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M presents j i %^j0 i jh <%r f^b Lair kl Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger)is a She spends time with her mother are not the people she thought tl^e LIGHTS! REACTION! ONE TRUE THING (out of five stars) "One True Thing" forces a woman into her mother and father's private world where she finds out everything she thought she knew about her family is about to be challenged. With her family's future under threat, she must learn to know her parents as adults. It is based on Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Anna Quindlen's 1995 novel of the same name. 'Cat on a H staff writer CRYSTAL N DAVIS The USC production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof set the newly renovated Longstreet Theater ablaze on an otherwise common Sunday afternoon on the not-so-ordinary Carolina campus. While most of my friends were recovering from their hangovers, I took the opportunity to expose myself to a unique dose of Southern hospitality, care of guest director Susan Gregg and a cast ofYiotable thespians. As I was waiting for the play to begin, I could faintly hear a sweet melody. I recognized the tune from an old music box my mother had. It was one of those tunes from the '40s that St. Thomas I + Mass Sunday <COj?/\ Confession Sat. 3:30-4:30pm or by a\ iU.Ce Sr. Julienne Guy < ^^^^Hj^^reenejStreet^^SLS^O^^ University Unitarian MM Meets Sundays 7pm, Ru: A diverse, welcoming, non-creeda) relij U the inherent worth and dignity of every perse Rev. Patrick D. Price, Minister, Revpdprice@aol.com UU Fellowship of Columbia, Sunday worship and religious education, 11:00 AM 77~^i PALM CAMPl ' Partnership Among Lut Body & Soul We< Hf*Lm Fellowship, singing, s "Racism and J\ Dr. Sheila Elliott, < iWI Sunday Worsship (follov S ALL ARE to " PALM Center? 728 Pick ? J SPECIAL TO TI i journalist living back at home with Kate (Meryl Streep) finding out that :y were. Starring Meiyl Streep, Renee Zellweger, and William Hurt. Screenplay by Karen Croner. Directed by Carl Franklin. gamecock critic JAMIE BOWMAN This movie is absolutely amazing! It engulfs the audience and forces them to face an inevitable issue that no one can escape-losing a loved one. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks told by Ellen Hulden (Kenee Zellweger). The flashbacks are initiated by a district attorney's investigation into the cause, of death of Ellen's mother, Kate (Meryl Streep). lot Tin Rool would make your heart skip a beat. This little piece, along with others, set the mood for a play about love, failure, crushed dreams, jealousy and rivalries - all the elements of an everyday soap opera. Jennifer Larson, who plays Maggie the cat, has all the sassiness and sexy appeal of a true feline. Larson's confidence as a femme fatale makes her perfect for this role. She makes her character quick and cunning, eager to claw at the emotions of anyone who tries to undermine the aspects of her personal life. I can clearly see her as the Susan Lucci of the new millennium. Tyler Marchant's performance as Brick, Maggie's hopeless drunk of a husband, lived up to his exceptional list Gol & HER \^t THIS X LOOK SP-^ FOR 1 More Catholic Center 11:30 am, 6pm; Saturday 5pm Newman Club ppt. Tuesday 7pm Tim Lijewski, Chaplain 3SU, Director of Christian Formation jmssJfromi(theiSchooH)^hirsin^^^^ Universalists (U3) ssell House room 304 (( ?j )) ;ion, affirming and promoting in and our common interdependence. 