The Sum Of Us Starring Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson, directed by Kevin Dowling and Geoff Burton. (1994) WARNING: IN THIS MOVIE THEY SPEAK AUSTRALIAN WITHOUT SUB- TITLES It sure is weird seeing the current Hollywood tough-guy, Crowe, who has built his american career on look- ing mean and kicking ass, in a sweetly sentimental romantic drama/comedy, let alone one in which he plays a happy-go-lucky gay fellow. But there he is, cavorting about in gay pubs and engaging in rather risqué love scenes. Never would've thought he had it in him. This movie was something of a pleas- ant surprise. It's the story of a father (Thompson) and his gay son (Crowe) who are living together, each just starting to date someone. While the relationships that they pursue, the father with an older woman he meets through a dating service and the son with a young gardener he's met at a pub, are interesting, it's really the rela- tionship directly between father and son that is the most engaging. Most of the wretched clichés that | associate with gay-kid-in-the-family moments are forgone, and the greater part of the film is spent trying to understand the love that each one has for the other. A nice touch is the Shakespearean asides that they share between themselves and the viewer, wherein they're usually able to com- municate that which they can't quite tell each other. Scenes to watch for: Russell Crowe's naked bum! The Three Amigos Starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short, directed by John Landis. (1986) I'm sure that Three Amigos purists are freaking out right now (all eight of them), but really. Are there gayer men in film than Steve, Chevy, and Martin? It's not overt in this picture, but the clues are there: their inability to do well or even slightly understand women, their co-dependence, their matching tight figure-skating-esque outfits, their hyper-sensitivity, the fact that they all sleep in the same bed... Scenes to watch for: look for the giant cock and balls image when the villain is speaking to his henchman about deflowering his captive. And remember folks, all these won- derful flicks can be picked up at the fine establishment of Black Dog Video (up on Cambie and 18th by the liquor store). While you're there, pick up a copy of Kier-La Janisse-Wood's Cinemuerte magazine (formerly Cannibal Culture), a rag for critical thinkers and horror freaks alike. Localizing Features continued from p.14 Collaged works included Elizabeth Zvonar's Hokusai prints disrupted by painting businessmen running down the streets of Edo era Japan: the postcolonial subject racing to catch a train which has yet to enter the pic- ture. The juxtaposition was a graphic reminder of the homogenizing effect of globalization, stamping out the local and specific wherever it takes root. Nyla Raney's mixed media collages deconstructed words into their sounds; their cartoon figures lurching maniacally across over-painted trailer park landscapes. At the core of the dilemma of childhood is the nuclear family, and Emma Howe's felt grouping of colourless, characterless cloth dolls (each wearing an identical grey bodysuit inexplic- ably featuring horns), occupied an eerie zone between the warmth of the handmade artifact and cold dehu- manization. The collaborative works exhibited a happy sense of abandon and sly wit when cutting, mixing, and remaking existing imagery, and a sure focus in the con- struction of solo pieces. This is an intriguing collective to watch. Keep an eye on the Crying Room. Mike Haller continued trom p.14 morph from humans into beings that are identifiably human but now are also something other. He observes that they walk differently — there is something different in their eyes. For me, these skeletal works speak of the depth and the distortions that are the potential of every human being. In hospitals and in heroin alleys, we begin to see our own interior surface. We are afraid of our dark self. These are the things we skillfully hide under layers of pretense, intellect, and social performance. Mike reveals our interior landscape through carefully crafted ceramic. He reminds us that by stripping away the flesh and superficial behaviours we hold within us something quiet, dark and brooding. Underneath each human being is something that has simply risen to the surface with the Junkie. Through Mike, that something has developed a life and a beauty of its own. Mike's recent show at DV8 saw him sell works from $300-$500. No doubt his works will jump the value scale as he continues his own artistic evolution. At the time of press he was preparing to mount his next show with fellow Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design grad- uate and ceramist Jeremy Hatch. Entitled Marrow the show opens on January 12, 2001 at the Dynamo, 142 West Hastings, and runs through until January 27th, Thundering Word continued from p.14 Big Gold Chains and their beat box and harmonica styling. He is a crazy cat in his own musical realm. How does one describe C.R. Averys’ realm... hip- hop/folk/avante garde/ knob twiddling radio madness? VCC contemporary arts student Kristi Sinclair sings and strums her way into a respectable set, her modern folk sensibilities complimenting the beats and words being laid down tonight. Rachel Flood, the host of the ever-crowded “Unrefined" at The Sugar Refinery, delivers vulnerable insights into herself so effectively that | find myself holding back tears... barely. The first time | heard her it was a candid situation and she floored me. She is a queen of rhythm and gives us her soul, and we can relate. Lori Brikker is a new face to me — but that isn’t saying much. This woman grooves. Check her out if you have the chance. Her forte is mixing melody, spoken word and rhythm in a wonderful contemporary style. There is a lot of talent here and it happens every Sunday, so tell your Boss you're coming in late next Monday and I'll see you at Monmatre. advertise *;magazine inf LUX t design media arts culture Advertising your service, product, event, or organization to 5,000 creators and consumers of culture. Influx Magazine features writing on contemporary issues and happenings in the field of visual and material culture. The design of the publication is fresh, vibrant and tasteful. We distribute to select shops, cinemas, and cafes in greater Vancouver, and to all branches of the Vancouver Public Library. Influx Magazine is in its 16th year of publication, have you considered advertising with us? Who to contact for information: Richard Lawley Advertising Coordinator 604.844.3861 604.844.3801 Telephone Fax (attn: influx) Address 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9 We print on 50pp Electrabrite stock