The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 08, 2005, Page 8, Image 8
MOVIE REVIEW
Pacino perfects Shakespeare’s Shy lock
“Merchant of Venice”
★★★out of ☆☆☆☆☆
By TAYLOR SMITH
THE GAMECOCK
Adapting Shakespeare to film
has traditionally been a difficult
task for even the most
experienced directors, but
Michael Radford has succeeded
in bringing William
Shakespeare’s inherently anti
Semitic “Merchant of Venice” to
the big screen, with big success.
Set before the turn of the 17th
century in a Venetian culture
where the Christian tradition is
dominant, it is near impossible to
read Shakespeare’s masterpiece of
alienation and vengeance without
realizing how poorly Jews were
treated. To avoid the eminent
anti-Jewish stamp that it would
have been garnished with in
today’s society, Radford prefaced
the opening scene with three
scenes to explain the historical
and societal hatred the Christians
held. Consequently, this step took
away from the film because of the
predisposition probably 75
percent of the viewers took into
the film after reading the work.
The preface created a crutch for
the treatment of Shylock (A1
Pacino) throughout the film aftd
l : '
thus did not convey Shakespeare’s
creative purpose for the
antagonist as a pious crook, but
rather a helpless usurper.
Despite the lack of effective
context, the film does an
outstanding job of making one of
Shakespeare’s more complex
plays understandable to a modern
cinematic audience. This feat is
done through the steady and
consistent acting supplied by
some of the key characters'.
Antonio (Jeremy Irons), Bassanio
(Joseph Fiennes) and Portia
(Lynn Collins). Perhaps the
performances of Irons and
Fiennes are expected (considering
they are both British), but both
adopt the Elizabethan script
exceptionally well and make use
of what were originally scarce
stage directions by fixating on the
synergy between a modern actor
and his stage props. Texas-born
Collins seems to struggle with
Portia’s traditional image as
authoritative, but redeems herself
when Portia must dress as a man
to serve as “fair and upright”
judge at the trial of Antonio’s
forfeited bond to Shylock.
At 65, Pacino is concluding
one of the most diverse careers in
the movie business, but someone
has forgotten to tell the Oscar
winner because his performance as
perhaps Shakespeare’s most
memorable villain is nothing short
of riveting. Although almost
unrecognizable, Pacino adopts the
appearance and persona of a
pious, but oppressed, Jew who
helps a Christian to end up
destitute while losing another dear
possession to a Christian. Shortly
before the trial of Antonio, Pacino
delivers the most important
monologue (“Hath not a Jew”) of
the work better than any actor
before him. It is the other actors
and the director’s historical
meandering that hurt this film.
Without Pacino’s incredible
performance, this film would have
failed like other international
adaptations of the classic.
With solid acting and probably
the best playwright in the history
of the world behind it, the film
also manages to impress the
modern viewer with exceptional
form. The cinematography is edgy
in segments, but in all reveals
seamless editing and congruent
action. Perhaps most
underappreciated is the film’s
score, which departs from the
mega-studio orchestras and goes
straight to the heartland of Italy
with rich and passionate vocals
and sweet violin that will serenade
any viewer/listener.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockfeatures@gum.sc. edu
Cookbook gives busy students recipes
to turn junk food into gourmet meals
By LUCY KAFANOV
KRT CAMPUS
Face it: In between cramming
for exams, slaving away at an
internship and waiting tables,
college doesn’t leave much time for
cooking.
In fact, if it weren’t for your
busy school schedule, you
probably never would have
considered Ramen Noodles and
Beef Jerky as acceptable meal
replacements.
But just because you’re scarfing
on a deadline and budget doesn’t
mean that you can’t throw some
gourmet flair into your
microwavable or canned culinary
creations, according to the authors
of “Mini-Mart a la Carte: Tasty
Recipes for the Convenience Store
Connoisseur.”
witn elegant recipes ror
upgraded junk classics like POOP
on a Pringle (Pringles, smothered
with bean dip, garnished with
Vienna sausage wedges) or the
more upscale New England SPAM
Chowder (fried SPAM, mixed
with cream of potato and cream of
celery soup, garnished with
pepper, milk and potato flakes),
your friends will never have reason
to complain about your lack of
culinary imagination. All you need
is a short trip to your local mini
mart, a can opener and a
microwave (also available for your
use at most mini-marts), and
you’re on your way to kicking your
junk food diet up a notch to the
gourmet level.
Artist/waiter Victoria Traig and
musician/waiter Christopher
Rouser are both self-taught experts
in the art of convenience cuisine,
and start you off with a variety of
easy-to-make appetizers, snacks
and sides.
There’s the Chicken Wings
Cordon Bleu, which involves
wrapping sliced ham and
American cheese around baked
chicken wings in a mouth
watering Franco-Yankee creation.
Or the Pigs in a Poncho, which
consists of hot dogs drenched with
Kraft Easy Cheese and wrapped in
taco-sized tortillas, garnished with
a complimentary packet of taco
sauce from the condiment bar.
Advanced mini-market
connoisseurs can try their hand at
the Trojan Horse, a work of
a hunk of SPAM into a horse,
hollowing out the inside, and
stuffing it with chunks of Velveeta
cheese. The six-pack of Olde
English malt liquor in the back of
the photo indicates that certain,
extra substances may be necessary
to appreciate the taste of this dish.
