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The 6 a Dona ft I U?JU u A Simj i JBk * fp gSjJ rm Billy Bob Thornton (left) and Bill Pa> ijjjr _ lights, i Camera, ~i Reaction T I I I Out of lour stars Starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob mi i _ _ Th J i T? l _ 1 T) x mormon, onager, ronaa ana Dram Briscoe. Written by Scott B. Smith. Directed by Sam Raimi. Two brothers (Paxton and Thornton) and a friend (Briscoe) stumble onto $4.4 million in stolen money. The three men plot to keep it, but begin to doubt each other. Their paranoia leads them to lies, deceit and eventually murder. Sundan< by Kathleen Sampey Associated Press NEW YORK ? After years of voice training and acting classes, countless waitressing jobs and timid dreams of being onstage, Jana Johnson decided that 1997 was the year to overcome her fear of performing. And what a payoff. She produced and co-stars in "Los Enchiladas," which was selected for this year's Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The film, shot in St. Paul, Minn., is a comedy about a fictitious Mexican restaurant of the same name and what happens when its sleazy manager walks out befofe Cinco de Mayo, the busiest day of the year. Sundance, the nation's top showcase for independent films, is a dream come true for Johnson and ex-boyfriend Mitch Hedberg, a rising young comic who wrote and directed the film. * "He played around with the concept of a Mexican restaurant," she remembers. "We're both from Minnesota and find the lack of authenticity in ethnic restaurants there to be a source of humor." I tienmSnn \/i V|#VVI I III IJ w | t Feb. 2 "There's Something About Mary" "Mulan" Feb. 9 "Antz" "Rounders" "Clay Pigeons" Feb. 16 "Snake Eyes" ( m o c o c k >le Plan iinmli O MdrCu mm "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" ? i. a marcn 9 "Dead Man on Campus" "What Dreams May Come" ;e Festiv The film's Midwestern setting part of what impressed the Sundan judges. "Los Enchiladas' had a freshne from its regionally," says John Coo er, associate director of programmii at Sundance and one of five people wl selects films to be shown there. "The characters are universal, but they brii a Minnesota-something to the film, kind of craziness. After all, look wh< their governor." Now Johnson, 29, a native of Lai City, Minn., is trying to snag a dish bution deal for the film. She's also happy she's getting reco nition in front of the camera. "I've worked on the outside of tt industry for so long," says Johnson, wi has booked rock groups such as Pea Jam and Smashing Pumpkins into ] cal Seattle clubs and traveled the cou try promoting Hedberg's career. "This film is my chance to final switch the focus to me." Of her performance, Cooper sa} "She was pretty impressive. One of tl great things about Sundance is th they're looking for new talent. This fil had lots of new faces." Although Johnson and Hedberg i cently ended a nine-year romance, th maintain a business relationshi deo Releases Practical Magic" Lou plead with Hank that the three them should keep the money. Hank isi interested at first, but after some n nor deliberation he lets the greed ta control and decides that $4 million too much money to pass up. cton Dortrav brothers in Paramount P by Pete Johnson Gamecock Critic 1/2 Well, it seemed simple enough the time, but "A Simple Plan" turns o to be anything but that. It weaves complex web of murder and deceptic leaving its characters caught in the mi die. Paxton stars as Hank Mitchell, small-town nice guy who, along wi his brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thorntoi and friend Lou (Brent Briscoe), the to\ drunk, discovers a snow-covered crash plane in the woods only to find $4 m linn in a duffel hap inside. Jacob at >nc< Weekend All Aboard ' a tense f||f ' (jgi : fii Special to The Gamecock ictures' "A Simple Plan." Hnnlc rrmsiHprs Vnmsplf thp hrains of the operation, so he insists on taking the responsibility of holding onto at the money until spring. If nobody were ut to come looking for the money, Hank, ; a Jacob and Lou were to split it up three in, ways and leave town, id- At first, Hank and Sarah (Bridget Fonda), his pregnant wife, are excited a at the prospect of having millions of dolth lars at their disposal. But between Lou's nagging for part of his share, Jacob's vn stupidity and Sarah's meddling with ed the plan, Hank is left to hold everything il- together himself. It proves too much for id him to take, and ultimately these peoof pie, who began the film as kind-heartn't ed and good-natured small-town folk, ii- take a stab at deception and murder in ke order to preserve their stash, is Paxton and a completely unrecognizable Thornton are superb and con al welcom is glis ho irl lon In "Los Enchiladas," the fast-food ind ing the heart and soul of the employe* Lly Enough perspiration and $100,000 of hard-earned cash and credit went inns, to the project to override any potential he falling nnt. at "She's talented in her own right. :m She was an asset to the whole situation," says Hedberg, who has appeared e- on the "Late Show With David Letterey man" and was a smash at the Monp. treal Comedy Festival. Upcoming C Feb. 2 Prince JohnStrohm Pharoah Sanders f"JL A im 9 Hendrix Fillmore East Built to Spill Collective Soul Neville Brothers Sparklehorse The Other Ones ore a l d t e r i for Fun Time JLA3 J V1IU Hf TOM mk & > Special to The Gamecoc Bridget Fonda vincing in their roles. Thornton is s believable in his stupidity and innc cence that it's impossible not to reac when he asks his younger, smarte brother, "Do you ever feel evf Hank?" ' "A Simple Plan" is an excellent fib with no major flaws. But it wasn't ex joyable to watch the transformatio: of these nice people into cold-heartei murderers, and it left an empty feelin inside this movie-goer at the end of th film. by Robert Fleming Gamecock Critic The darker side of the human psj che is deliciously explored in Sam Ra mi's "A Simple Plan." Raimi weaves u a tale filled with lies, betrayal and nun der that's almost too realistic for con fort. The film revolves around th mishaps and heartaches of greed an col-ficVmocc nnH what ran hannpn wVip the good in a man is challenged. The cast is superb, lacing the fill with tremendous emotion. Bill Pa> ton gives an exceptional performanc as Hank Mitchell, a man desperatel trying to control the chaos that unfold around him. However, the scene-stea er throughout the film is Billy Bo Thornton as Jacob. Thornton's dim-wii ted character is one of the most hean es indep ~ !