Aggielife The Battalion Page 5 • Friday, April 23, 1999 Cookie's Fortune Starring Glenn Close and Chris O'Donnell Directed by Robert Altman Playing at Hollywoodl 6 I In this quirky star-studded drama by Robert Alt man, dialogue and acting are definitely the back- bom 1 of the film. A small, stereotypical Southern town is the set- | ting for this mystery. The church is the center of [ society where Camille Dixon (Close) thrives on di- ■ recting all of the church plays. ■ Camille is a woman who pleases people on the ■ outside, but is a conniving spinster at heart. Close’s I snooty portrayal is classic. Her accent and tone ■ can drive anyone crazy. ^Bpon borrowing a fruit bowl from her geriatric ■ saint of a sister. Cookie, Dixon discovers her lying Hdead of an apparent suicidal gun shot wound. Ashamed of her sister’s behavior and jealous of her state, Camille stages the suicide as a murder, lamille’s actions cause a chain reaction in which idrien truths are revealed, the small town feel is rather humorous. Every- nl knows everyone else’s business, there is only ne town lawyer and the sheriffs department ^makes Barney Fife look like James Bond. A cameo by Lyle Lovett helps add to the small town flavor. I The film’s young stars (Liv Tyler and O’Donnell) don't seem to shine or exactly live the roles they are portraying. On the other hand. Close and Charles Dutton give some of their wittiest perfor- - mances. Q .1 This film has no special effects and no giant - score or soundtrack, but sometimes a movie with character and subtle humor can deliver a fair amount of entertainment. (Grade: B-) Life Starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence Directed by Ted Demme Playing at Hollywood 1 6 In this not so funny take on life in the slammer, Lawrence and Murphy play Claude and Ray, the bitter, foulmouthed entrepreneur stars of Life. Life seemed to fall short of every one of Murphy’s films (except Holy Man) short of Lawrence’s former sitcom Martin. A scene with Lawrence as Shanaenae would have drastically raised the comedy level in this film. The movie begins in 1932, when during the De pression Harlem nightlife look as fruitful as ever. Caught up in bad debts and bootlegging, Claude and Ray are thrown together as new partners in crime. The movie takes a lot of time to even reach the point of life imprisonment for the duo, which leaves too much wasted space spent on meaningless and not funny dialogue. The producers of The Nutty Professot and Liar Liar adopted one of the worst possible screenplays to showcase the talents of these two comedians. A film must not be all that great when the audience is forced to wait for a supporting character to make a funny. One of the good credits to this film are the makeup artists. As seen in many of Murphy’s earlier movies, a metamorphosis into new characters is signature. This movie follows Ray and Claude sixty plus years in jail, and the magic of makeup molds their appearances along the way. So many black comedies can be considered some of the most entertaining movies made (Friday, Com ing to America], but it is sad when films are made simply to draw crowds by using the names on the marquee. Eddie and Martin can do better than this. (Grade: C-) — Jeff Kempf — Jeff Kempf PEOPLE IN THE NEWS jSens. McCain and Teingold awarded BOSTON (AP) — Sens. John Mc Cain and Russell Feingold, who crossed party lines to propose cam paign finance reform legislation, were named Thursday as winners of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. I McCain, a Republican from Ari zona, and Feingold, a Wisconsin De mocrat, were honored for address- ng fund-raising excesses and trying o regulate the flow of special in- :erest money to campaigns. The VIcCain-Feingold bill was ultimately Jefeated last year. This is the 10th Profile in Courage Award and the first to be shared by two elected American soliticians. The award, which comes with a 125,000 stipend, is presented to sleeted officials who fight for what they believe is right, despite op position from constituents, inter est groups or others. It is named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-win ning book “Profiles in Courage.” Springer’s Security Under Question CHICAGO (AP) — When fists fly and hair is yanked on the set of “The Jerry Springer Show," guests should not just be separated — they should be arrested, a City Council member said. Alderman Edward Burke, a for mer police officer, said the off-duty Chicago officers who provide se curity for the show should enforce the law. He wants to call those of ficers before the council’s Police and Fire Committee. “If they are committing batter ies, assaults and other offenses, then why isn’t the police depart ment taking appropriate action?” Burke asked Wednesday. A spokesperson for the show had no comment. Some critics contend the fights are staged. Springer has denied it. Usher postpones shows due to injury ATLANTA (AP) — Rhythm and blues singer Usher canceled three concerts after dislocating a shoulder while rehearsing dance steps. The 20-year-old star was placed under the care of an or thopedic surgeon after injuring himself Wednesday, spokesper son Courtney Barnes said. Usher, who lives in suburban Atlanta, had been scheduled to tour New Zealand and Australia later this month. fnr itiaI JLxJM* JLLLC:* * ACCOUNTING • CREATIVE SERVICES • ENGINEERING • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY * OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE * TECHNICAL You're working on your education, let Pro Staff work on your experience. We offer positions with top companies that will give you a competitive advantage in today's workforce. Call Pro Staff to earn top pay and gain top experience this summer! 0*9 n CWSFF AUSTIN, DALLAS, HOUSTON 800-244-7960 jjjj mm mmm PM ClAin T! 1HJlOlid iGr JL JLb JLm Vr APRIL 19-23, 1999 Monday - April 19th Bowling at Wolf Pen 9 pm to 12 am $1.75 per game lSJo c vv Officer Works hops for recognized student organizations General Session 7 - 8:15 p.m. Introduction to Officer Success: What Student Activities can do for you: featuring Dr. Ben Welch Rudder 601 stuact.tamu.edu Thursday, April 29 Interest Sessions 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Fundraising and Advertising Rudder 601 Technology and Student Organizations Rudder 302 Building Student Organizations Rudder 308 Risk Management Issues Rudder 410 ATTENTION Liberal Arts Majors There are a limited number of summer internships available in Austin and Washington D.C. for Liberal Arts juniors. pplicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or better and be active in leadership organizations. For more information, access the Political Science website: http://wwwpolisci.tamu.edu Or call the Center for Public Leadership Studies: 845-4114 We're making history!! rs f\ f\ f\ GGIELAND Applications are being accepted for the 2000 Aggieland yearbook staff. • Section Editor • Designer • Copy writer • Photographer Pick up applications outside the Aggieland office, Room 004 Reed McDonald. Applications are due Friday, April 23, by 5:00 p.m. PROFITABLE NUMBER! 845-0569 THE BATTALION CLASSIFIEDS Toin us for the 4th Annual Ga<" es Music Fun Give Aways Free Refreshments This celebration is for families and students, young and old — Everyone who lives on PLANET EARTH This event wilt feature communiff wide education on: $ Water Conservation $ Recycling $ Water Quality $ Waste Reduction