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8 • The Red and Black • Thursday, June 23. 1994
A&
E
On Tuesday, June 28, the restored “Casablanca” graces the
Tate Center screen. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman play
the most famous screen couple of all time, finding love in the
turbulent backdrop of WWI. Play it again, Sam...
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Summer movies: The good, the bad and Jack
By SCOTT TOBIAS
Staff Writer
“Speed" An action picture starring
Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and
Dennis Hopper. Directed by Jan de
Bont. Now playing at Georgia Square
(outside) GRADE: B
“Speed" is an excellent title for
the summer’s most exciting offering.
In a blistering two hours, we hardly
notice the embarrassing macho-man
dialogue, the gimmicky plot and the
lackluster lead performances.
Rookie director Jan de Bont, the
first-rate cinematographer behind
“Die Hard” and “Basic Instinct,” gets
by on moviemaking gusto alone.
The film is structured around
three extended action sequences: the
first in an elevator, the next on a bus
and the last on a subway train. A
rippling Keanu Reeves stars as Jack
Traven, an LAPD cop tormented by
a mad bomber, Howard Payne
(Dennis Hopper.) After Jack foils his
attempt to rig a high-rise elevator,
Payne attaches a bomb to the bottom
of a city bus which will be primed at
50 mph and will detonate afterwards
if the bus slows to under 50 mph.
Behind the wheel, of course, is a
lovely female passenger/love inter
est (Sandra Bullock).
Since its release two weeks ago,
the picture has been showered with
accolades, drawing comparisons
with “Die Hard,” “Terminator 2,"
and “Aliens." Even high-brow critic
Anthony Lane at New Yorker called
it “the movie of the year."
While it’s certainly a work of tal
ent and a cut above the average ac
tion flick, “Speed” is simply a daz
zling visualization of a witless and
wildly implausible script.
But like a jungle animal, it’s de
termined and single-minded in pur
pose. Clearly, it’s instincts are to
provide one heart-pounding thrill
after another without worrying
about character development or
plotholes. The audience, starved for
visceral experience, makes for easy
prey.
“City Slickers 2: The Legend of
Curly’s Gold" A sequel to the popular
western comedy starring Billy Crystal,
Daniel Stern, Jon Lovitz and Jack
Palance. Directed by Paul Weiland.
Now playing at Beechwood Cinema
GRADE: D+
Summer wouldn’t be summer
without a generous helping of rotten
sequels and “City Slickers 2” fails to
break the trend. Capitalizing on the
surprise success of the original come
dy, Billy Crystal and company (minus
Bruno Kirby, plus Jon Lovitz) make
the same movie over again, barely
harnessing enough energy to pick up
their hefty paychecks.
The story begins when Mitch
(Crystal) finds a treasure map hidden
in a hat he inherited from his old
friend Curly. Years ago, Curly’s father
robbed a million dollars in gold and
buried it out west in Nevada. With the
help of his bungling friend Phil
(Daniel Stem) and his brother (Jon
Lovitz), Mitch skips out on a radio con
vention in Las Vegas and saddles up
in a quest for the lost riches.
The original “City Slickers" was a
mildly entertaining comedy kept
afloat by a few funny moments and a
genuine reverence for the Old West.
This lame sequel is a contrived atr
tempt to zero in on everything that
was funny about the first picture and
make a carbon copy. The filmmakers
even bring back the deceased Palance
character and try to pass him ofT as
Duke, his long-lost twin.
To give you an idea of the level of
comedy at work here, director Paul
Weiland’s last effort in America was
“Leonard Part 6,” which had a mug
ging Bill Cosby chasing after a giant
ostrich. Former SNL comedian lovitz
is a poor substitute for Bruno Kirby,
filling in gaps of the story with laugh
less “Godfather” impressions. And at
the heart of the movie is Ciystal,
whose schtick is becoming more pre
dictable with every performance.
