Rent: Film
lacks strong
direction
Continued from page 5
Maureen" sequence, which launches
characters Mark Cohen and his ex-girl
friend's new lover Joanne Jefferson
into a dream-like dance number—the
scenes are exciting and audience
members can't help but bounce their
feet along to the tune. When the setting
fails, one is left wondering if director
Chris Columbus, known most recently
for his work on the first two "Harry Pot
ter" films, was even attempting any
creativity at all. A darker, more subver
sive and possibly even unknown direc
tor may have better filled the shoes
required to make this film really work
onscreen.
Overall, the subject matter of this
film is still as heavy as it was in the late
'90s. The outcries have already begun
to rise over the content matter of drug
use and homosexuality. And the fact
that AIDS is as much an issue today as
it was when the musical was released
makes the subject matter almost dis
turbingly pertinent However, the char
acters in the story toe the line of being
outdated, as has the edginess of the
bohemian lifestyle. With shabby chic
attire and indie film festivals all the rage
these days, too manyfilmgoers will
leave "Rent" feeling like they're part of
a way of life that, in reality, they will
never be able to understand. And it's
difficult to deny that the characters, if
real and alive today, would likely boy
cott this film version of their lives as
they boycotted the construction of a
multimedia corporate office building in
the neighborhood in the show.
kgerhard@dailyemerald.com
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Notaro: Book comprises series of hapless short stories
Continued from page 7
Notaro began her career as a
columnistforthe Arizona Republic,
and her columns are what made up
her first book, "The Idiot Girls' Action
Adventure Club," which quickly be
came a New York Times Bestseller.
Notaro now resides in Eugene, and
her move from Arizona to Lane County
is documented in the last chapter of
"An Idiot Girl's Christmas" with the
hilarious "Happy Holidays from the
Asshole Family."
"An Idiot Girl's Christmas" is No
taro's fifth book, following 2002's
"The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure
Club," 2003's "An Autobiography of
a Fat Bride," 2004’s "I Love Every
body (and Other Atrocious Lies)"
and last spring's "We Thought You
Would Be Prettier." While "An Idiot
Girl's Christmas" is not the best No
taro effort to date, it still succeeds
in making the reader laugh and hide
his or herface in shame from the
true-life stories that Notaro tells.
In the book, Notaro makes readers'
worst Christmas memories seem like
a walk in the park compared to some
of her tales, like "Deckthe Mall," in
which she has to take her octogenari
an Nana shopping. Notaro's humor is
also abundant in the humorous "The
Most Unfun Christmas Party Hostess
Ever." The story weaves the tale of
Notaro's infamous but accidental
Christmas Party-ruining strategy,
which involves pills, disguised flirting
and the cops. Read it to believe it
Notaro's writing and witty sense of
humor are easy to fall in love with,
but she tends to veer off on tangents
and repeats herself. Butfortrue No
taro fans, "An Idiot Girl's Christmas,"
which features 10 new chapters and
three previously published tales, fills
expectations. It's the perfect comple
ment to curling up on the couch with
a cup of cocoa and fuzzy socks when
this season gets too out of control.
alichty@dailyemerald.com
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