine's Day! The Chippendales Jive

. and in the b.Mf!1 Fun •.···• starts at 8RJ!I on . ~· Wedn th G-string waiters dra · st - male erotic dancers one cocktail get the next for 25p! attmission witfi this adve~

Set your loved one's heart a· ftutler with a