Claire Danes is a delight in 'Shopgirl'

By Gabrielle Wiegand - Feature Writer

If you love Steve Martin, you will adore “Shopgirl,” a film he starred in and wrote based on his novella of the same title. However, if you aren't a Steve Martin freak and have any kind of film analyzing skills whatsoever, you will probably think “Shopgirl” is merely okay.

Mirabelle (Claire Danes of “The Hours” and “My So-Called Life”) works at the glove counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in L.A. Originally from Vermont , Mirabelle is as old-fashioned as her name and the clothes she wears. A struggling artist, Mirabelle keeps to herself and leads a rather bleak and lonely existence, until two very different men enter her life.

Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman of “Rushmore”) is a freakishly hairy artist who is grossly immature and uncultured. Mirabelle's loneliness draws her to Jeremy if for no other reason then to have someone hold her. But then Mirabelle is suddenly and dramatically swept off her feet by a wealthy bachelor in his fifties. Steve Martin (“L.A. Story,” “Roxanne”) who plays Ray.

In what attempts to be a look at modern day romance, Mirabelle must navigate the world of dating an emotionally unavailable man who assures her he wants nothing serious while still allowing his heart (and hers) to become involved. Sadly, while it has its high moments and bright spots, “Shopgirl” comes across as Steve Martin's overactive fantasy life.

He is oddly endearing at times in his protective nature towards Mirabelle, but most of the time I just got the feeling that his real life was not going the way he wanted, so he wrote a novella and subsequent screenplay just so he could live out his fantasy of dating a drastically younger woman.

When describing the film, Martin says, “I think one of the main ideas in “Shopgirl” is that when you play with other people's hearts, and there's no way out of this, people get hurt. Even with honesty, there's no way you can influence the outcome or the effects that someone is feeling inside a relationship.”

And “even with honesty,” I cannot tell you that this movie was overly enjoyable. About four times during the film, Martin does some narration of Mirabelle's internal dialogue. It was totally unnecessary, inconsistent and he did a horrible job of it. I have heard more animated people reading the movie times on movie phone.

To be fair, there was some witty dialogue and several humorous moments when I actually chuckled. While most of Martin's acting seemed forced and unnatural, Danes was an absolute delight. The movie might have been entirely unwatchable if not for her. She personified everything about Mirabelle's sweet and unassuming character while still being slightly mischievous and funny.

Another bright spot of the film was Anand Tucker's (“Hilary and Jackie”) directing. The shots were cut in a relevant, yet almost random fashion that helped the audience understand exactly what Mirabelle was feeling.

Tucker explains, “My vision for “Shopgirl” was primarily to have the audience feel as much as possible what it's like to be inside of Mirabelle. To do this, I attempted to interpret the stages of Mirabelle's journey through the prism of how the camera moves around her, what sort of movements it does, what the color design around her is like, as well as using the music, the focus, the depth of field—all of these—to reveal her inner state.”

While I found several problems and inconsistencies with “Shopgirl,” overall it was OK. “Shopgirl” runs 116 minutes and is rated R for some sexual content (meaning I saw a little too much of Claire Danes) and brief language.

Grade: B-

Check out the movie rental places in Springfield

By Gabrielle Wiegand - Feature Writer

So tonight, you want to stay in. Maybe you had a wild night last night. Maybe you just don't feel like changing out of your pajamas (hey, I am not judging!). It's the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a pint of chocolate chip ice cream and the latest new release you didn't think worthy of spending $8 to see in the theaters. But where to go to rent your movie? Who has the best deals? The widest selection?

The movie rental chain with the most locations throughout Springfield is Family Video. Family Video has six locations: 1802 N. Grand Ave. (217-744-2050); 930 W. Jefferson (217-744-2090); 2919 S. Sixth St. (217-528-0955); 1614 S. MacArthur (217-789-4815); 3201 W. Iles (217-698-5770) and 2701 W. Lawrence (217-793-7716). They are open 10 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year (because people like to watch movies on Christmas Day too).

Family Video has your typical selection, with the back wall being mostly new releases and an assortment of older movies and classics. Unlike the other movie rental places I will mention, Family Video has a special room dedicated to adult videos, which I cannot help but think it mildly funny since the name is Family Video. But then again, who am I to determine what a typical family is?