“Wolf” - A darkly comic honor story
starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer
and James Spader. Directed by Mike
Nichols. Now playing at Georgia Square
(inside). GRADE: B
Until it falls apart in the third act,
“Wolf” is seductive, surprisingly heady
entertainment. So much so, it seems
out of place among the mindless driv
el that usually fills the multiplexes
over summer. Director Mike Nichols
gives the conventional monster movie
a darkly satirical twist, creating a cool
milieu for his exploration of masculin
ity.
No one is more masculine than
Jack Nicholson, ideally cast as Will
Randall, a senior book editor who
lacks aggressiveness. After he is bit
ten by a wolf, Will’s senses grow more
acute and he gains a killer instinct.
When he’s replaced by his back-stab
bing protege (James Spader), he de
cides to take action, seducing the
boss’s daughter (Michelle Pfeiffer) and
going after his old job. Meanwhile, he
is gradually turning into a wolf, over
come by violent impulses under the
full moon.
In its wickedly entertaining first
hour, “Wolf uses the idea of the were
wolf as a means to examine man’s an
imal instincts. In Freudian terms,
Nicholson’s “Id” runs unchecked after
he’s bitten by the wolf. He uses his
newfound powers to finally get what
he wants without fear or doubt.
Screenwriters Jim Harrison and
Wesley Strick set the best scenes in
the glossy, cutthroat atmosphere of
the business world. It’s here where
Nicholson shines, transforming into a
tenacious, bloodthirsty businessman.
Though underwritten, the roman
tic subplot is fairly charming. Michelle
Pfeiffer, one of our finest actresses,
gives her character a warmth and
quirkiness beyond the limitations of
the script. She also has a toughness
that makes us believe she could han
dle the volatile Nicholson.
Director Mike Nichols, who made a
trio of classic two decades ago (“Who’s
Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “The
Graduate" and “Carnal Knowledge”),
is in good form here, taking the kind
of visual and dramatic risks absent
from his recent work. It’s clear from
this film, he’s still a mqjor talent.
It’s a shame the film finally gives
in to an overblown horror climax, com
plete with gross-out effects by Rick
Baker. The final shots are particular
ly embarrassing. The ending is bound
to disappoint audiences but it’s not
enough to negate the many pleasures
which precede it.
In short, “Wolf” has bite.
Keanu Reeves, as SWAT cop Jack Traven, attempts to
defuse a bomb wired to a speeding city bus in 'Speed,
cinematographer Jan de Bont’s directorial debut.
Jack Nicholson flaunts his animal magnetism before an
unsuspecting Michelle Pfeiffer in Mike Nichols’ ‘Wolf.’
Billy Crystal and Norman work out in 'City Slickers 2.’
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The University of Georgia
Office of the Vice President
for Academic Affairs
542-8947
The Office of the Vice President for
Academic Affairs is now accepting ap
plications from undergraduate, profes
sional, and graduate students for posi
tions as an Honor Assistant in the
University of Georgia procedure for
hearing cases of academic dishonesty
involving students.
Honor assistants will serve with fac
ulty members as (1) panelists who re
view and hear cases and appeals and (2)
as potential “peer advisors” for any stu
dent who wishes to have one. These
new procedures become effective the
first day of fall quarter, Wednesday,
September 14,1994.
To apply, please fill out the applica
tion below or obtain one in Room 110,
Old College. Completed applications
are due in Room 110 Old College by
5:00 pm on Friday, 7/8/94 in order to
serve fall quarter. Applications received
after 7/8/94 will be considered for sub
sequent quarters.
Name:
Athens Address:.
Athens Zip:
HONOR ASSISTANT APPLICATION
SSN:
Athens Phone:
Permanent Address:
Current School/College:
Cum GPA: Class Standing:
Activities/Awards/Honors:
Major:
_ #Qtrs. @ UGA
Attach one letter of recommendation (can be faxed to 706/542/0419) from someone
familiar with your activities, interests, or goals and the name and address of one ad
ditional reference:
Attach a statement in which you address the following: (1) what you will contribute
to the University of Georgia’s academic honesty effort and (2) ways in which UGA
students can be discouraged from cheating. Thank you for your interest.
&wJfajk
Night
6
25$ DRAFT
NO COVER
with current UGA I.D.
Retu>,
379 Williams St.
349-3307