The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 23, 1998, Page Page 4, Image 4
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Simon Birch (Ian Michael Smith
shares ice cream with his friend J
LIGHTS! CAMERA!
REACTION!
SIMON BIRCH
(out of five stars)
Simon Birch was the smallest delivery
ever recorded in the history of
Gravestown Memorial Hospital. The
doctors proclaimed him a miracle, and
ever since, he's been quick to remind
anyone who forgets. Simon is certain
he's eoine to be a hero . . . he's iust
not sure how. His destiny becomes
linked to that of his best friend Joe
after a tragic high foul ball.
Starring Ian Michael Smith, Oliver
Piatt and Ashley Judd. Written and directed
by Mark Steven Johnson, suggested
by the novel KA Prayer for Owen
Meany" by John Irving.
gamecock critic EMILIE GREENE icicif
According to the credits, "Simon
Birch" is "suggested by" John Irving's
novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany," but
Elbow Room
up Blue Plate
staff writer BECKY MCCLELLAN Are
you tired of the same old lunch
routine? Do you love live music? Are
you short on money? If you answered
^es to tnese questions, tnen come out
at 12:30 p.m. to the Russell House
Patio on Thursdays to check out the
Blue Plate Special.
Sponsored by the Elbow Room and
Carolina Productions, the Blue Plate
Special is a concert series showcasing
local bands from around the Southeast.
Seven bands are participating, with one
performing each week through Oct. 15.
The bands involved with the Blue Hate
Special come to Columbia to perform
at the Elbow Room on Thursday nights,
but arrive early to play a free show
for the USC campus during lunch.
"It's a taste of what's going on at the
Elbow Room," said Vance McNabb, Elbow
Room owner. "It also gives students
who are involved with Carolina Productions
a chance to organize a concert
event."
The Sept. 3 show featuring the Mellow
Blue Marsh Band canceled because
of rain, so the concert series commenced
on Sept. 10 with The Marvelous 3 from
Atlanta. They attracted students to .
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SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
), a small boy with big dreams,
oe Wenteworth (Joseph Mazello).
reportedly, Irving himself was so dissatisfied
with the outcome of the movie
that he refused any involvement. I do
not doubt for a moment that the novel
is far superior, as almost all books
are, to its film version. I, however, have
not read the book, and I enjoyed the
movie immensely jn and of itself.
Perhaps one of the strongest points
in the movie's favor is its appropriate
casting. Ashley Judd's performance
surpasses any of her recent work,
and Oliver Piatt proves with depth and
candor that he can be more than just
a comic character actor. Ian Michael
Smith is a compelling Simon-rarely
sentimental and never melodramatic.
However, despite the fact that Smith
has the title role, the most impressive
cast member is Joseph Mazello as
Simon's friend Joe.
Both Mazello's character and his
portrayal are authentic and above all,
mature. There are several instances
when either the film or the actor could
rely on standard movie cliches particularly
after the death of Joe's
mother?but neither fall into the trap.
Joe is a 12-year-old faced with more
, CP serves
j Special
their show with an energetic performance
of tossing guitar picks and entertaining
stage choreography.'
Last week, Charlotte's Come On
Thunderchild took the stage at the Russell
House playing a classic style
rock. They opened for The Derek Trucks
Band at the Elbow Room that night.
"The Elbow Room has been very
supportive of us out of town," band member
John Morris said. "As far as the
kind of hospitality an out of town band
can receive, it's unprecedented."
Come On Thunderchild also performed
in Columbia when they opened
up for Sister Hazel at the Carolina Coliseum
on Sept. 4.
"They have a good sound, but I wish
the concert at the Patio was more publicized,"
junior Dorian DelPriore said.
If you missed the first two performances,
you still have four more to go.
The upcoming bands include Seven Foot
Politic, Urban Grind, Albert Hill and
Hello Dave. Come out to the Russell
House Patio around noon, get some food
and find a seat by the stage to eat and
listen to some live music?and best of
all, it's free! You can catch the bands
again at the Elbow Room that night.
Anyone 18 and older is welcome'.
J*v\"
V/ SEVEN FOOT POUTIG
ROBBIE FULKS
IKEY
WIS GROUP
:no
than one tragedy, and Mazello performs
even the most complicated scenes with
admirable simplicity and realism.
Some of the strength of the acting
has to be, at least in part, due to the
script, which is well-written for the
most part. However, there are a few
problems.
Jim Carrey appears in the first^nd
last scenes in an unadvertised
cameo, which is more of a distraction
than an asset. He also provides the
voiceovers, which are unnecessary and
consequently annoying. The acting and
writing within the scenes are conscientious
enough already. Further explanations
through voiceovers seem
entirely too obvious. A few scenes are
also more contrived than the rest of the
film, like a Christmas pageant sequence
which unsuccessfully attempts slapstick
comedy in an already moving drama.
