The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 12

16 THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1999 ENTERTAINMENT Jones says she'd host Secret-crush A STEINWAY FOR YOUR EFFORTS CANNES FILM FESTIVAL A few guests if r. C. fj show as are missin Namely: Darth, Cruise and Kidman bins's film is about a left-wing theatre company trying to stage an anti-capitalist play in 1937. It stars Susan Saran-don, John and Joan Cusack, John Tur-turro and Vanessa Redgrave. All About My Mother: The always-interesting Spanish director Pedro Almodovar presents an offbeat tale about motherhood.

No One Writes to the Colonel: Mexican Arturo Ripstein's film is based on a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel about an impoverished colonel awaiting his pension. I I 1 1 DONNA PETROZZELLO New YorkDailyNews YORK Though still reeling tnm a $25-million verdict against her sfiow, Jenny Jones said she'd consider hosting a same-sex secret-crush show again. Jones defended her right to do the Show, and said the verdict that found the Jenny Jones Show guilty of negligence in the shooting death of a guest who taped a secret-crush show in 1995 made her feel like a scapegoat for the puhJfc backlash against TV tabloid 3lk shows. She angrily said that during the six-week civil trial opposing lawyer Geoffrey Fieger "obscured the facts with other stuff, and made the case about talk shows in general" The family of the late Scott Amedure won' its landmark civil lawsuit Friday in Pontiac, against the show's producers and distributor. The suit charged them with negligence for inviting Amedure to reveal his secret crush on Jonathan Schmitz, a self-described heterosexual.

The program was taped but never broadcast. Amedure, 32, was shot to death three days after he taped the show in March J995. Schmitz was convicted of his kijrder but the verdict was thrown out on a technicality and a retrial has been scheduled for late August so confident the jury irouldnot make a connection between te murder and her show that she relucted daily settlement offers from Fieger, who represented Amedure's family She said that after the furor over the killing and the trial subsides, she would like to tape another secret-crush (how, possibly involving people of the The Emperor and the Assassin: Chinese director Chen Kaige, of Farewell My Concubine fame, goes back to the year 300 BC to recount the birth of his country. Starring the famed Chinese actress Gong Li. Also featured will be Israel's first entry in 25 years, and, out of fcfr JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press CANNES, France There should be plenty of stars ambling along the famed boardwalk at Cannes this year.

But a few others will be sorely missed. Namely: Darth Vader, Yoda, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Neither the long-awaited new Star Wars movie nor Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick's final film, will be on the bill when the 52nd annual Film Festival kicks into gear today Not for lack of trying. Festival head Gilles Jacob asked for both films, but was turned down a victim, he says, of Hollywood's desire to save its splashy openings for U.S. shores.

Jacob especially wanted Eyes Wide Shut, a tale of jealousy and sexual obsession starring real-life couple Cruise and Kidman, and he asked Kubrick about it before the director died in March. But the movie will open in the United States, on July 16. As for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace clearly the film event of the season, Cannes notwithstanding "the producers feared it might make them lose viewers in the United States," Jacob told a French film magazine. "I don't understand this attitude," he said. The film opens May 19, and you can bet the world of cinema will not be focusing on Cannes that day.

Of the four American entries in the main competition, only one, John Sayles's Limbo, is described as a big studio film. The love story set in Alaska stars David Straithairn and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Among other films generating buzz: Felicia's Journey: Canadian Atom Egoyan, who directed the highly acclaimed The Sweet Hereafter, is back with a film about a 17-year-old girl's search for her real father. Bob Hoskins stars. The Cradle Will Rock: Tim Rob- David the jury.

ANDRE PICHETTE, GAZETTE The Montreal Symphony Orchestra's music director, Charles Dutoit (left), and pianist Yefim Bronfman admired the orchestra's new Stein-way grand piano on the stage of Salle Wilfrid Pelletier in Place des Arts yesterday. The Hamburg-built instrument, a gift from the Montreal-based Greek Friends of the Arts, was unveiled yesterday, and is expected to become the piano of choice for artists performing with the orchestra. "One of the best pianos I have played on in years," said Bronfman, who gave it its first public workout last night. Dutoit praised the piano for its unusual sustaining power at low volumes. competition, the first film from the tiny country of Bhutan.

