Tri-City Herald from Pasco, Washington • 26

Around Town: Film TRI-CITY HERALD FRIDAY MAY 5 2000 shows cinematic muscle jj REVIEW i I tsjtn rFROM AROUND THE MTIPr before Whitaker says a thing Instead of talk Jarmusch uses a soundtrack stark images and brief narrated excerpts from code book to convey the inner feelings of the main character Ghost Dog isn't for everyone but for Otis kind of a movie as good as they get The Fiintstones In Viva Rock Vegas The entire cast of die original Flint-stones movie has been replaced for the sequel Normally that spells certain death critically and at the box office However director Brian canny recasting and a plot loaded with fun make this a satisfying return to live-action Bedrock As good as John Goodman was as the flinty Fred Flints tone Mark Addy The Full Monty) is better and does a dead-on imitation of Alan Reed's voice from the old cartoon series Stephen Baldwin inherits Barney Rubble from Rick Moranis and Kristen Johnston Third Rock from the Sun) and Jane Krakowski (Ally McBeal) play Wilma and Betty The Fiintstones in Viva Rock Vegas is about the courtship and eventual marriage It's as fresh and original as the original The humor is straight out of Bedrock and is a yabba-dabba-doo good time When the Heart Is Where the Heart Is is a characterladen tear-jerker about a pregnant young woman who is abandoned by her boyfriend and forced to live for several months at a Whl-Mart After she has the baby everyone in town falls in love with her and the focus is on the relationships of all these characters with the young woman Where the Heart Is starts out as warm and fuzzy as a trip to Mayberry All that's missing is the good-hearted Sheriff Taylor and his boy Opie The characters fall all over each other as if trying to win some sort of humanitarian award Then tragedy strikes And it strikes again and again and again There is so much misfortune and heartbreak in this movie I almost thought I was watching a soap opera Maybe I was Gladiator Rated for gore violence mature themes It opera today at the Carmike 12 and the Uptown Cinemas Mr Movie rating: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Rated for violence language mature themes It opens today at the Walla Walla Plaza Twin Cinemas Mr Movie rating: The Fiintstones la Viva Rock Vegaa Hated PG playing at the Columbia Center 8 and the Clearwater Cinemas Mr Movie rating: When the Heart la Rated PG-13 for mature themes It's playing at the Carmike 12 and the Clearwater Cinemas Mr Movie rating: Mbvies rated on an A to scale: A A A-: Must see on the big screen EJ-: Good film see it if it's your type of movie C-: Wait until it comes out on video Don't bother Speaks for itself best to do away with Whitaker The dilemma faced by Whitaker is he isn't allowed to kill his contact whom he calls his retainer even though the man is out to murder him Ghost Dog works because a character-driven film not one propelled by violence gore and foul language Even though a killer Whitaker basically is a good and kind man who lives his faith What makes this film so interesting is the way writerdirector im Jarmusch puts it together He beat you up with pointless dialogue In fact the film is at least 20 minutes old Brown will play Memphis-styte blues from 9 pm to midnijjit May 12 Cover charge is $5 Rattled a Moses Lake rock band performs today and Saturday at the Crabcreek Brewery in Moses Lake Cover charge to $4 Music starts at 9 pm Trespasser performs Wednesday-Sat-urday starting at 9 pm the Cowboy Club in downtown Kennewick No cover week-nights $4 cover on weekends Call 586-9292 Wolf's Wrench performs Tuesdays at the Frontier Tavern in Richland Music starts at 9 pm No cover Duncan Pryce performs solo acoustic guitar blues music from 8 pm to 2 am Thursdays at the Frontier Tavern in Richland No cover Jammers welcome Festivals Cinco de Mayo celebrating Latino heritage to today on the Walla Walla Community College campus 500 Tausick Way Fea- tured performers include Joe DeLeon S-tema Soledad Rosales' Bate FoMorico as well as authentic Mexican cuisine Admission is free Cal 509-527-461 7 or 509-529-4440 Walla Walla Balloon Stampede to May 12-14 at the fairgrounds in Walla WaHa Festivities include night glow antique car show exNbits and food vendors Admission is free Can 509-525-0850 Blue Mountain Music Festival to from (4) Fun (4) Mr Movie by Gary Wolcott Oliver Reed as the master of the gladiators Both are polished ok! pros who dominate even though their characters are minor parts The real star of