by: Dominick Ward-Pistone
There is no denying that Martin Scorsese left critics everywhere astonished. His newest movie Bringing Out the Dead is hauntingly wonderful in several aspects. Bringing Out the Dead delivers, not only in its admirable script, but also in the explosive performances of each member of its cast. This highly intelligent thriller displays an ideal combination of both drama and dark comedy.
Pros: For starters, the story line is graphic and intense. Martin Scorsese does a marvelous job at revealing the stop and go life of a mentally disturbed ambulance driver. Nicolas Cage stars as that nearly insane ambulance driver, by the name of Frank Pierce. At the beginning of the movie, he describes what it is like to save somebody's life, almost as though it were a stimulant of the highest degree. The movie starts out with Frank Pierce just starting to lose control. As the movie progresses, so does Frank's insanity. The thing to note in this film is Martin Scorsese's usage of lighting. He uses a lighter tone after a person dies. This is to symbolize the "white light" that some people claim to see before death. Also at one point in the movie, Pierce administers what he thinks is a "cure" for insanity to him. It ends up becoming a large rush of adrenaline. Shortly after, the camera speeds up and goes into fast-motion in order to depict the sort of rush that Pierce is experiencing. 
All of the supporting actors and actresses played their roles as though they were made just for them. There was not one weak link in any of them. The last really unique part about the movie is its ending. Unlike most sappy, 60 minute TV dramas, Bringing out the Dead has an ending, which leaves the viewer curious as to what will happen next. It isn't exactly happy, sad, or amusing, which may sound dull, but it is perfectly suited for the story.
Cons: Although this movie is one of the best movies of the year and praised by numerous critics everywhere, there are still many critics who would put it down. Why is this... maybe because they have nothing better to do than pounce upon good, decent films, while they know very well that they lack the talent to even try to write their own movie. Although the camera angles and lighting were fantastic in their own right, the music didn't always fit the scene. Also, the plot may be a little intricate at certain parts of the movie, but nothing too severe. Although this movie certainly deserved them, it probably will not win any Academy Awards.  (That would be due to the fact that it is an American film, and a thriller.)
Bottom Line: Bringing out the Dead is a movie not to be missed! Nicolas Cage truly delivers a performance of the highest caliber. All in all, on a scale from one to ten, I would rate this movie a "9 ½" without a doubt.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Mark Anthony, and Vin Rames
General Comments: "A spellbinder, in the great Scorsese tradition,"- Rolling Stone Magazine.  "Nicolas Cage is an actor of great style and heedless emotional availability,"- Roger Ebert.  "The superbly shot, Bringing Out the Dead is full of bravura moments and high-wire performances," Newsweek.

(These are some responses generated by students in Creative Writing B2. Special thanks to Doctor Townsend and Mr. Siragusa.)

"To disprove Einstein's theory that they couldn't." -Ben Theriault
"It was a chicken, who knows?" -Paul Brunetti
"Because." -Jesse Plourde
"Maybe the chicken didn't walk across the road, but rather the road moved under the chicken." -Aimee Burg
"Because a Cuban packed its [rear] with cocaine to avoid FDA agents." -Kevin Fitzsimmons
"Cruel human jokes had given him a complex from birth." -Rose Wollman
"Someone had called in a bomb threat on his side of the street." -Trisha Whitlock
"Because God willed him to do it. And it was good." -Aimee Burg
"To get as far away as possible from KFC." -Crystal Badeau
"He was delivering the mail ([and] the ant crossed the road because he was stapled to the chicken)." -Krista Larlee

PEOPLE(Continued from page 1)

throughout the world on their trip. In addition, they will get a chance to meet people all over the world and stay with 80 to 90 different host families.
Shawn explains that he has "wanted to travel with Up With People ever since the cast came to perform in 1996."  This past year, when the show came to Lewiston again, his family hosted a Swiss student named Janine. She told him, "One day you could be staying in a mansion in the French Alps and other times you are staying with the poorest families in Mexico with no running water, no heat, and none of the luxuries that we have today."  Shawn, excited to "[see] the world, all aspects of the world," was interviewed last spring when the cast was in Lewiston. Angela, who is anxious for this "chance of a lifetime," was interviewed at the end of June in Orlando. Both explained that the formal interview process simply involves sitting down with an alumni of the program and just getting to know each other for about 45 minutes. Also, all applicants must complete a four-page application that includes such important questions as "What are your goals in life and your future plans?"  Two months after Shawn completed the process and one month after Angela did they both found out that they had been accepted.
The hardest part for both of them has definitely been finding a way to pay the tuition. Each student must come up with $14 000 for tuition about another $1 000 for spending money. Therefore, ever since they both were accepted, they have been trying to find ways to get enough money. Angela has been doing "a constant bottle drive, garage sales, and  [looking for] donations."  Also, she plans a road race, singing contest, and

raffles. Meanwhile, Shawn has been doing raffles, car washes, and bottle drives, as well as writing letters to local businesses asking for contributions.
When Shawn and Angela get back from touring with Up With People they both intend to go to college and pursue careers in performing arts. They hope that their year with the program will give them a broader view of the world and many unforgettable experiences.
If you would like to help support Shawn or Angela, contributions may be mailed to:
Shawn Robitaille
1140 Main Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
Tel. (207) 784-7188