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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1987)
Wednesday, April 29, 1987 Daily Nebraskan Page 7 t? ) aw- H O . O 9 LLr- ul By Chris McCubbin Diversions Editor f"hc Nebraska Air Nations H Curd's trip to Honduras ha 1 3 sense local activists are expressing their views in i:z::.',. bepn wcrkir cn the son; "Ccn trAddiction? Just Ezy NoP cn April 15, at the su-sticn cf his wife, Davm Watson, an eraplcyce of Nc trc,I;:.r.,3 for Peace, I!:rdy said. 'Down By Stew Magnuson Senior Reporter Zack is an unemployed disc jockey, framed for murder when a stolen car he agreed to drive across town turns out to have a corpse in the trunk. Jack is a small-time pimp, set-up by his enemies for child molestation. Movie Review They're both innocent and meet in the same New Orleans jail. Enter Roberto, the energetic Italian tourist who did kill a man. He threw a pool ball at a gambler's head and killed him instantly. "Down By Law," playing at Sheldon Film Theatre this weekend, is director Jim Jarmusch's latest film and a superb follow-up to his best-known work, "Stranger Than Paradise." - It's difficult to put a finger on what kind of film Jarmusch makes. If I had to narrow it down to one genre, I'd say "comedies." No, they're not conventional comed ies. There aren't too many belly laughs, but there are some. And the characters don't tell formal "jokes." But Jarmusch can elicit humor without these tradi tional methods. He creates humor out of situations, a quick change of camera angles or a funny conversation that totally goes over the heads of the characters. Most of all, Jarmusch depends on his characters. He's not only the director, but the writer. And he has a knack for picking out the perfect actors for each role. Singer-songwriter Tom Waits plays Zack, the disc jockey who sits looking sheepish as his girlfriend throws all his belongings out into the street. Lounge Lizard sax player John Lurie, also the star of "Stranger Than Para dise," looks perfect as Jack, the slimy pimp. "My mamma always said America is like a big melting pot," one of Jack's prostitutes tells him. "When you bring it to a boil, all the scum rises to the top." She points a gun at his turned back, but decides not to shoot. By Chris McCubbin Diversions Editor Here's the longverdue conclusion on how DC Comics is overhauling its long-term superstars. "Shazam! The New Begin ning," Roy and Dan Thomas and Tom Mandrae Technically the original Captain Marvel isn't a DC character. He's actually a creation of the defunct Fawcett company. During the '40s and '50s Captain Marvel rivaled and sometimes surpassed Superman in popularity. DCs The sor.3 was fret pcrfcrr.ed April 18 at a rally at tha airport Air National Guard ecnplcx when the faord unit shipped out, he said. Alu. 'h laiy were Jcs Itur.cv ca fid "3 ar.d Jin Piphsr, boss player for Lhcch's Elo-eyass Cruaada. "CeatrAddictien" is a bouncy blucrors tur.e v.ith lyrics !;!:?: So ifDereutcr asks for your support, JUSTSuWNO! IVs just not your idea of by John Lurie, Tom Both actorsmusicians provided music for the sound track, which blends into the film perfectly. The two losers wind up together in jail, constantly bickering, spending time totally without imagination until the dreaded pool-ball killer, Roberto, winds up in the same cell, leading the The Fawcett Captain Marvel books were chaotic, nonsensical a little frenchy, unapologetically juvenile, and amazingly good fun. I was scared when I heard that DC was reviving the character to fit into its new "realistic" universe but the four-part "New Beginning" series was much better than I ever ex pected. DC dropped the talking tigers, kid sidekicks and other silliness that made the first series such a delight, but somehow writers Roy and Dann Thomas managed to retain the innocence and charm that have Law sport, JU3T SAY NO! Intinridais and then invade. We'll call it economic aid. And hire the refugees as maids, JUST SAY NO! Tha rcrp ho. recorded a cr-;::; : tte cf "CcntrAddieticn." The f.rat run is airaost gcr.e, &ad it nay be awhile 8 because the company that produced the ccsccttc, Cruise ?du:;:c, has gone out cf business, Hardy said. Cut a few said he'll try to get mere ss soca as oion T7 r a 1 Waits and Roberto Oenlgni in the whole prison in chants of "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Roberto, played by famous Italian actorcomedian Roberto Benigni (fam ous in Italy, not here), can get laughs just with expressions on his face. He carries a notebook full of incorrect ueer always been part of this character without becoming precious or swarmy. Much of the miniseries' plot was stolen from the first four issues of Comics Now Alan Moore's "Miracleman." But that's OK, because "Miracleman" is just the American version of the UK's Marvelman, an updated version he con. The tape has been sent to several Lincoln radio stations, and has re ceived airplay oa KLIN and KZUM, Larry Zink, state coordinator for Nebraskans for Fe ace, said his group plans to use the sir.;;!e as a resource. He said his group Is aware cf the value cf entertainment as "aa alter native v.ay to resell out to people." . Watson is the coordinator far the 1st Ccryecaicnal District for Ndbras kans for Peace. Hardy said the band was "tossed i-miss t V v m s comedy "Down By Law." English phrases and tells the two miserable conficts, "Ef looks could keel, I am dead now!" The three escape jail into the Loui siana swamp, and the real adventure begins. The black-and-white photography of the New Orleans ghettos and murky thrive s cars of a-'50s character, which was a rip-off of Fawcett's Captain Marvel. (See why I love comics?) Maybe the best thing for Captain Marvel right now would be an honor able retirement, but at the end of "New Beginning," I found myself wanting more in spite of myself. The Green Lantern Corps, Steve Englehart After the Cris's shook up the DC Universe, Green Lantern came home with six of his buddies, all of whom have the same powers as he. These seven, four of whom are space aliens, together" on the spur of the moment. But he said he wouldn't be sur prised if the group played together asain for a different project. The group has planned no further pro jects. Hardy also sometimes plays with Poultrydst, a bond that plays only "chicken sor.s, ghost son's and dead chicken sors," he said. Ccpies cf "Ccr.trAddiction? Just Say No!" are available for $1.50. Write Dave Hardy at 345 W. Eio Ed., Lincoln, NE 6S505. j lick 1 .?v ' f ,1' . 1 A IV 'A v I. r i 'f r. r 1 . 1 v : -4 t J? Courtesy of Island Pictures swamps is stunning, and the acting and script are excellent and entertaining. "Down By Law" is a "don't miss" film. "Down By Law" plays Friday through Sunday with screenings at 7 and 9 p.m., a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 and 5 p.m. have inhabited Earth as crime fight-, ers. I can't really get into this series, because a Green Lanten ha3 the power to do just about anything he wants, and it seems like seven of them on one planet could easily make all other crime fighters re dundant. Englehart solves this problem by ignoring it. Instead he concentrates on the characters, mostly the slightly goofy aliens. The Green Lantern See COMICS on 8