National Post from Toronto, Ontario, Canada • 44

ARTS B22 NATIONAL POST, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 U2 gets a gig at a Dublin hotel and goes through the roof MUSIC BUSINESS Veteran Irish rock band U2 proved yesterday it could still draw a crowd as several thousand people jammed central Dublin to watch a rooftop gig. Fans, braving wind and rain, strained for a glimpse of their musical heroes as the band performed a selection of songs from its forthcoming album That You Can't Leave Behind. The gig, taking place 30 metres above street level on top of the Clarence Hotel, evoked memories of a U2 performance on a roof in Los Angeles 13 years ago. Police struggled to contain the crowd, which spilled into two of Dublin's main roads along the banks of the River leased this year, named after the decaying hotel. Earlier this week, Bono spoke with Paul Marlin, the Pi-nance Minister, at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Prague.

"He struck me as more than a money man actually, he had some vision about it," Bono said after their chat. "He found it to be nuts, I think was his word, that we are still debating the issue of debt cancellation, so I was grateful for him for that, and for sticking his neck out and getting in trouble with all the rest of the big shots here." Reuters, with files from The Canadian Press Liffey. A roar erupted as lead singer Bono saluted the onlookers, who could only see the foursome in silhouette, framed against a grey and cloudy sky. Not all spectators were pleased, though. "This is just total insanity," a U.S.

tourist said as she struggled through the crowd, lamenting that she could barely hear the music over the din of fans and traffic In 1987, U2 filmed the video of Where the Streets Have No Name on a roof in Los Angeles that was made to look like the nearby Million Dollar Hotel. Bono (centre in the picture) later produced a film, directed by Wim Wenders and re Can Boyz II Men make a comeback? Well, with at least 6 million fans out there, it shouldn't be a stretch public, especially if you have the opportunity." The group helped produce and write most of the first album, he said. "That's what brought people on to Boyz II Men, that's what got people involved." He added that they wrote most of the new album's songs and were heavily involved in the production because fans wanted them to go back to "when Boyz II Men was really, in all actuality, Nathan, Michael, Shawn, Wanya, and we had one producer that did the whole album." McCary said the essential question is: million copies. They stepped out of the music spotlight in 1997, following the release of their Evolution album. Is a glowing past enough to give them a bright future? Ask them, and Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris will say they don't know.

But in an interview the day before the album was released earlier this month, it was clear they were eager for an answer. "I just can't wait to get it out and just see people's reactions to it," said Stockman, who wrote Pass You By, the first single off the album. (The album is No. 7 on the National Posts chart on Page B19.) Stockman said there are more groups today and more emphasis on other musical genres, including hip hop, rap and al- successful even in the early 1990s, when the grunge sound dominated the radio. They walked a path that other groups have used for inspiration and taken to the current heights of boy-band mania.

Now the Boyz are back with Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya (Universal). The question is: Can they make a comeback in the teen-focused landscape their success helped create? As their popularity grew, Boyz II Men performed everywhere and worked with some of the industry's biggest producers and songwriters. Their 1991 debut album, Cooleyhighharmony, sold more than 12 million copies. It was followed by II in 1994, which entered the charts at No. 1 and eventually sold more than 16 By Deepti Hajela Before the Boys from the backstreet, before Sync or 98 Degrees, there were these boys: Boyz II Men.

Nathan, Michael, Shawn and Wanya. Four Philadelphia cats who have sold 34 million records worldwide over the past decade, thanks to their strong voices and tight harmonies. Along the way, the guys showed it was possible for a male singing group to be 'EVEN AT WIIAT WE CONSIDER TO BE OUR LOWEST POINT, WE SOLD 6 MILLION RECORDS' ternative. "We've never experienced the music industry like we've experienced it right now," he said. "So there's a lot of forces that surround us that will either make us or break us.

We just want to know our viability." Are people tired of teen pop and ready for a group that focuses, first and foremost, on singing? "That's up to the public to decide whether they're tired," Stockman said. "We don't control our own destiny. It's up to the people and the Most High to grant us that. That's all we can do, our best, which we think that we've done, and we just hope that folks hear it I wish we could be arrogant and say, We're gonna wreck the pop but we don't know." Boyz II Men realizes it's not easy to make a comeback. (Case in point: Anyone heard from En Vogue lately? Yes, the ladies have a new album, but it isn't on the charts and hasn't been getting much radio play.) Boyz II Men's hit single End of the Road (1992) stayed on top of the charts for 13 weeks.

