Thursday, April 6, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B • Page 5
movies
High Fidelity deserves high praise
John Cusack stars as record-shop owner Rob Gordon, and Iben Hieje is his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend Laura, in Touchstone Pictures' biting romantic comedy High Fidelity. Contributed photo.
By Todd Halstead Special to the Kansar
High Fidelity is a character-driven comedy that examines the bleak period immediately following a break-up. It details how the end of a relationship can cause one to question all previous relationships and why various partners feel a need to leave.
It also looks at how powerful pop culture is in our lives, as the main character directly asks the audience during a moment of introspection, "Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable, or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?"
High Fidelity follows the romantic exploits of Rob Gordon (John Cusack), a 29-year-old slacker and owner of Championship Vinyl, a Chicago record store. The store provides Rob with a marginal existence and no room for growth as a person. He prefers to spend his days discussing music with his two employees, Barry and Dick (played by a hilariously obtrusive Jack Black and a passive Todd Louiso). The three are musical elitists who thrive on mocking and antagonizing the store's infrequent customers.
The movie opens with Rob's latest girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjelje), packing her bags because she has
High Fidelity
Acting: A
Writing: A
Cinematography: A
Sound: A
Overall: A
grown tired of his lack of ambition. This precipitates Rob to compile a top five list of all-time break-ups — which he dies that Laura is part of. The list triggers a series of flashbacks that go all the way back to grade school. Through these remembrances we discover Rob's deep sense of nostalgia and his obsession with knowing why girls leave him.
Laura's refusal to return to Rob causes him to look up the girls in his pantheon of lost loves in an attempt to discover why women will not stay with him. He gets few answers that satisfy him, and the ones that he does get are usually less than appreciable. Rob also has a fling with a local folk
Matters worsen for Rob when he discovers that Laura left him for their old neighbor Ian (Tim Robbins). Robbins is excellent as a new-age guru who thrives on conflict resolution. His character epitomizes the image that every man has of their ex-girlfriend's new mate.
Adapted from Nick Hornby's novel of the same name, High Fidelity resembles any number of Cusack's past films. It could almost be a continuation of his Lloyd Dobler character from Say Anything. It was penned by the same team, including Cusack, who wrote Gross Pointe Blank. But unlike its predecessor, it has few truly upoarious scenes. The most humorous of which include Rob envisioning Ian and Laura in countless sex positions straight out of the Kama Sutra, or himself and his lackeys beating Ian senseless.
musician, played by an underused Lisa Bonet. This, however, only strengthens his resolve to get back with Laura.
Black and Loisou steal every scene in which they appear —almost a Laurel and Hardy of the record industry. Anybody familiar with the music duo Tenacious D will know that Black is a comedic genius who often finds his talents
High Fidelity, however, is smart and witty, and the acting is excellent. The movie is strengthened by terrific cameos from Catherine Zeta Jones and Lily Taylor as Rob's ex-girlfriends. Bruce Springsteen also shows up in one of the film's more surreal scenes.
misused (The Jackal), but here he is pure gold.
Louiso is the perfect foil to the boisterous Black. His characterization of a passive record store geek is perfect. He resembles any number of drips walking around Massachusetts Street in
But it is Cusack and his audience-directed monologues under the direction of Stephen Frears (The Grifters) that make High Fidelity one of the top five break-up films of all time.
thrift-store clothing with a satchel hung over hunched shoulders and limp arms.
movie listings for friday
American Beauty — A deceased man tells his tale of how he turned his miserable life around and turned everyone else's upside down as a result. Playing at Southwind 12, 3433 Iowa St.
American Movie — An independent film maker from Wisconsin has dreamed of becoming a movie director and writer. The movie follows him through his attempt to make his dream feature film. Playing at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St.
Beyond The Mat Heartfelt documentary focusing on the lives of professional wrestlers and how their sport is not fake. Playing at Plaza 6, 2339 Iowa St.
Boys Don't Cry — The story of the life of Teenna Brandon, a transgender youth who preferred life in her male identity as Brandon Teena. Playing at Plaza 6.
Clder House Rules — A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world. Playing at Plaza 6.
Ein Brockovich — A research assistant helps an attorney in a lawsuit against a utility company blamed for causing illnesses in a small town. Playing at Southwind 12.
Final Destination — Visits of his friends in a plane crash causes a young man to try to protect his companies from a young death. Playing at Southwind 12.
Here On Earth — A prep school boy falls in love with a gift from the other side of the tracks, only to discover that she has a terminal illness. Playing at Southwind 12.
High Honor
Holy Smoke — A young Australian woman travels to India and joins a cult. Her family attempts to recondition her with a cult specialist. Playing at Liberty Hall.
