Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1989)
Reviewer finds movie ‘relentlessly’ stupid By Jim Hanna Staff Reviewer You often can learn a lot about a movie just by reading the advertising poster. Perusing the poster for Judd Nel son’s new movie “Relentless,” one will be assaulted by the following declaration: “Killers aren’t bom, they’re made.” That is an awful lot of insight for a movie poster. Now if the movie could only be half as insightful. There is little that’s relentless about “Relentless” except relent lessly bad dialogue, relentlessly eli cited ideas and relentlessly stupid moments. Judd Nelson is the center of the movie as Buck Taylor, a young man who was taught to kill by his aggres sive, military father. The drab, superficial point the movie seems to be trying to make is that young Buck was exposed to guns and violent behavior too much as a child, and now is a cold serial killer. Get it? Gun-happy fathers raise psy cho killers. Buck finds his victims from a phone book in the Los Angeles area. He has a soft spot for victims with his given name: Arthur Taylor. Still he does murder a couple of people who are not named Arthur Taylor, and so the dramatic impact of this script choice is lost As he kills his vic tims he breathily says things like, "There, isn’t this easy?" or “Do not fight it, doesn’t this feel better?" —Hanna He usually surprises his victims in their homes and allows them to par ticipate in their own death. For in stance, he wraps one victim’s hands around the knife before plunging it into his chest. It is not his intent to make it look like a suicide; he wants people to know it’s a murder. As a matter of fact, his intent with this gimmick is never learned. Ap parently, it’s just another one of the moviemakers’ efforts to demonstrate that he is crazy. That’s what all crazy people do, you know. Two detectives are assigned to the case. Robert Loggia plays the weary Los Angeles veteran who doesn’t try too hard. Leo Rossi plays a newly promoted detective who used to work in New Yoiic. Of course the movie’s creators, devoid of a single original concept, infuse a great deal of friction into this detective team. The eager detective from New York wants to solve the crime his way: put hundreds of workers on the case, follow every lead, pour over every bit of evidence. He wants to solve it in his gritty, work-ethic, New York way. The veteran from Los Angeles, numb to it all, seems content to sit around and wail for the crimes to solve themselves. Eventually, after the movie has exhausted every buddy-cop-don’t get-along, isn’t-this-gripping cliche, they begin to cooperate and make progress on the crime. Finally, the movie drones on and on to its lame, yet merciful, end. Congratulations must go out to Nelson who Ms chosen to go against his movie image and play a disturbed murderer. Unfortunately, his charac ter is far too uninventive to appreci ate. He’s a very stereotypical, silent, psycho killer. He says very little in the movie and what few lines he does speak are tiresome re-hashes of typical “crazy” slashers. As he kills his vic tims he breathily says things like, * ‘There, isn’t this easy?’ ’ or “Do not fight it, doesn’t this feel better?” Eeek ... how chilling. Loggia is the strongest actor in the show, doing the type of character he does best, the craggy, no-nonsense cop. Rossi, however, is bland, uncon vincing and painful to watch as he tries to be a much tougher guy than he seems capable of playing. The tense moments in the movie are not tense, the frightening mo ments are not frightening and the funny detective banter is not funny at all. Save your money and simply read the poster outside of the theater. It costs less and is more entertaining than the movie. From the people who brought you all those other really bad films... Thumbsdowne Pictures Inc. 'where tad movie* iren'i born, they're made * Presents RELENTLESS <4r HA bomb... I left after 15 minutes." -John Bruce,I’layborc -4r "l wanted to use the knife on myself!" -Rob Holiorff, Ruling Stone + "Relentlessly bad dialogue, relentlessly cliched ideas and relentlessly bad moments. * -Jim Hanna, Daily Nebraskan Classified 472-2588 NelSrakkan FOR SALE 10-Speed bicycle, excellent condition $150 421-1717. 13" Color TV. $45; 19' Solid State Color TV, $60; 25'' Color. $55. Beta VCR. $65. VHS VCR- Oosnt record but plays. $75:467-5189 Are you looking lor student turmture lor fall7 ONE MORE TIME is the place' Open seven days week F ree parking 850 N. 27th 474 2065 Artley (lute and new case. $125, Conn Alto Sax, good con6 , $300 Call 489-4768 ATTENTION - HIRING! Government jobs your area. $17,840 $69,485 Call 1-602-838 8885. ext R4005. Bookcase Stereo, continuous olay double*cassette AM/ FM, Turntable, New $85 475-7653 Brother Portable Word Processor 500 Like new $425 Evenings and weekends, 476-8748 Attention Husker Fans! ' You “WIN” When The Huskers Win At (I Can’t Believe It’sA l Yogurt!; GREAT TASTE - BATURALLT. When the Nebraska Football team defeats Northern Illinois this Saturday, we’ll help with the treats. Here’s How It Works: You’ll receive the percent off you total purchase that , matches the point spread, f For instance, if the Huskers Il win by 15 points; you’ll re- li cive 15% off. ]| However, if the Huskers win by I more than 50 points, the most 1 you can receive off your purchase I is 50V Offer good only game day, unless the Huskers play at night, then the discount will run until 5:00 p.m. the next day. Pints, Quarts, and Pies not in- 1 eluded with this offer 1 Hurry in after the football game and enjoy our delicious frozen yogurt. ^Holmes Lake Pfaza • 70th and Van Dorn • 489-9116^ Carpet 1-11x12. 