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10 Things delivers lighthearted fun
10 Things I
Hate About You
Rating: B
The Kat's meow: Patrick (Heath Leadh) is recruited to woo the standoffish Katrina (Julia Siles) in 10 Things I Hate
by Brendan Walsh
Kansan movie critic
About You, a modern-day update of "Taming of the Shrew." Contributed photo.
The teen romance genre is very limiting. Affection has to be kept innocent, dialogue must be dumbed down, the actors have to be acceptably attractive, but not distractingly beautiful, drinking and smoking have to be discouraged, the prom is a crucial event, and the good guys must win in the end. Good movies can still be made within these limiting factors.
10 Things I Hate About You is very loosely based about Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew." Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) spends most of her time thinking vapid things and trying to hatch rides with the high school jock. Her sister Kat reads Sylvia Plath, argues with her teachers about feminist curriculum and listens to riot girl rock music. Bianca can't wait to begin dating, but her paranoid obstetrician father (Larry Miller) forbids it. at her pleadings, he finally agrees to allow Bianca to date, but only if Kat does.
Somehow this deal becomes public knowledge at school and the minions of guys that have been waiting to date Bianca cospire to find Kat a date. Though Kat is an attractive girl, her standoff attitude and individualism intimidate most guys. Eventually Bianca's suitors pay the noble Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to date Kat and thereby free Bianca.
and they are.
It's soon clear that Patrick and Kat are meant for each other, if only Kat doesn't find out about the payoff.
the audience's attention then turns to the idealistic French tutor Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and the obviously evil Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan), who compete for Bianca's affections. While Joey has the looks, the cool car and the popularity, Cameron offers a reliable Volvo and total devotion.
As in the vast majority of high school romance movies, the climactic moments occur at the prom, where one finds out whether the obviously correct pairing of Kat and Patrick occurs, as well as the results of the incredibly unlikely melding of Bianca and Cameron.
Julia Stiles starred in the recent NBC miniseries The '60s and will play Ophelia opposite Ethan Hawke in a forthcoming movie of "Hamlet." She has by far the most acting ability of anyone in the cast, and
with her pretty face, long legs and curly hair, she seems in line to replace the aging Noxema girl (Brebca Gayheart).
Poor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, better known as Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock From the Sun, was terribly
miscast as Bianca's beloved. He just isn't charming enough to compensate for his wimpy features and date the coolest girl in school.
Though terribly inconsistent (try not to gag at Kat's heart-rending sonnet at the end), 10 Things is one
of the better movies of its genre. Kat's character is compelling, though stereotypical, and the movie's humor reaches beyond the usual gross-out gags. The movie is wonderful, light-hearted entertainment.
Addictive pop abounds on local band's album
Ultimate Fakebook
This Will Be Laughing Week
Rating: B
By Matt Cox Kansan music critic
If any local band embodies the rock/pop genre, it's definitely Ultimate Fakebone.
Its new album, This Will Be Laughing Week, offers addicting pop melodies embedded in a modern rock foundation, similar to its debut album, Electric Kissing Parties
Ultimate Fakebook claims to be influenced by the likes of Cheap Trick and The Replacements, but its music is more fun and enjoyable. Lead singer/guitarist Bill McShane's vocals fly over a wide range, hitting low notes and high notes in falsetto, which adds an admirable flair to every
Contributed art.
song.
Soaked in Cinnamon is a casual love song that tosses the mind around in a rock
frenzy. McShane sings "Why do I feel soaked in cinnamon? Every time she touches me I choke, and her sugar sin gets hotter on my tongue."
The fact that McShane makes light of situations others take seriously offers a perspective that has a calming effect on an emotionally tired mind.
Of Course We Will is another slow tune about relationships not living up to people's dreams and expectations. The guitar notes violently oppose each other in some parts and then melodically come to an agreement to accentuate the sweet chorus. McShane sings, "You just can't let it get you down 'cuz that movie that's called 'Life Sucks' stars everyone and you're a bit part, girl."
The two gems on the album are She Don't Even Know My Name and Tell Me What You Want
She Don't Even Know My Name starts off
the album with Weezer-like guitar angst.
It's a story of him trying to get with a girl and having that one, last chance to connect with someone similar to himself. McShane sings, "And she wants to know why the world's so serious, cuz she don't know what for. Hope we fall in love before I wake up."
Tell Me What You Want offers the most in originality of chord progression on the album. The chorus screams '80s pop, but with more innovation because of McShane's vocal variety.
A Million Hearts, Little Apple Girl and Glitter & Glue don't live up to the standards set by the rest of the songs in style and the light-hearted feel, but they aren't terrible.
Other songs delight the ears, such as the sarcastic Brokyn Needle, the fashion-mocking Perfect Hair and the quasi-epic Real Drums.
