Arts (^Entertainment
Nebraskan
Thursday, January 1®, 19®4
One of year’s best gives
vision into author’s life
Shadowlands
Explorations of living, loving and losing
make “Shadowlands,” the latest film from ac
claimed director Richard Attenborough, thor
oughly compelling.
“Shadowlands” is based on actual events
that occurred in the life of author C.S. Lewis.
Lewis was a brilliant novelist and a compelling
essayist on matters of theology.
He also was a man who cloistered his heart
and his soul deep within himself and deep
within the “shadowlands” of life.
At least that’s the way writer William
Nicholson sees Lewis. Nicholson’s vision of
Lewis’ emotional awakening comes alive on
screen. His vision is one that is both intensely
real and profoundly touching.
The film takes place in 1950s England.
Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins is Lewis and
Oscar nominee Debra Winger is Joy Gresham,
the divorced American poet who interrupts his
rather staid life.
Gresham and Lewis began their acquain
tance through correspondence, with Gresham
as a reader touched by the author’s words, and
Lewis as a polite listener. Their correspon
dence leads to a personal introduction in En
gland, followed by a close friendship that turns
to love. .
But Lewis’ emotional constraints inhibit
him from expressing himself— an action he
longs to take but is unable to—until he has no
choice but to give in to his feelings.
When he allows himself to love, Lewis’ life
is filled with new experiences, ones that lead
him to question the theology he espouses, the
choices he has made and the destiny that awaits
him.
Hopkins is superb, as always. He creates an
attractive vulnerability in Lewis and allows
him both a sense ofhumor and of irony. Hopkins’
special talent seems to be playing men that are
somehow trapped, whether it be within the
limits of their society or within themselves. His
presentation of Lewis is perhaps his most evoc
ative performance to date.
W inger’ s portrayal of the woman who brings
Lewis to life also is wonderful. She transforms
what could have been a brash stereotype into a
compelling and inspiring character.
Steady directing, outstanding acting and a
story so extraordinarily real make
“Shadowlands” essential viewing and easily
one of the best films of the year.
— Anne Steyer
Editor’s Note: “Shadowlands” was based on
the life of C.S. Lewis, a professor and prolific
writer from Oxford, England.
By Patrick Hambrecht
Staff Reporter
Clive Staples Lewis, an up-and-coming au
thor at Oxford in the early 1920s, was the last
person any of his colleagues would have sug
gested to become a Christian convert.
Lewis hated religion, public ceremony,
church and even the idea of a “God.” He
despised anti-smokers, teetotalers and puri
tans.
Lewis dated a married woman who lived
near Oxford and spent his time reading and
dabbling in the new intellectual and occult fads
of the time period. _ #..
See LEWIS on 13
Courtesy of Savoy Pictures
Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins star as British author C.S. Lewis and
- -- *— ^-'--— “Shadowlands.”
‘Down Boys’ are back; Warrant rocks the Grove
Travis Haying/DN
Jani Lane, lead singer for Warrant is surrounded by fans who try and get their hands
on him. warrant played in front of about 500 people Tuesday night at tne Royal
Grove.
Show features
much interaction
with audience
Concert
review
By Ann Stack
Staff Reporter
Fall, 1990. Warrant is the open
ing act on Poison’s “Open Up and
Say Aah’’ tour. They play to a sold
out crowd at the Omaha Civic Au
ditorium.
Jan. 11, 1994. After three al
bums and a temporary breakup,
nearly 500 die-hard Warrant fans
pack the Royal Grove to see if the
‘Down Boys” still have what it
takes to rock.
They do. •;
Opening with “So Damn Pret
ty,” the group slugged its way
through familiar rockers such as
, “Down Boys,” “Uncle Tom’s Cab
in,” “Machine Gun” and of course,
the mandatory power ballads
“Heaven,” “Blind Faith” and “I
Saw Red.”
In support of an album still in
the works, Warrant kicked off a
tour of small club dates across the
United States on Dec. 30 in Buffa
lo, N.Y.
For a group that once played
sold-out arenas, a club tour might
seem minuscule. But band mem
bers said they enjoyed the opportu
nity toplay at smaller venues, where
they had direct contact with the
audience.
“This is a chance for us to get
close to our fans; it’s more inti
mate,” lead guitarist Joey Allen
said.
Allen also said this mini-tour
was good practice before going
into the studio to make the new
album, tentatively titled “Southern
Comfort.”
“It’s kind of like a paid rehears
al,” he said.
Warrant had some internal prob
lems last year, Allen said, when
lead singer Jani Lane left the band
to pursue a solo career. The separa
tion lasted about six months, then
Lane was back in the band.
“We weren’t Warrant without
him,” Allen said.
Bandmates agreed that the cur
rent tour was also a rediscovery
period, in which the quintet was
getting to know one another again.
The boys seemed comfortable
with each other Tuesday night, and
despite difficulties with the speak
er systems, they played to an enthu
siastic crowd for more than 1 1/2
hours.
The band performed some new
songs for the audience, including
“Inside Out,” “Southern Comfort”
and “Get On Your Bike and Ride ”
A highlight of the show was a cover
of Bad Company’s “Shooting Star.”
Lane had a constant interaction
with the audience and took several
opportunities to express his state of
inebriation. Although he was turned
down. Lane asked an audience
member for a marijuana joint in
exchange for a guitar pick.
Despite a rough history, War
rant is still plugging away. They
have some kind of crazy chemistry,
some spark of gutter-boy magic
that keeps them together, playing
their hearts out night after night.
For that, at least, they deserve re
spect.