One Sweet Day, a 1996 duet with Mariah Carey, reigned at the No. 1 spot for 16 weeks. But 1997's Evolution, while multiplatinum, didn't sell at nearly the levels of the group's other work, and the guys have said the creation of the album was surrounded by unpleasantness. So why come back? (Clearly a dumb question, gauging by the expressions on their faces when it was asked.) "The one thing about people who have ambition to do something, and that are doing things that they want to do, is that they're bred in it," Morris said. "It would be a sin and a wacky situation to just hold it to ourselves and not be able to give it to the G2 "Now that we're getting older, we want to know at this point, is it about Boyz II Men or is it about the producers?" The group is optimistic that a fan base exists.

"Just looking back to the Evolution album, we still, even at what we consider to be our lowest point, we sold 6 million records," McCary said. "If that's the floor for your low point, I think that's a great thing. So we still have a good flow with our audience and our fan base right now; we still have a core audience." Currently, Boyz is opening for Luther Vandross and plans to go out and promote the new album. When they do, it will be without McCary, who has scoliosis and will be taking a break in October. The Associated Press Iri AiviVMi WKS PICTURES' jiHWHpnvwifij 1 1 irriKru-ii iu uj.uir i.

I. I .1 ji.irT"".i.iii....uj-f:.'j..H'-iLM URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1 :20 2:30 BAIT 1:50 4:40 7:45 10:40 (AA) THX 4:20 5:15 7:20 8:10 9:50 10:50 (AA) THX DUETS 1:30 4:30 7:30 10:30 (AA) THE EXORCIST 1:10 4:10 7:10 10:20 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 (AA) THX THE WATCHER 1:40 4:50 7:40 10:45 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 2:00 5:00 8:00 10:50 (AA) INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS 12:50 THX 3:4 5 6:50 9:40 (F) WOMAN ON TOP 1:00 4:00 7:20 9:50 (AA) THE WATCHER 2:15 4:50 7:45 10:45 (AA) DUETS 1:10 3:50 6:45 9:35 (AA) NURSE BETTY 12:50 3:35 6:50 9:45 (AA) THE CELL 1:50 4:40 7:35 10:20 (R) BRING IT ON 2:00 5:00 8:00 10:50 (PG) POKEMON 2000 Mon.Tue 4:10 (F) THE ART OF WAR Mon.Tue 1:20 7:50 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 10:35 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT Mon.Tue.Thu 1:45 2:30 4:30 5:30 7:15 8:15 10:00 11:00 Wed 1:26 2:30 4:05 5:30 8:15 10:00 11:00 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS Mon.Tue.Thu 12:40 1:40 3:30 4:20 7:30 9:30 10:30 Wed 12:40 1:40 3:30 4:20 6:30 7:30 9:30 10:30 (AA) THE EXORCIST 12:45 3:45 7:00 10:15 (AA) BAIT 1:30 4:4 5 7:40 1.0:40 (AA) BEST IN SHOW Wed.Thu 1:20 4:10 7:25 10:10 (PO) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1:10 1:40 THE WATCHER 2:00 5:00 7:60 1 0:35 (AA) 3:50 4:30 6:40 7:20 9:20 10:00 (AA) THE CELL 2:10 5:10 8:00 10:40 (R) ALMUS I 1 I.W (AA) LHIIvKCN HUN 1 JU llal THE EXORCIST 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:20 (AA) THE ART OF WAR 4:15 7:15 10:15 (AA) BAIT 1:35 4:35 7:40 10:45 (AA) NURSE BETTY 1:20 4:10 7:10 10:10 (AA) BRING IT ON 1:50 4:15 6:50 9:30 (PG) 00 FOR 4 HOURS OF UNDERGROUND PARKING I MAX: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (IMAX 30) 1:45 3.00 4 15 8.30 (F) FANTASIA 2000 Mon.Thu 6:45 Tue 6:45 9:45 (F) MICHAEL JOROAN TO THE MAX (IMAX 2D) MOfl.Wed.Thu 5 30 9 45 Tue 5 30 (F) IMAX Advance Ticket Salee: 410.366-6069 Group Salaa: 416-925-IMAX (4629) MMWHmmi IMAX SPACE COWBOYS 7:30 10:30 (PG) WAY