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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1996)
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures TADZU LEMPKE (Michael Constantine, left) places a gypsy curse on Billy Halleck (Robert John Burke) in “Stephen King’s Thinner.” ‘Thinner’ doesn’t do King justice By Cliff Hicks Film Critic There’s a theory about films based on the work of Stephen King — if they’ve got his name in front of them, don’t go see them. “Thinner” is just another example in the long line of films that can’t do Stephen King justice. Look at “Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers” or “Stephen King’s The Lawnmower Man.” If the filmmakers are stooping to using King’s name to get you to see the film (and sometimes it’s just on posters, TV spots, etc.), you shouldn’t be handing them your money. King is a genius storyteller, but part of the .problem is adapting his horror to film. The most successful and effec tive movies based on his work have not been from horror stories. Prime examples of this include “Stand By Me” (which is based off the story “The Body” from “Different Sea sons”), “The Running Man” (which King wrote under the name Richard Bachman), “Misery” (off the book of the same name) and the film that should have won Morgan Freeman an Oscar, “The Shawshank Redemption” (which is based off “Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption” also from “Different Seasons”). All of those films apply an adept skill of capturing character and story, i with the exception of “The Running Man,” which is just a fun film. They changed the ending of “The Running Man” anyway. The problem is that “Thinner” has King’s name in front, it is a horror film and it fails to capture the imagination of the viewer. “Thinner” is the story of Billy Halleck, played by Robert John Burke. Halleck is a lawyer in a small town system, where things are fairly corrupt. Halleck is also just under 300 pounds at the beginning of the film. The whole ball of wax gets rolling when Halleck runs over a gypsy woman because his wife is giving him oral sex while he is driving. After the judge acquits Halleck of “any wrongdoing,” the oldest gypsy from the family, Tadzu Lempke, curses Halleck with a brush of his hand across the cheek and single word—“thinner.” As it turns out, both the judge and the officer who testified that Halleck was not at fault are cursed with differ ent curses as well. Here we return to the problem — this is a horror film. One of the rea sons Stephen King is so successful as a horror writer (and why horror fiction is effective in general) is because the words allow you to, as the case may be, flesh out the images in your head. King provides an outline, the de scriptions, the characters and die story, and leaves the little creepy details up Film: “Stephen King’s Thinner” Stars: Robert John Burke, Joe Mantegna, Michael Constantine Director: Tom Holland Rating: R (violence, language) Grade: C Five Words: “Thinner” can’t capture King’s essence to the readers. No two people read a horror story alike, which is why it works. “Thinner” is ineffective because the viewer is forced to accept special ef fects that aren’t at all how they may have envisioned the story. Instead of gaunt beyond belief, im ages of Halleck fail to capture the es sence of King’s horrific ideas, and per haps display why a film may never cap ture the essence of a horror book. Besides all this, the acting isn’t all that terrific and the dialogue seems flat and predictable. Even the ending just doesn’t succeed in being horror. The funny thing about the film is that it wanders so far into campiness, one might think it was intentional. Unfortunately (for the film’s sake), it probably wasn’t. This is the kind of film to go to at a $1.50 theater to make fun of. Sorry, trick-or-treaters—no goodies here. First-edition Shakespeare brings $250,000 NHW IUKK. (Ar) — A flTSt edition volume of William Shakespeare’s plays with gilt edges and marbled leaves sold for $250,000 at Sotheby’s, the auction house said. The 1623 Shakespeare folio, sold Tuesday, was described by Sotheby’s as “incomparably the most important work in the English language,” The folio was “Mr. William Shakespeare Comedies, Histories, & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies,” printed in London in 1623. The vol ume presents the first editions of 18 of Shakespeare’s plays and rare au thoritative text of several others. Its pre-sale estimated value was between $80,000 and $120,000, Sotheby’s said. Another high-priced item, sell ing for $126,500, was the first por trait of Abraham Lincoln with a full beard. The portrait’s presale esti mated value was between $30,000 and $40,000. The photograph was taken in 1861, two weeks before the presi dent-elect left Springfield, HI., for the journey to Washington, Sotheby's said. The photo was' signed by Lincoln along with the wards “president-elect’’ Sotheby’s did not reveal the names of any of the sellers or the Please see BOOT on 14 hBHBII >1 CAREER /JVEKSE1 COME TO OUR OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAE, NOVEMBER 3“ 1-4 mi. And Learn About The BENEFITS Of: • The Pivot Point International Training System • Job Placement Service • Financial Aid To Qualified Students • Instruction by 6 Cosmetology Instructors and 2 Barber Instructors with 65 years ofComblned Salon Experience • A Family Owned and Operated College Since I960 FREE T-Shirts for all Perspective Students! pearuning "GbosihusTens" & "Halloween" Tbunsday, Oct. 31 7:30 - 11 p.oo. The Cmb, Nebmska Union A RAISIN IN THE SUN An Award-Winning Drama! A Southside Chicago family tries to move to the white suburbs in a desperate attempt to find sunlight and the American Dream. Continues Nov. 1-3, 7-10, 14-17. Call 489-7529 for ticket information! The Golden Age of the Lincoln Stage. LinCOLKOMUniTT’PLflrtlOUSf 2500 S. 56th St. with support from the Lincoln, NE 68506 Nebraska Arts CouncillBCC-0 tjgSix Flags JBTheme Parks tTMMWMtoaNMairCMWr SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI 1997 TALENT AUDTTIONS! Nebraska Regional Audition Monday, November 4,1996 The University of Nebraska at Lincoln Culture Center - Upper Multi-Purpose Room 333 North 14th Street Unwin, Nebraska OPEN AUDITION CALL* 10:00 AM. - 4:00 P.M. CALL BACK AUDITION: 6:00 P.M. General Information * ALL PERSONS AUDITIONING SHOULD PROVIDE A HEAD SHOT It RESUME. * &2MS21 Prepare a one minute dance combination. You may be asked to sing. * Singers: Prepare four selections that display versatility. Provide sheet music in your key or track tape without vocals! Singers may be asked to dance. Accompanist provided. * Makilltti Auditioning for rhythm section players (piano, bass, guitar, drums), ftepaee a one minute solo. Must be proficient in several mosical styles. Must be able to sight read chord charts. MJ.DJ. keyboard experience a plus! * ArtQlfi Auditioning for actors/stunt performers. Actors prepare a one-minute monologue. Stunt performers should hive stage combit ind high-fill experience ind provide a video if possible. Additional Informatinm You must be at least 16 years of age to audition. Rehearsals begin between January A March 1997. Sane positions begin late May. Employment runs February - September depending on production. Employment extensions for special holiday shows may be available in some parks. •Technical A Wardrobe interviews held at the audition • Resume Required • • Casting opportunities available at other Sk Flags Locations • For more information call Six Flags Entertainment; ' ;