L7 The Sum Of Us Starring Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson, directed by Kevin Dowling and Geoff Burton. (1994) WARNING: IN THIS MOVIE THEY SPEAK AUSTRALIAN WITHOUT SUB- TITLES. It sure is weird seeing the current Hollywood tough-guy, Crowe, who has built his american career on look- ing mean and kicking ass, in a sweetly sentimental romantic drama/comedy, let alone one in which he plays a happy-go-lucky gay fellow. But there he is, cavorting about in gay pubs and engaging in rather risqué love scenes. Never would've thought he had it in him, This movie was something of a pleas- ant surprise. It's the story of a father (Thompson) and his gay son (Crowe) who are living together, each just starting to date someone. While the relationships that they pursue, the father with an older woman he meets through a dating service and the son with a young gardener he's met at a pub, are interesting, it's really the rela- tionship directly between father and son that is the most engaging. Most of the wretched clichés that | associate with gay-kid-in-the-family moments are forgone, and the greater part of the film is spent trying to understand the love that each one has for the other. A nice touch is the Shakespearean asides that they share between themselves and the viewer, wherein they're usually able to com- municate that which they can't quite tell each other. Scenes to watch for: Russell Crowe's naked bum! The Three Amigos Starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short, directed by John Landis. (1986) I'm sure that Three Amigos purists are freaking out right now (all eight of them), but really. Are there gayer men in film than Steve, Chevy, and Martin? It's not overt in this picture, but the clues are there: their inability to do well or even slightly understand women, their co-dependence, their matching tight figure-skating-esque outfits, their hyper-sensitivity, the fact that they all sleep in the same bed, Scenes to watch for: look for the giant cock and balls image when the villain is speaking to his henchman about deflowering his captive. ‘And remember folks, all these won- derful flicks can be picked up at the fine establishment of Black Dog Video (up on Cambie and 18th by the liquor store). While you're there, pick up a copy of Kier-La Janisse-Wood's Cinemuerte magazine (formerly Cannibal Culture), a rag for critical thinkers and horror freaks alike. Localizing Features continues trom p.14 Collaged works included Elizabeth Zvonar’s Hokusai prints disrupted by painting businessmen running down the streets of Edo era Japan: the postcolonial subject racing to catch a train which has yet to enter the pic- ture. The juxtaposition was a graphic reminder of the homogenizing effect of globalization, stamping out the local and specific wherever it takes root. Nyla Raney’s mixed media collages deconstructed words into their sounds; their cartoon figures lurching maniacally across over-painted trailer park landscapes. At the core of the dilemma of childhood is the nuclear family, and Emma Howe's felt grouping of colourless, characterless cloth dolls (each wearing an identical grey bodysuit inexplic- ably featuring hors), occupied an eerie zone between the warmth of the handmade artifact and cold dehu- manization. The collaborative works exhibited a happy sense of abandon and sly wit when cutting, mixing, and remaking existing imagery, and a sure focus in the con- struction of solo pieces. This is an intriguing collective to watch. Keep an eye on the Crying Room. Mike Haller continued trom p.14 morph from humans into beings that are identifiably human but now are also something other. He observes that they walk differently - there is something different in their eyes. For me, these skeletal works speak of the depth and the distortions that are the potential of every human being. In hospitals and in heroin alleys, we begin to see ‘our own interior surface. We are afraid of our dark self. ‘These are the things we skilfully hide under layers of pretense, intellect, and social performance. Mike reveals our interior landscape through carefully crafted ceramic. He reminds us that by stripping away the flesh and superficial behaviours we hold within us something quiet, dark and brooding. Underneath each human being is something that has simply risen to the surface with the Junkie. Through Mike, that something has developed a life and a beauty of its own. Mike's recent show at DV8 saw him sell works from $300-$500. No doubt his works will jump the value scale as he continues his own artistic evolution. At the time of press he was preparing to mount his next show with fellow Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design grad- uate and ceramist Jeremy Hatch. Entitled Marrow the show opens on January 12, 2001 at the Dynamo, 142 West Hastings, and runs through until January 27¢h. Thundering Word continued trom p.14 Big Gold Chains and their beat box and harmonica styling. He is a crazy cat in his own musical realm. How does one describe C.R. Averys’ realm... hip- hop/folk/avante garde/ knob twiddling radio madness? VCC contemporary arts student Kristi Sinclair sings and strums her way into a respectable set, her modern folk sensibilities complimenting the beats and words being laid down tonight. Rachel Flood, the host of the ever-crowded “Unrefined” at The Sugar Refinery, delivers vulnerable insights into herself so effectively that | find myself holding back tears... barely. The fist time I heard her it was a candid situation and she floored me. She is a queen of rhythm and gives us her soul, and we can relate Lori Brikker is a new face to me - but that isn't saying. much. This woman grooves. Check her out if you have the chance. Her forte is mixing melody, spoken word and rhythm in a wonderful contemporary style. There is a lot of talent here and it happens every Sunday, so tell your Boss you're coming in late next ‘Monday and I'l see you at Monmatre. advertise : f Imagazine art design media ares culture Advertising your service, product, event, or organization to 5,000 creators and consumers of culture. Influx Magazine features writing on contemporary issues and happenings in the field of visual and material culture. The design of the publication is fresh, vibrant and tasteful. We distribute to select shops, cinemas, and cafes in greater Vancouver, and to all branches of the Vancouver Public Library. Influx Magazine is in its 16th year of publication, have you considered advertising with us? Who to contact for information: Richard Lawley Advertising Coordinator Telephone 604.844.3861 Fax (attn: influx) 604.844.3801 Address 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9 ‘We print on 50pp Electrabite stock 17_@