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file photo
Gene Watson (Johnny Depp, left) tries to involve hotel employee Huey
(Charles Dutton) in derailing an assassination plot in the suspense thriller
"Nick of Time."
"Nick of Time" clocks action, suspense
By Nikki Roberts
Staff Writer
Tiptoeing past the silhouette
of critically acclaimed “Speed,”
comes Paramount Pictures’
action-filled suspense thriller,
“Nick of Time.”
On Nov. 22 viewers will be
offered a cumbersome leap from
the rueful world of Hollywood
fantasy into what is commonly
known as real life, when Gene
Watson (Johnny Depp)
experiences the sort of drama
that holds your morbid
fascination when splashed across
the evening news.
Arriving at Union Station in
downtown Los Angeles, Watson
and his six-year-old daughter
Lynn (Courtney Chase) are
suddenly taken hostage by police
impostors played by Christopher
Walken and Roma Maffia.
Watson is told he must commit
a murder within the next 90
minutes or his daughter will die.
This aspect of the plot could use
some developing. For instance,
beyond the blood-tie and, of
course, sentimental value
attached to his daughter, the
audience could have been offered
something more of a father-
daugher relationship before the
drama began. Case in point, what
happened with his wife that the
daughter would be such a
vulnerable ransom?
The target of Watson’s deadly
assignment is an innocent public
figure (Marsha Mason) who
tends to court “broken promises. ”
Any effort Watson makes to
destroy the plan is stymied by
the sure knowledge that the
kidnappers will retaliate by
killing his daughter.
Co-starring as Huey, a hotel
employee enlisted to help
Watson, is Charles Dutton,
whose savvy and creme de la
creme acting skills give an air of
importance to the otherwise
disabled veteran who shines
shoes for a living. Huey adds a
sense of urgency and twisted
humor—check out the wooden
leg action—to the acting and
physical production demands.
“Nick of Time’s” Director/
Producer John Badham has
constructed the film’s length to
be nearly identical wih the time
span of events taking place in the
movie, which thrills the audience
and keeps one guessing of the
seemingly impossible resolve.
trademarks that catapulted its big
brothers (Dre and Snoop) to the
forefront of hip-hop: heavy bass
lines, catchy rap phrases and
enough all-stars to compete with
the big dipper.
“Dogg Food" takes its listeners
to a world of '64 convertibles,
survival skills and the quelling
rays of California sunshine. The
mid-tempo groove of “New
York, New York” challenges the
credibility of East Coast
performers (without being
overly-cynical) and displays the
versatility of Daz and Kurupt’s
lyrical prowess. Other favorites
are “Smooth,” featuring none
other than the “tilted grinster”
himself and the gangsta romantic
vibe of “Let’s Play House,”
showcasing the almost-forgotten
talent of Michel’le.
Although the official Dogg
Pound is also comprised of chart
topping artists such as Lady of
Rage, Nate Dogg, Jewell and Sam
Sneed, when it comes to
“representin’,” Daz and Kurupt
are in full effect.
Siting blue and gray as their
favorite colors, the talented duce
are destined to increase the sales
of the already hit-churning label,
Death Row Records. Since its
conception three years ago, DRR
has sold approximately 14
million records accounting for
receipts in excess of $ 100 million.
CAMEj?
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In the beginning, Cameo created
“funk-rock-and-soul.”
And they saw that it was good.
And the earth was filled with
masterpieces like “Candy” and
“Word Up.”
And all who witnessed these
creations “cabbage-patched” and
“wopped” in disbelief.
Between 1980 and 1985, Cameo
had seven gold albums: Secret
Omen, Cameosis, Feel Me,
Knights of the Sound Table,
Alligator Woman, She’s
Strange and Single Life.
And lest we forget Larry
Blackmon, sporting a skin-tight
black jumpsuit under a fire-red,
plastic athletic supporter while
chanting the infamous “W-O-
RD...UP!”
On Dec. 2, the Fox Theatre will
host the final tour of seven cities,
featuring the likes of Cameo, The
Ohio Players and the “computer
lovers” themselves, Zapp and
Roger.
For further information on time
and ticket prices, call (404) 881-
2100.
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AL&LM VOC& fOOO
It’s raining hits and doggs!
After much anticipation and
amidst controversy, ganster
rappers Delmar “Daz” Amaud
(22) and Ricardo “Kurupt”
Brown (23), better known as
“Tha Dogg Pound,” are on the
prowl again.
The Los Angeles duo, who
barked into the music industry
with their mentors Dr. Dre and
Snoop Doggy Dogg, are serving
up the crowded kitchen of “show
bidness” with a juicy wax bowl
of funk entitled “Dogg Food.”
This debut album, which is
produced by Daz, is full of the
authentic “G-Funk” sonic