2-12x13 $30 each, sola $50. 2 chair* $30 each 489 6232 __ Cliff's for Pocket Lighters! 140 N. 12th. Cliffs for Pinning Cigars!, 140 N. 12th Dinette, butcher block look. 4 chrome wicker chairs Very nice, $100/obo 477-8148. For Sale: Diamond Back Ascent EX Mountain Bike $350, Hitatchi 10 Ban Equalizer $50, $50 Hitatchi Turntable $40. dbx Noise Ffeducton Unit $40 Call Toby, 477 5697. Leave Message For Sale Bunk Beds. Stained Wood. Perfect Shape Springs Included. 464-9768. ask for Malt $175 Nego liable. Garage Sale Sept 8.9. 10. 10:00a m - 4:30p.m. 2627 N" Street. Gorgeous1 Off shoulder white wedding dress Floor length tram. Size 10-12 Was $440 Sell $100 489-3560 evenings. King Size Oak Waterbed $375robo; Twin Bed $100/ obo 477-7846. leave message Kitchen table w/chairs and sofa Best offer. 785-5935. no calls after 9:30 pm LPO NOTICE Of SALE ON UNCLAIMED BICYCLES Sept 14. 6:30p.m. At Lmcoln Land Towing, 410 West P Street, by Property Division No Checks Accepted Need an external drive tor your Macintosh’ Go through me $200. will negotiate 467 2154 _ New Smith-Corona typewriter with supply kit, $150.; Black A White portable T V.. $30 Call 464 0357 Office-size desk, good condition. $50 781-2179 (Eagle). One large arrowana lor sale 435-0540. leave message. Specialized mountain 3T Excellent condition Best oner Dan 435 0634. Used desks and chair* See Mike at 820 N Street, 9-4. WATERBED Beautiful, king. 4-post plus woven cane 6-drawer ped estal 1 year old. LAS mattress $350 483-5922. leave message. VEHICLES FOR SALE ~ 76 Corvette. Must sett $6150 or best offer. 489-2828 81' Ford Escort. 4-Speed, good condition, very clean $890 421 3352. 1988 Honda Scooter Elite 50 LX. Low miles, excellent condition SSOOorOBO 421 7146 1986 Honda Magna 700. Watercooled. shaftdrven, 2400 miles, 3 year warranty. 435-4178. 1986 Nissan Maxima. GL. 4 door V-6, auto, leather, moonroot. full power, loaded 43.000 miles Excellent throughout $9650 offer Baer's Automotive Sales. 1647 S. Third, 477-6442 1984 Pontiac 6000 STE, V-6, FWD Automatic. AM/FM , Cassette, fully loaded $5400. 423-3437. 1981 Honda CB750 Custom Motorcycle. Excellent Condition $785/obo. 466-7410. 1980 Yamaha 400 Special Low mileage, good condi tion Asking $500 421-1131. 1979 VW Scirocco. 4 speed, fuel injected, excellent condition $1800 or best offer 475-6321. 1974 Mercedes 230 Priced to Sell. 474-1716 or 483 1691 1971 VW Super Beetle. Excellent condition 466 9414 Pontiac Grand Am 86 Maroon. Sunroof. A/C, Stereo Amaar. 436-8946 TICKET EXCHANGE = 1 pair season lootbali tickets for sale Male/Female together $300 a pair 470 3228 Female season football ticket for sale Best offer 423 0236__ Need 2 G/A tickets for 9/9 Call 436-7875 Two excellent seats for CSN. Best offer takes Lisa at 436-9256 _ Two season tickets together for sale $300. 474-1437. SERVICES BULLOCK DRYWALL A CUSTOM INTERIORS Students for your wal repairs and ceiling fix - up. call 466 0172. 3441 N. 63rd. Word Processing- Call 488-8208- Reasonably Priced Excellent Quality- Fast Service. TYPEWRITERS WORD PROCESSORS RENTAL SALES SERVICE RENT-TO-OWN BLOOMS 323 North 13th Stroot 474-4136 TYPING & RESUMES^ ‘SEPTEMBER SPECIAL' DNE-PAGE RESUME, only $20 Includes 12 copes. 5 blank sheets. 5 envelopes A disk Nebraska Bookstore 13th A Q 476 0111 All-Types Secretarial Services. Term papers, etc 025 M Street, Suite 207. 477 0445 Bring us your typing needs We do Dissertations, Thesis. .ong-term Protects, small/large Papers. Resumes, and .etters/Envelopes Great rates, prompt service. COMPUTER TYPE & SERVICES 1630 QUE STREET 476-TYPE ANNOUNCEMENTS Art League Meeting Septembers. Friday 500 p.m. Richards Hall Auditorium Everyone Welcome Aria and Sciences Advisory Board Meeting Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the Union. Room will oe pooled. Attention: First Campus Red Cross meeting 600 p.m. Tuesday. September 12th, 1989 City Campus Union, room posted Everyone Welcome! Bike Pedalers Oakley eye shades 20% offl New A used bikes, all sizes 6 pnces 33rd 6 B 474-7000 A ^ iK V* September 23, 1989 8:30 a m- * 1:30 p.m. I 9 /If f/ie Dental College, East Campus Program & Tours of the Facilities Join Us for Lunch To Register or for more information Call 472-1363 or 472-1364 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER College of Dentistry, 40th & Holdrege, Lincoln, NE 68583