Overall, Ultimate Fakebook has produced another great album that might win them more local music awards this year.
This week in entertainment history
The Associated Press
Entertainment highlights during the week of April 4-10.
week of April 4-10
30 years ago: Kirk Douglas starred in Champion, with Arthur Kennedy and Martin Maxwell.
40 years ago: The Academy Awards show ran short, and with 20 minutes of air time to fill, comedian Jerry Lewis suggested showing Three Stooges shorts. Lewis was kidding.
35 years ago: The Beatles held the top five positions on Billboard's Top 100 chart. Can't Buy Me Love was No. 1, followed by Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and Please Please Me.
25 years ago: Gene Hackman starred in The Conversation.
20 years ago: The Deer Hunter won five Oscars, including best picture and best director.
15 years ago: Terms of Endearment won five Oscars, including best picture and best director
A record 40 British acts appeared on the U.S. Top 100 chart.
10 years ago! The country-rock band Alabama was named artist of the decade by the Academy of Country Music.
Pepsi Cola dropped plans to run more ads featuring Madonna and her single Like a Prayer because of complaints and boycott threats about the religious imagery in a video for the song. Pepsi had no connection with the video, but consumers had confused the song and video and had complained to the company.
Five years ago: Charles Kurait hosted his last episode of Sunday Morning on CBS. Charles Osgood replaced him.
One year ago: Bob Keeshan, best known as Captain Kangaroo, was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.
Sald 10 years ago:
Said five years ago:
"I don't view myself as successful. I think of myself as lucy." — actor Tom Hanks.
"You either have it or you don't. I'm in the best possible position I can be in, because I have talent, a commodity I can sell, that I can ram down people's throats." — Actress Jadie Foster,
Said one year ago:
"I'm kind of a mediocre guitar player. But sometimes the earnestness of a soo guitar player doing their best sounds better than a fantastic guitar player being sloppy." — Singer Amy Grant.
For The Mod Squad star Omar Epps, it's Hollywood today, White House tomorrow
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Omar Epps is starring in The Mod Squad, but he has his eye on a role that would give him even more exposure.
"Watch, I'm going to be the first black president of the United States," he said. "If Reagan can do it, I know I can."
Epps, 25. isn't short on ambition:
He has a rap album scheduled for release later this year. He is also directing music videos and writing scripts for TV development.
His 10-year plan is a formidable one.
"I'll be a conglomerate. I'll have my multimedia company running. I'll be the new Miramax. ... So by the time I turn about 45 or 50, I'll run for president," he said.
Given Epps' track record, he has a pretty good shot at accomplishing his goals. A graduate of New York's prestigious High School of Performing Arts, Epps drew early acclaim in Juice, co-starring Tupac Shakur, followed by The Program, Major League II and Higher Learning, directed by John Singleton.
He gained more fans with his role in Scream 2.
Epps recently completed filming for Breakfast of Champions, based on the novel by Kurt Vonnegut and starring Bruce Willis and Nolte. He is also among a group of young actors, including co-star Ribisi, featured on the cover of the April issue of Vanity Fair magazine.
But Epps hit it big with his role as Linc in the film The Mod Squad, a remake of the popular TV series that ran from 1968 to 1973. The film, co-starring Claire Danes and Giovanni Ribisi, remains true to the premise of the original series — three juvenile delinquents given a second chance by working with the police department — but with a '90s spin.
Q. How is your Line different from the 1970s version played by Clarence Williams III?
Epps: Clarence Williams 'Linc was an icon, and you really can't prepare for that; you're already stepping into a character. So all I could do is open him up, and that's exactly what I wanted him to do, just let him be a bit more colorful, maybe smile a bit more. But there weren't very many opportunities because he's written like he's a certain guy. And when I watch the old stuff, I just try and keep the nuances of the character, and just take the rest from there. Q. What drew you to wanting to do a movie of TV series?
Epps: It was a great idea, but what got me excited was once Claire and Giovanni were attached. The opportunity to work with them, that's what put it over the top. I respect their work, but it's just an interesting mix. We respected one another's differences, and we see eye to eye,
and we just naturally got along, and you don't get that often. When you get that, it's like 90 percent of your work is done by showing up on the set.
Q. What sparked your interest in acting?
Epps: It all spawned from writing,
because I was a writer since I was 8
— poetry, plays, screenplays, love letters, music, whatever. Being a writer, acting came from just trying to emote off of the paper, and once I found a stage, that was it.
4. How did you get involved with ran?
Epps: I've been doing music for like nine, 10 years. I'm starting an independent label called The Label. The name of my album is *The Birth*. My music is me. That's my passion. It's not someone else's words I'm delivering, there's not a director's version that's not edited, it's me. This is what I come home and do each day.