J
Thursday, October 30, 1986 Daily Nebraskan Page 15
A pi
(9
ATnra
"I v " . , . '; ' . ' '4 : I
' " -4' "' - f
'- ' ' '' K . 1
-; ' , I
I ' .. i j
I , ' 1
. ! 1
v. . . ;
-
'Night Life 's ' Brenner
no match for Letterman
By Stew Magnuson
Staff Reviewer
"Night Life," starring David Bre
nner For every champion, there has to be
a challenger. David Letterman has
been the undisputed king of late-late-night
talk comedy for the past five
years, and his popularity just keeps
growing. But now Letterman has a little
competition. Comedian David Brenner
Tube Talk
Courtesy of Orion Classics
Liu, under pressure to pass a college entrance exam, contemplates his future over a Coca-Cola
in "A Great Wall."
'Great Wall9 slhows real China
Film studies cultural diversity of Chinese, American families
Review by Stew Magnuson
Staff Reviewer
"A Great Wall"
"A Great Wall' is a historic film. It is
the first American film made in China
with the approval of Chinese authori
ties that uses a Chinese and American
cast. "A Great Wall," playing at Shel
don Film Theatre this weekend, is
worth seeing for more reasons that its .
historical importance. It's the first
time film-goers can look into the lives
of very real and human Chinese charac
ters who don't fit the common stereo
types found in most Hollywood movies.
Movie Review
"A Great Wall," directed by and star
ring Peter Wang, is the story of the
Fang family's return for a summer visit
to modern-day Peking. Leo Fang, played
Both Liu and his buddy Yu, along
with Lili, show in several scenes their
fascination with American culture.
For instance, Liu and Yu find a tem
porary job and get paid $1.50 for the
cultures.
"A Great Wall" doesn't have a strong
plot because it doesn't need it. It's an a ,ead Bm Prest who has , d
on Beatles and Rolling Stones LPs and
now has his own late-night talk show
airing on channel 101 1 at 1 1:30 p.m.,
the same time Letterman starts.
If Brenner's "Night Life" were on at
any other time, I might consider tuning
in if he had an interesting guest. But,
compared to "Late Night with David
Letterman," Brenner's "Night Life" is
just a pale, pathetic imitator.
It might' not be considered fair to
continually compare Brenner to Let
terman. After all, "Night Life" should
be the subject of this review, and not
Letterman. But station programmers
are asking viewers to switch from Let
terman to Brenner, so comparisons
must be made.
To help compete against Letterman,
"Night Life" producers have set up the
show in the Letterman tradition. They
have a hot band with an almost legend-
about interviewing people. Letterman
solved this problem by not taking the
talk-show small talk seriouly and mak
ing an elaborate joke about the mind
less drivel, long the forte of Johnny
Carson.
Brenner said such mundane things
as, "Boy, you have interesting make-up."
Brenner's second guest was supposed
to be Robert Palmer, but as it turned
out, Palmer wasn't there at all. Instead,
they replayed a tape of a performance
he had given earlier in the month doing
his latest hit single. Palmer lip-synched
the whole, song, something that has
never been done on Letterman.
Brenner himself is just passable. Hb
career wasn't exactly going great before
the show. I never have found Brenner to
be hilarious, but he can get in an occa
sional witty comment while making
small talk with a guest.
But Letterman broke many of the
talk-show rules. Brenner seems to be
playing along by the old, boring Carson
style, although the show tries hard to
have the appearattces of "Late Night"
with Letterman.
"Night Life" only lasts a half hour,
though. More than enough time to
switch back to Letterman. But Letter
man fans probably will want to switch
back long before the half-hour is over.
interesting film because of the little
scenes between the two families who
whole day's work. They spend the equi- have many things in common, despite
valent of 70 cents of their pay on a great cultural differences.. The ping
small bottle of tepid Coke. pong match was unneeded.
Liu is going to make his last attempt "A Great Wall" is the first opportun-
at the college exam. He and Lili spend ity Americans have to see Chinese life
time together falling in love and study- in an artistic forum and not through
ing English between flirting.
Wang makes brilliant cuts between
the two cultures. After Liu and Lili
finally have an innocent kiss among
ruins, Director Wang cuts back to the
States where Leo's son Paul is necking
furiously on the living-room couch with
his girlfriend.
Eventually the two families meet
when Leo and his family stay at the
home of his sister's family in Peking.
Much of the humor comes from the
inevitable culture clashes.
"Dad." Paul says, "I can't use a
the cold lense of a documentary camera.
All of Wang's characters, American and
Chinese, cojfte off 'as human. Yes,: the
Chinese, get drunk,. fail exams, have
unemployed people and fall in love like
everyone else. The children become
rebellious and the parents worry about
getting old. These are all universals.
Wang manages to juggle many themes
and characters and succeeds, for the
most part.
