The new film "Cookie's Fortune," now playing at the Janus, is a Southern Gothic shaggy-dog tale that takes place in Holly Springs, Miss., where the biggest show in town is the church's annual Easter play. The town's second biggest event is the return of Cora's (Julianne Moore) prodigal daughter, Emma (Liv Tyler). Emma is a rebel who has always flouted authority, with 234 parking tickets to prove it.
Cora's Aunt Cookie decides that she misses her late husband, Buck, so much that she'd like to join him. Instead of being a quiet suicide, it turns out to be topsy-turvy when family members try to make it look like a homicide.
Things get out of hand when voluptuous Sandra Dunmore pays a visit to the Los Angeles church of which she is a member in good standing, enters the organ loft and begins to have sex with the man at the keyboard (Don Johnson).
Sandra's affair is part of a plot she's created with Jake to kill bachelor Ben for millions in insurance money. The plot seems easy to follow, but there 's always some sort of twist added.
Although it is a light-footed comedy, when it comes to execution it flunks. There is no character to identify with. Humanity is divided into two groups: scheming greedheads and idiots.
It's no surprise to see popular Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan is back in theaters. "Twin Dragons," playing at the Terrace and Brassfield, is a mixture of action, romance and humor. The action begins in 1956, when a wounded gangster shoots his way out of Hong Kong hospital, taking hostage a newborn twin boy who gets lost in the gunplay, rolls down a hill in a wheelchair and winds up as the object of devotion of a drunken young lady. The other infant is taken to America and becomes piano prodigy. As always in Chan's films, the screen is filled with spectacular stunts.
The media center staff of Ben L. Smith High School has announced the National Library Week contest winners.
In the poetry catagory: William Thomas Thorpe, first place; Shanda Moon, second place; and Mary Robichaux, third place.
In the essay catagory: Tori Parker, first place; Paul Noah, second place; and Karen Dove, third place.
In the black and white photography catagory: Brad Allen, first place; Christal Wilkinson, second place; and Quan Thach, third place.
In the color photography catagory: Judy Visoury, first place; Mary Ann Khamdy, second place; and Shane Elton, third place.
In the poster catagory: Michael Ray, first place; Ashley Johnson, second place; and Rene Marshall, third place.
The contest, coordinated by Jacqueline Jones, media center specialist, was open to all students of Smith High School. Students had to illustrate the theme of National Library Week "Read! Learn! Connect at the Library!" through the medium of their choice.
Spring break is a time for rest, a time to travel, a time to play catchup and a time to ruminate about the last six weeks of school.
What did Golden Eagles do last week? Well, sophomore Dominick Nichols stayed at home with her family and relaxed. Meanwhile, senior Parthenia Dupree traveled to New York to be with her relatives.
Other students looked for ways to get away from the house, away from family and away from seeing the same surroundings that they see every single day. Of course, when people hear the words spring break, the first thought that instantly comes into their minds is rounding up a few of their freinds and driving down to the coast of North Carolina. That's exactly what junior Leigh Anne Hunt did. Hunt went to Wilmington for two days.
"I laid out and put my toes in the water," she said. "It was still too cold to go swimming."
Sithina Sengsourinha, a senior, went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va., with her boyfriend, Alex Yong, and her sister, Pat Sengsourinha, and Pat's husband, Tommy Phok. The Seng-sourinhas also went fishing at Jordan Dam near Sanford before celebrating Laotian New Year's.
Others, though, had to work. Senior Rocky Passmore worked with children at Chucky Cheese. Senior Bojana Kara logged her hours at T.J. Maxx.
"I also took a trip to Charlotte with my brother (Rade Karac)," she said. "On the way back the air conditioner went out in my car. Somebody said it will cost $400 to fix."
Amanda Hampton, another senior, took part in the cotillion at BLS Auditorium last Saturday night.
"I danced with my escort, then my father," said Hampton, who will attend Winston-Salem State as a mass media major in August. "It was a lot of fun."
Junior Greg Duke took second place in the 400-meter run at the North Rowan Classic track and field meet April 2-3.
Duke was also on the 4x200 relay team that took second. His teammates on that relay included Mike Able, Deshon James and Darsharn Russell. The 4x400 relay also finished second and is now ranked fourth in the state. Team members are Duke, Russell, Chris Sharpless and Brian Woodward. Overall, Smith placed third in the meet. Second-year Golden Eagle coach Chris Lassiter was very pleased with the outcome.
"North Rowan and West Charlotte finished ahead of us," Lassiter said. "North will probably win the state 2-A championship and West Charlotte will probably win the state 4-A title. This says we can compete with the best in the state."
Brandon Summers also turned in a solid meet. Summers finished second in the 300 hurdles and third in the high jump.
Casey Johnson took third in the triple jump.
Senior Jamie Totten received an award in the Tandy/Radio Shack Scholars program for his work in science, mathematics and computers. Other BLS students honored were Yolanda German, Bojana Karac, Pou Keophakhoun, Chris Mitchell, Kinja Patel and Dwayne Wilson.
© 1999 bls@geocities.com