the film is director Ridley Scott Alien Blade Runner Thelma and Louise) who transports you from the comfort of your theater seat to the darkness that was Rome The effects are stunning and his recreation of the Colosseum and the battles to the death which occuntd there is inspired Scott uses the strobe technique pioneered by Steven Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan to bring realism and tension to the fight scenes Though not as intense as Ryan Scott does infuse enough realism into them to make you almost want to look away Gladiator an original idea however after a long absence from the big screen this Roman Empire epic is a polished and novel concept Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai This film isn't about ghosts or dogs or the traditional lapanese samurai about a hit man who contracts with the Mafia Forest Whitaker calls himself Ghost Dog He's a student of the ancient art of the samurai Though better-known as a director in touch with his feminine side for films such as Hope Floats and Waiting to Exhale Whitaker here is a principled killer He strikes swiftly and without anger or enjoyment Killing is simply what he does an honorable profession nothing more nothing less His Mafia contact once saved Whitaker's life and hires him to do away with a man who is having an affair with a Mafioso chief's daughter The girl catches him in the act and the mob thinks it would be Something to do Items for Around Town entertainment listinge muat be submitted In writing by noon Friday Events must be open to the public The Herald's fax number is 582-1510 end address is PO Box 2608 Tri-Cities WA 99302 or send your item vie electronic mail to done I Otri-cityheraldcom Lounge music Piano man Steve Ha berm an performs with Gary Danielson on sax and clarinet and Clark Hodge on trumpet from 7 to 10 pm today and Saturday at the Sundance Grill in Kennewick No cover Medicine Hat performs classic to contemporary rock today and Saturday at the Palm Tavern in Benton City Music starts at 9 pm No cover Black Cat Bone blues band performs today and Saturday in O'Callahans lounge attheShiloInn Richland No cover charge WFO and Pom store Janitor rock bands perform today at Victor's Bar Grit in Richland Cover charge is $5 WFO also performs Saturday at the Uptown Tavern in Richland Cover charge is $2 Gator Jim and the Howlers blues band performs Saturday at the Bems Tavern in downtown Prosser Music starts at 9 pm Cover charge is S3 The PryceCary Duo performs from 7 to 9 pm Monday at Atomic Ale Brewpub in Richland No cover charge Guitarist Keith (2) Dance Saturday Gladiator It's been a few decades since anyone has done an epic on the times of the Roman Empire Outside of lames Bond clones it probably was the moilt popular movie format of the 1960s Hollywood churned them out by the dozen Gladiator is a throwback to that era complete with dazzling special effects a decent plot and performances to piatch Russell Crowe is Maximus a Roman general who is popular with the people and his dying emperor After hie puts the finishing touch on con- 'quest of the world the old emperor charges Crowe with returning the power of government to die people He wants it out of the hands of the autocrats whose petty bickering and infighting are destroying die empire Before Crowe can begin his task the son played by Joaquin Phoenix assassinates his father and assumes power He orders Crowe and his family killed in retaliation for not supporting his ascension to the throne Crowe die and instead is Captured by an old man who trains gladiators After arriving at the Roman circus Crowe becomes the most popular gladiator of all His success is driven by thoughts of revenge on the man who killed his family Gladiator is a cross between Spar- tacus and Braveheart It gets off to a way-too-slow start and has one of 1 these got to be kidding" end-' ings But what's in between is fllm-: making that borders on epic Crowe who excels at portraying characters who suffer calls up the same stoicism he displayed in The Insider and LA Confidential This is a guy who has mastered the art of the stare and one glance from his steely blue eyes will freeze water These earlier films got Crowe "'noticed by moviegoers and the critics Gladiator is the film going to make him a star It doesn't hurt that Crowe has a skilled antagonist in Phoenix He's a silky smooth snake whose natural 1 sneer and pomposity make him the near-perfect villain Every time he's in a scene Phoenix gets a nearly audible hiss from the