Arts ©Entertainment
Tuesday, September 27, 1994 Page 9
Film captures human aspects of girl gang
Movie: “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy
Life)”
Rating: R
Stars: Angel Aviles, Seidy Lopez,
Jacob Vargas, Mario Marron. Nclida
Lopez
Director: Allison Anders
Grade: C+
Five Words: Unfulfilling Latin
“Menace II Society”
By Chad Johnaon
Staff Reporter
“ Mi V ida Loca” is the story of the struggle
of a girl gang in L. A. ’s Echo Park neighbor
hood.
While the focus is on the gang, the story
revolves around the human aspects of that
gang, specifically the friendship of Sad Girl
(Angel Aviles) and Mousie (Seidy Lopez)
and the test their friendship endures when
both women become pregnant by the suave
and endearing Ernesto (Jacob Vargas).
The friendship comes under intense scru
tiny as both women struggle to keep Ernesto,
because in their neighborhood, all of the
males are either “in prison, crippled or dead
by 21
Because of this trend, the women form
their own gang as a support system and
means of protection that contrasts from that
of the men in the neighborhood.
While the story moves along at a fair pace,
• the plot seems predictable as it moves from
one standard “gang-related incident” to an
other. In one, Ernesto is shot and killed by a
client of his drug trade. In another, a rival
gang lord is gunned down at a party. In yet
another, an innocent is killed in the name of
vengeance.
While each of these incidents are based on
actual events, their inclusion in the story
seems to echo films like “Boyz N the Hood"
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
The Homeglrls keep one-time friends Mouslo (Seldy Lopez, left center) and Sad Qlrl (right center) apart In Allison
Anders’ “Ml Vida Loca (My Crazy Ufa)."
and “Menace II Society.”
The acting in the film is very professional,
even with a cast of mostly unknowns. The
two exceptions to this unknown cast are
Seidy Lopez (“Falling Down”) and Jesse
Borrego, who plays rival gang leader El
Duran Borrego’s work includes the TV se
ries “Fame.”
The most impressive performance is turned
in by Nelida Lopez (Whisper), a 16-year-old
resident of Echo Park who plays herself with
an intensity that rivals the professionals.
The direction by Allison Anders (“Gas
Food Lodging”) leaves a lot to be desired.
She seems able to motivate her actors well
but does little creatively with the camera.
Camera angles and movement seem con
strained. The cinematography also seems
tame; too few scenes capture the eye. This
slows the film’s momentum.
Other technical aspects hurt the movie’s
impact as well, especially in the fiesta scene
when the boom mike is in the frame for the
majority of the shots.
The editing is also somewhat standard.
Anders attempts to use rapid intercutting to
heighten suspense, but telegraphs it all the
way so the audience knows well in advance
what is coming.
Overall, “Mi Vida Loca” is an interesting
film that attempts to address the issues of the
Echo Park “locas” and their attempts to sur
vive in a harsh and unforgiving environment
— an approach never before taken.
That new angle ends up appearing as just
that, a new variable on the now-standard
formula of L.A. gang-life films, but without
the visceral impact of its predecessors.
“Mi Vida Loca” is playing Thursday
through Sunday at the Mary Riepma Ross
Film Theater.
Huey’s serves up plenty of food and fun
By JfTZIny
Editor
Take a step into the Gunny’s
building, walk down a flight of
stairs and turn the comer into a
medieval English pub — in the
heart of downtown Lincoln.
Huey’s Fine Food & Spirits, 245
N. 13th St., replaced Chesterfield’s
in June. The menu that was fea
tured at the 23-year-old
Chesterfield’s is similar to the new
one at Huey’s, but the decorations
have changed a little.
Huey’s is divided into three sec
tions: the restaurant, gaming parlor
and dance club.
Four televisions line the deep
green walls of the restaurant to
accomodate sports fans, according
to general manager Mike Miller.
TTie gaming parlor still features
billiards, but games now can be
^ Jeff Haller/DN
Matt Cedertourg. left, a senior UNL accounting ms|or, carves Rev. Don Manway and Stave
Unnay, a UNL actuarial science professor, during lunch at Huey’s.
played on new pool tables. The
former Underground dance club
also has been remodeled.
Despite the additions. Miller
said, Huey’s focus is still food and
fun.
“You can have it all down here,”
Miller said. “It is a place for all
types of people.”
On a recent weekend night visit
to Huey’s, this certainly was true.
The dining room was about three
fourths full of children, students
and adults.
The service at our table of five
was swift fora busy Friday evening.
We began our dinner with an
“Appeteaser,” which according to
the menu is where the quest for the
perfect meal begins.
See HUEY’S on 10
Restaurant: Huey’s Fine
Food & Spirits
Opened: June
At: Lower level Gunny’s
building. 245 N. 13th St.
Hours: Monday through
Saturday, 11 a m. to 1 a m.;
Sunday, 3 p.m. to 1 a m.
^Trademark: Burgers and
steaks
Comment: A tasty, relatively
inexpensive casual dining
spot
Comic act
fills Union
with fun
From Staff Reporta
Yuk it up tonight at 7:30,
when the University Program
Council presents the Los An
geles comedy team of Jackie
Guerra and Willie Barcena.
Guerra, a Latina comedian
by night and Yale freshman by
day, digs deep at alcohol
awareness, stress management,
censorship, eating disorders
and self-esteem.
Are these topics anything
to laugh about? Evidently they
are, especially since Guerra lias
appeared in Comedy Central’s
“2 Drink Minimum,” “Com
edy Compadres” and “Short
Attention Span.”
Her partner, Barcena, has
been featured on “Comic Strip
Live,” MTV’s “Comikaze”
and A&E’s “Evening at the
Improv.” He focuses on his
Mexican American heritage
and the similarities of the two
cultures.
So, take a serious break
from studies for an hour of
laughs at the Nebraska Union.
Tickets are $5 for UNL stu
dents at the door and $8 for the
public.
