FEATURES/SPORTS Angela’s Pleasant By Nicole Burkholder Capital Times Staff Writer I hesitated before going to see Angela’s Ashes. I read the book and feared that the movie would destroy the essence of Frank McCourt’s story. But off I went to the new Hoyt’s Theater. It was amazing how many people were suddenly embracing their Irish heritage that Sunday afternoon. It was amusing listening to people vehemently claiming a personal “link” to McCourt and the story of his childhood in Limerick. After all the years of “No Irish Need Apply” signs, isn’t it ironic how cool it is to be Irish nowa days? Better yet, as often as Catholics are ridiculed in this country, you can score points now for being an Irish Catholic just like Frank McCourt. Oprah’s book club does amazing things to people! McCourt’s memoirs begin with his early years in Brooklyn, N.Y., and proceed rather quickly into the family’s reverse migra tion back to Ireland. As confusing as this may seem to anyone else, young McCourt was even more baffled. The move seemed rather back wards since life in Limerick at the time was fairly miserable for the McCourt family. The story covers McCourt’s life through his teen years when he returns to America. Three actors tackle the role of the young boy with brilliance. Young Frank is played by Joseph Breen. As if the story were his own, the young actor approaches each scene with an honesty that most adult stars cannot deliver. Ciaran Owens takes over as Frank at about 10 years old. The younger brother of acclaimed Eamon Owens of The Butcher Boy, Ciaran truly captures the devilish innocence of McCourt that is both hilarious and heart breaking. Michael Legge rounds out the movie as Frank at age 16. In the tradition of Breen and Owens, Legge reaffirms McCourt’s per sonality. With amazing attention to detail, director Alan Parker chose three young actors that make the film more like a home video of Frank McCourt than a Ashes A Surprise reenactment. Emily Watson (Hilary and Jackie, The Boxer) and Robert Carlyle (The World Is Not Enough, The Full Monty) play Frank’s parents, Angela and Malachy. As usual, the two veterans deliver noteworthy perfor mances. Both characters estab lish a love-hate relationship with the audience, similar to the real McCourt family. Since the story is largely about Frank, Watson and Carlyle are not overbearing. In a time when big names sell movies before the plot does, this is com mendable. Angela’s Ashes was more than a pleasant surprise. It was superb. Many have complained that the movie is not as funny as it could be. I ask them: how do you make a comedy about a large family living in tiny, flea infested quarters with almost no money? You don’t. Angela’s Ashes will make you laugh, especially if you really are a card-carrying Irish Catholic. It will make you miserable at the same time. What the critics should notice is that McCourt never asks for his readers’ pity. Neither does Parker’s film. Rams, the Fans’ Favorite, Edges Titans in Super Bowl By James Gadinski Capital Times Staff Writer ' A game that produced hundreds of yards offense came down to just one yard in a classic Super Bowl Battle between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans. The result was 23-16 Rams victory over the favored Titans. This was a fitting end to a dream season that consisted of many great memories for a team that was 4-12 last season. The St. Louis Rams dominated most of Super Bowl XXXIV, lead ing 16-0 at one point. However, the Titans never quit and scored 16 consecutive points in the second half to tie the contest. Rams quarterback Kurt Warner was not done, though. He threw a 73-yard touchdown strike to wide reciever Issac Bruce with 1:54 remaining to put the Rams back in the lead, 23-16. On the Titans next drive, quar terback Steve McNair engi neered a spectacular drive high lighted by a 16-yard third down strike to Kevin Dyson, who was tackled at the Rams’ 9-yard-line. With only four seconds left in regulation, the Titans had one last chance to score. McNair threw a quick strike 8-yard strike to Dyson. However Lady Lions By James Gadinski Capital Times Staff Writer The Penn State Lady Lions basketball squad is providing some excitement in Happy Valley this season. They are considered one of the top teams in the nation. The Lady Lions are ranked No. 6 in the latest Associated poll. In the Big Ten, the Lady Lions are dominating the opposition with an impressive 8-1 record in the conference, only losing to a solid Michigan State Spartan team. Overall, the Lions are 17-3, losing only to national powers Duke and Connecticut, in addi tion to Michigan State. One of the reasons for the suc cess this season is the strong upper class leadership of this team, led by senior center Andrea Gamer. Gamer is dominating the opposi tion, averaging 15.1 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. Juniors Maren Walseth and Lisa Shepard are also having big seasons, both averaging around 12 points per game. However, it is not only those the Rams’ Mike Jones made the biggest tackle of his career, stop ping Dyson just short of the goal line as the clock ran down. The Rams victory concluded a dream season for Warner. Warner passed for a Super Bowl record 414 yards and was the unani mous selection for Super Bowl XXXIV MVP. This year’s Rams team was a sentimental favorite in the hearts of many football fans. At the start of the season, no one in their right mind would have thought this team would be in the Super Bowl. In preseason, when starting quarterback Trent Green suffered a season-ending knee injury, many football fans figured it would be lucky if the Rams even went .500 this season. However, head coach Dick Vermeil and his team did not give up. They had a goal to achieve and achieve it they did. Three star players, quarter back Kurt Warner, halfback Marshall Faulk and linebacker London Fletcher, have disap pointed their critics and had out- standing seasons. Warner played for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 1998 and for the lowa Barnstormers of the Arena Enjoying Banner Season three players contributing, but a total team effort. Four other Lady Lions are having very solid sea sons: Senior Helen Darling, Junior Chrissy Falcone and Sophomores Rashana Barnes and Katrena Carr. All four are averaging between six and 10 points per game and are playing superb defense. The Lady Lions have a full Big Ten slate to close out the sea son. If this team continues to play with the consistency they Penn State students with ID can purchase a ticket for onbj $4.00 and get $2.00 toward antj snack or beverage at the >n conce: Football League from 1995-97. He was thought to be a joke when he took over as quarter back after Green was injured. However, Warner had plans for his football career: leading the NFL in three passing depart ments, being selected to the Pro Bowl and named league MVP. Faulk, a new acquisition from the Colts, was a question mark at the beginning of the season. However, this season Faulk emerged as the leagues most elu sive running back, leading the league with 2,429 total yards and being selected to the Pro Bowl. Fletcher, a second year player out of a small Division 111 col lege, also had many critics. The critics thought Fletcher, at 5- foot-10, was too small to play linebacker at the NFL level. Fletcher also proved his critics wrong. He was the Rams’ defen sive MVP, leading the team in tackles, and the main reason the Rams defense was one of the best in the league this season. Despite many early season critics, this team had the right mix of unselfish team players. These players, coupled with a great coaching staff, made the Rams a Super Bowl champion team. have shown throughout the sea son, the Lions have a great chance to go undefeated for the remainder of the season. So, lookout when the Women’s NCAA Tournament comes around in mid-March. The Lady Lions will be ready to play. If you are interested in listening to a Lady Lions game, log on to the Penn State Website. You can hear all of their Big Ten Conference games live on the Internet. Upcoming Home Schedule All Games in the CUB Saturday, Feb. S at 7 p.m. vs. Springfield Slamm Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7 pm vs. New Philadelphia Firedogs Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. vs. New York Blast
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers