JS^BSskl Arts & Entertainment T
Courtesy of Smash Records
From left, the Millions are vocalist Lori Allison, bassist Marty Amsler, guitarist Harry
Dingman and drummer Greg Hill.
Millions make history
Local band releases album
By Robert Richardson
Senior Reporter
The Millions made local history
Monday night with the national re
lease of their album “M is for Mil
lions.”
After their wcll-rcccivcd set at the
World Prcm icrc Album Release show
ai Duffy’s Tavern, the Millions sat
down in front of the stage to sign
autographs.
Many friends and well-wishers
offered advice, congratulations and
praise for the group, which signed a
contract with Smash Records in April.
Mike Egan, national marketing
director for Smash who once worked
for Elcktra Records, was on hand to
observe how to band would handle its
debut.
“I’ve worked with a lot of alterna
tive bands, namely bands with female
vocals like 10,000 Maniacs, and we’re
going to take the Millions all the way
to the top,” Egan said. “I think the
Millions arc honest, a really great
rock sound, and we’re going to bring
them all the way. Thai’s our goal.”
Trying to diversify the label was
also a motivation in signing the Mil
lions, Egan said.
“Wc’vc been trying to build our
alternative sight,” Egan said. “We’re
pretty much a dance label right now,
a dancc-Top 40 label, but wc’vc been
looking for the right alternative band
and the Millions were brought to our
attention.”
Lead vocalist Lori Allison said
that making it will take work, but for
the Lincoln native, this was the break
she couldn’t pass up.
“I’m in this because I think that
I’m good at it and I think I can have
fun at it and if this could seriously be
my job, who wouldn’t do it?” Allison
said. “It’s just an opportunity that’s a
once in a lifetime thing and I think
you have to go for it.”
See MILLIONS on 10
1931 movie at Ross Theater
Silent film ahead of its time
By Mark Baldridge
Staff Reporter
First released in 1931 and set in the
islands of the South Seas, “Tabu” (in
two chapters: “Paradise” and “Para
dise Lost”) plays upon the theme of
forbidden love, good and evil and the
dominance of superstition in a primi
tive culture. It also manages a glance
at the exploitation of less-developed
societies by Western culture.
Tabu” will play this weekend only
at the Ross Film Theater.
In many ways, this is a film ahead
of its time. The cinematography ri
vals that of Orson WellesY “Citizen
Kane.” The theme of illicit love runs
strong and, although the men in the
picture are equipped with carefully
modest “gym shorts,” there is some
nudity.
The film has a tendency, at the
beginning, to portray the islanders as
happy innocent children — a la Walt
Disney. But this effect is mitigated
somewhat when a decree arrives from
the king.
He sets aside a certain maiden of
the village as “tabu" and sacred to the
gods. She is to be taken to the capitol,
and there to remain forever chaste —
much to the consternation of her
boyfriend. The couple’s attempts to
escape their fate and the superstition
that surrounds them constitute the
main thread of the story.
“Tabu” was directed by F.W.
Murnau, the same man who created
“Nosfcratu” and the original “King
Kong.” It is a silent film with a musi
cal soundtrack that often (and unin
tentionally) creates odd effects.
Mumau used only inhabitants of
the island in his cast, a refreshing
element in a Hollywood age. And
though one senses that the culture of
these islands is not well or truly rep
resented, the overall effect is some
thing of a relief. It’s nice not to see
white actors in makeup playing the
leads.
Some of the film’s sentiments may
seem a little silly today, but for the
vintage film buff — and any student
of cinema — “Tabu” is a jewel and a
must-see.
F.W. Murnau directed the 1931 silent epic “Tabu.”
Keaton’s “Cop” takes back seat
Mafia, Madonna hit
home video stores
By Anne Steyer
Staff Reporter
Madonna and Michael Corlc
onc in one week. Michael Keaton
arrives on home video this week
too, but that’s beside the point.
After the pop diva and the Godfa
ther come home, who really cares
about anyone else?
“The Godfather III” (R) The
third chapter in Francis Ford Cop
pola’s saga about the Corleonc
family is a fitting finale for the two
previous awarding-winning mas
terpieces.
It begins a number of years after
“Godfather II” ends, and Michael
Corleonc is older, wiser and seek
ing to legitimize the family busi
ness.
The story is complicated. Mi
chael has to contend with a hot
headed nephew, business troubles
with the Vatican and family prob
lems.
Al Pacino returns as Michael,
joined by returning cast members
Diane Keaton as his wife, and Talia
Shire as his sister. All three slip
back into their roles wonderfully,
with Pacino giving his best por
trayal of Michael to dale.
Andy Garcia. (“The Untouch
ables, ‘Internal Affairs") joins the
cast as Vincent, the illegitimate
son of Michael’s brother Sonny.
He is brash, hotheaded and filled
with passion for the business and
for the family.
ThcCorlconc family is the heart
of the Godfather saga, and Cop
pola manages to tell yet another
compelling story. There is some
violence, but as with the other films,
it comes secondary to the story.
The dialogue and the acting have
always been top-notcn, but the look
of this film also is exceptional.
There arc some beautiful scenes of
the Vatican. The score is superb as
well, providing the perfect tension
and swelling emotion.
Coppola has the rare ability to
allow substance to co-exisl with
style in his movies. “The Godfa
ther III” is a considerable achieve
ment, both on its own and as a
I inale to the “Godfather” saga.
(Available Thursday)
“Madonna: Truth or Dare”
(R) This documentary is a behind
the-scenes look at Madonna’s Blond
Ambition tour.
There is plenty of lime devoted
to the Material Girl’s complex stage
show, including elaborate produc
tions of “Like a Prayer” and the
MTV favorite “Like a Virgin.”
The concert scenes arc incred
ible to watch, but certainly the best
part of the documentary comes with
the behind-the-scenes footage,
filmed in black and white.
The black-and-white photogra
phy lends a touch of exposd to the
overall feel and oddly enough seems
more personal, putting the viewer
in Madonna’s company.
Her backup singers and dancers
provide humor and some enlight
enment into the Madonna persona.
Madonna also provides some in
sight of her own, especially in the
scenes with her family and one
time-love Warren Beatty.
And keep your eyes open for
celebrity scanning — there arc
many backstage visits from big ,
names.
“Truth or Dare” is definitely a
must for Madonna fans and worth a
viewing for those that arc not.
(Available Wednesday)
“OneGood Cop”(R) This film
has a difficult lime deciding what
type of movie it wants to be. It aims
to blend drama and action, but
manages only to make a mess of
See VIDEOS on 10
1. "Dances with Wolves"
2. "Sleeping with the Enemy"
3. "Home
Alone"
4. "Misery"
5. "Awaken
ings"
6. “The Hard
Way"
7. "King Ralph
8. "Nothing But
Trouble"
9. "The Doors"
10. “Goodfellas"
Recent and Requested: "Oscar"
■courtesy of Blockbuster Video
' ' * f
1. “Dances with Wolves"
2. “Home Alone”
3. “Awakenings"
4. "New Jack
City" *
5. "Sleeping with
the Enemy"
6. "The Hard
Way"
7. "King Ralph’
8. “Misery"
9. "Oscar”
10. “He Said, She Said"
Rising: "Perfect Weapon"
■Billboard Magazine
David Baddars/DN