2701 Hey ward Street, Columbia, SC. 29205 (803) 799-0845 Events (803) 799-1746 http://akamail.com/uucolumbia JS MINISTRY ngiqiio gnu men luuioib Inesday 5:30 pm upper and program: the Church" rolumbia College /ed by supper) 5:30 pin yjfcJUo fELCOME Vjfj' Lens Street 799-4993 1 A :nc m It seems apparent : from Ellen's point of ;; view that the relationship with her mother was far from pleasant. Rather than treating her with respect, she degraded her mother by criticizing her lifestyle. While Ellen was busy with her highI paced New York way of life, Kate was content with perfecting the art of housekeeping and decorating the town square's Christmas trees. Ellen demeans her mother while she praises her father, George (William Hurt). * y -< Ifs obvious that she * thinks of him as the ?'strong one that holds a gamecock everything together. But her parents, she soon finds out how her parents wrong her assumption is. It's not until her mother is diagnosed with cancer and Ellen moves back home to take care of her that she realizes just how important her mother's job is. At this point, Ellen begins to understand that her mother has the hardest job of all - holding together a home and ignoring the realities of life. With an insensitive daughter and an unfaithful husband-Kate reminds us that life isn't fair, but you deal with what you have. The theme of the movie is apparent: we shouldn't take those we love for granted because one day they may no longer be with us. It stresses P serves So of credentials. He made it seem like he was reliving a relationship from his past -- as if he had previously been in a marriage where he would rather snuggle up to his faithful dog than to his wife. Marchant also makes Brick's love for "the bottle" an unforgettable theme in this play. Big Daddy, played by Bob Hungerford, is a true overseer when it comes to his Mississippi plantation and his family. His outright rudeness makes it hard for his family to love him, even with his $10 million fortune. Hungerford makes Big Daddy more than a crude-talking, 65-year-old geezer. He gives him an air of superiority that can't be touched with a 20-foot pole. As his wife, Big Mama, Ann Dreher lives up ; rvQdy fo E IT IS: CLUI > IS WHAT Y( ; ON CAMPUi rHE PLACES I M'l 10/1 URBAN GUI 10/2 Danielle How 10/3 DAYROOM v 10/48WNGMGHTVI OKI that life and love are about sacrifice, unselfishness and understanding. The characters are well-developed with each filling their role perfectly. There is so much emotion in this movie that you almost forget you're in a theater. You feel as if the characters are your family and you're an active part of the story. See this film with someone you love and make sure you take along lots of tissue. gamecock critic EMIUE GREENE ** Sometimes in a movie it is OK to have a protagonist the audience dislikes, as long as the actor or actress is adept enough to provoke some sympathy or interest in the character. The first problem in "One True Thing" is that Renee Zellweger is not capable enough to accomplish this. Meiyl Streep and William Hurt are, as usual, near-perfect in their portrayals, which saves the film from extreme tedium, but Renee Zellweger cannot quite hold her own. Instead of seeming assertive and driven, her character seems whiny and shallow. Flashbacks on her pressuresome childhood are not enough to inspire compassion from the audience, which results in a difficult first half of the film. After caring for her ill mother, Ellen becomes much more human and agreeable, and this type of role suits Zellweger much better. Unfortunately, she is not sophisticated enough to convince the audience of her change. Because Streep and Hurt are exceptional and some moments are truly touching, the second half of the movie is more watchable. Still, the film as a whole - mainly because of Zellweger's uthern hos to tne stereotype 01 a true ooutnern wife. As Big Mama, Dreher is tough as nails. She gives off an excellent sense of authority, along with a good dose of sensitivity, for her children and husband. Mae and Gooper, played by Leslie Grant and Ron Reach, are the perfect rivals for Maggie and Brick. They don't fail to hide their animosity toward the not-so-perfect couple. They are memorable as two overachievers who constantly refer to their successes in finances and raising a large family. Darin "A. J." Dahms (Rev. Tooker) and Mark Sharrock (Dr. Baughboth) give "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof a muchwelcomed comical element. Their performances help turn the play away from r o ph pic E NUMBER V DU NEED TO 5 FAB AMB II 9 rnn MIII/ ? THAT THEY I * ID IA A TLA TAM#miimui 16 & 1116 Idllll'Ullia ifI EDITH'S WISH f^OS^ONTINHjTAU e! inabilities - is not good enough to make up for the pain of watching Streep grow ninlron 01 / ?!