The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 21, 1994, Page 5, Image 5
A vampire mc
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STEPHEN BROWN Staff Writer
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
(out ot tour stars)
Lestat and Louis, the vampires immortalized in Anne
Rice's "Vampire Chronicles," are holding a blood drive,
and you are invited.
You won't need a crucifix. Or garlic. Or even a stake.
Just bring your desire for thrills and excitement You're
about to experience the ultimate revisionist vampire tale.
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bining a fascinating cast of characters with glamorous
visuals and a twisted brand of dark humor. It is a cunning
mixture of theatrical gusto and cinematic horror.
Neil Jordan, director of "The Crying Game" and "A
Company of Wolves," orchestrates this complex story by
fueling the actors with a panache for their whimsical
characters.
Tom Cruise ("Born on the Fourth of July" and "Rain
Man") injects his character Lestat with a witty edge in
his observations about the world and through a diabolical
penchant for getting what he wants at the expense
of others. Cruise, with long blonde hair, is often seen in
tight close-ups and conveys volumes with his eyes alone.
Cruise draws upon a charm that allowed his 'Top Gun"
character to convince his flight instructor to lose her loving
feeling. This time around he portrays a character
who seduces and destroys his prey, taking more than
just their soul from them. As he kills indiscriminately,
Cruise's Lestat is completely in command of his world.
There is certainly some similarity between the cocky hot
shot Cruise has played so often and the coy prince of
darkness he creates in Lestat.
Brad Pitt ("Thelma and Louise" and "Kalifornia")
plays Louis, who narrates the story about his courtship
by dark forces and his life as a vampire. Pitt demonstrates
his range as an actor as he explores the dark side
of human nature. "Forgive me if I have a lingering respect
for life," Louis tells Lestat. The viewer can relate
to Pitfs reading of the character because Louis is as attracted
and repelled by the vampire lifestyle as the viewer
will come to be.
A atnnHmit rwfnrmflnce bv newcomer Kirsten Dun
st as the little girl Claudia takes focus away from both
the male leads. Her appearance as a living doll, clad in
bows and elegant dresses, is a sharp contrast to her actions
as a fierce bloodsucking killer. Dunst conveys Claudia's
innocence as well as her disarming manipulation
tactics. Claudia's rage is a focal point for the story's conflict.
The stoiy, as Louis tells the interviewer (Christian
Slater of "True Romance"), begins in 18th century New
Orleans. Louis, a plantation owner devastated by the
death of his wife during childbirth, longs for death. And
he invites it. He wants a release from the pain of the living.
That release comes in the form of Lestat who arrives
to offer him a chance to live forever. When Lestat plunges
his fangs into Louis' neck, the grieving man says his
goodbye to the light and begins life as a vampire along
side Lestat.
The two immortals form a loving bond as they infil
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The Gamecock CAI)
>vie with bite fi
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trate the parties of high society in search of fresh blood. Louis
is wary of killing humans and often prefers to draw
blood from small animals. Lestat has a higher calling, '
however, to feast upon upper class ladies and gentlemen
of the aristocracy, filling crystal wine glasses with the
blood from their freshly gnawed veins.
The vampire population increases by one when Louis
bites the lonely waif Claudia, and Lestat transforms her
into a bloodsucker as well. A little girl who will remain
forever young, Claudia comes between the two men and
prompts the action that leads the characters on a 200year
adventure across Europe, in Paris and America.
The strange family central to the story (an odd variation
on the "My Two Dads" theme) is a clever device
through which to glimpse the inner workings of the vampire
saga. Claudia sleeps in a coffin with Louis and spends
Vior davs naintincr and nractirinp niano as Lestafs own
little prodigy. As she researches "her kind," she begins
to come to terms with her mission in the world. She finds
ways to place a rift between the two men in her life so
she can get rid of Lestat and live peacefully with Louis.
It is forbidden for one vampire to harm another, so Claudia
will leam the consequences of her actions.
When the central characters stumble across a Paris
theater troupe comprised solely of vampires, their unnatural
bond is put to a grueling test. Armand (Antonio
Banderas of "Philadelphia" and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me
Down!"), the oldest living vampire, and Santiago (Stephen
Rea of "The Crying Game"), a mysterious vampire actor,
take a liking to Louis. Armand admires Louis' way .
of connecting with the world of mortals.