OF THE GUN 7:05 9:45 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 7:15 10:00 (AA) THE REPLACEMENTS 8:00 10:35 (PG) GLADIATOR 8:10 (AA) DUETS 7:00 9:40 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:10 10:10 (AA) THE CELL 7:20 9:50 (R) BAIT 7:25 10:15 (AA) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 7:50 (PG) BLESS THE CHILD 10:25 (PG) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1:10 2:10 3:50 4:50 7:00 8:00 9:50 10:50 (AA) BLESS THE CHILD liO 420 7:20 10:10 (PG) DUETS 1:10 4:10 7:10 10:30 (AA) HOLLOW MAN 2:00 5:00 7:50 10:50 (AA) NURSE BETTY 2:20 5:00 7:30 10:20 (AA) THE EXORCIST 12:45 1:30 3:40 4:40 6:50 7:50 10:10 11:00 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 12:45 1:40 3:40 4:30 6:40 iTHE REPLACEMENTS 1:40 4:50 8:00 11:00 (PG) WHAT UES BENEATH 1:20 420 720 10:30 (AA) COYOTE UGLY 7:00 9:30 (PG) DINOSAUR 1 :50 4:00 (PG) THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY 1:40 4:40 7:40 10:40 (AA) 7:40 9:50 1 0:40 (AA) BRING IT ON 1:50 4:30 7:10 10:00 (PG) GLADIATOR 2:20 6:00 9:30 (AA) POKEMON 2000 1:00 (F) THE ART OF WAR 1 :00 3:50 6:50 9:40 (AA) THE PERFECT STORM 3:30 6:40 9:40 (PG) ALMOST FAMOUS Mon.Wed.Thu 4:00 7:10 10:10 Tue 1:00 4:00 7:10 10:10 (AA) THX WOMAN ON TOP Mon.Wed.Thu 3:50 7:00 9:50 Tue 1:10 3:50 7:00 9:50 (AA) THX ALMOST FAMOUS Mon.Wed.Thu 4:50 7:50 10:45 Tue 1:50 4:50 7:50 10:45 (AA) NURSE BETTY Mon.Wed.Thu 4:10 6:50 9:40 Tue 1:20 4:10 6:50 9:40 (AA) BLESS THE CHILD Mon.Wed.Thu 5:00 7:45 10:40 Tue 2:20 5:00 7:46 10:40 (PG) X-MEN Mon.Wed.Thu 4:40 7:25 10:00 Tue 2:10 4:40 7:25 10:00 (PG) BAIT Mon.Wed.Thu 4:20 7:20 10:20 Tue 1:30 4:20 7:20 10:20 (AA) THE WATCHER Mon.Wed.Thu 4:30 7:40 10:30 Tue 2:00 4:30 7:40 10:30 (AA) CHICKEN RUN Mon.Wed.Thu 4:15 Tue 1:40 4:15 (PG) GLADIATOR 8:15 (AA) GODZILLA 2000 Tue 2:15 (PG) HOLLOW MAN 4:45 7:30 10:15 (AA) IMAXi CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (IMAX 3D) 2:15 3:15 5:30 8:30 9:45 (F) FANTASIA 2000 12 30 6 45 (F) MICHAEL JORDAN TO THE MAX (IMAX 2D) 4:15 (F) MMOUt Funu IMAX IMAX Advance llcKel sales: uroup saiea: 4ib-a-iiA i a a I J- rf," fw' Sri iaa iaMM I air ill aWaf aaaa 11 I fli'laaaaa-. vi w.iimiiiiH.Hi.M;.VMn NURSE BETTY 1:10 3:50 6:45 9:50 (AA) DUETS 1:25 4:25 7:25 10:35 (AA) THE ART OF WAR 4:15 6:56 9:55 (AA) THE CELL 1 :1 5 3:50 6:50 9:50 (R) THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY 2:30 4:55 7:45 10:25 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 1:45 4:45 7:55 10:55 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1:10 2:10 4:00 5:00 7:00 7:45 10:00 10:50 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 1:00 2:00 4:10 4:50 7:10 7:50 10:10 10:45 (AA) BAIT 1:30 4:40 7:40 10:30 (AA) THE EXORCIST 1 20 4:30 7:30 10:40 (AA) BRING IT ON 1:40 4:35 7:35 10:15 (PG) DISNEY'S THE KID 1:35 (PG) ALMOST FAMOUS 12:45 2:10 4:00 5:05 7:00 7:55 10:00 10:50 (AA) THE EXORCIST 1:50 5:00 8:00 11:00 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 2:00 4:30 7:50 10:30 (AA) THX BAIT 1:30 4:20 7:20 10:40 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1:00 3:45 7:10 9:40 (AA) DUETS 1:35 4:45 7:46 10:45 (AA) WOMAN ON TOP 1:55 4:15 7:30 10:10 (AA) BRING IT ON 12:50 3:30 6:40 9:15 (PG) THE CELL 12:40 3:15 6:30 9:10 (R) THE WATCHER 1:20 3:40 7:15 9:45 (AA) THX AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 8:15 (PG) CHICKEN RUN 4:40 (PG) POKEMON 2000 (F) THE ART OF WAR Mon 5:40 10:55 Tue.Wad.Thu 3:00 5:40 10:55 (AA) WAY OF THE GUN 1:45 7:25 