The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 29, 1999, Page Page 6, Image 6
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Billy Bob Thornton (left) and Bill Pa>
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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."
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Feb. 2
"There's Something
About Mary"
"Mulan"
Feb. 9
"Antz"
"Rounders"
"Clay Pigeons"
Feb. 16
"Snake Eyes"
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m o c o c k
>le Plan
iinmli O
MdrCu mm
"Ever After: A Cinderella
Story"
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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
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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
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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
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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
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I a I n m e n t
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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
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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