Volume CXXXIII, Number 18 March 1, 2002 f

Film Society takes gamble
JIM FLANAGAN
COLUMNIST

In anticipation of our upcoming Spring Break, the Film Society is taking you to Las Vegas, at least figuratively. Both of the titles we have for you this weekend are set in the great City that Never Sleeps, and will hopefully give you something to look forward to, so you can get through this final week before we are released.

A special note: Friday's film will be shown in Beam Classroom, in the visual arts center at 7:00 p.m. Saturday's film will bring us back to our regular location, Smith Auditorium in Sills Hall. Both films are free and open to everyone.

Ocean's 11 (1960)
Friday at 7:00 p.m.-Beam Classroom
Here is the original version of Steven Soderbergh's recent blockbuster. Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter and Joey are all here, making this the quintessential Rat Pack film. The plot is the same as the recent remake, mostly: a group of former army buddies team up to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night. It is a pretty ridiculous film, and you can tell that these guys are practically playing themselves-and having a great time doing it. This is a classic piece of the 1960's Swinger culture, and one that proves to be quite enjoyable.

Leaving Las Vegas
Saturday at 7:00 p.m.-Smith Auditorium
Yes, this is the remarkable film that gave Nicholas Cage an Oscar statue for best performance by an actor in a lead role. But don't assume that the Academy was bribed that year, this really is a wonderful film with great performances. Nick plays Ben, who decides to drink himself to death after being fired from his job. Where better to do this than Las Vegas? In Vegas he meets a down and out prostitute who he falls in love with. But the couple decides not to try to change each other's life, and they try to get by as Ben is slowly dying. This is a very moving film.