Though the official selection lacks big-budget Hollywood productions, such fare will be available out of competition. Ron Howard's EDtv, not a big success in the United States, will be screened -no doubt an effort to draw some needed overseas attention. Films like EDtv have nothing to lose, because they already have opened back home. Primary Colors made a trip to Cannes for the same reasons last year. But the producers of big-budget Hollywood films may have learned a sobering lesson about unveiling their movies at Cannes.

Last year, parts of Armageddon were shown here to the foreign press, drawing derisive laughter clearly not what the film-makers were aiming for. Martin swivels to top with his new CD i fEventuaUx I think we will do another secret-crush show again," Jones said; She bristled at Fieger's labeling some guests as "freaks." VThere is a misperception out there that talk shows exploit their guests, but nothing could be further from the truth," Jones said. Holland SI lilmswith II 5W" KU! ouapi ayer Ml fffsJAZZ; Continued from Page B5 Jnovative guitarist Tim Brady and ijorpnjo's 16-piece band NOJO are among the participants in the Jazz Cbntemporain series (nightly at 9 p.m. at Salle Beverly Rolph Webster), which should feature some interesting names fo those looking for the Jazz in the MAKE YOUR CAR GO FASTER Sell it by advertising in Gazette Classified, Montreal's largest classified section. Call 987-2311.

a 1995 dance hit. That attention to success occasionally lapses into Jon Seca-da-like sappiness, particularly on the droopy love songs You Stay With Me and She's All I Ever Had (also featured in a superior Spanish version). The latter was co-written by Secada and also features the faded singer on background vocals. For the most part, though, Ricky Martin is ablaze with his trademark sexiness. Livin' La Vida Loca, is a perfect introduction to Martin's sound -wailing, enthusiastic vocals and a nonstop barrage of sounds, including '60s-tinged guitar licks and spy-movie riffs.

That swaggering confidence carries over to a few of the album's other high-energy numbers, including the breezy and tropical Spanish Eyes, an ode to a mysterious dream girl; and Shake Your Bon-Bon, which generates considerable heat despite its cutesy title, thanks to Martin's confident delivery and the irresistibly catchy lyrics. On his Spanish-language discs, Martin often played the part of hopeless romantic. He continues the trend here, teaming up with Swedish labelmate Meja (It's All About The Money) on Private Emotion, a sparkling, hopeful ballad that seems destined to pop up on a summer movie soundtrack. More adventurous is the soaring I Am Made of You, which Martin says reflects his much-publicized search for spirituality, but the album's best cut -unsurprisingly is the lush and atmospheric Be Careful (Cuidado Con Mi Corazon), Martin's duet with Madonna. Producers Madonna and Orbit wrap the song in silky electronica grooves accented by flamenco guitars as the singers gently coo bilingual lyrics.

JOEYGUERRA Houston Chronicle Could there be a person in a better position for world domination (besides George Lucas) than Latin heartthrob Ricky Martin? Martin was already an international superstar before his hip-swiveling, career-boosting performance of The Cup of Life at February's Grammy Awards, where he also took home the best Latin pop performance trophy for his 6 million-selling Vuelve album. After that electrifying night, Martin's publicity machine cranked into high gear. Madonna and the rest of the English-speaking world-soon came calling. Now, the former Menudo member is poised to sprint ahead of pop's current crop of teen idols 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys with Ricky Martin (C2 RecordsColumbia), his confident and energetic English-language debut album. Besides high-profile appearances on MTV and Saturday Night Live, Martin's first English-language single, Livin' La Vida Loca, has already hit No.