* a*? 4-xrrr\ Umivn 3I11VC1 CU.1U OiCA-CI 1U1 l/VVU 11UU13. ?VCI1L "Terms of Endearment" instead if you want an entertaining tearjerker. gamecock critic JENNIFER STANLEY What I love about a good movie is when anyone can relate to the plot. Everyone has a mom, and these days, everyone knows someone who had cancer. Meryl Streep delivered what might be another Academy Award winning performance as a housewife who does it all even after she gets cancer. Renee Zellweger plays her daughter who always tried to be just like her father. But when she comes home to take care of her mother, she realizes it's harder being more like her mother. She delivers an emotional and thoughtful performance - a perfect follow-up to her performance in "Jerry Maguire." The movie shows the gradual formation of a friendship between mother and daughter, and the difficulties dealing with a parent's death. The dialogue is so real that the audience gets lost in the story. It is the story of the '90s family, dealing with 'QOc nrnhlomc Mnne nf tKo phararforc were perfect, but the audience does not leave believing there was a bad guy. I usually complain about bad endings. But even this tear-jerking finish left me feeling good. The cheesy commercials are right - it makes you want to call your mom. ipitality its intended serious atmosphere. Theirs is a light comedy instead of the usual slapstick. The USC production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is truly a performance worth seeing. Susan Gregg was able to incorporate many of the various themes that have been associated with this play. From alcoholism to a dysfunctional father-son relationship, she opens the audience's eyes to many of life's travesties. It appeals to anyone who has suffered from unrequited love, hated his sibling or had any family problems. I can't guarantee this play has the answers to these dilemmas, but it comes pretty close to a lot of our realities. * L/ ? Vl Homecoming weeks awa; (5amecocfe and Productions i/VO. Find the black, or gi DO. black pig Carolina Pr VIDE. in the Ruse Win a priz 1IDE. easy er Come g groove Urban J before t j. i VI Elbow @f ffBl ? ?? ?t? NatureSpace, throughout September, South Carolina State Museum. Admission fee required. For more information, call (803) 8984921. "Mexican Masks of the 20th Century: A Living Tradition," through Nov. 8, McKissick Museum. For more information, call (803) 7777251. Urban Grind, 12:30 p.m., Oct. 1, Elbow Room. USC September Series (music of Brahms, Cavalli and Infante), 3 p.m., Oct. 4, School of Music. For ticket information, call (803) 2512222. "Beethoven Sonatas with Commentary," Ian Hobson, pianist. 7:30 p.m., Oct. 5-6, Koger Center. For ticket information, call (803) 7775112. Marcy Playground (with Pete Droge and Garrison Starr), 8 p.m., Oct. 5, Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte. For ticket information, call (704) 522-6500. Columbia Lions Club 5K Run at Riverbanks, 8 a.m., Oct. 3, Riverbanks Zoo. For registration information, call (803) 736-5549. Medical Rounds (tour of the Animal Health Center and rounds with a staff veterinarian), 9:30 a.m., Oct. 3, Riverbanks Zoo. Registration fee is $8. "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. Columbia Community Concert Band, 3:30 p.m., Oct. 4, Riverbanks Zoo. Free with Riverbanks Zoo admission. For more information, call (803) 779-8717. Teachers' Astronomy Workshops, 3 p.m., Oct. 7, South Carolina State Museum. $35 per person. For more ??ii tono\ qqq acian liiiui liiai/iuii, ^aii \v\juj o^o-* Submissions for the concert I event calendar can be sent to The Gamecock in room 333 of the Russell House. The Encore e-mail address is gcketc@sc.edu. is still two y, but W\t I Carolina U V are ready. \ garnet, ^ arnet and m ^ [. Go to oductions ^ ell House, ( & \ e. That's lough. ! let your on with I Grind I hey rock | ^ i Room! SISiBSp?) ^O^carolina V productions ^ .1