Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2001)
THE BATTALION Tuesday, January 15, 2002 lln the Bedroom r arisa Tomei and Nick Stahl discuss working with 'irector Todd Field and their roles as Natalie and Frank By Lizette Resendez THE BATTALION Marisa Tomei. star of In the fedroom, had no idea what she Jvas getting into. “I didn’t really think it was icing to be as much as a challenge L it was when I got there,” Tomei ■aid. “I would do a scene where it ■vas emotional and would require a lot of concentration and think, (Okay, that’s out of the way, the )ard scene is out of the way,’ but ne next day there would be anoth- fa-hard scene. I didn't really realize }ow much I immersed myself in lat world.” _ While the Academy award-win- ■ing actress has had plenty of prac- ■ce preparing for roles in major povies such as My Cousin \ inn\\ Vhat Women Want and Untamed heart, Tomei had to spend time dth a woman from Maine who similar to her character, Biatalie, in background and person- ■lity. Tomei spent several days ibarning new habits, speech and ■oily language. I “I didn’t have anything or any- ■ne to really draw from personal ly ,’’ Tomei said. ‘T had asked [1 lirector Todd Field] if there was acmeone that he knew, if he could ■nd somebody who might be sim ilar to my character’s background .1. he found someone who was w illing to befriend me.” I Tomei’s co-star, Nick Stahl, ast seen opposite Katie Holmes in Disturbing Behavior, also spent days at sea as a Fisherman to prepare for his role as Frank. While he grew a deep respect for the way of life, he admits it was grueling work. “[Fishing] is a really different world.” Stahl said. “1 came away with a real respect for the profes sion. It’s a really tough job, kind of a lonely job as well. I had really done nothing like that before.” Stahl started acting as a child and has had to adjust with changes in roles as he matured, while juggling a normal boy’s life and acting. “It was difficult at times. You have a certain set of roles that you're up for as a kid, but as you age, it really changes,” Stahl said. “When I was 14, 1 didn’t work for almost two years. It’s an awkward age to begin with.” Despite Tomei and Stahl’s com bined experience in film, they both said working with director Todd Field was rewarding. “I'd say it’s exciting to work with someone who has no precon ceived ideas, with a lot of fresh energy, clean point of view, ready to express himself or herself,” Tomei said. “I only had the script, which I thought was really good, and a cou ple of conversations with Todd which showed that we approached work the same way.” Stahl said he was not only drawn to the film by Todd Field, but also by the script. “Todd Field did an amazing job w dtm PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRAMAX FILMS but it was more the story as a whole that was kind of the domi nating force in wanting to do [the movie],” Stahl said. “If people don’t want to go to a film to expe rience emotion. I guess they should just go see the newest teen flick out. [In the Bedroom] really attempts to make a statement, which is more than a lot of films that I've seen attempt to do.” While the film's full plot was a secret. In The Bedroom won the Special Jury Prize at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and several nominations for Best Film by numerous film associations, including the 2002 Golden Globes. In the Bedroom gave Tomei a chance to work with Sissy Spacek, one of her favorite actresses, as well as an entire cast of experienced actors. “1 was blown away (by each actor),” Tomei said. “It was like a certain trust that we had with each other. We knew we all cared very much about our craft.” Spacek, who plays Frank’s emotionally-charged mother, has also been nominated for several awards. Spacek was voted Best Actress by the 2001 American Film Institute, 2001 Los Angeles Film Critics Association, 2001 New York Film Critics Circle and 2002 Broadcast Film Critics Association. VOLUME CONTROL The Strokes Is This It RCA Records The sound of a music box grinding to a halt is the suitable introduction to the ragged splendor offered up in The Strokes' lat est release, Is This It. In an age where the sole intent of many bands is to sound more enraged than the previous brooding blokes, the resulting avalanche of mundane, pseudo 'heavy' pulp is a far cry from authentic disso nance. It is refreshing to see a band that cap tures the crazed energy of the night craved by bored masses looking for kicks. Is This It is not an album to be dissected or scrutinized to the nth degree, like Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde or Jimi Hendrix's opus Electric Ladyland. In fact, intense concentration would sacrifice The Strokes' best contribution to the rock world: the honest feeling of worn-out insomnia rising out of the ashes of late night rev elries. Every time the music begins to lull in tired exhaustion, vocalist Julian Casablancas, seeming ly on the verge of collapse, and the band kick in with maddened, gnarled guitars and driving rhythms in an attempt to choke the last bit of life out of the rapidly dying night. The Strokes' sound will surely be affixed with catchy critical descriptions, something to the effect of a punk-inspired energy with pop sen sibilities. Oh, how the mainstream loves its pop sensibilities and other clich^d rhetoric. The bottom line is that songs like "The Modern Age," "Someday" and "Last Nile" tickle the same brain sectors that inspire hazy, late night, early morning acts of foolishness. (Grade: A-) —Eric Brentz Welcome Bac Wondering how to get ground campus? We suggest you Take the bus. Ags M Carpool with Friends Ride Your Bike ###• information, visit our web site at WWW.PTT8JAMU.EI