As the central characters come to terms with how
they have behaved within the vampire community, they (
realize they will have to pay for their actions. Their dis- coveries
in Paris lead to a stunning showdown. I
Brimming with sexual undertones, "Interview" dan- !
gles perilously on the edge of your expectations. Deep
kisses, love crimes and daddy's little girl all have their
place in the spellbinding decadence. 1
Cruise's Lestat provides a good deal of dark humor }
as he savors the act of murder and attempts to keep his
new family together. As he wildly dances with a diseased j
corpse, he exclaims, "There's still life in the lady yet!" (
Later he scolds Claudia for killing in the house. And he <
observes of his companions, "We're one happy family." J
As the maestro of the macabre proceedings, Cruise seems j
to enjoy the acting stretch. ,
In addition, the music composed by George Fenton
("Dangerous Liaisons") and the cinematography by Phillipe
Rosselot ("A River Runs Through It") work in tandem to
produce a terror-filled spectacle which flows like a wellchoreographed
theatrical production.
"Interview with the Vampire" combines strong visual
and emotional elements to give the viewer a good time.
It is technically exceptional and well-paced; despite its
dark elements, it is still a beautiful film to behold.
So extend your wrist. And tilt your neck to the side.
A new vampire's in town, and he's taking names. Just
maybe you will be next to experience "Interview with
the Vampire."
For aborts
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survived
mtti
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Q-Day Deferred Payment Plan, you can take advantage
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est or principal will be required for 90 days. (Some resellers may require a deposit to bold mercbandi
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13-04, respectively. Computer system prices, loan amounts and sales taxes may vary. See your autbori
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Oleoran authorized Apple Campus Reseller or representative. ?1994 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights n
jOliNA! Monday, November 21,
Question the a
SOUNPMWiCi
BREGORY PEREZ Staff Writer
QUESTION THE ANSWERS The Mighty Mighty I
(out of four stars)
It takes a little while to get used to "Quest
The fourth record from The Mighty Migl
more danceable but less accessible release tha
label album, "Don't Know How To Party."
Ska purists have already disowned the Bo
jumped on to Mercmy Records in 1992. But fo:
washed masses, they've still got a good arsen
sound and fury that just needs a little less pr
tie more drunken wackiness.
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calling back to when the octet was bad in p]
Bosstones helped kick off the new wave of sk
with their Taang! album "Devil's Night Out" ii
gaggles of bands meshing punk, metal and si
up, tlying to isolate that raw, speedy breed o
Bosstones blare best.
The new record is a throwback to their se<
Noise and Other Disturbances." There's a mi
of mid-tempo off-beat ska grooves and horn-dr
last time around, as on "Pictures to Prove It
There's even a sweet, twinkly piano ditty ce
that sets a mellow party mood thafs new to
sive repertoire.
Itfd be a fine record if you'd never heard ai
records before. But what sets this one apart:
rhe Peppers t
5OUNP&0V1OE
SEN PILLOW Staff Writer j
DUT IN L.A. Red Hot Chili Peppers
kkk (out of four stars) |
Ti'nll nf porlv rlpmn t.rarks. livfi nerfor- 1
nances and previously unreleased materiil,
the Red Hot Chili Peppers expose their ,
rots in their latest compilation, "Out in LA"
The album is named after the group's
irst song, which came about after "we start- ,
id spewing out some funky jam straight
from our hearts," according to Flea. It is a
record that follows the Chili Peppers though
their maturation into one of today's most
unique bands, despite the fact that bassist
Flea and vocalist Anthony Keidis seem to
be the only mainstays in the band.
Much of the album showcases the Chili
Peppers'jazz and blues influences, intertwined
with their own version of funk and
Keidis' standard sexual references. The only
real weak aspect of the album is that some
of the songs, especially the raw, earlier tracks,
tend to sound the same
With 19 songs filling a running time just
an hour long, the album starts with a remix
of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" that
the Chili Peppers covered on their 1989 re
lease "Mother's MilK."
