Features ■
The Behrend Beacon April 28, 2000 page 11
Hip-hop and Hollywood unite for fine cinema
by Douglas Smith Hollywood. Some of this acting weight on the big screen. France, the athletes. It is the storv of.a
teatures co-editor experience may even come in music Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, ** documentary filmmaker that follows
videos that have a storyline. Korea, and Thailand are among the * Hf privileged uptown teenagers that are
In a nation where Hollywood has This article was written with a new countries that will have this film in ; drawn to the hip-hop lifestyle,
so much influence, it's a wonder that movie in mind. Romeo Must Die is theaters across their respective ‘ r ** L' JMt There will be more to come from
the topic of this article has not been an action film that stars Asian film countries. With the eccentric ,-’T this genre of film. You can expect a
discussed in a more in depth way to actor Jet Li. The story Line focuses presentation of its trailer and Ji lot more influx of hip-hop stars and
this point. We can all agree that music on Han Sing (Li) and Trish O’Day, television commercials, hopes are f* Hollywood. This is the chance for
and movies go together like America who come from different sides of the high for impressive box office * these musical artists to show their all
and apple pie. However, the stars of world. Han Sing goes from a numbers. around talent.
these two worlds of entertainment prominent figure on the Hong Kong Other hip-hop stars make an ,m* jHp jm
often do not overlap, excluding Will Police to a resident in the nearest appearance in the film. The popular ' HP
Smith. However, the focus of this penitentiary. Joel Silver produces the rap star DMX plays Silk. This role S 3
article is the influx of hip-hop music film through Warner Brothers Studios, is an expansion on his small cameo flf
stars into the film industry today. The premise of the story is how Han role in Belly. Also, the pop/hip-hop «» i "A*f***“ Below: Aaliyah and Jet Li attend
It can date back to the mid-8()s, feels the need to avenge the death of group TLC plays a role. Obviously, Rap Star DMX plays Sllk in Romeo Must Die ■ FILE PHOTO a release party for Romeo Must
when Krush Groove came out. It was his brother Po. This requires mental hip-hop is represented well in the D/e FILE PHOTO
filmed in a high school, but was about discipline and martial arts skills, but film. A new trend seems to be developing I
artists like the Fat Boys getting Trish becomes a pivotal part. She too Of course these stars do not shy from Hollywood. Romeo Must Die is
known. This was back in the days of has lost her brother and helps Han, away from their roots as they the second film in as many months to JKfiSMjHk
“The Message,’’ and hip-hop was just though for her it’s not about revenge, contribute to the soundtrack for star prominent figures of the hip-hop
catching on. However, you cannot but making terror end before everyone Romeo Must Die. Aaliyah world. Black and White, a film by
say this was the beginning of hip-hop else close to her is dead. contributes four songs to the album, James Toback, was released last
and Hollywood as a team. First of This is a major motion picture that including the first single, “Try month. The film starred Method Man
all, with the exception of LL Cool J features a respected star, but is giving Again.’’ She also shares duties on and Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan.
and Will Smith, no hip-hop star has a female from the hip-hop world her “Come Back in One Piece" with co- The film was searing, comedic, and
been a prominent figure in cinema and chance to shine. Aaliyah Haughton star DMX. Others on the album exhilarating look at race, sex, and hip
-15 years. as Trish. Most of her fans are include a member of the popular hop in Manhattan at the turn of the
Also, this was a film produced with not familiar with her last name. She Cash Money millionaires as BG century. The soundtrack is just as hard
rap stars mind. They did not has been in the music business for places his rapping expertise on the driving as the film. Power from the
roles after it was written. about six years and has released two album. Ginuwine, Destiny’s Child, Wu-Tang Clan makes
In the past few years Belly and other albums and numerous soundtrack Joe, and Timbaland and Magoo also appearance in this film starring
small films featured stars from the songs. Her beauty and charisma make pace this fast swinging album. Dave cultural icons, hip-hop stars, and
hip-hop music genre. Belly starred for a good acting basis to start from. Hollister, formerly of Blackstreet,
DMX and Nas along with other artists What makes the film even more adds the soulful feel to the bv rjh|l flicfcinSCT (wWW,I-C*X,COfn)
that were also featured on its popular overwhelming is that it is getting soundtrack. So, as you can see, hip- -
soundtrack. Method Man has also played all over the world with hop artists bring added flavor to films |j |g 4 i Ho. not ] j pur tme PftfH cokcerx myv*| I fkwrr pouaas rs rr? whv po I
been trying his hand with anything American hip-hop stars pulling their with hip-hop stars. fiJUAT SH»WI CM 1 owf PO fVfH P£RFCJW£P SUIWfP MTU feR A CRtuCP I HAI/E A
TUrt. m A TAPf I AieEAPY RUOUmit CP. WB OF I»fS£ CH(£ii? Plttf, SUV, IWSTfAP
OF THEIR N£V YSMt‘5 HAVE TtMEf tP POOTlffiS Wft.t COST V&U SO THAT'S AWWtI OF AW OLP V.W- ?
