THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012
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MOVIES
EXCESS HOLLYWOOD Review
ASSOCIATED PRESS
After a terrible shipwreck, young Pi (Suraj Sharma) must befriend a hungry Bengal tiger named Richard Parker in Ang Lee's spiritual epic "Life of Pi."
'Pi'a poignant parable
Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is a visually resplendent celebration of storytelling as a means of catharsis and survival. It's also the best argument for 3D cinema to come along since James Cameron's eco-epic "Avatar" stuck its digital ponytail in our collective eveleholes back in 2009.
However, while Cameron's film labored under the weight of its own technical extravagance, "Life of Pi" is more like a cinematic walkabout, an intimate spiritual journey where the added dimension beckons the audience into the story rather than simply leaving them outside to gawk. It's uncommon to find a film so aware and alive to the immersive possibilities of the format.
A gorgeously mounted prologue introduces us to Pi (Suraj Sharma), a young man living in the former French Indian territory of Pondicherry with his jookeeper parents and sheepish older brother. An inquisitive youth desperate for a higher purpose, Pi decides to hedge his bets by converting to Hinduism, Christianity and Islam simultaneously, mashing them together and praying to see the face of God reflected in the shards. Instead he sees Anandi (Shravanthi Sainath) a beautiful dancer who soon tears his mind away from religious matters.
Their blossoming romance is cut off at the stem when Pi's father announces that he's moving the entire family to Canada in order to avoid complications over the
impending bankruptcy of the zoo. While crossing the Atlantic, the Japanese freighter carrying the family sinks in the midst of a horrible malsestrom. Only Pi manages to escape, stranded in a lifeboat with no one for company but an assortment of escaped zoo animals, including a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, a matronly orangutan and a ferocious Bengal tiger saddled with the decidedly blase moniker Richard Parker.
From there "Life of Pi" transforms into a sort of freeform moral parable, as Pi struggles to domesticate the increasingly ravenous Richard Parker, who alternately becomes the young man's hunter, savior, scourge and salvation. The big cat himself is the movie's most special effect, a seamless blend of CGI and flesh-and-blood trained tigers. Pi's interactions with Richard Parker also inform the movie's most fantastic sequences, particularly a nighttime hunt for incandescent fish and a living island populated entirely by roving swarms of, no kidding, meerkats.
Lee wisely chooses not to assign
explicit meaning to the majority of these scenes, allowing the viewer to offer up their own interpretations or simply reflect on the on-screen cascade of wildly imaginative, emotionally charged images. Sharma, in his first film role, commands the screen in a way seldom managed by amateurs.
Not everything works. The main plot is hampered with sporadic narration from an older Pi (Irrfan Khan), who's relating the story to a curious novelist (Rafe Spall). These flash-forwards, perhaps a necessity on the page, throw off the story's forward momentum and the concept is justifiably abandoned for much of the second act. It's a shame screenwriter David Magee didn't spend more time ironing out the kinks in these scenes, especially since Khan's quietly assured performance is arguably the best in the movie.
CONCERT
Regardless, "Life of Pi," adapted from the supposedly "unfilmable" 2001 novel by Yann Martel, remains a powerful statement on the ideals of myth, one that takes full advantage of the 3D format without skimping on the storytelling essentials. See this one on the biggest screen possible.
Edited by Madison Schultz
A BAND IN KANSAS PERFORMS
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
From left to right; bassist Nick Patrick, drummer Brian Scheideman, guitarist and lead vocals leermy Spring and guitarist Bradley Foster of Abandon Kansas, a band from Wichita, preform at the Alpha Gamma Delta house for their Living Room Tour 4 on Wednesday, Nov. 28 night. Abandon Kansas formed in 2005 and are currently signed to Gotoe Records.
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
PRESENTS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
88TH ANNUAL VESPERS a holiday tradition since 1924!
TICKETS: $12.50/general admission $10/students and seniors Purchase tickets at the Lied Center Box Office 785-864-2787.
*KU students with a valid ID FREE to 7:30 PM performance!
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The University of Minnesota
MUSIC.KU.EDU
MOVIES
Pitt packs a slow, hard punch
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brad Pitt stars in "Killing Them Softly" based on the 1974 novel "Cogan's Trade," by George V. Higgins. The movie first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and will be released in the United States on Friday.
"Killing Them Softly" isn't exactly the kind of film from which you'd expect a lesson in economics. On the surface, it's an artsy crime flick about a couple of amateur goons (Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn) who hold up a high-stakes card game and the resulting backlash as mafia enforcer Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) fiercely goes about setting the situation straight.
But those who read between the lines will realize that the poker games, the gangsters and the contract killings represent things like Wall Street, American workers and the bailout. This is much more than a brutal, character-driven mob drama — it's a full-on allegory for the 2008 financial crisis.
