The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 27, 2000, Page 5, Image 5
This Week in USC History
Nov., 21, 1988 - Three men were charges with burglary
and grand larceny in .connection with the theft of $670
in glasses from the Contact Lens Clinic in the Carolina
Mall.
Myles Aronowitz Special to The Gamecock
Adam Sandler, alongside Beefy, stars in “Little Nicky” as a son of Satan who fights his older brothers for control of hell.
Sandler still searching
for next direction in life
by Brock Vergakis
The Gamecock
Atlanta - Don’t worry if you’re a little confused
about what you want to do with your life. Just tell
your parents you want to be like Adam Sandler. He
still doesn’t know what he wants to do, either.
Sandler finds himself at a crossroads after grad
uating from the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” do
ing stand-up comedy and releasing a slew of suc
cessful comedy movies that are favorites among
college students nationwide.
Perhaps that success is because Sandler remem
bers what it was like to be in college at NYU and re
■ lentlessly tour the college circuit with his stand-up
act.
V “I have fun when I’m at the colleges. That’s a
huge part of who comes to our movies,” Sandler said.
“I did stand-up all the time in college, and I studied
acting in school. I wasn’t very good at it. I got a
letter in the mail from a teacher saying I should find
another profession and I was wasting my time.... I
haven’t seen that guy in a while,” Sandler said.
“I like to play the guy (in movies) who gets
screwed with a lot. In real life, I’ve been the un
derdog and I’ve been a real jerk. I’m right down the
middle,” Sandler said.
In Sandler’s past movies, such as “Happy
Gilmore,” “Billy Madison” and “The Waterboy,” his
character was the underdog who succeeds. The same
is true for his latest release, “Little Nicky,” where
he plays a son of Satan battling for control of hell
against his two older, bigger, stronger and smarter
brothers.
From the beginning, the outcome of the movie
is never in question. Sandler doesn’t want the audi
ence to think too hard or take things too seriously.
He just wants them to laugh along the way.
“We just wanted to make a funny movie and keep
it real generic,” Sandler said. “We didn’t want any
body upset,jumping up and down.”
It wasn’t long ago that another film created a
controversy among religious groups when it made a
comedy based on religion. When “Dogma” was re
leased last year, thousands of Catholics protested the
movie because of its humorous look at the
Catholic Church.
With a talking dog as one of the main characters,
nobody seems to be taking this movie quite as seri
ously as “Dogma” was, and that’s perfectly fine with
Sandler. He just wants people to laugh.
“We think about you guys (college students). We
want to make sure you have a good time. I don’t take
anything in the movie that serious,” Sandler said.
Like many college students, Sandler’s ideas of
ten come to him at late hours when watching tele
vision.
“(I got the idea for Little Nicky) watching
‘Angel Heart.’ I thought that’d it be good if I played
the son of the devil. I usually just stumble upon ideas,
and, luckily, I stumbled upon ‘Angel Heart.’”
Sandler is waiting to stumble upon his next great
venture. He says he would like to host “Saturday
Night Live” someday, but isn’t quite ready to do
stand-up again. “I want to someday host it, but not
now when I’m running around the country.... I want
to do stand-up again, but... I want to make sure I do
new stuff. I need to take time to do that.”
Before then, Sandler says he will keep coming
up with new movie ideas and trying to make people
laugh.
“Eventually I’ll do different type of stuff. I’m
not worried about being labeled. I’m worried about
making movies.... It’s the coolest thing when some
one comes up to you. The tiling I get the most ex
cited about is meeting people and talking to them
about (my movies). It’s all for you guys.”
Maybe one day he’ll start doing it all for him
self, but like college students he’s got one prob
lem. “I don’t know what the hell I want to do with
my life.”
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmaiLcoin.
I—---1
‘Sixth Sense’ writer, director looking
"to continue success with ‘Unbreakable’
*
by Adam McAllister
The Gamecock
ft ft ft OUT OF
☆ ft ft ft
With the film “Unbreakable,”
writer/director M. Night Shyamalan
has set himself up to fail. This can hap
pen in any medium and takes place
when someone transcends expectations
*1 far that there is no way to live up
to it in future projects.
