: Battalion A GGIELIFE ^ageSjiFrida^^ctob^^l^W Class of 2000 You have been a part of the Aggie family. Now be a part of its family album. AGJ Get your FREE Senior picture taken at AR Photography today. Extended sitting also available for $10. Visit 1410 Texas Ave. South or call 693-8183. Open 9-12 and 1:30 M-E watch a you ilmmakei merican Beauty (Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening Directed by Sam Mendes t kind i f what e. The jple, thi iHter Burnham (Spacey) is a ^Jypical, middle-aged Ameri- n rlale. He lives with his wife, jll’n (Bening), and teen-age- ughiar, Jane (Thora Birch), in Hrfect suburban neighborhood erYet ht' perfect street, in the perfect But on closer inspection of eBurnham family, things are not ork togelfi go< 1 as they seem. In lis directorial debut, Mendes a haunting look at the ^Hican family and the idea of ^^B-called “American dream.” iw after: Hster’s idyllic bubble bursts her he falls helplessly in lust ith iiis daughter’s high school, never hi irbi “-like friend, Angela (Mena pape tvaii). He is then prompted to ori-out, blackmail his compa- ng how.Hid quit his high-paying job ihings. i' Hp burgers at a fast food fe vour.B! Lester’s actions confuse id then r s v rife and daughter so much ■: take iat die family members begin i trailer! Halize how frayed-at-the- Jh.I'mg Bis their lives truly are. uheres! Breenwriter Kevin Ball cre- : first ve es magnificent story with ev, hey v, Bncan Beauty. The actors de- tv ked in ve[ superb, honest perfor- I Bees and make the audience I B a **y ^ ee * ^ ie s ' tuat i° ns the st change haracters deal with, o get workBhe writing genius of Ball, easiertonBbined with the directive cre- I Bity of Mendes, produce a her/sai oi< iant film, it aur andBhe movie progresses into out occiiijHat Qouij considered dis- no anfl/itjjjkjHg because it evolves from a iguretea/imp\emovie on a big screen "mood “ iivjsv' tito real-life. American Beauty shatters the stigma and illusion of the “American dream” by breaking through the stereotypi cal bubble of suburban existence with honest emotions often hid den in everyday life. (Grade: A) — Amanda Palm Three Kings Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube Directed by David O. Russell Three Kings has been attracting a lot of buzz in the weeks preced ing its release. This is not surpris ing considering the film’s trailers, stars and subject matter. In fact, there has even been a little talk of Oscar nominations surrounding the film, and this seems surprising after viewing the film. Three Kings is the story of a group of soldiers who journey into Iraq a few days after the end of the Gulf War. Their objective is to steal gold from a group of Iraqis, who stole it from the Kuwaitis. Predictably, these soldiers have a crisis of faith when they see the pitiful shape of the average Iraqi. The rest of the film builds on this change of direction. Starting with frenetic energy and literally a laugh-a-minute, this film quickly loses its spark. Written and directed by David O. Russell [Flirting with Disaster), this film attempts to transcend genres and become an action film, a comedy and a serious drama all rolled into one. When the film shifts to its more serious and thought-pro voking theme a little less than mid- Thora Birch (left) and Mena Suvari co-star as teenage friends caught in a twisted family drama, in the DreamWorks film American Beauty. LAW TALK from STCL Join Professor of Law Helen Jenkins and a panel of attorneys taking live call-in questions Tonight Friday, October 1,1999 at 8:00 p.m. on KAMU - TCA Channel 4 Each show in this monthly series will focus On a different topic. This Friday, the program will deal with wills & estates. way through, it seems to miss a gear, and much of the earlier mo mentum is lost. Russell, who has proven him self as a great comedic director, fails to direct drama with the same success as humor and trans forms the movie into a slower- paced, predictable shell of what it could have been. Clooney turns in a surprisingly bland performance as Captain Archie Gates. Wahlberg and Ice Cube both deliver decent perfor mances, considering both are mu sicians turned actors. The movie’s two saving graces are the offbeat, and some times downright sick, humor scattered throughout and the ab solutely brilliant cinematography of Newton Thomas Sigel [The Usual Suspects). Using different types of film to give the movie different ap pearances, and through the use of excellent lensing techniques, Sigel is able to furnish the movie with some of its most memo rable moments. Three Kings is an interesting concept for a movie with some equally powerful stars. It is a shame, though, that the movie’s best moments are accomplished without either of those aspects. If there are any Oscars to be seen in this film’s future, Newton Thomas Sigel deserves the only one. (Grade: B-) — Matt McCormick # MSC Film Society presents . . . ‘Shakespeare In Love” Friday, Oct. 1st 7:00 & 9:30 A = instant classic B = a cut above C = average D = don't buy it F = burn in effigy Tickets: $3.50 at the door or $3.00 in advance at the MSC Box Offlce. (845-1234) All films sh own in the Rudder Theatre Complex. Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. Questions? Call the Aggie Cinema Hotline 847-8478. Website: http://fllms.tamu.edu rv , 111111 III III creativity achievement rv ESPRfSEf ’PRODrt U0: mi JUT ' Chemical Engineers: BS, MS, PilD Mechanical Engineers: BS, MS Organic Chemists: PIlB Chemists: PhD Analytical Chemists: PhD Scientists: PhD Process Engineers: BS, MS Electrical Engineers: BS, MS Accountants: BS, MBA, CPA The perfect chemistry for career success. Take your hard-earned engineering skills and talent to a company that will use them to their fullest. At Union Carbide, you’ll apply your innovative thinking to challenging projects from the moment you join us. Were a Fortune 500 company that produces the essential chemical and polymers for products that make our lives safer and more convenient. 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