Still, the acting and writing in "Simon
Birch" overcome these imperfections.
Though flawed, the movie remains
remarkably sincere. As a whole,
the film moves the audience while provoking
thought about family, friendship
and most importantly, faith.
gamecock critic BRIAN MARTIN irkirk
"Simon Birch" is a story about faith
and destiny and how a really little kid
tries to make sense out of all of it.
Oh, and he's homy, too.
This film is also the first for Ian
Michael Smith, and it's an impressive
debut. As the exceptionally
small Simon, Smith provides an intelligent
character. One can't help feeling
sorry for him as he faces his
many obstacles. Simon courses with
pure honesty, and this is what frequently
gets him into trouble. As said
before, he's homy. However, he portrays
his character, who believes he is
on a mission from God, with such conviction
that, although he almost sounds
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"It : % ^jfffint' <#^
Ruth Nettles THE G
Senior journalism major
D'Ambrose as Eddie in last year's
Horror Picture Show" will be co-d
this year.
LOTTERY SEPTEM
LOTTERY SEPTEM
Priority Reservations L
2nd Floor Lobby Russell!
September 30, 1998
9 a.m. - 1st Ballroom
10 a.m. - 2nd Ballroorr
For more information, contact the 1
Office at 777-7127 or sjpp by Russc
ORJ
crazy, you just can't help but believe
him.
The film is less a story about Simon
Birch and more a film about the people
he interacts with and the lives he
touches. Cast highlights include both
David Strathairn as the troubled Rev.
Russell and Oliver Piatt as Ben
Goodrich, the suitor of Ashley Judd's
character. Both deliver strong performances.
Strathairn is wonderful as a priest
who often seems to find himself confused
by the implications of his faith.
And Piatt, who has been seen this year
in such films as "Bulworth" and "Doctor
Doolittle," plays a very different
kind of character as the caring and nurturing
Goodrich, further proving his
versatility as an actor. That's not to
undermine the rest of the cast, which
does a fantastic job as well. Joseph
Mazello, who is probably best remembered
as Tim, the kid who threw
up in the juggernaut "Jurassic Park,"
has finally landed in a dramatic role,
as Simon's best friend Joe. He begins
to show a maturity in his acting. Ashley
Judd is radiant, as usual, as his single
mother. The cast also features a
barely recognizable Jan Hooks as the
overbearing Sunday school teacher Miss
Leavey, as well as a special appearance
by Jim Carrey, who provides narration
as the older version of Joe.
The characters are endearing, and
so is the story. Despite some very
predictable plot elements, such as
the revelation about Joe's father, the
story still delivers surprises. Just as
you think you know where Simon's mission
is leading him, the film takes an
abrupt turn and ends in a totally different
way. The film truly touches something
inside the viewer, which more
than makes up for the totally cliched
final scene featuring Carrey and his
son (who is, incidentally, played by
Joseph Mazello's brother).
igime ann
staff writer MARTHA WRIGH
USC's Puppet Regime, a s
organization of thespians ar
ater afiqonados, agreed last W
day to put on four different
for the fall season.
The group will present
performance of the "Rocky I
Picture Show" at 11 p.m. at th
sell House Theater on Oi
through 30. In the tradition
production, members of the F
Regime will reprise their rc
uber-nerds Brad and Janet ai
sweetest of transvestites, Fra
"Getting a lot of peopl
closed space is kind of what
yV about," said senior Ralph!
I Later in the season they
planned tentatively on "All
Timing," a play based on im
sational theater games; "U
ground Lovers," an experim
play that revolves around li
the subway; and "Heads: A
munist Love Stoiy," written by
AMECocx Compton, an American Uni
Ralph ty student. Compton is a fri<
"Rocky senior Ah Freeman, who is i
lirecting president of the Puppet Re
Rus
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"Simon Birch" probably won't break
any box office records, but it is a significant
film that will doubtlessly be
looked upon, and learned from, for
decades to come.
gamecock critic JAMIE BOWMAN Vg
As if being 12 years old isn't hard
enough, imagine being afflicted with
dwarfism, having parents that wish
you d never been born and being the
cause of death of your best friend's
mother (Ashley Judd). For Simon Birch
(Ian Michael Smith) this was a harsh
reality.
The movie is set in Gravestown,
Maine and begins with an older Joe
Wentworthe (Jim Carrey) visiting his
best friend Simon's grave. The plot
builds up through a series of cliched
life lessons and depicts society's cruel
and insensitive ways through the eyes
of the two outcasts.
The part of Simon is played with
a clever wit in combination with a series
of one-liners that play off his
frail size. Ian Michael Smith gives a
strong performance. His character is
well developed, but the others seem
weakly thrown together.
