'PROJECT' TAKES ITSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.Byline: DAVID David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. KRONKE TV Critic ON STAGE, ``The Laramie Project'' represented the Tectonic Theater Project's efforts to make sense of the Matthew Shepard murder at the hands of homophobic thugs. The group interviewed members of the small Wyoming town where the killers grew up and encountered defiantly homophobic members of the community, as well as those ashamed of what had transpired within its confines and others who were torn, some more upset that it reflected poorly on the town rather than what had actually happened. HBO's film version of ``The Laramie Project'' seems a stickier production: The group's adventures and interactions and the media response emerge as being as much or more the point than Laramie's citizenry's difficult grappling with the larger issue of hate crime. As such, it comes off as a bit affected and selmportant. What can you say about a film in which the writer-director (Moises Kaufman) gets the hunkiest member of the cast (Nestor Carbonell) to play himself? MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. has already tackled the story in a made-for-TV film, and NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. will take it on next week. ``The Laramie Project'' is an impressionistic im·pres·sion·is·tic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or practicing impressionism. 2. Of, relating to, or predicated on impression as opposed to reason or fact: impressionistic memories of early childhood. wash of pointedly provocative talking heads, played by an impressive assemblage of actors portraying the townspeople; some spout noxiously self-righteous venom, others intone in·tone v. in·toned, in·ton·ing, in·tones v.tr. 1. To recite in a singing tone. 2. To utter in a monotone. v.intr. 1. sensitive, politically correct politically correct Politically sensitive adjective Referring to language reflecting awareness and sensitivity to another person's physical, mental, cultural, or other disadvantages or deviations from a norm; a person is not mentally retarded, but cant. It might reasonably come with a warning: Fidgety fidg·et·y adj. 1. Tending to fidget. 2. Creating unnecessary fuss. fidg  et·i·ness n.Adj. Method Acting Ahead. Which is not to say there aren't moments of resonance. Steve Buscemi appears as a guy who drove Matthew to a gay bar - in Colorado, as there are none in Wyoming. Amy Madigan plays the officer who first came upon Shepard's battered body and was potentially infected with his HIV-positive blood. Laura Linney essays a not-unsympathetic housewife who is nonetheless upset that the media circus has ignored other local injustices. The filmmakers briefly explore the fact that Laramie's culture is one of rugged individualism as embodied in modern-day cowboys and ranchers. But it's none too subtle in its depiction of good guys and bad guys - they do everything but put everyone in black and white cowboy hats. THE LARAMIE PROJECT - Two and one half stars What: A theater group investigates the Matthew Shepard murder, starring Dylan Baker, Clancy Brown, Steve Buscemi, Nestor Carbonell, Peter Fonda, Janeane Garofalo, Joshua Jackson, Laura Linney, Amy Madigan, Camryn Manheim, Margo Martindale, Christina Ricci, Frances Sternhagen. Where: HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy . When: 8 tonight; also Tuesday, March 17, 21, 27, 30; HBO Plus: Thursday, March 29. |
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