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Bloodjinn, North Carolina metal band to perform
at Geno’s
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Kevin
Delury
Entertainment Beat |
Special to The Appalachian
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“It’s gonna
be cold, it’s gonna be gray, and it’s gonna last you the
rest of your life,” reads the flyer promoting Bloodjinn’s
show, taking place tonight at Geno’s Sports Restaurant &
Lounge. While not the most uplifting message, it’s more to
be taken with a hint of self-mockery that only metal music can pull
off.
While the High Country is more renowned for its
array of jam bands and bluegrass, tonight the focus swerves to North
Carolina metalcore acts such as A Kiss Before Dying, Choke the Rivers
with our Dead, In Remembrance of Me, and headlining act Bloodjinn.
After five albums and 17 tours of the Southeast, the Mount Airy-based
Bloodjinn finally comes to Boone.
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| Chamber ensemble back again to ASU |
Stephanie Marshall
Entertainment Beat |
The 2002-03 Performing
Arts Series again brings variety to the Appalachian audience with
the Eroica Trio.
Presented by the Office of Cultural Affairs, the
Eroica Trio will be performing in Farthing Auditorium Tuesday, Nov.
19.
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| ‘8 mile’: Is it Emmy worthy? |
Kevin Delury
Entertainment Beat |
When asked to name
a rapper who, at the top of his career, decided to enlist as the
starring role of a movie that reflects not only his entertainer
alter-ego but also serves as a quasi-biography, one name usually
comes to mind: Vanilla Ice.
That’s right, remember Ice’s performance in “Cool
as Ice,” followed shortly thereafter with a key supporting
role in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the
Ooze?” Not only did Ice land a role in the film, but his hit
song “Ninja Rap” went on to be featured on the movie’s
soundtrack, which in turn helped to boost ticket sales.
Vanilla Ice isn’t the only rapper who’s gone the route
of starring in a film and contributing to its soundtrack. Who could
possibly forget Kid n’ Play in “House Party,” and
the two subsequent sequels? Digital Underground’s appearance
in the Chevy Chase film “Nothing but Trouble?” Last but
certainly not least, there’s always Ice T in “Leprechaun
in the Hood.”
Besides the fact that all these films star rappers, they have one
more thing in common. When released, the entire entertainment world
was able to hear the last nail being driven into these artists’
careers’ coffins.
Bearing this in mind, you have to ask yourself what Eminem was thinking
when he chose to star in “8 Mile.” After so many countless
failures, it should have been obvious that taking a starring role
in a movie was a surefire way to commit career suicide.
Nevertheless, Eminem went ahead and made the film.
There have been many questions the public has been asking lately.
Will we go to war with Iraq? What will the fate of the two suspected
snipers be? However, as of last week, the question being asked by
many is “Can Eminem act?” The answer, surprisingly enough,
is a resounding “yes.”
“8 Mile” is not necessarily the most solid of plots but
makes up for it with a talented cast and brilliant cinematography,
courtesy of director Curtis Hanson, the mastermind behind the classic
“L.A. Confidential.”
Set in the poverty-stricken urban-industrial nightmare that is Detroit
circa 1995, the film captures—in incredibly painstaking detail—the
dead-end road that is Jimmy “Rabbit’s” life. From
the mud-caked windows to the backwashed gene pool that comprises
the less savory characters in his trailer park, Jimmy resides with
his deadbeat mother (played by convincing Kim Basinger) and his
little sister, who serves as nothing more than a catalyst to bring
out the “softer side” of Jimmy. For all intents and purposes,
Jimmy’s life is a never-ending episode of Jerry Springer.
Jimmy has one uncanny talent that could be his ticket out of the
trailer. Surprise, surprise, Jimmy can rap. Going through Jimmy’s
trials and tribulations of being a white rapper, as well as his
immense stage fright, are his rag-tag buddies. With the exception
of Mekhi Phifer, who gives an outstanding performance as Jimmy’s
best friend Future, the rest of Em’s pals are nothing more
than comic relief, and further testament to Jimmy’s underdog
status. As if any was actually needed. Imagine “Rocky,”
but with sidekicks who get one or two good laughs and eventually
just wear thin on the nerves, and you’ll have “8 Mile.”
The more the film progresses, the more one sees “Rocky: The
Hip Hop Musical.” Here we have a scrappy working-class underdog
who has big dreams of rising to the top of a very touch-and-go profession.
After having everything that can go wrong happen, our hero miraculously
fights his way to the top in a feel good scene that makes you forget
the crucial question “how in the world is that even possible?”
Suspension of disbelief aside, “8 Mile” comes down to
one thing: the emcee battles. While watching senseless violence
and an incredibly unnerving sex scene between Jimmy and his new
girlfriend (played by a very creepy Brittany Murphy) is all good
and fine, Eminem only truly beings to shine when he has the mic
in his hand.
Throughout the entire film, Em is portrayed as a choke artist. Save
for using his lyrical prowess to mock his living conditions or stick
up for fellow co-workers, we never get to really hear the venomous
battle rhymes until the last 30 minutes of the film. It’s unusual
that Free World—the crew Eminem battles—finally takes
their battle to the stage. Throughout the entire film, Jimmy’s
gang and Free World exchange blows, with guns finally being drawn
in a vicious beat down. Are we led to believe that this kind of
violence is settled on the microphone? No, but wouldn’t it
be nice for a change?
In the end you have a film with a great cast, superb director, but
nowhere to really let them show off their acting chops as they are
overshadowed by Eminem doing what he does best: rhyming.
For now, taking the walk down “8 Mile” is a matinee-worthy
venture, but don’t expect an Emmy for Eminem. |
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