Writer/director Andrew Dominik isn't exactly subtle about letting viewers know this. Character conversations about how the economic situation has affected them all and Jackie's powerful speech proclaiming, "America isn't a country. It's a business," smartly personify this point. But the real news reports, presidential speeches and Senate arguments about this topic that sporadically play in the background on TVs and radios throughout make it feel kind of heavy-handed.
The opening credits sequence is ballis enough to jarringly and immediately defy any expectations of a mainstream crime picture while setting the stage for an angry ride. The dark sense of humor simmering throughout the movie becomes readily apparent in the beginning, and then the actual robbery tips the tone towards a more
serious, meaner arena.
Dialogue-heavy scenes showcasing the impressive breadth of talent from an excellent ensemble cast are interspersed with occasional outbursts of extremely bloody violence. This results in somewhat passive pacing, particularly during an admittedly intriguing but loitering subplot about an out-of-town hitman (an irascible James Gandolfini) who can't bring himself away from his drinking and hookers to get the job done.
An insanely slow-motion car crash execution midway through stands out as the breathtaking, gorgeous sequence that won't soon be forgotted, and the bleak, suspenseful third act sure hits with a wallop. As Jackie tracks down the heist perpetrator, he gives him a difficult opportunity to redeem himself.
Pitt can play an aggressive, intimidating tough guy better than most actors, and watching him calmly chew up his opponents is quite
satisfying. McNairy really builds a likable screen presence, and with both this and his "Argo" role, he should be on his way to leading man soon. Ray Liotta and Richard Jenkins give solid performances as usual, but Mendelsohn — better known for playing formidable criminals — steals all his scenes as a drugged-out, mouthy bum.
The thought-provoking allegory doesn't completely resonate and come together until after the film is over, but what keeps this movie in your head is then figuring out all the layered meaning. While Dominik is pretty overbearing in the delivery of his message, to his credit, he packs it with a slow-boiling punch.
FASHION
— Edited by Sarah McCabe
CALLAN REILLY creilly@kansan.com
Stay updated on holiday style
It's the most wonderful time of the year, and that means that equally wonderful attire is crucial. Family gatherings, holiday parties and delicious meals all call for non-stop photo, ops, which means you've got to be on your best fashion behavior.
Your recent holiday apparel has most likely resulted in something along the lines of sweaters, modest dresses, tights and boots. Ring a bell? I urge you to focus less on giving to others this year and focus instead on your own 2012 holiday attire.
Perhaps previously boring approaches toward winter event wear has been sparked by the sad fact that you're most likely surrounded by family members, neighbors and other boring old people. Think the elderly can't handle high fashion? That's their problem. Happy holidays, guys!
This season has an abundance of prints and colors that are perfect
for the winter season. I recommend trying a statement print or fabric, such as metallic or baroque-patterned. These elements look best in pants, skirts and blazers. If you want to be slightly more subtle, try an all-white or cream outfit. And if anyone mentions the "No White After Labor Day" rule, make sure to alert them that rule is so yesterday. Other stylish colors include burgundy, emerald green and of course the ever-classic all-black option. Any clothing article works for these versatile colors.
As for the actual outfit, skip the loose-fitting belted dress and try something new. A matching suit set is one of my favorite holiday ensembles for this year. Don't panic at the sound of a suit: fashion-forward blazers with matching trousers, pencil skirts or high-waisted shorts are anything but boyish. Adding a pair of patterned tights or an oversized clutch will top off your outfit perfectly. Peplum skirts, tops or dresses will also do, as well as anything velvet, leather or floor-length. Combining any of these
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mixing whites with different shades of creams is a good tip to go by, just as this Proenza Schouler model displays.
elements gets you to the top of Santa's fashionable list.
So, happy Thanksgiving, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year to you fashionistas. This is your year, and your time to shine. Don't lose sight of what the holidays are really about — what you wear.
Attention All KU Students!
The KU Theatre is seeking
Actors for
Edited by Madison Schultz
Intimate Apparel a play by Lynn Nottage
Auditions: December 2 - 4, 2012
The University Theatre, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naiismith Drive
Performance Dates: April 3,4,5,7,9,10,11.2013
Open Call Audition
Open Call Audition
7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2, Room 354, Murphy Hall.
Callbacks
5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, December 3 - 4, Room 354, Murphy Hall.
To sign up for an audition time and get detailed information, go to www2.ku.edu/~utheatre.
The cast breakdown for Intimate Apparel includes 4 women and 2 men. Four of the roles are for African American actors.
Intimate Apparel, a personal and moving drama by Lynn Nottage, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for her play Ruined, is symbolically a tale of dreams and disappointments in the African American experience in the early 1900s.
Questions about the play or prory: contact Scott Knowles, director, scknowles@ku.edu, or Katherine Pryor, University Theatre managing director, kpyor@ku.edu.