| Show 55" ' ? Kirr vst- MNwwrf 'wiwiiiw'''fw 'riajtfr - ? rjrtmjrrmir‘i' - r ims ? r v HBO brings ‘Disappearing Acts’ to the small screen By Jacqueline Cutler TVData Features Syndicate From the moment Zora Banks sets eyes on the devastalingly handsome Franklin Swift she's knocked for a loop Banks a music teacher and aspiring singer is college-educate- d Whut does beautiful and she need with a chronically unemployed g high-schodropout with an estranged wile and two sons? Since when does logic have anything lo do with lose? Terry McMillan's engaging best seller "Disappearing Acts" traces the union between Zora and Franklin from the day they meet Each chapter alternates between his and her perspective Starring Wesley Snipes ("Blade") und Sanaa Ealhan ("Love & Basketball") "Disappearing Acts" airs Saturday Dec 9 on HBO And in much smaller roles are the always terrific Michael Impcrioli ("The Sopranos") and John Amos ("Roots") Because this is such a beloved book - und the movie does try very hard to be true to it -let’s just get a few annoying issues out of the way Snipes buffed and beautiful as ever does not come close to luting this description off ranklin from McMillan’s novel: "(He) had to be something because he was towering over me His eyes looked like black marbles set in almonds He wore a Yankees baseball cap backward and when he lifted it fiom Ins head to shake off the dust Ins hair was jet black and wavy That nose was strong and regal and beneath it was a thick mustache " hile Snipes can't make himself 6 feet 4 inches he plays the pan bald and cleanshaven This is a book legions of fans know very well so Snipes’ appearance and the tuesiionable glumoning ol some characters - his estranged wile in the book is a woman ofsubsiantial sie and she's maybe a sie 10 in the mov le - are dillerent And one of Zora's best friends a sexually permissive comic with a substance aspiring stand-uabuse problem is simply excised The famous scene at a horrendous Thanksgiving in which Franklin's mother lobs potatoes at sot-lo- p Zora also is cut d acknowlDnectorGina edges she was nervous when she took on this pioieci "I love this book and it's so many people's bible" she says adding that friends appioaeli her wauling to know "who did I get for the lead and she better not be skm-n- y I" iuite trim captures Zora's spirit heuulilully However Zora's singing voice is dubbed "I can hold a note" Ialhan says "but they really wanted someone who can blow" She loo loved the book devouring il in two days "One ol die reasons the novel siiuck such a chord is its depiction of a modem black couple I could completely identify with it in one way or another Il was exciting to see two black people loving each oilier laihan who is DECEMBER 2 -- 9 2000 On Saturday Dec 9 on HBO a Itanl-drinUn- g Sanaa Lillian and Wesley Snipes play a music teat her and " dropout u ho fall in love in "Disappearing Acts You see why he has such a hard time" Snipes who also is executive producer easily captures the dignity and desperation of Fianklin "The benefit of being the lead actor and the producer is that you are involved in ev ery aspect of the mov ie" he say s Franklin is a smart man despite hav ing dropped out of high school He is a gifted carpenter yet he's often begging for jobs putting up w allboard He is stymied by the prejudice at construction sues and often finds solace in the bottle He was less effusive than his co-stand director about the book "I liked the book too" Stupes says "It was a little hard on the brothers but I understand I just skipped those pans that w ere hard on the brothers" The movie set in Brooklyn is a quiet film and some could find it slow in parts Even when Zora and Franklin fight there's nothing too loud or ugly Zora is compassionate d To some people such as her girlfriend Portia she's a hit too indulgent of this man Zora pay s the rent sav es her pennies to cut a demo writes music practices her piano and cooks for Franklin When he can find woik Franklin works - hard They have their problems anil they have a baby And just like in real life hav ing a baby does not solve any problems a couple is having But their love is enduring Snipes says he was able to relate to his character "A lot of unemployed actors are like unemployed construction workers" he says "I married young I had a son young I Standard-Examine- r was broke I had dreams of hav ing my ovv n businesses" Snipes achieves success Franklin's prospects improve By the end it seems he'd have little reason to pull a disappearing act Really Great Job with a Really Great Company A Business Sales Consultants We are looking for friendly professional indiv iduals to consult w ith business regarding their communication needs '7M base plus incentives day and evening shifts Benefits after 30 days Full-tim- e part-tim- e Tuition assistance upon hire - "Bring this ad with you to receive S25 upon training completion ”6293555’ j 47 |