audience Also of note is the work of Richard 1 Harris as the old emperor and the late Fiddlers: 2nd year I in Prosser Continued from Cl the Prosser event Shoes Prosser's gospel group will open the shows both nights The groups Orca's Song and Orca lammers from Amistad Ele-: mentary School in Kennewick will perform Friday evening under the direction of Obie DeWeber McKellars and Friends a group of friends from Yakima who perform Celtic fiddle music will play at the -Saturday evening show ludges this year arc well-known fiddlers Lisa and Dick Barrett of Montana and Megan Frazier of Idaho They will be performing at 'the evening shows both nights Recreational vehicles gathering in town for the contest can park in the parking lot across from ousel "Middle School A free shuttle van will be available to take listeners from the contest to downtown locations including the Prosser Senior Center for jam ses-T skins and meals The Washington Old Time Fid- dlers' Association held its first state contest in 1 966 Last year was the first time the event was held in Prosser Reporter Kristina Lord can be readied at 509-756-7133 or via email at kmiorddbentonroaxom Natalie Port man plays the young woman and is surrounded by old pros such as Ashley udd and Stockard Channing with cameos from Sally Field and Joan Cusack The acting and gallows humor is what holds the film together No one is hotter right now than Rortman (Star Wars: Episode I Anywhere But Here) who gives a truly inspired performance as do Judd Channing and James Frain who plays Book signings Vail Hawkina of Richland wil sign copies of her book Dr Vat's Survival Guide: TJpe for the Journey from 2 to 4 pm May 13 at Hastings Books 4 Videos 151 Ely St Kennewick Admission to free Family music Washington Old Time Fiddlers have jam sessions at 7 pm on the first Friday of each month at Godfather's Pizza at Columbia Center The public is invited and all ages are welcome 4 1 pm to midnight May 20 at the WaHa Walla Fairgrounds Trade shows Trader Jack's Swap Meet is from 8 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday in the executive patting lot at the Benton-Franklin County Fairgrounds Admission is $1 adults 50 cents for seniors and kids at the The Tri-Cities Swap Meet and Antique Car Display is from 8 am to 6 pm Saturday in Building No 3 at the fairgrounds Admission to free sad-sack love interest Where the Heart Is is written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel whose best writing (both City Slicker movies Parenthood Splash) seems to be behind them This is a feel-good formula flick that has just not enough of it Catch Mr Movie on KXRX 97 Rock every Friday morning at 7:15 Comment or quoatlona? Contact Mr Movie on tha Net at mrmovtoOowtconi Lectures Bob Clayton wil talk about antiques and give appraisals at 7 pm inlay 23 at the West Richtand branch of the Mfd-Coiumbia Library 3803 Van GiesenAve Cal 967-3191 Alt workshops A aartoa of aummer art daaaaa for ages 7 to 1 5 starts in June at the Altod Arts Gafiety in Richland There will be weetiong sessions on drawing and painting watercoiors See Page C4 1828 Lewis Pasco ri JOIN UP WITH THE NORTHWESTS' LARGEST INDEPENDENTLY OWNED INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE TRI-CITIES 7 DAY WEEK TECH SUPPORT MON-FRI 7 AM -12 MIDNIGHT SAT9AMT06PM SUN 12 NOON -9 PM Service also in Hermiston ADVANCED MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS 541-567-7655 Procser Surmyside Mattawa 4 Desert Aire MO-STATE COMPUTER 800-966-5927 1-888-835-3123 509-547-2781 wwwbosslgcom A 'Cl Evening? Ma pmm Thank Gob Free Pasco' Doubletreei 4rk Lem -Jitterbuq'fB A 8 Count) Club CHA CHA Begins Thurs May 4thRichland Begins Friday May 5thKennewick Free Dance Party Every Sat 0-9 PM COTTA DANCE FUN 547-9647 concert Symphony Orchestra Mozart: Overture to the Marriage of Figaro Young Artiitt Competition Overall Winners! Hoyleyjensen: Mosart: Piano Concerto No20 in Minor i fVmJXM FVKsJtmK Haydn: Piano Concerto in Major KorwnMoon pence thoven! Concerto No3 in Mbior Brand Brawn vfofin: Vhraldl: The Four Seasons: I Spring AnrSeid Mice: Moxart: Bate Beta bel Mesetto Mozart DehVcni Non lardar Barber Sore on This Shining hkgft Symphony Orchestra: Brshm Hurgirian Dances Nos 4 6 in conjunction with the CBC Orchestra John Owen Conductor Sunday May 7 2000 3pm Central United Protestant Church 1124 Stevens Drive Richland WA Admission: SS minimum donation prcdica Tickets available at the door or from the Mxf-Colufnbtj Symphony 1407 Goethals Rich (and VA 943-6402 I I fr.