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Pulse Editor Jacquelyn Lewis jacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com Thursday, October 31,2002 Oregon Daily Emerald Opposites Attract: "New Voices" showcases contrasting student works i Rebellious roles perfect for Culkin Mason West Movies/Music/TV Columnist < )K kids. The question of the day is: WTien did Kieran Culkin become the poster boy for disaf fected youth? If you’ve been to the Bijou anytime in the last month, you’ve likely seen the little scamp in ei ther “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys” or “Igby Goes Down.” It doesn’t really matter, because he plays the same rebellious role in both movies. That said, it’s a role he’s good at, and both movies are highly entertaining. Learning from his brother Macaulay’s face-slapping screaming mistakes, Kier an has broken onto the scene this year in two edgy roles that recently won him the Newcomer Award at the VII1/ Vogue Fashion Awards— not that VIII and Vogue have anything to say about movies. Fortunately, I do. “Igbv” is about a young misfit from an upper-class family which is, of course, totally dys functional, thus playing on the tried and true hypocrisy of “success.” Though Kieran pulls the weight as the title Mason West Selling out character, lie is supported hv innovative perform ances from co-stars Susan Sarandon, Jeff Gold blum and Claire Danes. Not so innovative is Amanda Peet, who 1 think has yet to keep her top on in a movie. (For more information about “Al tar Boys,” read my Oct. 10 column) But let’s get back to our boy Kieran. When you think about it, who better to angst-up the screen? Follow the logic: 1 Iis brother was a superstar at the ripe age of 10; stardom inevitably makes life hec tic for the family; parents of child stars are gener ally crazy, anyway; Kieran is one of seven children raised by said crazy parents. T)je following Kieran quote is listed on imdb.com: “Until my brother Mac started mak ing major money, our house was really wild. The outside world didn’t know how chaotic our life was because, though we’d live at home like a bunch of critters, we’d go off to school and act all sedate and normal.” Who better indeed. The malcontent-coming-of-age role is an inter esting archetype that can be found through enter tainment history that probably goes all the way back to “Hamlet” in whatever form you’ve seen it (though Ethan Hawke’s performance is an espe cially strong example). It was Tobey Maguire a couple years ago in “Wonder Boys” and “The Cider House Rules” — which, funnily, Kieran was in as well. When “(S Mile” opens Nov. 8, Eminem will try his hand playing the troubled protagonist, and 1 suspect he’ll do a bang-up job. I have been totally suckered into needing to see this movie, mostly because of the song “Lose Yourself” which gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. I love the ominous, pounding riff that drives the song and totally captures what I expect to be the mood of the film. Eminem has had plenty of time to prove to the public how tough he is and how real he is with his devil-may-care attitude toward public opinion. But an essential part of the Holden Caulfield-es que character is a sense of vulnerability, and Em inem may have already killed any chance of earn ing viewer’s sympathy. Still, I’m excited to see him try. And if he bombs, we’ll still have Macaul... KIERAN! I mean Kieran. I swear I didn’t see “Richie Rich.” Really. Crap. Contact the Pulse columnist at masonwest@dailyemerald.com . His views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. Silver scream There are a variety of oddball Halloween movies that challenge the viewer and guarantee chills Ryan Bornheimer Senior Pulse Reporter It’s the time of year when the Block buster clown the street runs out of even,' copy of John Carpenter’s “Halloween.” Now, you could run across the street to the other Blockbuster, but chances are, it’s not there, either. But who really needs to see Michael Myers stalk Jamie Lee Curtis again, any way? Why not take a leap into the dark er territory of more obscure fear films? In the spirit of the truly disturbed, I of fer a film lover’s guide to the Halloween flicks hiding in the horror aisles. A word of caution should be noted be fore we begin. If “Friday the Thirteenth Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” is your idea of a scary movie, rent “Friday the Thirteenth Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.” The movies that follow are the oddballs — the flicks that challenge the viewer but guarantee chills and often linger in the mind for days to come. We’ll start chronologically. Based on Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” 1961’s “The Innocents” is a creepy little black-and-white flick about a governess (Deborah Kerr) hired to watch over two children convinced that the ghosts of two dead lovers haunt their home. To re veal more would ruin the movie, but let’s just say the harder Kerr tries to rid the children of their fears, the more crazy she becomes. The second selection is 1972’s “The Last House on the Left.” This was Wes Craven’s first movie — some 10 years before “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and 25 years before the pop culture phe Turn to Movies, page 10 Photo courtesy Queen Radia SLUG Queen Radia says she plans to spend this Halloween engaged in time travel. Horror stories Whether their plans are mind-oriented or confined to the present, local celebs look forward to All Hallow’s Eve Jacquelyn Lewis & Ryan Bornheimer Staff Writers What are you doing for Halloween? Drink ing a little “cider” with your pals like you did last year? Trick-or-treating with your room mate, perhaps? The Pulse desk decided to veer away from the holiday mundane to see what a few “lo cal celebrities” were planning this year (hmm, do they even need costumes?). We also pestered them for some of their favorite Halloween memories and anecdotes. Holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, and when the big day arrives, poor planning can result in a less-than-memorable night. For University President Dave Frohnmayer, for instance, an inquiry about Halloween plans may have elicited the same answer he’s Turn to Stories, page 10 DiFranco album is ‘grinding, somber’ Courtesy photo Ani DiFranco will visit Eugene Friday night. Ani DiFranco’s new album samples live recordings, making it an ideal preview for her Eugene show Concert preview Aaron Shakra Pulse Reporter As Ani DiFranco’s annual al bum releases stack up, her newest, “So Much Shouting So Much Laughter,” is an example of her broadening appeal. It’s not just that she’s more popu lar than ever, it’s that her songs’ contents have taken on subjects with an increasingly national and worldwide scope, employing words and music that lesser artists would be afraid to use. The album has been on store shelves for about a month-and a-half now. This is probably am ple time for anyone interested in the folk singer-songwriter to have acquired their own copy. For those who haven’t heard it, purchasing the album might be a timely investment. DiFranco will be playing at the McDonald Theatre on Friday night. The doors open at 7 p.m.; show time is 8 p.m. Like last year’s “Revelling/Reckoning” release and her previous live record ing, 1997’s “Living In Clip,” “So Much” is a double disc, with songs culled from shows over the past few years. Each disc has a title. The first, “Stray Cats,” is full of grinding, somber songs, whereas “Girls Singing Night” is structured more like an actual concert. It’s sort of ironic when musi cians tour in support of a live album release, but in DiFran co’s case, this is nothing new, because she’s practically al ways touring. She is perform ing solo without a band for the first time in awhile, so her live sound should be more intimate and raw than on “So Much Shouting.” Expect new material (read: songs not officially released), new arrangements (to accom modate for the lack of band members) and lyrics for older material and a lot of guitar changes. DiFranco uses so many different tunings for the six-stringed instrument that there will likely be stretches in the McDonald Theatre set when she’ll switch guitars every song. It’s hard to predict what new material will make it on the set list, but for those who want to know what they might hear, check out the unofficial Ani DiFranco lyrics Web site at www.danah.org/Ani/ to find the words to all the songs that aren’t on albums. DiFranco’s Web site — www.righteoushabe.com — lists folk singer Greg Brown as a special guest for the Eugene show, but it’s undetermined whether he’ll be playing with DiFranco or opening for her. For those who have seen “Ren der” — DiFranco’s concert/doc umentary’ film released this Turn to DiFranco, page 10