\ ?* "^1 fn Th<* fiMnnTnr ustry is tackled head on by present 3s behind the scenes. "Jana did all the legwork and al the organization. She was able to kee] things in order when they were falling apart." Since 1991, Johnson and Hedberg 30, have lived variously in Florida, Seat tie, Los Angeles and New York. Shi studied voice and acting. He wrote, sought development deal and did stand-up comedy. They move* D Releases Robert Wyatt EP Box Crumbsuekers > Exodus Earl Klugh Feb. 16 ? Damnations > Mr. Serv-On Flaeo Jiminez, best of Dusty Springfield live ? William Hooker m . b I a I n m e n t logical tl 0 ' | ] k Special to The Gamecock Bill Paxton ;o felt, honest and hilarious roles I have )- ever seen him portray. And as broth:t ers, Paxton and Thornton have a relair tionship on screen that's powerful I, and moving. The supporting cast of Fonda, Briscoe and Ross continuously n add more fuel to the fire, l- The script is a masterpiece of malevn olence, filled with constant twists and d turns that shock and surprise. The dig alogue beautifully illustrates the worke ings of the human mind at its most sinister. "A Simple Plan" is almost the antithesis of its title. Complex and brilliant, "Plan" leaves us with nothing simple to think about. by Rob Lindsey r_ Gamecock Critic 1/2 s "A Simple Plan" is a psychological thriller in the truest sense of the phrase, l- Director Sam Raimi, responsible for e such cult films as the ultra-low budget d "Evil Dead" and "Army of Darkness," n elevates, with the aid of several stellar performances and an excellent score, n the apparently simple tale of a group :- of men who find a significant sum of e money and the lengths to which they v will go to keep it. s Inconsistent with his history of slapl dash, independent films, Raimi's "A b Simple Plan" is slick and stylish. The t- opening sequence of the film illustrates t- this with many stark, frantic and highendent fil H to New York in June 1997. Hedberg was writing a screenplay, and Johnson | thought it was time to give acting a I shot. To support their artistic pursuits, the pair had worked in franchise restauI rants; Johnson as a waitress, Hedberg as a cook. Their restaurant experiences form the plot of "Los Enchiladas." "There are always certain characters that are at every restaurant," Johnson says. "It seems as if there's always one cook who takes his job way too seriously and wears the full chef regalia. And they're working with a bunch of kids, who are just making some money to go party." By summer's end, the screenplay J was complete. They decided it would be less expensive to make the film in Minnesota, foremost because their families live 1 there, so they were unlikely to starve, p Hedberg used some money leftover from y a television development deal that never got off the ground to begin filming. That's where Johnson's crackeij ack organizational skills came in. g She began making calls from New York to the Minnesota Film Board, s which provided lists of local crew techi nicians. Upcoming Feb.! Steven Bernstein's Sex Mob New Brookland Tavern Feb. 2 Buck Cherry New Brookland Tavern Blood for Blood Tremont Music Hall Section Friday. January 29,1999 iriller v-* Special to The Gamecock Billy Bob Thornton ly contrasting shots of black, gnarled onrl nrnuro oonnnrr nr\ fkn m ?i?n utto cuiu V/iuwo tai vmg up tiic puic white backdrop of snow. As the crows are flitting through the frame, Danny Elfman's incredible score swells in discordant tones, mimicking the film's uncomfortable tone. This isn't a film the casual moviegoer will enjoy. It's tense, and though Paxton's character initially seems the sympathetic everyman, there are no heroes. Despite this fact, Billy Bob Thornton's character engenders a small amount of sympathy, but only because of his naivete. He does, however, give the finest performance of the film, per haps the finest supporting performance of the year. Paxton makes a small departure from his traditional roles. Instead of being the heroic nice guy as he was in "Twister" and "Apollo 13," his character is as prone to evil as the rest of the cast. "A Simple Plan" is ultimately concerned with the question of circumstance. Raimi and his screenwriter place their characters in situations where they must choose between what they know is right and what they want. The characters are complex and believable, and the situations they find themselves in are, as well. In "A Simple Plan," there are no simple answers or ways out. mmaker Once the directors of photography were hired, everything else fell into place. After three weeks of pre-production, "Los Enchiladas" was shot in St. Paul during 22 days in September and October 1997. The actors were culled from the vast rnmmnnitv nf Wal stapp-artnr erniins "They would work all day at their jobs, then show up for 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. shoots," Johnson recalls. After a year of post-production, a rough cut of "Los Enchiladas" was submitted on video to Sundance last fall. Just two days before Thanksgiving, Hedberg got the word from Sundance. He called Johnson at her New York apartment. "Yup, we're in," he told her. "It was the best day of my life," Johnson remembers. "When my future husband proposes to me, he better have something spe _ l v 1 1 'i? i ciai up ms sieeve Decause it s going to take a lot to top that one." Concerts s % * * ' * ^ Feb. 3 Sun Volt Tremont Music Hall Feb 4. Stuck Mojo New Brookland Tavern Feb. 5 Danielle Howie & the Tantrums New Brookland Tavern