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RESTAURANT REVIEW JENNIFER FREEMAN/THE GAMECOCK Tuscany’s serves up savory Italian entrees such as this pasta dish, Riso con Mare. This meal includes shrimp and scallops sauteed with tomatoes, scallions and white wine. Pricy fare worthwhile at Tuscany V Tuscany's Italian Grill and Bar ★★ ★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By BOBBY BROOKS and JENNIFER FREEMAN THE GAMECOCK With the lights dimmed, candles lit and. soft music playing in the background, Tuscany’s Bistro and Bar on Devine Street in Five Points is the perfect atmosphere for a romantic date. Tucked away off the street, it is easy-to miss, but well worth the venture. To start our meal, we shared the crab spread appetizer ($6). The spread was a pureed mixture of cream cheese, capers, garlic, crab meat and a crab base to intensify the flavor. This was served with toast points and was a light appetizer that piqued the interest of our appetite. The waiter also suggested the roasted-garlic, hickory smoked bacon and feta cheese spread ($6) for those who aren’t fans of seafood. After appetizers we sampled the salads, which are included with every entree. Bobby tried the house salad, which had a Catalina-like dressing. Jennifer had the Caesar, which was much better than most Caesar salads you find at restaurants. At many restaurants the dressing is bland, but at Tuscany’s it was tangy and everything Caesar dressing should be. Instead of ordering a random dish off the menu, we asked for the most popular dishes. Bobby had the Polio Tuscany ($16) — marinated chicken breasts sauteed in garlic and marsala topped with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, proscuitto and mozzarella cheese. This dish was extremely delicious with the cheese just melted on top. The proscuitto, which is basically an Italian ham, fiercely competed with the other flavors of the entree, almost overpowering the chicken. Anyone who does not like this meat should steer clear of this dish. Garlic mashed potatoes came on the side instead of pasta. The potatoes were good, but not the best Bobby had ever had. The glass of house chardonnay ($4.25) Bobby had with his meal was dry with a good, crisp flavor and was a great companion to the chicken. If you aren’t a connoisseur, Tuscany’s has a suggested wine listed with each entree item to make the choice easier. Jennifer tried the Riso con Mare ($18) — shrimp and scallops sauteed with tomatoes, scallions and white wine then tossed with Italian riso, or risotto. Served in the same style as a pasta dish with no side items, this seafood entree was definitely satisfying. After the appetizer and salad, Jennifer couldn’t even finish her meal, but was happy to take some home to share with her roommates. For a lighter version, our waiter suggested replacing the riso with angel hair pasta. It had a very strong seafood flavor, but if you like this sort of thing, it would be a good choice. The tomatoes’ flavor complemented the riso very well. The highlight of the meal was definitely dessert. We are not fans of tiramisu ($5), but when the waiter came out with the enticing dessert tray, it was a unanimous decision. Served in a dessert goblet, this tiramisu was the best we had ever tasted. The ladyfingcrs were topped with fresh whipped cream and dusted with cocoa powder. It was like an ice-cream sundae, but the ice cream had been replaced with ladyfingers. It was extremely delicious and the perfect end to our meal. If you aren’t in the mood for a big dinner, you should certainly stop by for some tiramisu and coffee. It’s a special treat that will not disappoint. Tuscany’s Bistro and Bar is an excellent restaurant for a date, but if you are looking for a casual meal or simple food, this isn’t the best choice. Lunch can be reasonable with smaller portions and lower prices to go along with the open-air dining experience provided by the sliding door in the front. Dinner can be more expensive, with entries ranging in price from $10 to $29. However, for that special occasion, it is well worth the price. Check out www.tuscanybistrobar.com for more information. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.se. edu MOVIE REVIEW Grace makes ‘Good Company ’ “In Good Company’’ Starring Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace ★★ ★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By MARJORIE RIDDLE THE GAMECOCK “In Good Company” brings the rising talent of Topher Grace and the charm of Dennis Quaid to the big screen in a coming-of-age comedy that ■ attempts to present big life questions but unfortunately leaves unsatisfying ambiguity in its answers. Topher Grace plays Carter Duryea, a 26-year-old who takes over the * advertising department for SportsAmerica magazine. Dennis Quaid is Dan Foreman, a dedicated family man who is demoted when Duryea is given his job. Duryea begins his new position at SportsAmerica with a failed marriage, which meets its demise because of his overzealous dedication to work. Void of any real life outside of his workaholic nature, Duryea latches onto Foreman and comes to admire Foreman’s antonymous dedication to family. Duryea especially notices Foreman’s college-age daughter Alex, piayea Dy ocanett jonansson. Fresh from his divorce after mere months of marriage, Duryea finds himself smitten for Alex and reluctantly pursues her. The inevitable complications ensue as Foreman confronts his new boss and daughter about their relationship. As the movie progresses, the ad department Foreman managed to maintain for more than two decades slowly begins to sink, and Duryea realizes he does not know quite as much as he originally thought. Thus the cliched soul-searching begins for Duryea, and he questions what success really amounts to. “In Good Company” provides just that — good company in great actors, but also underdeveloped relationships and overly mushy and predictable sentiments. Duryea and Alex meet, have a little chemistry, but the