“The Sixth Sense” shot Shyamalan
much farther into the public eye than
anyone could have expected and fore
told the likely outcome of his next pro
ject. No matter how good “Unbreak
able” ended up being, it would still pale
in comparison for the general public.
With this in mind, Shyamalan
still delivers a fresh, unique script in
“Unbreakable.” He has shown his writ
ing ability twice now, and it far sur
passes his skills behind the camera. His
repetitive directing and overly styl
ish shots end up being the biggest faults
in the film.
However, in front of the camera,
the actors shine.
0 Bruce Willis has turned in anoth
er fine performance without the use of
explosions or car bombs apd Samuel
L. Jackson, as usual, showcases his oc
casionally underused skills.
Any review of this film will be am
biguous. The movie involves a steady
balance of plot and criticism, combined
to enhance a viewer’s understanding
of it. However, just as with Shyamalan’s
past movies, the less said about the plot,
the better.
Movie goers might recall Shya
malan’s previous effort, “The Sixth
Sense.” It revived a dying thriller genre
and, for better or for worse, spawned
the annoying pop culture catchphrase,
“I see dead people.”
There is one huge similarity be
tween “The Sixth Sense” and “Un
breakable.” Going into the film, the
audience doesn’t know what to expect.
The twists and turns, including the req
uisite surprise ending, are thrust at
viewers with little time given for them
to catch up.
The theme of “Unbreakable” is best
described in the beginning of the film.
There the audience is introduced to
middle-aged David Dunne (Willis) as
he sits alone on a hospital gurney.
The audience hears the nature of
his ailment and learn he is alive and
unscathed despite being caught in a
grizzly train wreck. Dunne is the lone
survivor. Thus begins his tale of being
unbreakable.
His character is offset by Elijah
Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a man on
the opposite end of the spectrum. Price
lives his life in fear of breaking, as he
has done many times since he was
young due to a bone-calcium disease.
He has also lived his life searching
for his counterpart, attempting to un
derstand why he was left in the state
he is in.
However, once he finds Dunne, his
process has only just begun.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight®hotmaiLcom.
Frank Masi Special to The Gamecock
In “Unbreakable,” Bruce Willis (center) stars as David Dunne, the
sole survivor of a catastrophic train wreck. Finding himself miracu
lously unharmed, he begins an emotional journey to understand
his true purpose in life.
Office sponsoring
stocking drive
by Kelly Hamilton
The Gamecock
The Office of Community Service is working with the Salvation Army to
sponsor a Christmas Stocking Drive in preparation for the holidays.
Laura Kelly, the Holiday Events Coordinator on the Community Service
Leadership Team, is heading the project. Kelly said the goal this year is to fill
600 stockings.
“We want to get as many people as possible involved in this, including stu
dents, faculty and staff. People are getting really excited about helping out,”
Kelly said.
Kelly is encouraging anyone interested in helping to come to the Office of
Community Service to fill out a form arid pick up an empty stocking and a
list of suggested items to buy.
The filled stockings will be brought to the Forty-sixth Annual Tree Light
ing Ceremony at the Horseshoe on November 29. The Salvation Army plans
to deliver the stockings to children of needy families in the Columbia area.
Kelly said USC groups, as well as individuals, are participating in the dri
ve.
oorormes, iraiernnies aim oilier oigamzauons win oe neipmg 10 uu mese
stockings. Last year, there were 500 stockings, but this year we want to have
600 stockings. This year, we want the project to be even bigger,” Kelly said.
We want to help as many children as possible. This will mean so much to
these kids; they deserve to have a nice holiday and gifts,” Kelly said.
Ginna Clark, who assisted with the project, added, “We can go to Wal-Mart
and spend $10 to fill a stocking. That’s not too much money to us, but it’s
awful amazing to think that it could make a child’s Christmas more special. It
will make them feel good, that someone cares.”
Sophomore Jana Haggard said she would be picking up a stocking to fill
this week.
“I love everything about the Christmas season, from the shopping to dec
orating and baking. When I was little, I used to get so excited that I’d be get
ting toys on Christmas. I wanted everything I saw on TV commercials,” Hag
gard said.
“For poor kids, Christmas can be kind of a sad time because maybe their
parents can’t afford to buy them presents. At least this is something I can do
to help,” Haggard said.