sw. a. iunmii m. a.... l unit al3
Pace your laughs with
The Whole Nine
by Kelly Walsh
staff writer
If you need something to get your
mind off of finals, watching The
Whole Nine Yards will certainly do the
trick. This gangster comedy has
twists and turns everywhere. It is a
never-would-happen but suits it pur
pose movie featuring the pursuits of
Mr. Nice Guy finding himself in
trouble because he just can’t stand up
to anyone.
Nicholas “Oz” Oseransky is a den
tist who is supporting his wife and
mother-in-law’s extraordinary spend
ing habits. His deceased father-in
law/business partner racked up a se
rious debt with the mob. His wife
thinks Oz owes her his life because
she thinks the debt was also his. She
thinks her husband is worth more dead
than alive because of the insurance
Pearl Jam reemerges onto the musical scene
by Kelly Walsh
staff writer
Pearl Jam will be releasing their
sixth album Binaural on May 16.
It is being supported by tours in
the U.S. and Europe; they will be
in Pittsburgh on September 5 for
the last date of the first leg. On
May 11 they opened to a select
crowd in Vancouver and they are
promoting a tour in Europe now.
On April 25 “Nothing as it
policy. So she has tried to find a con
tract killer to help her out on this mis
sion. What she doesn’t know is that
the one she hired to do the job thinks
her husband is adorable and hates her.
When Oz recognizes his new neigh
bor, Jimmy “The Tulip” Tedaski, as a
Chicago mob member, he mistakenly
tells his wife. She wants him to go to
Chicago and tell the gang that has a
contract out on Jimmy that he lives in
Montreal. This way she thinks they
will get a reward and have more
money to bum. Well, Oz gets him
self in trouble in Chicago and calls
the Tulip to tell him he ratted him out.
Now he is the middle man. He tells
the Tulip everything and now the ex
con is excited because the enemy is
coming to him. This way the upper
hand is his.
One theme in the movie that I re
ally liked is nice guys really do finish
Seems,” their first single off of the
new album was released with a 13-
side of “Insignificance.” “Rival,”
written by guitarist Stone Gussard,
is a reflection of the Columbine
incident of last year. “[There was]
just kind of a melody that went
through my head
right after Columbine happened. It
kind of maybe took on a little of
that, where I put myself in the
mindset or tried to think about what
those guys may have been thinking
ite. PHOTO BY THERESA DILLON (SCREEN GEMS)
Yards
first. Oz ends up with a beautiful lady
and money up the wazoo. He didn’t
care about money; he cared about
people. Everything that he does is
for someone else, except when he
finds the woman of his dreams. He
thought he was going to have to live
the rest of his life paying off debt,
living with two crazy woman. Little
did he know what was in store for
him.
Contract killers are everywhere
and they end up working with each
other instead of against each other.
What is expected happens, but there
is still some mystery. Director
Jonathon Lynn (My Cousin Vinny)
doesn’t give away the ending too
early. This is not the greatest mob
film, but it has its laughs. It will al
low you to relax while being enter
tained, definitely a good film for es
caping reality.
the night before.” This is almost
serendipitous to the group’s
“Jeremy” video which showed a
young boy shooting himself in
front of his classmates.
Billßoard reported that this is
the most “headphone-friendly
album.” It features many
different instruments that have
never debuted on previous
albums. Buy the album and see
if there are any Billßoard hits this
time around!
Aries (March 21-April 19). Do something produc
tive this summer, and no, video games are not
productive
Taurus (April 20-May 20). If you actually would
have gone to class you might have been able to
pass your finals.
R
O
S
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Now is not the time to
try and bring up your grades, it is way too late.
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Caffeine will make
finals week go by much faster, and twitching is lots
of fun
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Being late for class is ok,
being late for finals is not.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If your teachers don’t
know your name by now, don’t count on getting
that A
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Shouldn’t you be
studying right now instead of reading these stupid
horoscopes?
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Coconuts, they’re not
just for breakfast anymore, nudge, nudge, wink,
wink.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). “Bongo ate my
paper” will not go over big with your teacher as an
excuse.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Finals week would
not be a good time to go on a week-long drinking
P
E
binge
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb 18). Beer will not help you
study better.
Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20). Deep thought
2+2=?, new question on the Penn State application
to raise admission standards.
Bongo the three legged
monkey
J3L
44 ( ._
"
~Rue