The main courses require a bit
more effort, but with tasty
creations like the SPAM
Wellington (golden . Bisquick
pastry wrapped around a chunk of
roasted spam and smothered with
deviled ham spread) or the Chef
Boyardee Blitzkrieg (six cans of
Chef Boyardee pasta and hot dogs,
thrown together into a
microwave), you’re guaranteed to
impress everyone from dates, to
moms, to roommates.
And if your sweet tooth is
feeling neglected, Traig and
Rouser give you 19 tasty recipes for
unique desert treats. Try the
Banana Nicole Smith, which
consists of a pint of vanilla ice
cream, a can of whipped cream,
banana flavored Laffy Taffy
candies and maraschino cherries.
Or create your very own edible
Aquarium, populated with gummy
fish that swim happily in your
delicious Berry Blue flavored Jell
O waters.
Yet the most fascinating section
consists of some very unique
beverage recipes. There is the
Cheese Smoothie (milk, cottage
cheese, Cheez Whiz and crushed
ice) and the Thousand Island Iced
Tea (let’s just'say that vodka, rum
and gin are combined with what
you might use to garnish your hot
dog). The big daddy of them all is
the Pink of Health, which
conveniently gets you smashed
while fighting hangovers and
heartburn: Pour Smirnoff Ice into
a glass full of ice, add a splash of
Pepto-Bismol, stir and, um, enjoy?
While teaching you innovative
ways to approach Mini-Mart
gastronomy, this book is full of
colorful photographs by mini
mart photography specialist, Kate
Kunath. The book also includes
mini-mart etiquette sections that
provide advice on anything from
when not to prepare your meals in
the store (stay away until the
after-school candy rush dies
down) to the proper way of
gambling without stepping on
customer and store clerk toes
(decide in advance which scratch
offs you want and step aside while
scratching off so as not to hold up
the checkout line).
■ ALIVE
Continued from page 7
switched to vocal jazz instead.
Carolina Alive performs a fall
and spring concert every year, as
well as gigs around Columbia. The
choir has also performed at the
state American Choral Directors
Association.
“It’s a different kind of concert
than you’d normally come to, but
it’s a really fun concert, interactive
with the audience,” Nevitt said.
“It’s really laid back.
It s a really fun night that II
keep you on your toes.”
The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
in School of Music 206.
Admission is free.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu
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Sales don't come along very often at Cobalt, the Main
Street boutique with the biggest selection of high end
denim in Columbia.
But from April 6-12, we are celebrating our first
anniversary with a Spring Blow Out. Everything in
the store is at least 40 percent off. Some of our winter
merchandise is discounted even more.
We are overstocked, so our problem is your gain.
Come to Cobalt and see how much better you will
look in clothes the movie and rock stars wear.
CLOTHING FOR MEN & WOMEN
1633 Main Street
(across from theJapps Building)
www.cobalt27.com
New Movie Releases
“FEVER PITCH”
“SAHARA”
For the weekend of
April 8
illllllll
_Dutch Square Mall /
Movies Times
Robots 1:30 3:50 7:10 9:25 ;
Sahara 1:20 4:10 7:20 10:00
Hitch 1:50 4:20 7:00 9:30 I
Beauty Shop 6:50 7:20 9:10 9:50 I
Upside of Anger 1:15 4:10 7:20 9:55
Miss Congeniality 2 1:15 3:50 7:00 9:30
Ice Princess 2:00 4:50 7:30 9:50
The Ring TWO 2:00 4:40 7:30 10:00
Sin City 1:30 4:20 7:30 10:00
Fever Pitch 1:30 4:20 7:00 10:00
The Pacifier 1:40 4:10 7:15 9:20
Guess Who 1:50 4:30 7:30 9:50
Hostage 1:20 4:30 7:15 9:40
_Carmike Cinemas 14 /
Movies Times
Sahara 5:00 7:00 8:10 10:45
Hitch 1:15 4:10 7:00 9:50
Beauty Shop 5:50 7:00 8:15 9:30
Are We There Yet? 1:30 4:15 7:15 9:40
Because of Winn-Dixie 1:20 4:20 7:10 9:40
Miss Congeniality 2 1:30 4:15 7:00 9:35
The Ring Two 1:30 4:15 7:30 10:00
Million Dollar Baby 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:95
Sin City 4:45 7:00 8:00 9:45
Diary of a Mad Black Woman 1:10 4:10 7.15 10:00
The Pacifier 1:15 4:00 7:10 9:45
_Cnhimbiana Grande_
/ Movies Times
Robots 1:45 4;00 7:45 10:00
Constantine 1:05 4:05 7:05 9:50
Be Cool 12:55 4:15 7:35 10:15
Sideways 1:10 4:10 6:55 10:05
Bride and Prejudice 12:40 3:05 6:45 9:20
Ice Princess 2:45 5.05 7:25 9:45
Hotel Rwanda 12:45 4:35 7:20 10:10
Fever Pitch 7.00 7:30 9:30 10:00
Guess Who 6:30 7:50 9:00 10:15
Hostage 12:50 3:50 7:10 9:55
The Wedding Date 12:35 2:50 6:50 9:35
Downfall (Der Untergang) 1:20 4:40 7:30
__Regal Cinema 7_
Movies Times
Sahara 1:20 4:15 7:10 9:55
Beauty Shop 2:20 4:55 7:30 10:05
Upside of Anger 1:10 4:10 7:05 9:45
Miss Congeniality 2 2:25 4:40 7:25 10:00
Ice Princess 2:35 4:45 7:15 9:35
Sin City 7:00 7:20 9:50 10:10