influx Summer, 2001 Vol. 16, #7 Editor-in-Chief Corinna vanGerwen Art Directors Albert Song lan Walker Managing Editor Robin Cameron Senior Editors Nigel Reeves Morgan Watt Flux Capacitor Benjamin Asa Smith Sextratary/ Ego Editor Ocean Dionne Copy Proofers Benjamin Asa Smith Emilie O’Brien Morgan Watt Robin Cameron Designers Andrew Dadson Ocean Dionne Robin Cameron Jan Dvorak Terence Koh Morgan Watt Corinna vanGerwin Cover by Terence Koh Back Cover Image by Tim Barber Contributors Aki Takabatake Andre Arnold Andrew Dadson Benjamin Asa Smith Carly Haddon j Chris VonSzombathy Claire Schagerell David Spriggs Donato Mancini Elizabeth Zvonar Ephriam Hsu Eric J Hogan Erin Beniferro Evelyn Brosseau Gord Schmidt lan Walker Jeremy Turner Julia Fryer Morgan Watt Niall Mclelland Nic Lyons Nigel Reeves Pat Rafferty Robin Cameron Shauna Kaendo Tim Barber TJ Anzai Tony Romano Special Thanks Student Union (thanks for a great year) Letters Policy Letter-writers and contributors please take note: Influx reserves the right to amend or refuse material in the interest of a respectful exchange of well-con- sidered thoughts within the justifiable limits of a free and democratic society. Written submissions should be forwarded on computer disk to: Influx ECIAD, Room 140 North Building, 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 3R9, or e-mail to: influx@eciad.bc.ca tel: (604) 844-3861 Submissions Deadlines For the September issue: August 3rd, 2001 o 75 word abuse 15 Minutes starring Robert DeNiro and Ed Burns, directed by John Herzfeld reviewed by Benjamin Asa Smith Special warning for anyone who was planning on seeing 15 Minutes for a slice of DeNiro’s acting talents: fifteen minutes refers to his screen time. And he's not looking too hot here, anyway. | don't have too much to say about this droopy mess. It wasn't terrible the first time | saw it, but that was in 1982. Two decades later, the message is a little less cutting edge. 15 Minutes: a thinking man's movie for the man who does- n't think too often. Can somebody please tell me what happened to DeNiro? Blow starring Johnny Depp, directed by Ted Demme reviewed by Benjamin Asa Smith Blow is the story of George Jung, the fellow who introduced the coke trade to the US. It’s a sprawling picture - it gives us his childhood and takes us all the way into his fifties or sixties — and it offers us a lot, from his meteoric rise (holy money Batman!) to his tragic fall (holy Kraft Dinner Batman!), from his loves (the loverly Franka Potente, aka Lola) to his many nasty betrayals (that is to say, him getting the buttered bum job, not the other way around). Well, it's a been- done story (read: Scorsese, Leone, etc.) with been-done style (read: Tarantino on the beach...oh, | guess you'd call that Soderbergh.), but you know what? It's a story that holds up well in rehash, and the style, similarly, is cool and slick enough to warrant second-helpings. What really raises Blow up a couple of levels, however, is the genuinely exquisite performances from almost the entire cast. Depp is fantastic, surpassing himself in sharp characterization (and making up for that nearly unforgivable display in Chocolat.). Ray Liotta, as George's long-suffering father, is incredible (and suddenly I'm wondering what the hell he did with himself between Goodfellas and now.). The afore-mentioned Potente is sharp and subtle. Paul Reubens (!) proves himself a fountain of talent. My sole acting complaint: Penelope Cruz. Why, oh why, is this bad-tasting flavour of the month picking up roles meant for actors? She can't act, her voice is real- ly annoying, and she's ugly as sin. Gladiator At The Oscars starring Russel Crow, directed by Ridley Scott reviewed by lan Walker, Ben Smith, and Morgan Watt Open the flood gates, here comes the continual decline of the western world through moving pictures. The Academy has once again set a precedent in rewarding films that shouldn't be more than a forgotten summer action flick. A deep fear wells within me that this dreadful action will only serve to further vali- date the intellectual detritus of humanity. Is Pear! Harbour the next Best Picture? P.S. I'd like to thank the Acadamy for their continuing shitty taste. YOU SUCK! ALL 6000 OF