majority of the supposed relationship is insinuated. And while the main emphasis should be on Foreman and Duryea because their relationship represents the whole of the movie, the audience might like to see more of the extenuating interactions to more fully understand who exactly the characters are. In fact, other than Duryea and Foreman, the characters associate so little that even Foreman and his wife’s relationship seems a little too imposed, when it should be one of the main focuses because it is the core of Duryea’s admiration. For about’ th^ first hour, the movie promises to leave viewers with the anticipated warm, fuzzy feeling it supposes it will arouse but dissipates to lukewarm by its semi-antidimactic conclusion. As a grappling-for-life’s-meaning film, “Company” imparts good questions — questions Duryea and Foreman should answer, but don’t. Enjoyable enough, but “Company” slightly disappoints. The main reason to see this film is Grace’s good-ihtentioned but clueless portrayal of the 26-year-old workaholic who comes to appreciate what might be missing from his life and how to obtain it. While the movie ranks unsatisfactorily overall in its lack of enrapturing plot and character relationship development, Grace — combined with the consistent allure of Quaid — manages to win over audiences by capturing the essence of Carter Duryea through a steady dose of vulnerability and heart. Comments on this story? E-?natl gamecockfeatures@giLm.sc. edu ■ .. .«.* . v-.& “ „** - , y ' . ' PHOTO COURTESY OFTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS Dennis Quaid and his boss, played by Topher Grace right, appear in a scene from the film comedy “In Good Company.” London $210 Paris $218 Amsterdam $290 Rome $294 Many more Destinations available worldwide! Fares are round-trip. Taxes additional. Restrictions apply; fares subject to change.^ Study Abroad airfare Deals and Spring Break on sale...save NOW!!! IITRAVELCUTS 1-800-592-CUTS (2887) _Seethe wold your way Call or book online! Golden Globes set stage for Oscar front runners By DAVID GERMAIN AP MOVIE WRITER BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Golden Globes set up an Academy Awards rematch between Hilary Swank and Annette Bening, while Jamie Foxx firmed up his Oscar front-runner status. And a win for “The Aviator” gave Martin Scorsese the edge for finally coming away with a best-picture win at the Oscars. The Howard Hughes epic “The Aviator” was the big winner with three Globes, including best dramatic picture, but Sunday night’s ceremony was a split decision for Scorsese, who lost the directing prize to Clint Eastwood for the boxing saga “Million Dollar Baby.” The road-trip comedy “Sideways” was named best musical or comedy film, while lead-acting honors went to Swank for “Million Dollar Baby,” Bening for the theater farce “Being Julia,” Foxx for the Ray Charles film biography “Ray” and Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes in “The Aviator.” Clive Owen and Natalie Portman won supporting-acting honors for the sex drama “Closer.” Their wins were a bit surprising given that Morgan Freeman for “Million Dollar Baby” and Cate Blanchett for “The Aviator” had been viewed as more likely favorites. Foxx, considered the best-actor favorite for the Oscars Feb. 27, said backstage it was the best night of his life, winning the prize for his uncanny re-creation of singer Charles, who died last year. “It’s a beautiful thing for Ray and everything he leaves us,” said Foxx, who won for best actor in a musical or comedy. Foxx had a record three Globe nominations going into Sunday but lost the other two, supporting movie actor for Collateral” and TV movie or miniseries actor for ‘Redemption.” Bening won the musical or comedy actress prize for Being Julia,” playing a conniving 1930s stage diva exacting vengeance on the duplicitous men in her life. It was the first awards-worthy role Bening has had since “American Beauty” five years ago, when she was the front-runner but lost the Golden Globe dramatic prize and the best Ictress Oscar to underdc^ Swank for “Boys Don’t Cry.” Not wanting to jinx her Oscar chances, Bening sidestepped a question backstage at the Globes about what she would wear to the Oscars. “Trick question,” Bening quipped. Swank, playing a fighter whose life turns tragic, won the dramatic-actress Globe for “Million Dollar Baby.” She downplayed the potential Oscar rematch with Bening. “I don’t really see it as competition,” Swank said. “Annette’s amazing, and she was so gracious to me five years ago when we were both nominated. She gave me good advice and she was gracious, and she’s an inspiration.” “I think it’s just unfortunate that things are seen as winners and losers, because in the end, the performances all speak for themselves and make everyone, I think, a winner. I’m just honored to have my name mentioned with her.” The Vj lobes serve as the most prominent ceremony in Hollywood’s pre-game show leading up tothe_ Academy Awards. Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whose small membership of about 90 people pales compared to the nearly 6,000 film professionals eligible to vote for the Oscars. Yet the Globes historically serve as a solid forecast that helps set the odds for subsequent film honors. Golden Globe winners gain attention that can put them on the inside track for prizes from acting, directing and other filmmaking guilds — momentum often sticks with them right through Oscar night. “The Aviator” also earned Howard Shore the Globe for musical score. The award for best screenplay went to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for “Sideways.” In the TV categories, “Desperate Housewives” won for best musical or comedy scriesfc and “Nip/Tuck” was honored as dramatic series, beating “The Sopranos," ‘'24" and “I.ost." COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Natalie Portman won a Golden Globe in the best-supporting actress category for her role in the provocative drama, “Closer.”