Most of the newer rentals at Family Video are $2.50 and can be kept out for one night only. Other films are $2.50 for five days and some older one are $2 for one night. It depends on the films, how long they have been out, and if there is a special on any of them. For new renters, the limit of films you can rent at any one time is two new and two old films, four total.

Another movie rental possibility is Hollywood Video. All of their three locations are open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to midnight- 1722 E. Sangamon Ave (217-523-6860) with a Game Crazy on the premises (217-528-4053); 2930 S. Sixth St (217-525-2133), also with a Game Crazy (217-528-8171); and 2661 Chatham Rd (217-698-1138).

All new releases at Hollywood Video at $3.79- pricey, yes, but all rentals are for 5 days. Old DVDs are $1.99 and old VHS tapes are $.99. You are limited to 10 rentals at a time, and with such a wide and diverse selection, it is easy to hit the 10-film mark. Hollywood Video has the usual new releases and classics, but they also tend to have a nice variety of foreign and art films that you cannot find everywhere. So stop watching “Napoleon Dynamite” and rent a film with subtitles! It is a good growth experience.

Lastly, Blockbuster has two locations in Springfield- 100 S. Chatham (217-698-1938) and 2427 Stevenson Dr. (217-585-8319). Both locations are open Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. So if you are dying to get your hands on a copy of “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” some Thursday at 11 p.m., don't go here.

Blockbuster's film selection is typical and rental prices are nothing to write home about. DVD rentals are $3.49 and VHS tapes are $.99. About 90 percent of all Blockbuster's films are week-long rentals and there is a limit of nine film rentals at a time.

However, Blockbuster does have a movie rental option that makes them unique. It is called Blockbuster Online. You pick the DVDs you want to see from their 40,000 titles, they mail them to your home, you watch, return when you want (no late fees!) using the pre-stamped envelope they provide. Once you have mailed in the DVDs you watched, they will send you new ones off your list.

Blockbuster Online has three plans. For $17.99, you get three DVDs at a time; for $14.99 you get two; and for $9.99 you get one. They have limited plans that restrict you to a maximum of four rentals per month or unlimited rental plans. You also get two free in store rentals each month when you are subscribed to Blockbuster Online.

But the originator of online DVD rentals is Netflix. Netflix's program is the same as Blockbuster (even the rental plan prices are the same) so really it is just a matter of personal preference if you are going to go the online DVD rental route.

Happy at home movie watching!

'The Sea Inside' rocks the boat

By Ron Felten - Columnist

As part of Student Affairs' ongoing Independent and Foreign Film Series, 2004's “The Sea Inside,” which is based on a true story and won an Academy Award for best foreign language film, will run Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the Brookens Auditorium. Admission to this event is free and open to the public.

“The Sea Inside” stars the accomplished Javier Bardem as Ramon Sampedro, a middle-aged quadriplegic man who was paralyzed in a swimming accident in his youth. After nearly three decades of lying in bed, able to perform the most basic of tasks only with help from his dedicated and loving (though not always supportive) family, Sampedro decides that only death will satisfy him. “I want to die,” Sampedro says, “because life for me in this condition – life like this has no dignity.”

The Spanish government, however, has other ideas. After he is informed of the illegality of assisted suicide, Sampedro embarks on a journey for justice. A lawyer, Julia (brilliantly played by Spanish television star Belen Rueda), agrees to work on his case pro bono, although it is soon revealed that she has a bit more invested in the outcome than we're first led to believe.

Sampedro and the happily married Julia quickly fall for one another, though their relationship teeters between being blissfully platonic and romantically passionate, which paradoxically makes things even more complicated while also helping everything to make sense. The two compliment one another almost perfectly; theirs is a love that transcends physicality.

There's truly a lot to like about this film. The cinematography is breath-taking (the movie's opening moments will absolutely captivate you), the tones are cold but moving and the acting – especially by Bardem – is second to none. Bardem perfectly captures Sampedro's charismatic charm, not to mention his wonderful sense of humor, and makes “The Sea Inside” an unforgettable experience.

Alejandro Amenabar wrote and directed the film, and at least as much credit that is owed to the actors should go to him. Amenabar was personally inspired by Sampedro's real life struggle and, after studying the man's journey, decided this film was one he simply had to make.

Amenabar delicately balances Sampedro's struggle (his determination to end his own life) with love, humor and brutal honesty. The issue at the core of this film, after all, is one's right to die. Yet, while death may be the motivating issue of the drama, “The Sea Inside” is anything but a dark film.

One of the funniest exchanges is between Sampedro and a priest, Padre Francisco, when the latter, who is also a quadriplegic, visits the former at home. The two exchange philosophical jabs with one another from either end of a winding stair case (neither of the men can climb the steps) in a scene reminiscent of something from “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” The unflappable Sampedro wins the debate, of course, and smugly goes back to listening to recordings of Wagner and composing poetry. (The real Sampedro actually did publish a book of poems, by the way, entitled “Letters from Hell,” which is also depicted in the film.)

As funny and charming as “The Sea Inside” can be, the film does not lose sight of its message. Sampedro, through his interactions with various friends and relatives, insists that one at least has the right to end his own life if he is both not happy and is of no service to others. Like the Denzel Washington film “The Hurricane,” “The Sea Inside” is one of those rare movies that somehow manages to blend complex and important social issues with superb, touching film-making.

Bardem's Sampedro is painfully convincing and effectively demonstrates how a seemingly happy man can hurt so much inside that he wants to die. When one of the characters in the film mentions to Sampedro how much he seems to smile, Ramon replies, “When you can't escape and you depend on others, you learn to cry by smiling.”

So, does Sampedro get his wish by the film's end? I hate to be such a tease, but you'll have to attend Friday's showing of the film to find out.

UIS Theater program debuts 'Oedipus the King' last friday

By Janee Mitchell - Feature Writer

“Oedipus the King” made an interesting debut on Friday at the UIS theater. The play had a unique design with an interesting choice in futuristic wardrobe and a great, creative scene. The scene of a play is very important, especially when the scene does not change and all the drama, excitement and tragedy of the play occurs in the same setting.

The play had an excellent Greek scene that, like most brilliant scenes, would have added an extra notch to the play. Instead of enhancing the play, however, the play was diminished by the scene because of its futuristic clothing choice.

Director Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson said, “the issues of loyalty, leading with the use of fear and mass devastation are issues in the play which speak very loudly to today's world.” Perhaps this is why he chose a futuristic theme.

Although the futuristic theme was an interesting theme it did not match the Greek background that normally screams for matching apparel. For the play to really have an effect, there should have been a scene set in a mansion or some other futuristic setting. You can't set the future in the past without some complications.

The language choice of the play only added to those complications, speaking in an ancient language while wearing clothes of the future confuses the viewers, but had the scene and apparel been a match for each other the speech would not have mattered. Well, with the exception of Joshua Doetsch's, portraying Oedipus the king of Thebes , tasteless use of the word “bitch.”

Doetsch, in portrayal of Oedipus, used the phrase “singing bitch” to refer to the sphinx, but the delivery did not have the intended effect. The phrase was delivered in Oedipus' angry moment yet Doetsch showed no change in tone or expression and delivered the line as if it were uneasy to say. If you are going to use a curse word in any play no matter what the topic, you have to deliver it with an emphasis or at least in the intended tone, not as if it were forced from you.

Although the play had some mismatched aspects of scene, language and wardrobe, each aspect may have been unique on its own. This was a very fiery and interesting version of Oedipus and there were some great actors and actresses. The talents of Myaa Fallon portraying Jocasta, Roger Boyd portraying Creon and most of the chorus members were evident in every scene.

Fallon exhibited a remarkable stage presence and when side-by-side with Doetsch in a scene, she enhanced his role as well. Her expressions matched the mood of the play and her tone and demeanor would have won her an Academy Award. One of her castmates, Boyd, also shined with his diction and delivery of lines. Although he portrayed Creon, he would have been well suited for the role of Oedipus.

The play added a realistic touch with the fake blood on Oedipus as he walked out after having gouged his eyes out, when learning that his fate had come back to haunt him. In perhaps the best scene as Oedipus, Doetsch made a dramatic bloody interest as some very talented criers in the chorus kept the mood of the scene in tact.

This was a good version of Oedipus the king and perhaps with some changes in the scene and more practice in line delivery the play would be a huge success. Perhaps next time the play should be on a bigger stage so audience members will not see the actors climbing through the balcony row where a pretend door should be. Maybe a curtain to hide that sight from the audience would have sufficed. Nonetheless, the play was very interesting and fun to watch. The cast did a great job with the space and materials they had and should be commended for their efforts.

Claire Danes is a delight in 'Shopgirl'

Check out the movie rental places in Springfield

'The Sea Inside' rocks the boat

UIS Theater program debuts 'Oedipus the King' last Friday