The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 14, 1995, Page 4, Image 4
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[PEOPLE PLA
Fourteen bai
Annie's for V
KERRY MITCHELL Staff Writer
A few weeks ago, I was in North
Hampton, Mass., thumbing through
a record bin at "A1 Bums," a local
indie record shop, when I came across
a wondrous thing. An Assfactor 4
7 inch.
The common Columbian may
have just passed right on by this
record, but as a fan of the Columbia
music scene, a sense of pride
swept over me as I inspected it.
Within the next hour or so of perusing
the shop, I came across Lay
Quiet Awhile's CD "Delicate Wire"
and the "Ska Gone South" compi
El
lation featuring Columbia s very
own the Fiascos. I even found the
brand new release from Toenut, a
band based in Atlanta and formed
by members of Columbia's now defunct
Spigot.
Basically, for the first time, I
found myself proud of going to USC
and being a part of the diverse and
talented music scene that Columnbia
has to offer.
Today and Saturday, Annie's
and New Clear Days are presenting
a mammoth two days of local
music with proceeds to benefit USCs
pride and joy, WUSC-FM.
Five dollars will get you in the
door tonight to experience the industrial
sounds of Tongue, the emo
tional melodies ofTarwater, the
mysteries of How She Spins and
the sonic-fury of IMP.
As though that isn't enough, Saturday's
lineup will be jam-packed
Svith 10 more of Columbia's finest.
| Jay Mayes of
Assfactor 4
Photo - Cathy Rimmer
CES WHATNOT] I
ids to invade ,
ftJSC benefit i
i ;
summer slam '95 I
where Annie's on Rosewood Dr.
when Friday (8p.m.)
and Saturday (1 p.m.)
with Friday: How She Spins
Tongue
Tarwater
IMP I
Saturday: Brujo Loco
Slow Foliage
Premonition
The Fiascos
Conway
Brat
In/Humanity .
Jebel
Assfactor 4
Lay Quiet Awhile _
how much $5
* I I
Starting at 2 p.m., you can witness I
the improv-jazz-fusion-experimental-rock
of Brujo Loco, followed by
the passionate dystopia of Slow Foliage,
the hardcore of Premonition,
the comic ska of the Fiascos, the brilliant
indie-pop of Conway, the raw |
and emotional fury of Brat, the insanity
of In/Humanity, the straight
forward power rock of Jebel, the frenzied
punk of Assfactor 4 and the |
melodic folk rock of Lay Quiet Awhile. _
I
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| Kappa Alpha Theta v
-?' congratulate the spri
Laura Daujte
Me&na DeCigc
Anne Mawfy
MaCia %anou
Limn Lazuson
J
Jessica Marti
Susan Mc9(ai
LizloicA
Qtorgia Wass
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juan
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Depp, Brando shin
LIGHTS REACTION
STEPHEN BROWN Staff Writer
DON JUAN DEMARCO
-k-k-kh2 (out of four stars)
Featuring a dashing, swaggering romantic hero
who is shrouded by mystery and marked by hoards
nf rnnmipsts. t.hp delicrhtfiil rnmpdv "Don .Tnnn Dp
Marco" stars two of Hollywood's most acclaimed
leading men in an unabashed celebration of the permeating
power of love.
Veteran actor Marlon Brando ("The Godfather,"
"Apocalypse Now") plays Dr. Jack Mickle, a psychotherapist
who must analyze the case of a young
man who claims to be Don Juan DeMarco, "the
greatest lover of all time," played by Johnny Depp
("Edward Scissorhands, "Benny & Joon"). The ensuing
story of their relationship, and how the young
man's passion for life puts a spring back in the doctor's
step, lifts this romantic comedy to a higher level.
Most of all, the presence of Brando and Depp together
is a cause for celebration. Although Brando
has tended to sleepwalk through his most recent
roles, he actually creates a believable character for
this particular film. Sure, it's not "Streetcar Named
Desire," but Brando giddily portrays a man being
rebom in the prime of his life. If Brando stopped
making movies after this one, "Don Juan" would
surely be a fitting last tango.
Depp, who has garnered much comparison to
Brando as a young renegade actor, sinks his teeth
4AhBmM
Marlon Brando and Faye Dunaway rediscover tl
lage In 'Don Juan DeMarco.'
into the role of Don Juan with amazing gusto.
Masked, cloaked in a flowing cape and wielding a
raised sword, he is the picture of nobility, and he
lets his words of love drip slowly from his lips like
landle wax from a raging flame. Although his character,
a seducer of more than 1,500 women, seems
a bit out of place in the AIDS age, he successfully
aoaxes the audience from disbelief to enchantment.
The synergy created by the two acclaimed actors,
combined with a charming story that takes
viewers to a new romantic place, makes "Don Juan
DeMarco" a remarkable romance.
Writer/director Jeremy Leven seems inspired
lay classic novels in creating an odyssey of adveni
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ng initiates:
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ture and romance. Lord j Sv
for the film's events, and J
the swashbuckling cen- Jfl
tral character could have
no if the film had been
made in Hollywood's gold- fti^,
classic romantic tone, Leven
opens with credits
written in script over a j
crumpled red velvet back- j
ground. Flashback se
quences throughout the
film, as Don Juan recounts J?hnny D?PP woos ?'
his life and times, are romantlc """fr ,Don
filmed in vivid, glowing
colors to create the magic of his youth.
