Film recycles ‘rags-to-riches’ plot with some humor
“Straight Talk”
By Anne Steyer
Staff Reporter
Although nothing is wrong with “Straight
Talk,” it lacks originality.
It’* merely a retread of all the other “rags
to-riches” stories — a “Working Girl” wan
nabe.
Grammy Award winner Dolly Parton (“Steel
Magnolias,” “9 to 5”) is Shirlec Kenyon, an
honest, small-town woman who is down on her
luck.
Fired from her job as a dance instructor for
spending too much time counseling the cus
tomers and blasted by her boyfriend, Shirlee
packs her bags and moves to Chicago.
After some unsuccessful job-hunting, Shirlee
is h ired as a receptionist at WNDY, a talk-radio
station in desperate need of a ratings boost and
a better on-the-air shrink.
On her first day she takes a wrong turn, ends
up in a sound booth, and well, you can guess the
rest. “Dr. Shirlee” becomes a huge success
prescribing healthy doses of her “as my daddy
always used to say” advice.
But not everyone in the windy city is a die
hard fan. James Woods (“My Name is Bill W.,”
“Against All Odds”) is Jack Russell, a Chicago
Sun Times investigative journalist in need of a
hot story.
Skeptical of Shirlee’s credentials, especially
because she declines interviews, Jack thinks
he’s got a shot at an expose. Knowing she
won’t talk to him as a reporter, he approaches
her as a suitor.
He cons his way into her life, her heart and
well, you can guess what happens next.
Will he or won’t he write the story? Will he
or won’t he fall in love? Oh, come on. You’ve
seen this movie before, it just had different
locations and actors.
Although there is nothing new, there are
some genuinely funny moments. Woods is
good in this lighter role (Who would have
thought he could be a romantic lead?), and
even those who aren’t country music fans will
find Dolly endearing.
Thankfiilly, there aren’t many shots of Dolly’s
celebrated endowments, though there are a
couple of references to them.
Instead, the camera concentrates on her
expressive face and her five-inch stiletto heels.
“Straight Talk” isn’t going to be an award
winner and it certainly doesn’t break new ground,
but it docs provide a couple of laughs, a full
slate of cameos and some mild entertainment.
Courtesy of Buena Vista
Dolly Parton as Shirlee Kenyon
Souljah
Continued from Page 9
have decided that slavery must be reinstated
for all black Americans, except those in the
military. The president has chosen slavery
because the black people have not made any
progress technologically, their educational level
has declined and the vast majority of them arc
still on welfare.
The song's message is that America, espe
cially black America, has done nothing to curb
racism, so a return to slavery will result Souljah
once again calls on black America to stand up
and “imagine if we had it all together we’d
have an umbrella for the stormy weather,”
stormy weather being racism.
The rest of the LP’s nine tracks are of
similar subject matter. Sister Souljah truly is at
war with a lot of people.
The strength of this LP is that Souljah paints
a positive picture for black Americans if they
act now.
Sister Souljah is a strong sister who stands
up for what she believes although she stomps
on a few toes.
But Sister Souljah’s LP lacks diversity. This
is a point that Souljah does not care about, and
throughout the album, $he states her beliefs
about white America over and over.
Also, the line between the monotonous speech
or rap music is sometimes hard to find. At times
it seems that Souljah is just rambling.
Overall this is not an LP for entertainment.
It should be listened to carefully. Then you can
decide if you want to be a souljah in the good
sister’s army.
— Anthony D. Speights
Mayle
Continued from Page 9
can imagine, and bursting stomachs
to match.
Sometimes the most commonplace
events lead one to the fantastic, as
when Mayle discovers two gold coins
while digging in the garden. The re
sults are predictable (no more coins
and a pockmarked lawn), but the story
remains refreshing.
Mayle’s ability to explore the
familiar in a refreshing manner re
veals itself many limes in this work.
Alas, the country of Provence is not
entirely immutable.
Provence h^lS5Cn discovered as a
secret getaway and ironically is draw
ing endless streams of tourists, visi
tors and new residents, all of whom
get Mayle’s attention.
It may seem odd that Mayle, an
American, writes with sadness of the
influx of people into a once quiet and
reserved area, but after getting settled,
Mayle is accused of “going native”
by a friend.
Provence itself may be slow to
change over the years, but the region
has left its mark upon the writer and
his wife, who now are at home among
the locals.
In closing his book, Mayle writes,
“They are kind enough to say our
French doesn’t make them shudder. I
doubt that, but there is no doubting
their desire to help us feel at home,
and there is a warmth to everyday life
that is not just the sun.”