1 on the pop charts. An impressive crop of producers was assembled for Ricky Martin, including crossover guru Emilio Estefan Robi Rosa, Desmond Child (best known for his work with Bon Jovi and Aero-smith), Walter Afanasieff and William Orbit, the moody mastermind behind Madonna's Ray of Light. The album reflects that diversity, showcasing hot Latin percussion, blaring guitars and horns and emotive power ballads. Everything, however, seems geared for maximum radio play The album even includes Spanglish remixes of The Cup of Life (featured in a better, pulsing version on Vuelve), and Maria, ijTheJazz Dans la Nuit series (11 p.m., NOW PLAYINQI LQUEltPUcTl fsW-EUsTTACHE I filT-BHOWO ng'evFicTDin DIGITAL SOUND CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES FOR SHOWTIMES I I 1 .11 i ih ft Rightly at Theatre du Gesu) should al-spdo the trick, featuring 25-year-old vi-hraphonist Stefon Harris in a performance with ever-rising sax star Greg Qsby. Also in that series is Dave Holland, who has played with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny Hol-bndperforms with oud player Anouar fSraham.

Montrealers will be celebrating the lxpected reunion of local show-stoppers Me, Mom and Morgentaler, converge from around the conti-ratffpr one sure-to-be hot, sweaty and Icfcout night at Metropolis for the se-fipss Rhythmes Volkswagen, which features nightly shows at Metropolis at i' British trip-hop duo the Herbaliser play, Metropolis with the full band that University, CECEP and high school graduation announcements are now being accepted for a special section appearing in The Gazette -on Saturday, June 12. iiilii BE THERE OR BE ARE Kouiounes Electnques tor two ex- sive nights at last summer's festi- o11srh familiar namoc lilro It A FULL-COLOUR KEEPSAKE This year, the graduation announcements will be printed offset in full colour for added clarity. FIVE COMPLIMENTARY COPIES of The Gazette will be delivered to I tL 20th Anniversary buow Le Corona Theatre. 2490 Notre Dame West Saturday, May 29th, 8 pm your uour on we uay ui puuiiLdiiun I AUTOMATIC ENTRY IN A DRAW FOR A WATCH VALUED AT UP TO $1 .795 Brown, caro "'vlI. jfijess.

LlNEA Irom tne chary Richard and, again, Gino Van-Qetlju'are featured in the Voix du MQhde series (nightly, 9 p.m., Spec-topi), Swedish lounge reinventor Jay jr jjohanson livens things up with his mellow jazz crooning and ur-teap-hopedge. lfpiisbing up that series is Montreal wo music maven Lilison di Kinara, rhp Js joined by Portuguese Quebe-CoiseSad jcjkets are on sale for previously announced performances by Cassandra Wijson who will open the festival with a guest-filled tribute to Miles Davis rj as well as Canadian jazz singer Diana. Krall, saxophonist Branford Maf salis, Dave Brubeck and Brazil's Velo80, among others. 'jUetsforthe rest of the above-men-mned performances and more go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Spectrum, Shown above: actual size of announcement 3 2 COST $128.70 plus tax Includes colour photo, name and 3 lines of text; $2.86 for each additional line or 10-line minimum without photo E3AUME fvlERCIER MAfnies HOHLOQEM DCPuli 1130'QINfVK Rules available at The Gazette.

Any dispute concerning the awarding ol prizes in this contest may be submitted to the Regie des alcools. des courses et des teux. How to order: Please type or print your announcement clearly, together with your billing address and daytime phone number. Mail to: The Gazette, 250 St. Antoine St.

W. Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3R7 Att: Classified Dept. Or fax to: (514)')7-2300. For more information, call (514) 987-2311 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Monday to Friday, des Arts and all Admission out- can be made by phone filing (514) 790-1245or (800) 361-4595. Box Offieti 931-2088 Admission Outlets! 700-1245 For $10 more, you can have your announcement placed on our Web site! Proceeds to CdAD Kids' Fund 7Tt frodMd schedules of the indoor perfor-njimfestor Montreal's 20th Internation-at Jazz festival are available now. On the Internet, go to www.montrealjaz-zfest.com. The schedule for the festival's frei outdoor concerts will be revealed in fane. NAT RAIDER PRODUCTIONS mwdWfcl.Jtm.t lHWI.Hi! www.mcauilan.com.