Participants will be provided with a list of appropriate stocking stuffers,
divided into age groups. For babies, needed items include small toys, teething
rings, rattles, canned juice, cereals and mobiles.
Gifts for small children include puzzles, storybooks and coloring books.
For older children, pencils, pens, markers, barrettes, watches, books, wallets,
cameras and music cassettes are suggested.
“The list was provided to help volunteers get started with filling the stock
ings. However, you can use your imagination. Remember what you found in
your stocking when you were young. Go to Toys-R-Us and have some fun with
this,” Kelly said.
Junior Michelle Holmes, a second-floor RA at McClintock, is encourag
ing her residents to get involved with the project.
“The girls were looking for ways to help out over the holidays. It makes
you feel good that you can make a difference in someone’s life. These kids will
have a better Christmas because of this. I think it will really brighten their hol
iday,” Holmes said.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hofcmail.com.
I-1
Movie Times
Dutch Square 14
Broad River and Bush Riv
er roads
(803) 750-3576
102 Dalmations - (PG) 12:00,2:15,
4:30,7:10, 9:20
Bounce-(PG-13) 12:30,2:50,
5:10,7:30,9:50
Charlie’s Angels - (PG-13)
12:20, 2:40,5:10, 7:40, 10:00
How the Grinch Stole Christmas -
(PG) 12:10, 1:30,2:30,4:00,5:00,
7:00,9:30, 10:10
The Legend of Bagger Vance - (PG
13) 1:10, 4:10,7:10, 10:00
Little Nicky - (R) 12:40,'2:50,4:50,
7:10, 9:20
Meet the Parents - (PG-13) 1:50,
4:30, 7:20, 9:50
Men of Honor - (R) 1:20, 4:20,
7:00, 9:40
Red Planet - (PG-13) 4:20, 9:50
Remember The Titans - (PG) 1:40,
7:25
Rugrats in Paris - (G) 12:00, 1:50,
3:4, 5:40, 7:35, 9:25
The Sixth Day - (PG-13) 1:00,
4:10,7:20, 10:05
Unbreakable - (PG-13) 12:00,1:00,
2:30,4:00,5:10,7:00,9:30, 10:10
Columbiana Grande
(803) 407-9898
Bedazzled - (PG-13) 10:30, 1:05,
3:30,5:40,7:45, 10:10
Billy Elliot - (R) 11:45,2:10,5:00,
7:35, 9:50
Blair Witch 2 - (R) 10:45, 1:55,
4:20, 7:25, 9:30
How the Grinch Stole Christmas -
(PG) 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 1:25,
3:00, 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 8:00,
9:30, 10:20
The Legend of Bagger Vance - (PG
13) 10:30,11:30,1:15,2:00,3:50,
4:30,6:50, 7:30, 9:25, 10:15
Little Nicky - (R) 1:10,3:15,5:25,
7:40, 9:50
Men of Honor - (R) 11:15, 1:50,
4:35, 7:20, 10:00
Pay it Forward - (PG-13) 12:40,
4:10,6:55,9:40
The Sixth Day - (PG-13) 11:05,
1:35,2:05,4:15,7:05,9:35,10:25
Unbreakable - (PG-13) 10:15,
12:30, 1:15,3:00,6:05,8:00,9:00,
10:20
Wynnsong 10
5320 Forest Drive
(803) 782-8100
How the Grinch Stole Christmas -
(PG) 1:30,4:00,7:00, 9:15
How the Grinch Stole Christmas -
(PG 12:30, 2:45,5:00, 7:45
Pay it Forward - (PG-13) 2:00,
4:00, 7:00, 9:15
Red Planet - (PG-13) 1:00,
4:15,7:00,9:15
Red Planet - (PG-13) 1:30,
4:00,7:30
Remember The Titans - (PG) 2:00,
4:30, 7:00, 9:15
The Sixth Day - (PG-13)
2:00,4:30,7:15,9:45
The Sixth Day-(PG-13) 1:00,
4:00,7:30,10:00
U n b r e a k a b 1 e - ( P G - 1 3 )
1:30,3:45,6:00,8:15
Unbreakable - (PG-13) 12:30,3:00,
5:15, 7:30,9:45