University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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A Year in Arts: Movies, Music, and TV Lx.% One might say that the year in arts was almost a year nations including Best Picture. As Good As It Gets, the hat wasn ' t at least for as far as the movies were cynical comedy starring Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and oncerned. the record-setting Oscar-nominated Jack Nicholson re- A majority of the year was filled with mediocre films ceives golden nods as well. | ftat hardly met any standard of cinematic excellence. The film industry finally found some dryland in its I jure we had the humorous My Best Friend ' s Wedding, final months of production. What looked like a year that is well as the acclaimed cop-drama LA Confidential in was going to sink into the depths of cheesy art and he summer, but it was not until the final months of 1997 overrated drama, resulted in one of fine films that met hat Hollywood decided to pull it all together. the expectations of both audiences and critics alike - i December was usually something of a rare occurrence in the entertainment the time when anticipated industry. Oscar hopefuls hit the the- The music business, however, was not as lucky. In aters, and this year was no recent years, music ventured from a limited genre art different. Titanic sailed form, to a diverse mishmash of taste and talent. It into theaters taking teenie- seemed that this year music fans and music critics didn ' t hoppers and sentimental quite agree as to the best in listening paraphernalia, fans by storm. The Critics raved over Radiohead ' s OK Computer. Simi- Leonardo DeCaprio and lar to the twist they took last year with Beck, Radiohead Kate Winslet disaster ro- found the originality that critics craved. Only few listen- mance was the most ex- ers seemed to agree. Radio stations relied on the talents photo courtesy of paramount studios pensive film ever made o f groups such as Matchbox 20 and Celine Dion to fill with a expense sheet of their play stacks. Albums with more critical disdain than [$200 million. When the Academy Awards were an- anything else. Groups like the Spice Girls and Backstreet 10 u need on Feb. 10, there was no doubt that Titanic Boys sang into radio waves and music charts, but out of Would make its money back, if not in concrete cash, then the acclaim of the experts. In critical praise. It garnered 14 nominations, tying the Some cheesy pop groups even gained a critical nod loscar record set by 1950 ' s All About Eve. or two. The young trio Hanson, with their MMM-Bop Wag the Dog, the political satire starring Dustin performance on Middle of Nowhere received a Best | I oilman. Robert DeNiro and lAnne Heche, also rolled into the- i raters at the most opportune time. With a sexual scandal at Presi- lent Clinton ' s feet, the film was ' ilmost too close to reality, and nany questioned whether the Kiral Id was planned or acciden- tal. The extra publicity that Wag jthe Dog gained from the evening icws programs helped boost it photo courtesy of RM Photo Service Spice Girls: After releasing a chart topping CD the Spice Girls hit the box office with Spice World. New Artist, Best Performance by a Duo or Group and Record of the Year Grammy nominations. What surmounted in music was the obvious diversity that was building within the industry. No longer was there merely pop, rock, jazz and country, but now there was alternative, rap, hard I rock, new age and R B. The dis- vice . between critics and f ans !, J ar films. sity within the industry. | Cinemas most handsome stars also found their way to On television, NBC ' s Must-See TV continued to reign uccess this year. Men in Black starring Tommy Lee the airwaves beginning with Friends, Seinfeld and then (ones and the newlywed Will Smith was the highest ER. While it was known that eventually Jerry Seinfeld grossing film of 1997. This summer drama had not only would decide to call it quits, he and the gang who made r yon the hearts of special effects gurus, but also those the ordinary funny decided to go out in style this season. kusting after some of the best-looking stars in the busi- Speaking of going out: ABC gained a notch in televi- icss. Heartthrobs abounded when Good Will Hunting sion history when Ellen DeGeneres announced that she vas released in December. Drama and comedy collided was gay, not only on her show Ellen, but also in real life. n the silver screen when best friends Ben Afflect and Couch-potatoes across the country tuned in to see just JMatt Damon both wrote and starred in the film that what she was all about. {gained nine nominations from the Academy of Motion Fox continued to taunt the big three with shows such Picture Arts and Sciences. as the new comedy;! ) ' McBeal and the returning drama The surprise successes of the year, however, included The X-Files which continued to baffel viewers. Ally the British comedy The Full Monty about five men who McBeal won the heart of many fans with her frank charm f dared to go all the way. The film won the praise of and her witty personality. Audiences across the globe as well as four Oscar nomi- by Kristin Long

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Raise your voice udents shout in response to a man preaching on the Diag. These students opposed his mes- sage that they were all sinners going to Hell. There was more to life at the University than classes and studying. Serioi s issues such as violence and sexuality faced students ?very day. As strong in their opinions as their studies, students never hesitated to voice their beliefs. Camp us leaders struggled to make student concerns he; rdby the administration while cultural groups celebrz ted their heritage. None were afraid to raise their voices 5 r listen to the multitude of voices that surrounded the otestors gather in the diag and raise their voices in support of af- firmative action . Fierce debates were spurred by the ongoing lawsuits against the University I regarding its affirmative action admissions poli- Voices Adriana Yugovich Voices 99