The story begins as the doctor tries to talk Don
Juan down from a catwalk from which he is prepared
to jump because of lost love. After successfully
bringing down the supposedly delusionary
youth, Jack has 10 days to evaluate the patient, of
with him is completely satisfied.
The young man's adventures take him through
the Mexican village of his childhood to an Arabian
sultan's lush hideaway to a deserted island surrounded
by crashing seas to Queens, N.Y. The adventures
he shares with the audience sometimes
border on soft-porn, like something out of an ancient
Kama Sutra drawing, and at other times his
-owe, Lust, Looney Tunes, Etc.
Twenty years of tra
the University of S<
Realtoi
SEVENA WELSH
jvena Welsh ... Her nar
i is the widow of Dr. John R. Welsh, who at
?nt of Instruction at USC. She is very proud that
sband; and her loyalty and dedication to the Ur
(in finding and selling homes for the University
Remax Advantage Group, Inc.
Peggy Gainey, BIC
3006 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29205
24 hour Voice Mail - 748-9171 1
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||My
HP 5
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New Line Cinema
sraldlne Palhas In New Line Cinema's new
Juan DeMarco.'
exploits are characterized by innocent, old-fashioned
romance.
Don Juan's confident demeanor and gleefully
syrupy dialogue ("I give them pleasure if they desire,"
"A woman is like a musical instrument, and
I love coaxing the perfect note from the heart") could
easily have rendered him an empty Fabio-esque
caricature, but Depp draws upon a timeless passion
to bring his character to splendid life.
Depp successfully brings a comic element to the
story, as he flamenco dances and swashbuckles his
way through the pages of his own histoiy. Don Juan
absorbs the excitement of life and shares his unique
perspective with others. He adds humor through
his unusual assessment of inkblot tests and through
his priceless expression when his lover (played by
model Geraldine Pailhas) asks how many women
he has been with and "the sum was substantially
greater than what she had in mind."
When Jack asks him how he would react if someone
told him he was in a mental hospital, Don Juan
responds, "I'd say they had a limited, uncreative
assessment of the situation."
The rotund Jack, inspired by the young man's
words, begins to listen to opera, starts to work out
with a home exercise system and treats his wife to
a serenaded dinner complete with flowers, jewelry
and utmost respect and adoration.
Brando conveys a sense that he is breathing
again in a role that lifts his spirit and excites him
about the possibilities of moviemaking that he
seemed to lose along the way. His opening up as an
actor parallels his character's journey and provides
a deeper context to the film. Brando's Jack ponders,
"Why does eveiyone want to suck love bone-dry of
all its glory?" He describes the "momentum of mediocrity"
that people allow themselves to fall into and
experiences a cathartic rebirth on screen that is enjoyable
to behold.
Fueled by Michael ("Robin Hood") Kamen's original
score, the direction is well-modulated, both mellow
and flamboyant when necessary. Despite a few
awkward moments and some overly drawn-out sequences,
the pace is fast and fresh, and the filmmakers
draw the viewers into the excitement.
Brando's character talks about "suffering from
a romanticism that is highly-contagious.' Hopefully,
"Don Juan DeMarco" will spread like wildfire in
a society yearning for passion.
After serving The Gamecock faithfully for four years,
reviewer Stephen Brown is taking his final bow with
this review. Look for the recap of his reviewing career
in two weeks.
I
sted service to
outh Carolina
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stime member,
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IlllUlct UUdlU U1
rs, Million Dollar
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771-9999
ne is her reputation
the time of his death in 1974 was Vice
: the Humanities Complex is named for her
liversity is demonstrated in her unparalled
r Community.
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digital Beeper 253-2694
fer a diagnosis and recommend treatment. Although
Jack is on the verge of retirement, he sees this case
as a fitting swan song. And each day, as he hears
Don Juan's tale of romance and adventure, Jack
discovers he has a kindred spirit and begins to take
control of his own destiny.
Faye Dunaway
("Chinatown," "Bonnie
and Clyde") plays Marilyn
Mickler, Jack's estranged
but hopeful
wife. Dunaway does not
KpH J good sport and seems
tr> pninv wnrlrincr with
maw wijv " "*"o " *
t the ensemble. When
Jack finally asks her
|| mm about her life's goals
jjySI and dreams, she glows
and says, "I thought
Eyb you'd never ask."
The rekindling of
love and Jack's newfound
way of looking at
IW his life are breathtak4
'v'Hk ing events to behold.
Jp Leven captures the bud
__!_2 ding relationship beNew
Line Cinema tween Jack and Marihe
romance in their mar- lyn in splendid fashion.
The flashbacks
of Don Juan's escapades
are funny, romantic and sometimes bizarre. Even
as a young boy he had a fascination with women.
On the receiving end of a line of young girls eager
to kiss him, he discovered love at an early age.
Women are always hypnotized by his outer glow,
as nuns swoon and everv woman who snends time