High Fidelity — See review at left.
**Mission to Mars** — When the first-manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors. Playing at Southwind 12.
The Ninth Gate — A rare book dealer seeks out the last two copies of a demon text that draws him into the middle of a supernatural conspiracy. Playing at Plaza 6.
My Dog Ship — A shy boy grows up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved, dog, Skip. Playing at Southwind 12.
**Rear Window** — A re-release of Alfred Hitchcock's thirtier in which a bed-ridden photographer witnesses a murder out his rear window. Playing at Liberty Hall.
The Road to El Dorado — Two swindlers get their hands on a map to the fabled city of gold known as El Dorado. Playing at Southwind 12.
Romeo Must Die — A young Chinese businessman in New York is asked to broker peace between two mobs, but when he falls in love with the daughter of the other side's leader, things start to fall apart. Playing at Plaza 6.
The Sixth Sense — A boy who communicates with spirits who don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist. Playing at Plaza 6.
The Skuls — Two students enter a secret society at Yale, only to realize that they may have taken on more than they bargained for. Playing at Windward 12.
Three Strikes — A man who was recently released from prison finds himself falsely implicated in a crime that could send him to jail for life. Playing at Plaza 6.
*Whatever It Takes* — A modern-day remake of the Cyrano de Bergerac tale. Playing at Southwind 12.
The American Jazz Museum, The Gem Theater Cultural & Performing Arts Center, Inc. the Lied Center of Kansas, and the State Ballet of Missouri present
JAZZTRAIN Friday, April 7 & Saturday, April 8 8:00 p.m. at the Lied Center of Kansas
Additional JazzTrain Project Event:
Cari Allen and Vernon Reid in Concert
Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts
Lawrence
Combining Donald Byrd's choreography with newly commissioned music and live performances by Max Roach, Vernon Reid, and Geri Allen! Don't miss this SPECTACULAR EVENT! For tickets or more information, please call the Lied Center Box Office at (785) 864-ARTS or call Ticketmaster at (785)234-4545 or (816)931-3330
allegra BORDERS HALL CENTER
texofenadine HCI book+music+care for the Humanities
All tickets half price for students www.ukens.edu-lisd
Lied Performance Fund
Buy One Get One Free
MAC
NATIONAL
FOUNDATION
KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION
APIS
Nordstro m
INTERVIEW SUITS
EASTON'S
Wallace-Reader's Digest Arts Partners Program for their support of this project. A KC150 project
E LIMITED
FREE TAILORING WITH PURCHASE
839 MASS. 843-5755
Kansan Classified
Personale
115 On Campus
120 Announcements
125 Travel
130 Entertainment
140 Lost and Found
105 Personals
110 Business
205 Help Wanted
225 Professional Services
225 Typing Services
300s Merchandise
305 For Sale
310 Computers
315 Home Furnishings
320 Sporting Goods
325 Stereo Equipment
330 Tickets
340 Auto Sales
345 Motorcycles for Sale
360 Miscellaneous
370 Wanted to Buy
405 Real Estate
410 Condos for Sale
415 Homes for Rent
Real Estate for Sale
416 Rooms for Sale
440 Sublease
443 Lease
KANSAN CLASSIFIEDS:
864-4358
Classified Policy
The Kansas will not knowingly accept any advertisement for housing or employment that discriminates against any person or group of persons based on race, sex, age, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, nation-
preference, limitation or discrimination.
Our readers are hereby informed that all jobs and housing advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.
alty or disability. Further, the Kansas will not knowingly accept advertising that in violation of University of Kansas regulation or law. (Courts)
100s Announcements
Looking to stay in LawernceY EMPLOYMENT
MARKET JAY 1st floor 8am - 2pm,
Lawernce Front Plaza, 7pm -
Lawernce. Resume help available. Informative,
with interviews and applications available.
Fair Housing Act of 1968 which makes it illegal to advertise 'any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such
Student organizations earn $1,000-$3,000 with the campus campfundraiser.com three hour fundraising event. No sales required. Fundraising dates are filling quickly, so call today! Contact campfundraiser.com, (888) 923-2338, or visit www.campfundraiser.com.
120 - Announcements
Fraternities * Sororities Student Groups
New Company looking for seven great people to fill part time/full time and also management positions. Excellent $$$ and bonuses. Call Niki McKee on (804) 627-3569. Innovation Change is Good!
200s Employment
120 - Announcements
205 - Help Wanted
make $150-$200 per night, no experience necessary.
call 860-749-8168 ext. 275
Full summer maintenance needles for
34th and Nalaimiun. Apply at 1201 W.
24th and Nalaimiun.
Please recycle your Kansas
warehouse and your Friends' ars
reading it.