My friend did not visit Provence
while in France, but I felt as if I might
have been there myself while reading
Maylc’s book. Next Spring Break, I
will hope for another book with the
same transporting quality as “Toujours
Provence.”
DANCE CONTEST
EVERY TUESDAY
9:30 PM
Watch Local Ladies
Compete for Cash Prizesi
1823 O' St.
Home of Lincoln’s
Finest Dancers
3 Bicycles For Sale
CENTURION 12 speed racing bka. Many new part*.
$150 or best offer. Leave message 436-8483.
4 Books For Sale
100* of French. German books. Other unkfentlied lan
guages A Novel idea 126 N. 1«th. 475-TOME
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE regardless of grades or
Income 200.000sources representmg$lOb«lion. All you
have to do a apply. Call 1-800-783-7413 lor recorded
informal ion.
10 Misc. For Sale
IBM PC with printer and disk; Sears teiephone/answenng
machine, Sansui stereo system, Kodak 35mm camera.
Sanyo boombox, make offer. 467-46t 1. between 8 30am
and 530pm.
Bean Burrito, and J
Chips 'n Salsa. i
Please present coupon when ordering Lim* one coupon per ■
party. Not good with any other otter. Otter good at Lincoln ■
Taco Bell locations ^>ires^>n^3^992 ■
BUY ONE I
GET ONE FREE!
Buy a Burrito Supreme
and Get The 2nd One FREE!
Please present coupon when ordering. Limit one ooupon per ■
, Not good with any other otter. Otter good at Lincoln _ . •
•nn Exppes April 30, 1992
_
TACO'BELL
245NM3th_JRUMf02ra^Om«^^800^Cr
. »
FREE: 3-year-old cal. Small, gentle, (payed, declassed,
4666012.
20 Vehicles For Sale
SO Honda Accord, automatic, a/c. heater, am/lm cat
ten*, good condition. *800 Call Van at 4726340. leave
message.
88 Honda CRX HF. loss mileage 22K. A/C. Stereo, acces
sorles, *6300. Can 436-2139 leave message.
1986 Honda Elite CH80 Motorcycle, sshlte tv/ lairing.
1,621 m»es. *900 obo. (M-F 8-430pm) 467-7733,
CHEAP! FBI/U.S. SEIZED
89 MERCEDES.*200
86 VW..*50
87 MERCEDE8...6100
65 MUSTANG...*50
Choose Irom thousands starling *25. 24 Hour Recording
Reveals Details 801-379-2929 Copyright iNEilKJC
110 Announcements
!HAVE A KARAOKE PARTY!
We II do the stork, you be t he star. Words on screen 100‘s
ol tunes. Al portable. 478-6173._
ALASKA SUMMER EMPLOYMENT - fisheries
Earn 55.000W month. Free Transportation I -
Room * Board i Over 8.000 openings
Male or Female. For employment program
call 1-206-545-4155 ext. 1676__
EMERGING LEADER ALUMNII Fantastic opportunity
available to be a teach Ingassatant tor 1992-93. Cal CAP
at 4726152._
FREE BIBLE STUDY COURSE
Write: Stole Course. Box 57324. Lincoln. Nebraska
68505 7324_
IBM Presentation
Tuesday, April 7. 7pm. unon. Topic: "World or os 2000".
Sponsored by Marketing Club. Delta Sigma PI. Student
Advisory Board and Professional Business Association
Everyone welcome!
International Students Organization wtl hold its Spring
Picnic on Saturday. April 11. at Pioneer's Park Meet a
10am in the parking lot behind international Affairs. UNL
City Campus Bring lood to share and barbecue Vans will
be provided, car pool appreciated Public Welcome
Lie. Be in H CPN Health Fair 92. April 12. •- 10pm.
ff STANLEY H. KAPLAN
A Take Kaplan Or Take Your Chances
Classes Starting for June Test
GMAT: April 11
475-7010
Lke to dance? Try out (or UNL's new...
DANCE SQUAD!
Perform at basketball half-time*. Informational meeting
April 13th at 630pm In tha Untonl (Pleasebring paper and
a pan)
Everyone Welcome!
No Experience Necessary!
If you cannot attend, pie—e call
Mm. Oralf at 472-3605
Mm. Tumago at 472-2027
KrtamtchalS at 466-6611. ___
Louis Crompton aril speak on 'An Army of Lovers: Ho
mosexuality in Ancient Greece.' Wednesday. April 8. at
3 30. Andrew* 229.