Throughout the film, Simon makes
references to the idea that "God has a
plan for us all." Simon's search for heroism
and redemption parallels Joe's
search for his father, a secret that his
mother took with her when she died.
In regards to "A Prayer For Owen
Meany," the film is basically a loose
spin-off of Chapter 1, but there are classic
moments that shouldn't be missed:
the softball game, the armadillo and
the dreaded conclusion.
Had I not read the book prior to
watching the film, I would have enjoyed
it a lot more. As it stands, the
movie is worth seeing and there are a
few tear-provoking scenes that stay
with you long after the movie has ended.
ounces fal
T
tudent "Getting a lot of j
id the- space is kind of's
eanesshows
a live "Rocky
lorror
e Rus- All the plays the group select*
ct. 29 were suggested by members of tl
of this Puppet Regime. Wendy Mauri
uppet said she recommended the play "U
les as derground Lovers" because of tl
tid the variety and number of unusual cha
mk-N- acters roaming the subway statio
In one scene, a row of people wi
e in a masks on backwards is facing aw:
Rock- from the audience. Then the peop
D'Am- are encountered by the protagonis
"They're strangers until 1
r have brings their faces out," Mauritz sai
in the The Puppet Regime elected i:
provi- coming officers during the Wedne
nder- day meeting. Kyle Stevens ar
Lental Wendy Mauritz were voted co-pre
eve in idents. Kerry Doherty is incomir
C om- vice president, Sarah Hammond
Chris treasurer and Emily Davidson
versi- secretary. These officers will sen
end of after shadowing the current ofl
acting cers.
gime. The group also addressed son
issues that will affect theater i
sell House Univ
Priority Reserva
January to Jul
iversity Wide Event
n Art norruc in.i 7d in th* r
LA Vf II pClgVt3 A Jmt ~ A Smf~w Alt inv v
irolina Productions
i on page 124 in the Caroli
egistered Student Organizal
ion below for times for the
ither
partments or Administrati
as designated in the Caroli
lie Space will not be reserve!
1 on pages 123-124 in the Ca
ry September 30** Lottery
demand for room usage in the Russell H
listribution of spaee to registered studeni
lroom reservations, however, the lottery
ihe Russell House.
NatureSpace, throughout September,
South Carolina State Museum.
Admission fee required. For
more information, call (803) 898-,
4921.
"Mexican Masks of the 20th Century:
A Living Tradition," through
Nov. 8, McKissick Museum. For
more information, call (803) 777
7251.
Mexican Mask Fiesta (held in conjunction
with opening of Mexican
Mask exhibition), 7-9 p.m., Sept.
24, McKissick Museum. Free admission
for members; $5 for nonmembers.
Seven Foot Politic, 12:30 p.m.,
Sept. 24, Elbow Room.
"A Stranger In This Country" (the
Scottish-American ballad and song
connection), 7:30 p.m., Sept. 25,
Unitarian Universadist Fellowship.
For ticket information, call (803)
799-1746.
Carolina MusicFest '98, Sept. 2526,
uptown Charlotte. For ticket
information, call (704) 522-6500.
Celine Dion (with special guest
Andre-Philippe Gagnon), 8 p.m.,
Sept. 27, Charlotte Coliseum.
For ticket information, call (704)
522-6500.
"Odyssey" by the Aquila Theatre,
7:30 p.m., Sept. 29, Roger
Center. $15 adults, $8 students.
"West Side Story," through Oct.
3, Town Theatre. For ticket information,
call (803) 799-2510.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," through
Oct. 4, Longstreet Theatre. For
more information, call (803) 7772552.
I season
people in a closed
vhat 'Rocky's' about."
Ralph D'Ambrose
Horror Picture Show" cast member
jd USC. Jim Hunter, adviser for the
le theater departm ent, brought up the
tz administration's plans to build a
n- new performance facility in the basele
ment of the Booker T. Washington
ir- auditorium. The stage will be availn.
able for use around September 1999.
th Hunter also suggested off-stage
ay plays to increase the group's visile
bility.
st. Another issue concerning the
le group was practice space. Junior
d. Lindsay Wray offered up a solution
n- to scheduling conflicts,
s- "We've taken our roots through
id student government. That's
s- where we need to start," Wray said,
lg "If you want to go to a poweris
ful person to get space, you need to
is go straight to administration," Ali
re Freeman said.
i- For more information about Puppet
Regime, call the USC theater
le department at 777-4288.
it
ersity Union
itions for
ly 1999
September 25,1998
arolina Community)
September 28,1998
ina Community)
tions September 30,1998
Lottery on Sept. 30,1998)
October 2,1998
ve Units or other student
na Community, page 124)
d until January 25,1999
xolina Community)
September 30**
louse a "lottery" system is used
t organizations. The highest level
system will apply to all