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 10:20 (AA) HiiroirrraTiTrci 2Ei THE EXORCIST 12:30 3:50 7:10 10:10 (AA) THX URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1:00 3:40 BRING IT ON 1:30 4:10 7:30 1 0:30 (PG) DUETS 1:40 4:40 7:50 10:40 (AA) WOMAN ON TOP 1:50 4:20 6:50 9:30 (AA) CHICKEN RUN 5:20 (PG) THE ART OF WAR 2:20 8:10 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 10:50 (AA) 7:00 10:00 (AA) THX URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 2:00 4:30 00 11:00 (AA) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 10:25 (PG) BLESS THE CHILD 9:10 (PG) COYOTE UGLY 8:20 10:45 (PG) HOLLOW MAN 6:30 (AA) NURSE BETTY 7:40 10:20 (AA) SPACE COWBOYS 7:35 (PG) THE CELL 8:10 10:50 (R) WAY OF THE GUN 7:25 10:10 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 7:50 10:35 (AA) X-MEN 6:50 9:20 (PG) THE EXORCIST 7:30 10.40 (AA) THX URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 8:00 10:30 (AA) THX ALMOST FAMOUS 7:10 10:00 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:00 9:30 (AA) BAIT 7:20 10:15 (AA) BRING IT ON 7:15 9:45 (PG) THE ART OF WAR 6:40 9:40 (AA) THE WATCHER 7:20 9:50 (AA), ALMOST FAMOUS 12:40 3:30 6:30 9:20 (AA) NURSE BETTY 12:50 3:20 6:20 9:10 (AA) BAIT 1:20 4:00 6:40 9:40 (AA) THX POKEMON 200O 1:10 (F) THE WATCHER 2:10 4:50 7:20 9:50 (AA) THX tTHE CELL 3:10 6:10 9:00 (R) IMAX: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (IMAX 3D) Mon.Tue.Wed 2.20 4.45 6 00 7.50 9 00 Thu 2 20 4 45 i -YlaTl 7 50 9 00 (F) "ill FANTASIA 2000 12 30pm (F) V1 AX MICHAEL JORDAN TO THE MAX (IMAX 2D) 3:30 10 15 (F) a a a IMAX Advance Tlckel Sakta: 905-275-4748 Group Sales: 416-925-IMAX (4629) COMING OCTOBER 61" TO THE GIANT IMAX SCREEN ADVANCE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE AT THEATRE BOX OFFICE OR CALL FAMOUS PLAYERS IMAX THEATRES ADVANCE TICKET SALES LINES REIS1G ft TAYLOR MOTOWN RECORDS Boyz II Men's latest album, Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, is No. 7 on the charts. 2E URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 1204:20 211 fl URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:20 9:45 25 GENERAL ADMISSION S2.00 TUE SO AYS, CHILD REN GOLDEN AGE aS 7:40 10:20 (AA) THX THE EXORCIST 1 00 4 00 7:00 10:00 (AA) BRING IT ON 1:40 4:40 7 20 9:40 (PG) CHRISTOPHER NOLAN GOES FROM MEMORY LOSSTO INSOMNIA HiWiihw tmrrttA (AA) THE WATCHER 7:05 9:20 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00 9:50 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 7:30 10:10 (AA) BAIT 7:35 10:15 (AA) BLESS THE CHILD 7:40 (PG) THE REPLACEMENTS 10:00 (PG) THE CELL 7:10 9:25 (R) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 7:45 10:05 (PG) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 7:30 10:10 (PG) WHAT LIES BENEATH 7:10 9.50 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 7 20 10.00 (AA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:50 10:30 (AA) NURSE BETTY 7:40 10:40 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00 10:10 (AA) BOYS I GIRLSSCARY MOVIE -DOUBLE BILL 8:00 (AA) SPACE COWBOYS 6:50 9:40 (PG) BAIT 7:30 10:20 (AA) WHAT LIES BENEATH 7:10 9:50 lA) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:15 9:40 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00 9:55 (AA) THE ART OF WAR 7:35 10:20 (AA) THE WATCHER 9:30 (AA) BAIT 7:20 10:15 (AA) THE CELL 7:10 10:05 (R) BRING IT ON 7:25 10:00 (PG) THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY 7:30 CROUPIER 4:15, 6:50, 9:00 (AA) SAVING GRACE 430, 7:00.