Malaysian Nite '92
A formal mght featuring: dinner with a taste of authentic
reapet from MMeys*. Cultural performances. Date : April
16. 1992. Location: Centennial Room (City Union 2nd
Floor). Time 5 30pm. Ticket: *14. Tickets are available at
City Union boothfrom Apri 6 -10,1992
NU MEDS
Our next meeting is Wednesday. April 8. at 6.60pm in the
Union . Speaker on internships wil be there , hop# you will
be tool___
Parking west, reserved faculty parking available north of
Dennys. >2101240 per year. 466-61 St. evenings
Show Your Pride!!
Affirming UMTrights'of Bisexu
als, Lesbians, and Gays.
April 8th at 7:00pm
Regency Suite Nebraska
Union.
Speakers include: Dr. Spanier,
Jean Durgin-Clinchard, Dr.
Barbara ui Bernard, Paul
Moore.
Sponsored by G.L.S.A.
SKYDIVE!
Jump out of a perfectly good airpfanel
Crete Shydivmg Center. Tnc. 488-7064._
STUDENT foundation
IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
TUC 1QQO
BUILDER S AWARD
RECIPIENT
RICHARD STRECKFUSS
Thankyou very much to everyone who worked at Georg*
Strait Friday. Couldn't have don* it without you Special
thanks to Bryan Ganzei. Margaret Ftenahaw. Souja
Kaponn, Tracy Kapoun, Eric Kinney, Kale Kuhlman.
Chris Kunkef. Ang.e O'Meara. Tereaa Petrasheky. Chris
Robacker. Matt Stefan, and Charles Thompson tor pick
ing wound into the wo* hours of the morningunt* every
thing was don* Remember-meeting this Wednssday
Agenda: Comstock
Doug
The meek shal inherit the eart h. Come Thursday to Room
340. NE Union to lawn how.
IIS Meetings
Alpha Zata
Meeting Wednesday April 8,
7pm, East Campus Union,
room will be posted.
Campus Red Cross
This is lor RE All PIZZA PARTY b April 7thl »*>Qpmon
Tuesday, awards twill be given p the Cutur* Center/
Common Place Everyone. Including Heath Aides, are
more than welcome to come to our LAST mealing of the
YEAR end oetebrWe the Blood DRIVE I Yea -the date and
lima It correctll
CBA Student Advisory Board
Elections and pizza. Wednesday. April 8. 5:30 «! the
Culure Center. Bring your own pop. Cal Pam 483-1730
or K0fy 489-8864.
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Meeting Tuesday. April 7.8:00pm. City Union (Room will
be posted.)
CORNCOBS
Meeting at 7:00 In union. Dues and tooth** ticket money
due April 21.
Gay/Lesbian
Student Association
Weekly meeting Thursday 800pm Room 342 Nebraska
Union. 472-86*4. _
Hey AIESEC
General meeting today. 4pm, in the Union. Congratula
tions to AIESECer of the week: Cindy Qnken. _
IBM Presentation
Tuesday. Apr! 7. 7pm, union. Topic: "Workforce 2000".
Sponsored by Marketing Club. Delta Sigma Pi. Student
Advisory Board and Professional Business Association.
Everyone welcomel
Phi Chi Theta
Mandatory short, informal meeting. Tuesday. April 7th,
6pm. CBA 117._ _
Pi Sigma Alpha meeting. Wednesday. 500. in 536
Oldfatner: Certificates ana election of officers.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Meeting Thursday. April 9. 6:30pm. m the Union. Room
wi* be posted Speaker from the South Dakota school of
Physical Therapy
Psi Chi Elections
for 92-93 officers wi* be held Tuesday. Apr* 7. at 4:30pm
m Burnett 119. Please join us and give yourself a great
experience for the upcoming year I
Student Foundation SAA/Student Ambassador*
Meet at Holiday Skate Work) tonight at 8:00pm. Don't
forget to bring $3.50. See everyone therel_
UPC-“Best of the Rest
New Members Welcome!
Come to meeting for “Mo’
Money in Comedy!”
Meeting Tuesday, April 7
Where: Room posted in Union
When: 3pm
120 Greek Affairs
AOS 8 Lambda Chi Alpha.
Thanksl We hed a blast making the banneri
_ AXO
Congratulations 'Hitman' Huls, "Guns' Casler and
Birdseye' Miller on making the Veil Squad
The Men of Phi Delta Thata
Congratulations to Greg Mathis on receiving a Oieney
internship and to Keith Krause for getting accepted to PA
School.
The Men of Beta Sigma Pal
FarmhouM,
Only 4 tweaks left. Study note so we can party Uteri
The Thetas
Gamma Phi Bata and PM Mu,
Thanks for the great formal.
The women of PM Beta Chi
Greek Yearbook
Editor-In-Chief
I
Trlad’92
PI Beta Phi Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Alpha Theta