YOU! inf LUX Summer, 2001 Vol. 16, #7 Editor-in-Chief Contributors Corinna vanGerwen ‘Aki Takabatake Andre Arnold Art Directors Andrew Dadson Albert Song Benjamin Asa Smith lan Walker Carly Haddon Chris VonSzombathy Claire Schagerell Managing Editor Robin Cameron David Spriggs Donato Mancini Senior Editors Elizabeth Zvonar Nigel Reeves Ephriam Hsu Morgan Watt Eric J Hogan Erin Beniferro Flux Capacitor Evelyn Brosseau Benjamin Asa Smith Gord Schmidt lan Walker Sextratary/ Ego Editor Jeremy Turner ‘Ocean Dionne Julia Fryer Morgan Watt Copy Proofers I Mclelland Benjamin Asa Si Nic Lyons Emilie O'Brien Nigel Reeves Morgan Watt Pat Rafferty Robin Cameron Shauna Kaendo Robin Cameron Designers Tim Barber ‘Andrew Dadson T Anzai ‘Ocean Dionne Tony Romano Robin Cameron Jan Dvorak Special Thanks Terence Koh ‘Student Union Morgan Watt (thanks for a great year) Corinna vanGerwin Cover by Terence Koh Back Cover Image by Tim Barber Letters Policy Letter-writers and contributors please take note: Influx reserves the right to amend or refuse material in the interest of a respectful exchange of well-con- sidered thoughts within the justifiable limits of a free and democratic society. Written submissions should be forwarded on computer disk to: Influx ECIAD, Room 140 North Building, 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 3R9, or e-mail to: influx@eciad.be.ca tel: (604) 844-3861 Submissions Deadlines For the September issue: August 3rd, 2001 75 word abuse 15 Minutes starting Robert DeNiro and Ed Burns, directed by John Herzfeld reviewed by Benjamin Asa Smith Special warning for anyone who was planning on seeing 15 Minutes for a slice of DeNiro’s acting talents: fifteen minutes refers to his screen time. And he's not looking too hot here, anyway. I don't have too much to say about this droopy mess. It wasn’t terrible the first time | saw it, but that was in 1982. Two decades later, the message is a little less cutting edge. 15 Minutes: a thinking man’s movie for the man who does- n't think too often. Can somebody please tell me what happened to DeNiro? Blow starring Johnny Depp, directed by Ted Demme reviewed by Benjamin Asa Sr Blow is the story of George Jung, the fellow who introduced the coke trade to the US. It's a sprawling picture - it gives us his childhood and takes us all the way into his fifties or sixties — and it offers us a lot, from his meteoric rise (holy money Batman!) to his tragic fall (holy Kraft Dinner Batman!), from his loves (the loverly Franka Potente, aka Lola) to his many nasty betrayals (that is to say, him getting the buttered bum job, not the other way around). Well, it's a been- done story (read: Scorsese, Leone, etc.) with been-done style (read: Tarantino ‘on the beach...oh, | guess you'd call that Soderbergh), but you know what? Ita story that holds up well in rehash, and the style, similarly, is cool and slick ‘enough to warrant second-helpings. What really raises Blow up a couple of levels, however, is the genuinely exquisite performances from almost the entire cast. Depp is fantastic, surpassing himself in sharp characterization (and making up for that nearly unforgivable display in Chocolat.). Ray Liotta, as George's long-suffering father, is incredible (and suddenly I'm wondering what the hell he did with himself between Goodfellas and now.). The afore-mentioned Potente is sharp and subtle. Paul Reubens (!) proves himself a fountain of talent. My sole acting complaint: Penelope Cruz. Why, oh why, is this bad-tasting flavour ‘of the month picking up roles meant for actors? She can't act, her voice is real- ly annoying, and she's ugly as sin Gladiator At The Oscars starring Russel Crow, directed by Ridley Scott reviewed by lan Walker, Ben Smith, and Morgan Watt ‘Open the flood gates, here comes the continual decline of the western world through moving pictures. The Academy has once again set a precedent in rewarding films that shouldn't be more than a forgotten summer action flick. A deep fear wells within me that this dreadful action will only serve to further vali- date the intellectual detritus of humanity. 1s Pear! Harbour the next Best Picture? PS. I'd like to thank the Acadamy for their continuing shitty taste. YOU SUCK! ‘ALL 6000 OF YOU!