Please recycle your card
Keep the campus beautiful!
205 - Help Wanted
Full time summer move-in consultant needed for large apartment community. No experience necessary. Apply at 1301 W. 24th and Naismith. Household Mowers PT./FT. Must be grad. student, experienced or athletic. Good appearance, own car, phone, license. $8-$12 hr. Tom 749-5073. $100.00 pay. 5 male models needed for one time broadcast TV run-way demonstration wearing medical briefs. Please send photo to TV audio; 618 Kentucky, Lawrence KS 66044.
Attendant care needed: Responsible, trustworthy
young female needs to assist man with spinal
disability in normal morning routine. Will
train. Call Rye 814-782-9055, 9:30am-7pm.
Jim Glark Motors seeking person for janitorial duties. Full time, part time and summer positions available. Must be 18 years of age. Please apply in person, ask for Darin Denning.
Like music? Pipeline Productions needs a graphics intern to design posters, ads, etc. for concerts. Must be available through the summer. Please call Kelly @ 749-3655 for details.
205 - Help Wanted
Models wanted for fine art gallery quality photography project. Call James at 79-5628 and Sally at 79-5630.
Camp Staff positions avail. At Girl Scout summer camps in Northern AZ. Camp Counselors, Program Specialists, Riding Counselors, June 1-August 1. Aug 8-10. 1-800-393-8289 web. apache.org
HALFLEEVE JOBS TO $11.00 PER HR. INC. BENEFITS, GAME WARDENS, SECURITY, MANNEVANCE, PARK RANGERS, NO EXP NEEDED.
8AM-5PM EST $28.00 per hour $18-$35.00
8AM-5PM EST 7 DAYS (includes $11.00)
Mgmt, Co. leasing agent, PF during school, FF this summer; experience a plus. Must have reliable transportation. Send resume w/ 3 references to P. Box 223, Lawrence, KS 60044 or www.mgmt.edu
fast growing property mgnt. firm seeks a full time leasing consultant. The successful candidate will be motivated, dedicated and hard working at 3001 st. 4th. st. or for returns to 841-3819.
Free golf. Golf Course part-time & full-time maintenance and equipment operator & horticulturist positions avail. Starting as soon as possible. Apply in person at 400 Country Club
205 - Help Wanted
Camp Wood YMCA, Elmalee, KS, is seeking Energetic Summer Camp Counselor to lead our after-school leadership. Must be 19 or older. Call Cleri for more information at 318-763-2841 or e-mail campwoodyma@gmail.com
Apprentices for organic vegetable and flower farm near Lawrence. We need energetic people capable of hard but pleasurable physical work. Flexible hours till mid-May, then mornings all summer. Call Dan or Lynn, 748-0959, growin4market@earthlink.net.
GFA POSITION FOR 2009-2011: Supervise ug students - teachers in an early intervention program on campus, 59% appt., salary plus tuition reimbursement. Must be degree-seeking grad student, have experience with young children. Full job desc. at IDFEL. 4001 Dole, or call 864-0720.
IMEDIATE training for a Warehouse Worker on KU campus, 29-30 hours per week, 40 hours per week during summer. Must have a valid Kansas Driver's License. Apply in person at Mid-America Concessions, Memorial Stadium, KU, across from gate 40. M- F 11- 8 and 2- EOE
POSTAL IOBS TO $14.5M/HR. INC. BEENFITS,
NO EXPERIENCE. FOR APP, AND EXAM
INFO. CALL 1-800-613-3855, EXT 2658, 8-A-M-
7 DAYS fts. inc.
205 - Help Wanted
Babybatter need May 31 Aug 15, 12 noon-6pm
M-F 1 child. Need B32 8349 048
The Lake of the Orsak's Summer Employment: The Barge Floating the Restaurant is accepting applicants for a variety of jobs, including cook and hostesses. Excellent salary and tips. Som food furnished. Housing is at the lake.
apply early. Call Frank at 573-365-5788
PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY!
Top Bay's Sports Camp Maine, Counselors
teach/couch all sports; ITennis, Basketball
Baseball, Heckey, Waterfront, Ropes, BAM
dance, Golf, Yoga, Soccer, Volleyball
(884-388-0898 or apply at www.campedar.com)
Lawrence Country Club is now offering exe-
cent employment opportunities for spring sum,
full and part time positions. Application
are currently being accepted for: bartender
drink cart drivers, wait staff, golf course man
person in a44 Country Club TERrace EOE
Must have M-F daytime availability.
Prior experience in fine dining preferred.
PACHAMAMA'S WORLD CUSINE
Now accepting applications for service staff
Please apply in person at 210 Quail Creek Drive. No phone calls, please.