University of South Carolina Libraries
'Amadeus' excels v not superior enougl By Patrick Jean There has been a lot of hoopla lately about "Amadeus." The film won four Golden Globe awards, including best picture. It has received 11 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best actor and best director. The question is, why all the ft c c*) 44 A ?v* " titUiln o Til m IC f(*r t Q n IV um . niuauvu^, vtnuv. a guuu iiiiu, u vvnuim; not a great one. The film, based on the acclaimed Broadway play, is based on the short life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one o," the greatest composers of all time. Mozart, played by Thomas Hulce, is by no means a likable person. His favorite hobbies include drinking, blurting vulgarities and passing wind. He's arrogant and has an obnoxious laugh, something like a hyena's. SALIKRI, PLAYED by F. Murray Abraham, is the chief court composer to a duke, played hilariously by Jeffrey Jones. Word of Mozart's achievements have reached the duke, and he wishes to invite the young composer to his country. Salieri, privately irked that he hasn't achieved the same success, plans to compose a welcome march for Mozart. ivio/un ciumsny greets me uukc, listens 10 me march and moves to the piano. He then begins to play the march, having already memorized it. He revises the march as he goes along, calling it "simple." Sumter-based bant By Trixie Wacken ly launched int The Reluctam Debutantes Your," "Hide helped The Beat celebrate its first "Friends and Eve anniversary Thursday night as Col- ching It Rain." T umbia's most progressive music appearance at Tlv club. be their most The Sumter-based band played airplay on VVIJS two aggressive sets of 22 original batch of new sonj Inntn n rrnwH f hnt ippmpH The Dphiilanlt' to be familiar with the Debs' brand their sound a* of new-wave music. Lead singer guitar," fused a and songwriter Dwain Gambrell sound with an a enjoyed the enthusiasm of the bass and drum sc crowd, which joined in to sing-and successful 1960s dance to five of the band's last The band cites Th songs. The Beatles at Gambrell was joined on stage by Underground as bassist Greg Hallidy, lead guitarist fluences. Howev Sean Harrington and drummer Halliday is quid Paul Kiger. ''We actual The Debutantes' music began everything." with "2 Promises" and immediate- "The Police, K7 Park Place Apts. ? i. 2 & 3 BR Apis _ -JfT? : j at $2t>0 oo [^V-7 1035 Comanchee Trail N?j:'j !u>t of I Hw\ *76 lonvrncntk l.Kjini in Jntn ^i;-1 - vfiir* Jhf 1 Hi*>p l)ltiif Mon Fr. 0 00 > 30 Sjt "\ 10 00 4 00 Sun I 00 5 00 Pi R I V ER B E N D SpaC^ 1|| Swimmin NO msr ? m W I f 1-2-3 Bedroom Apartmeni / ALL NEWLY DECORATE ? Beautiful Swimming Pool Clubhoust * Ba?kotfeaH Con ^at'? K ^ Extra Convenient Laundry Facil mr 504 S. BELTLINE (2 Blocks Off Roi 1W iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii vith plot, but i for nomination Mo/art's life is presented from Salieri's point of ?- - - ^ ? .7iiin.ii w?i111nt" says, to piease uiou. Mozart's arrival, in his eyes, is a cruel joke from Ciod. Mo/art's success continues, while Salieri remains unknown. He pledges to work against God and Mo/.art, whom he refers to as "the creature." SALIERI TELLS all this from a hospital, where he remains haunted by Mo/art years later. Mozart's music has lived on and gained popularity. Salieri's music lias been forgotten. "I am the champion of mediocrity," he says. The best thing about the film is its superb costumes and music. Most of the movie's Oscar nominations are for its music and design. Another great thing about the film is the performance of Abraham as Salieri. He fits into his character like a second skin. His eyes, voice and actions are perfect. Abraham is all but a shoo-in for the best actor Oscar. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR a film that's 2 hours and 35 minutes long, "Amadeus" simply doesn't hold the interest throughout its length. Overall, "Amadeus" is worth seeing, but it's not the best film of the year. Abraham deserves his Oscar, and the movie deserves many technical honors, but it doesn't deserve the best picture Oscar. Ii barely deserves its nomination. Like Salieri, it's good, not great. ! shows nrnmise o "Colour ()l and most other influential bands and Seek," ol the 1980s are on the Rcluetant nts" and "Wat- Debutantes' playlist. "Most every he band's fourth band has some unique quality, and e Beat proved to ^c iust try to absorb as mueh of successful, with everything as we can," said iC and a fresh Halliday. is. s, who describe I he band was formed in ? "psychedelic l ebruary of 1984. "At first we did powerful guitar not know exactly what type of quallv enigmatic music we wanted to play, we were xtion to form a just looking for something that we -type intensity. thought sounded good. Dwain e Rolling Stones, comes to practice with some amazid The Velvet ing riffs, and we just jam away untheir main in- til the riffs become tight songs." or, bass player Halliday said. k to point out, The Debutantes are looking for 1 y listen to more li\e appearances in March in conjunction with the release of an The Pretenders a*-yet untitled seven-song cassette. : 11! i I f 200 '65 N. EDEN DR. gp? ius 1. 2, and 3 bedroom Apartments IISIII|p :ross from Lakeside Golf Course n Pnnl RacWothall P.t I aiinHrw Farilitw m?r M > t-UUI.VOJ . UW..I.; I T^?r uiet and Relaxing Atmosphere" J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! J?r UNTIL ^ " " MARCH 1, pi b 1985!!! " ^BAYOU m lities ilfiM| ' sewood Dr.) 782-7948 (lit iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii K'U. I Mill i3HK39^1*^HH&inWVI hHHHB Classic music from black artists dating back to the days of I Harlem Nog Cast brings memories By Kern Carter A spotlight, flanked left on the stage, shines on a ragtime pianist dressed in formal black and white. Suddenly, the spotlight bursts and six rhythmic performers, dancing and singing in salute to the century's great jazz and blues artists, emerge as the stage is set for "Harlem Nocturne: A Salute To Black Performers From the Cotton Club to Broadway." More than 5(K) people gathered at Booker T. Washington Auditorium Sunday at 7 p.m. for the second in a series of events sponsored by the Association of Afro-American Students for Black Historv Month observance. ?( e AAT/TXT UVJ\I1N Let Th Kampfon&ar The alternative to dorm living REE MICROWAVE QVE* with on? years lease 'I.milled Supply Only 1 Ask About Uu ] J Super Summer Spe< rSgrJ VA All Adult ||?>Vy 1/ 2, 3 Bedroom A] / / including: dishwasher, garb MfW / disposal, range, refrigerat ' I /V s\ Now taking Deposits fc June occupancy. 4427 Blosson ' Ph. 782iifciiiiiiiiAifciifciifciiljhM I ' I r I I 1 l^i '*' T I ' ' ' 'i'l'ifai i^i. 'Ji'i i..t 111 liliUtMiilllillliillllM llJiVl wttwBm h KP K-'.vJ; n Harlem's Cotton Club was served up in "Harlem iturne I of black music greaH An Atlanta-based theatrical company inH||*ff as well as entertained the audience with uml ragtime's early beginnings to songs from'MM 25-year history. Performers such as Scoit'H Duke Ellington, Lena Home, Ethel Wai'crfv.M Crnnl/tin r\inM? D C ! ?? H ?1_ ! _? '? i taiiiMiu, L/iaua ivuss, OlilUKCy Blake and Ella Fitzgerald were featured. from Billie Holliday to Jennifer HoiidH ,:|j| allusively on stage. , The old Negro spiritual, "Swing Chariot," struck a familiar chord for mosHISil audience, as did "Chances Are," Brown" and "Satin Doll." plir-. 'h*!.. fl.i ?, IP 4,^"0 FOB cz fir a niDPhB g rivewB As a servifctB Community!!^ newspaper-i weekly apartH HI Hi section is tdx.H staff and facB of the off-oa*sH r I 111 opportunities? :ial. gG usc t)VisJB finding" saw it in kss^i&l age ' M or To advertise? Apart mfeH )r , .H n St '} ELIZABFflB 6626 1,,777/-4gB ll Tuil U+A ||=||?||p