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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2005)
■ Movie review 'Illuminated' offers a poignantly humorous view of life's changes Elijah Wood stars as a young man searching for the woman who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust BYTREVOR DAVIS PULSE REPORTER It is said the journey is more important than the destination. This maxim is artfully displayed in the new movie "Everything Is Illumi nated," based on Jonathan Safran Foer's first novel, published in 2001. Jonathan Safran Foer(the charac ter), a young Jewish American man played by Elijah Wood, sets out for Ukraine in search of the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during the Holocaust. He only has an old photograph and the name of a few cities to guide him. Expecting to meet up with a professional guide service, he meets a dysfunctional family that runs a company taking Jewish Americans on quests to find where their ancestors lived. The founder of the company is Grandfather, played by Boris Leskin. Alongside him is Alex, an American culture junkie played by Eugene Hutz. He imitates American rappers by wearing baggy clothing and gold chains, and he idolizes Michael Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal. The family that gives "tours of dead Jews" also includes Sammy Davis Jr. Jr., Grandfather's "seeing-eye bitch" — even though Grandfather can see just fine. The dog's redundant name and the fact the family has convinced Grandfather he is blind gives the audience a taste of how peculiarthe family is. The family clashes with the nerdy Jonathan. However, he isn't exactly normal himself — he puts objects that represent people or experi ences in his life into a bag forfear he'll forget the moment. At first Alex thinks Jonathan is a writer. "I'm more of a collector, really," says Jonathan, who wears eyeglasses and sports a black suit During the journey, the collector gath ers something he can't possibly fit into a plastic baggy: connections and rela tionships with people he won'tforget. Together, the family and Jonathan set out to find the person who saved Jonathan's grandfather. The first half of the movie is full of wisecracks showing the interaction between the reserved personality of Jonathan, the grumpiness of Grandfather and the joking antics of Alex. Alex serves as the translator for Jonathan, often giving a choppy trans lation. However, the audience gets the pleasure of what was actually said EVERYTHING, page 10 018472 Pregnant? Talk with a friend. 1.800.848.LOVE possiblypregnant.org 023540 Kvtaggue rhodes^ is launching the Fall kenzie Collection Fun, Funky & Festive Come in soon for the best selection! 5th Street Public Market, lower level across from Marche / open every day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 541.686.3329 'mm. iiiiiiiiiiii / Concert Tickets, Detailed Event and Venue Info at ^ www.mcdonaldtheatre.com J /T-Tickets Available at Safeway TfckctsWeSt Outlets [ry and J* iL M And Charge By Phone 1-800-992-TIXX Service charges may apply General Admission WILL CALL Tickets at mcdonaldtheatre.com teiKRALADHISSIOII ROLLINS 2S YEARS OF BULLSHIT spoken word tour MONDAY NOVEMBER 11 #5i|; — f> rptpurc T^TO CM55IC . J1JMK K: SAT rFW.P BWis&r v sale; JR.CONG THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1 ALL ACES GENERAL ADMISSIC 7 PM DOORS f 8 PM SHO' ^VClKTt® JWJMfiWZj 1 cfeJK tmew mv FRI Q DEC 9 ALL AGES 7 PM DOORS GENERAL ADMISSION $1 FROM EVERY 1 TICKET TO GOTO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA Future Music Oregon UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Jeffrey Stolet, director Featuring guest composer Scott Wyatt, professor of composition and director of the University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios, and three of his works: “...and nature is alone/' in memory of victims of the Chernobyl disaster 20 years ago; “On a Roll,” which uses unique miking and channel distribution techniques to create illusions of rolling objects; and “All at Risk,” a video presentation with electroacoustic music, inspired by e-mail messages from a news correspondent in Iraq. PLUS: new student works from the FMO studios. Saturday, Nov. 19 8 p.m. Room 198, UO School of Music TICKETS: $5 General Admission, $3 Students & Senior Citizens; available at the door. Room 198 is wheelchair accessible. Your place for reader polls NEWS and more classifieds ARCHIVES www.dailyemerald.com