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8MB RAJ
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e of conducive to saving money. In fc
ays! you want and not worry about p
e or Apple Computer Loan and 90-D
ctly that gives you the power every si
USC Bookstore
Russell House
3r the Computer Desk
se while loan is being approved) Interest accruing during Ibis 90-day per,
1aI loan amount is $2,044.00; which results in a monthly payment obligat
zed Apple Campus Reseller or representative for current system prices, bat
s535%. For the month of November, 1994, the interest rate was 10.85% a
to 4 years, or until graduation. Deferment will change your monthly pay
tserved. Apple, the Apple bgo, Macintosh, Petforma and 'Thepower to bey
1994
Jbum
Bosstones
ion the Answers."
lty Bosstones is a
n their last major- ^
sstones since they 'jfl
r the rest of us un- <? > "* V
ial of bile-spewing >rJB
oduction and a litm-flavored
tunes, BAD IN PLAID: The
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a-core in America There's more polii
11985. Since then, shake a stick at. Aboul
ta started popping (f?r now the fourth til
f ska-core that the iTs Night Out," renair
What made the Be
:ond album, "More their edge, their abili
uch better helping make it convincing. S
iven melodies than hig with the devil, we;
" and "Stand Off." ing. Even their last gu
died "Toxic Toast" more convincing than
their mostly abra- The Bosstones art
the album's title soun
ny other Bosstones "Question the Ans
is-all attitude. Ooooh. Shivers.
lig up their ci
"Hollywood (Africa)" follows, featuring
ieidis' wide vocal range and accentuated
}y the incorporation of a trumpet and saxjphone.
It is an extended dance mix of the
original version that appeared on the Chili
Peppers' 1985 album "FVeaky Styley."
"If You Want Me To Stay" continues the
trend of songs with few vocals. Instead, Keidis
throws out random phrases that are often
repeated over and over: "Behind the
Sun" is another remix, this time spinning
oft the Uhili Peppers' lya/amum, ~ine uplift
Mofo Party Plan," that slows the album
down with a relaxed attitude and more focus
on rhythm.
The Chili Pepper^ live cover of Jimi Hendrix's
classic "Castles Made of Sand" is next
with Keidis husking up his voice to do a pretty
good job imitating Hendrix. Two more
live performances follow, "Special Secret
Song Inside" and F.U." that provide god examples
of the energy the Chili Peppers create
onstage.
The previously unreleased "Get Up and
Jump" follow, a demo version taken off of
the 1982 album "The Red Hot Chili Peppers,"
and back when the band was known
as Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic
Masters of Mayhem. The title track "Out
ida\f
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Mercury
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
tkal correctness here than Fugazi could
\ the nnlv licrht-hparted sone is a re-release
ne) of "Drunks and Children" from "Devled
"Dogs and Chaplains."
>sstones so mighty mighty in the past was
ty to write about absolutely nothing and
ame of their best stuff was all about dancaring
lots of plaid and doing a lot of drinkin
control song "Guns and the Young" was
"Hell of a Hat"
5 taking things a little too seriously. Even
ds a little pretentious.
rwers."
loset classics
in L.A." is next, followed by "Green Heaven,"
a political song in which Keidis' talks
about the wrongs of government and society
by focusing on issues like racism, deceit
and class discrimination.
"Police Helicopter" contrasts the serious
lyrics with Keidis' creative but almost comic
words ("Police helicopter shot from the
sky/Police helicopter lands in my eye"). It
is followed by "Nevermind" and "Sex Rap,"
two songs hurt by their similarity to one another.
"Blues for Meisteir slows the record down
from the fast, upbeat songs to focus more
on the Chili Peppers' blues side. It is followed
by 13 seconds of unintelligible lyrics
in "You Always Sing the Same," and 23 seconds
of funny lyrics in "Stranded" (Stranded
on a toilet bowl... to prove you're a man
you must wipe it with your hand").
"Flea Fly" and "What It Is" follow with
simple sounds, the former minus any instruments
and the latter made up of only
Keidis' voice and Flea's bass. The album
doses with a hilarious rendition of the Christr
mas classic "Deck the Halls," giving the
record a comic ending, but then again, who
* ever really associates seriousness with the
Red Hot Chili Peppers?
;edto
K*
:an still buy the computer
ns are down. The g
i Apple?.
d, will thereafter bear mterest
imate of sales tax in San Francisco. If the applicable sales tax is
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idemark of Apple Computer, Inc.