;

 

 

 

| Love You, Phillip Morris finally comes out

Ewan McGregor co-stars as Jim Carrey’s love interest in this semi-new film

    

Angela Espinoza

ith a career now spanning
thirty years, Jim Carrey’s come
a long way from talking out
of his butt and wearing green spandex.
Carrey has proven himself a noteworthy
actor, managing to just barely escape
the world of typecasting by successfully
taking on serious roles in films like Man
on the Moon (1999) and Eternal Sunshine
of the Spotless Mind (2004). In one of
his most recent projects, Carrey takes on
the role of real-life con artist Steven Jay
Russell in the film J Love You, Phillip
Morris.

The comedy-drama film follows
the relatively fabricated story of Russell,
whom, after several years of living an
average life as a church-going family
man, comes to terms with himself as the
flamboyantly gay man he really is: He
leaves his old life behind in search of
something better, only to turn to a life of
crime. After ending up in prison, Russell
is introduced to his cellmate, Phillip
Morris, played by Ewan McGregor. From
there on out, Russell’s goal is to spend
the rest of his life with Morris; the man
he truly believes to be his soul mate.

He pursues this goal to the point where
Russell repeatedly escapes prison to be
with Morris, using his con-artistry skills
to their full potential.

Carrey’s ventured into a lot of

different realms throughout his career,
which I, as a fangirl, have followed
extensively. Yet even I had to give a
double take when I first read about

this role. Carrey has portrayed the
stereotypical gay man before in the sketch
series that gave him his big break, Jn
Living Color. Despite my original fears
though, Carrey, as well as McGregor,
have been extensively praised for their
portrayals.

Due to its subject matter, the movie
has had some trouble finding distributors,
having been completed in 2008 and
only now being released publically.
Sometimes I have to wonder what century
we're in. The film originally premiered
at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
last January, and has been kept out of

  

8

theatres until February 10, 2010, where
it will make its official theatrical release
in France. Despite this ridiculous delay,
some additional good has come of it.
As of February 1, while promoting the
film, both Carrey and McGregor became
knights in France’s National Order of Arts
and Letters due to their successful film
careers.

The North American release date is
set to be March 26.

 

   

 

| Just Called to Say I Love You

A mix for lovers on Valentine’s Day

By Jay Schreiber, Arts Editor

ave you ever made a mix tape

for your valentine? Nothing

tells a person exa: tly what you
feel like an old fashioned mix tape. Mix
tapes, which still exist today in CD or
play-list form, are one of the most reliable
and common gifts that makes any loved
one feel cared about. If you decide to
follow this path on V-day, then maybe
you should include some of the following
selections.

* Careless Whisper — George
Michael
Good love song with a saxophone
solo that has become iconic to
pop music. This tune even had
the power to convince the general
public that George Michael was
straight at one point in history
before he ruined his career. Also
the breakout hit from his last pop
group Wham! —it’s impossible
miss this one on the soft rock
stations.

* My Cherie Amour -— Stevie
Wonder
For a blind guy, he sure does
have one hell of a way to describe
his vision of this woman. Stevie
Wonder has a variety of good love
songs, but this is one that I find to
be the most effective. Upbeat and
happy like most of his music, this

tune is low on the sap and it’s hard

not to enjoy the groove.

¢ Michelle — The Beatles
It wouldn’t be a complete list
without mentioning the masters

of ‘60s love. This tune is soulful,
well constructed and most of all
fells sincere. The group’s use of
French, a foreign language to
western pop music, adds an effect
to the message of the song. Check
out McCartney’s bass solo; if
that’s not enough to make you fall
in love then I don’t know what is.

¢ If You Want Me To Stay — Sly &
the Family Stone
One of the great legends of soul
and R&B, and still touring to this
day, is credited with this little
ditty. Like “Cherie Amour,” this
one is more upbeat and danceable
than your typical love song. The
Red Hot Chili Peppers did a cover
in the late ‘80s which was funkier
and had a better horn section to it.

* Crystal Ship — The Doors
An outright lullaby, it isn’t hard to
picture Jim Morrison serenading a
woman to sleep with this melody.
A great example of ‘60s free love
‘and peace among people, the
stoned, ballad-like texture is a
perfect down-beat groove.

 

 

 

 

# budding poet? Submit your work to arts@theotherpress.ca to see your work