Akts@Entertainment
Nebraskan
Monday, January 24,1994
Sled dog race not for sport but for survival
Disney adventure based on a true stbry I
sure to rank among the classic movies
“Iron Will”
By Joel Strauch
Senior Reporter
The newest Disney feel-good, ac
tion-adventure, boy-with-dog-in-win
ter-environment film, “Iron Will,”
manages to set itself apart from other
Disney classics because of its reality.
Based on a true story, “Iron Will”
still has the cotton-candy feel of a
Disney film, but it manages to include
brutal realism. This is exemplified by
its PG rating, which is rare for the
Disney crowd.
Set in 1917, the plot begins with
^the tragic drowning of Jack Stoneman
(John Terry), whose icy death is wit
nessed by his son Will (Mackenzie
Astin). Will is suddenly charged with
the responsibility of taking care of his
family and his father’s business, which
is suffering financially.
Will’s only hope is a grueling 522
mile sled dog race with a S10,000 first
prize. Will, along with his faithful
dog team led by the temperamental
Gus, enters the race, which runs from
Winnipeg, Canada to St. Paul, Minn.
Facing near impossible odds
against much more experienced rac
ers, Will’s only weapon is to constant
ly keep moving. Sometimes sleeping
only one or two hours a night, Will
finds the tenacity to survive — both
the race and his opponents.
Astin, of “Facts of Life” fame,
gives a strong performance as the
determined Will Stoneman. He is able
to capture the fiery emotions of the
adolescent who roller-coasters his way
through trauma, rage and joy.
David Ogden Stiers makes an ap
pearance as J.P. Harper, the rich spon
sor of the race who rediscovers his
own childhood through Will.
Kevin Spacey plays journal ist Har
ry Kingsley, who covers the race and
gives America a new hero in “Iron
Will.” Spacey does an excellent job of
portraying the reporter who is first
blinded by his ambition to make the
front page and later scrounges up
enough humanity to be respectable.
In the tradition of Disney animal
films, the dog Gus plays a major role
with his stubborn personality.
The cinematography of the race
and the winter scenery are well done.
And as usual, the Disney original
score adds character to the film.
“Iron Will” is another success for
Walt’s boys and still manages to be
something special.
Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company
Mackenzie Astfn stars as Will Stoneman with sled dog Gus in the Walt Disney film "Iron Will.”
Film examines cinematographers’ role in unique fashion
By Malcom Miles
Staff Reporter _
When deciding what movie to sec,
one often considers favorite actors or
directors.
But memorable images arc what
really make a quality motion picture.
These images are made by the
people behind the camera, the cine
matographers. Recognition and ad
miration of everyone from Marlene
Dietrich to Denzel Washington de
pends upon a cinematographer’s work.
Much of what is often attributed to
a director’s style stems directly from
his collaboration with a cinematogra
pher. This is the case with the Spike
Lee/Ernest Dickerson and David
Lynch/Frederick Elmes films.
These artists, who are often over
looked, receive 15 minutes of fame in
“Visions of Light: The Art of Cine
matography ”
This film mixes images from 125
important movies with interviews of
the cinematographers who captured
the images that made the movies fa
mous.
From black-and-white silent mov
Courtesy of Kino International Corporation
ArtofnCinematagraphy,”8nCG 0< Arabla’ directed by Freddie Young, is one of the scenes discussed in “Visions of Light: The
ies to “Blue Velvet,” from Orson
Welles to Robert Altman, the history
of film is covered from a unique per
spective.
The interviews include discussions
about the relationship between cine
matographer and director, the use and
importance of proper lighting, how
technological changes nave influ
enced cinematography, and some be
hind-the-scenes stories about well
known actors and directors.
“Visions of Light” is an extremely
informative and visually entertaining
trip through the world of motion pic
tures.
This is a must-sec film for movie
buffs, film studies students and any
one interested in the process of film
making.
“Visions of Light: The Art of Cin
ematography” will be shown at the
Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater Jan.
New releases include film not shown in Lincoln theaters
Buck up little campers: The video pickins
will get better soon, but for now it’s mostly the
same old drivel.
“Coneheads” Recycling old television hits
seems to be a Hollywood trend right now, but
this one seems to be a bit of a stretch.
Turning a five-minute “Saturday N ight Live”
sketch into a movie worked for “Wayne’s
World.” It did not work for the Coneheads,
despite momentary hilarity from both Dan
Aykroyd and Jane Curtain. Not even a Subway
tie-in could save this one.
“Hard Target” Jean-Claude Van Damme
with Billy Ray Cyrus hair. Ugh—that’senough
to give nightmares. Still, the action sequences
are well-choreographed and Lance Henriksen
(“Aliens” loveable android) co-stars.
“Last Action Hero” Amie pulls a Bruce
Willis and makes a multimillion-dollar bomb.
The story is almost too complicated — in a
trite, self-satisfied, silly way — to bother ex
plaining. Suffice it to say that this flick has
Schwarzenegger spoofing himself, while di
rector John McTieman (“Die Hard”) pokes fun
at explosions and car chases.
The trouble is they never let the audience in
on the joke, and what’s a spoof without humor?
“Menace II Society* The brainchild of 21
year-old twins Allen and Albert Hughes makes
it to video in Lincoln — a special treat consid
ering it never played in a theater here.
A story about life in south central Los Ange
les, the movie lasted only a day or two in Omaha
before skittish theater owners pulled it for fear
it would incite violence.
“Rookie of the Year” Daniel Stem, best
known for his bumbl ing burglaries in the “Home
Alone” flicks, gets behind the camera to direct
this coming-of-age baseball picture.
Henry Rowengartncr is a 12-year-old with
an amazing 100 mph fastball. It seems his
broken arm wasn't set quite right, and now he
has an amazing aptitude for pitching. He also
has a place pitching for the Chicago Cubs.
Stem and Gary Busey both co-star.
—Anne Steyer