"A Great Wall" is showing
this weekend at Sheldon Film
Theatre Thursday through Sun-
by director Wang, left Peking when he squat toilet. My legs haven't developed day. Screenings are nightly at 7
was 10 years old and returns to visit his
sister and her family after a 30-year
absence. Fang brings his Chinese
American wife, Grace, and his son Paul,
both of whom are born and bred
Chinese-Americans.
Before leaving San Francisco, we see
Fang and his family living in a beautiful
home, and watch him trying to get his
those muscles."
The problem with "A Great Wall" is
the script. Wang and his co-writer try to
make comments about the youth of
China and the youth of America, the
loss of traditional Chinese culture, age
vs. youth in both cultures and Western
influence in China. Various scenes with
the two families inter-relating carries
and 9:15 p.m. with a Saturday
matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday screen
ings are at 3, 5:15, 7:30 and
9:45 p.m.
totally Americanized son Paul inter- these points, but Wang throws in some
ested in Chinese culture and language, unnecessary stories to make the film
"Why don't you date Chinese girls?" more suspenseful.
Leo says after Paul's Caucasian girl- In the first few scenes, the story
friend leaves. seems to be about the two boys, Liu and
Meanwhile, back in China, Lili Chao, Yu, but then we find out the film is
Leo's niece, prepares for her college really about the Fang and Chao fami-
entrance exam, the one test that can lies. Liu and Yu are two interesting
decide a young person's entire future, characters, but practically disappear
She reads her uncle's letters in English in the middle of the film. In the end, we
as best .she can, but English is her see Liu studying for the college exam,
worst subject. Liu and Yu are two boys and then, as if Wang just wanted to
who live in the wrong neighborhood, throw in some extra suspense, Liu and
Lili's father is a retired government Paul have a big ping-pong match in a
official and is well-off, while Liu lives in .. crowded auditorium. The quick editing
a small shack and is "waiting for makes it an exciting scene, but it
work," meaning that he has already doesn't really add anything to the film,
failed the college entrance exams three besides some quasi-meaningful mes-
times. sage about clashing and competing
Support the
OJ) March of Dimes
VI ISiSissflSTH DfffCTS FOUNDATION ftMKJ
Eat less
saturated fat
At
6
ArnriconHart
Association
I . ! M
i y ' - , ;
BLUE VELVET is a mystery ... a masterpiece . . .
a visionary story of sexual awakening,
of good and evil, a trip to the underworld."
Onl Ihnmpsnn CAIIIORWA MWAW
Holoun at Haymarket
The oil paintings of Hal Holoun of
Grand Island will be featured in a
one-person show at the Haymarket
Art Gallery from Sunday through
Nov. 23. Entitled "Paintings of the
Loup Valley," they will feature scenes
of different seasons in varying lights.
Holoun's work has earned awards
in many juried exhibits throughout
the Midwest and appears in the
permanent collections of the Shel
don Memorial Art Gallery, Nebraska
Art Collection in Kearney, Bankers
Life of Nebraska, Kirkland & Ellis
Corp. of Chicago and many others.
A public opening reception will
be Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m.
If you have any questions or need
further information, contact Judy
Wilson, gallery director, at 475-1061.
"Erotically charged... Whether you're attracted
or repelled by Lynch's brilliantly bizarre vision,
one thing is for sure, you've never seen anything
like it in your life."
Im f,iwi mill I
.,., I DOLBY STEREO f
PEG I IP. t
Dei c a 1 1.
ll I KX .IN IMS I N 1 1 I 4INMI S I I.KS f
201 N. 13th 475-6869
ffitttv ""' . STARTS FRIDAY
had some good hits of his own in the
early 70s. Preston isn't a good second
banana like Letterman's Paul Shaffer.
On , the episode I watched, Preston
seemed to have a hard time completing
a thought. Brenner had to finish sent
ences and complete jokes for a man
who is a great musician, but not nearly
as funny as Shaffer.
Brenner is mildly amusing, but has
the same problem Letterman had in his
first year he doesn't know much
' ' 'i s
Alnternalional
Tvyt. Contact Lens
Eksm VISION CENTOS
3200 "O" St. 475-1030
Lincoln, NE
For the person who is
considering contact
lenses . . .
The professionals at
International Contact
Lens are offering
informative
consultations, at no
cost, and with no
obligation, to fully
explain new contact
lens fitting techniques
and lens materials.
Those who have
never worn contact
lenses or those who
are in need of new
lenses will benefit
from this information.
International Contact
Lens has fitted
thousands of patients
and are dedicated
to careful, thorough
management of
the contact lens
patient.
Contact the
experts at
International Contact
Lens at 475-1030 to
schedule a free
. consultation.
3200 "O" Street
Lincoln, NE
s20 VALUE
Present this coupon for a $20
courtesy discount on a com
plete contact lens fitting.
Good thru Nov. 30, 1SS6
ff IBWB
CI
1
1
1
El
U
I)
II
U
n
n
!
U COUPON C