GIRL ON THE BRIDGE (SubMMj 4:45, 7:20, 9:20 (AA) Ends Tonight! THE TERRORIST (Submd) 5 00, 7 10, 9:30 (AA) EndsTonight! GLADIATOR 7.45 IAA IHX 10:10 (AA) 2d BAIT 7:00 9.40 (AA) OF THE GUN 7:20 10:00 (AA) 3r J2 URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:10 10:00 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00 9 45 (AA) BAIT 7:05 9:55 (AA) THE ART OF WAR 7:30 10:05 (AA) THE WATCHER 7:25 10:10 (AA) THE CELL 7:15 9:50 (R) $6.00 GENERAL ADMISSION 14 25 CHILDRENGOLDEN AGE, TUESDAYS MATINEES S6.50 GENERAL ADMISSION $4.00 CHILDREN GOLDEN AGE URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT 7:20, 9 30(AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00, 10:10 (AA) ALMOST FAMOUS 7:10, 10:00 (AA) NURSE BETTY i 7:30, 9 50 (AA) CROUPIER 7:40, 9:40 (AA) Ends Tonight! SAVING GRACE 6:50, 9:00 (PG) British director Christopher Nolan (Memento) has signed to helm his first studio feature the Warner Bros, thriller Insomnia, a remake of a 1997 Norwegian film. Adapted into English by Hillary Seitz (Early Bird Special), Insomnia follows a police officer who accidentally kills his partner during a murder investigation in a small Alaskan town. The killer blackmails the officer into pinning the murders on an innocent person as a local female cop tries to discover the truth. Memento, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Guy Pearce as a man with a rare, untreatable form of memory loss who tries to track down the man who murdered his wife. The Hollywood Reporter THE CELL 7.45 10.15(H) WAY OF THE GUN 7 00 9 40 (AA) THE REPLACEMENTS 7:15 10.00 (PG) URBAN LEGENDS FINAL CUT 7:10 9:25 (AA) J1E I I 1.1 THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY 7:00 9 35 GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS 7:10 9 50 (PG) THE EXORCIST 6 55 9 .55 (AA) THE EXORCIST 7:00 9:55 (AA) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK Mon.Tue.Thu 6 55 9:15 Wed 9:15 (PG) WHAT LIES BENEATH 6 50 9.40 (AA) BAIT 7:30 10 00 (AA) BLESS THE CHILD 7:20 (PG) BOYS i GIRLSSCARY MOVIE -DOUBLE BILL 7:10 (AA) SPACE COWBOYS 9:45 (PG) (AA) BAIT 7:05 9:40 (AA) THE WATCHER 7:15 9:30 (AA) CROUPIER In two 2:00, 2:45, 4:00, 5:00.

7:00, 7:45. 9:20, 9:50 (AA) THE TAO OF STEVE 2:15, 4:30. 7:15. 9 40 (AA) SAVING GRACE 2:30, 4.45, 7:30, 9 30 (PG) ALMOST FAMOUS 7:15 10 00 (AA) BAIT 7 00 9 45 (AA) SPACE COWBOYS 7:05 9 50 (G) THE ART Of WAR 7:10 9 40 (AA) COYOTE UGLY 7:20 9 55 (PG) BLESS THE CHILD 7:30 10:10 (PG) CHICKEN RUN 7:05 9:15 (PG) AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 7:40 10 05 (PG).