4
Entiertainmmt
doesn’t allow
for boredom
There is no excuse to be bored
this weekend. Everyone can find
something to do. Some of these
things are here, some of them are in
Omaha; most of them will be fun
and those that aren’t—oh well.
The new movie list is somewhat
limited this week. There are only
two new films and one opened
Wednesday.
Mei LriDson releases ms nrst
film since “Braveheart” — “Ran
som,” which also stars Rene Russo,
Delroy Lindo and Gary Sinese.
“Ransom” portrays Gibson as a
loving father whose child is kid
napped. Instead of giving the kid
napper the money, he offers the
money as a reward for the
kidnapper’s head.
Not only is Gibson in this, but
it’s directed by Ron Howard, whom
Gibson beat out for the Best Direc
tor Oscar. Gibson triumphed with
“Braveheart” over Howard’s film,
“Apollo 13.”
“Set It Off’ opened Wednesday.
The film tells the story of three
women who, after being disgusted
with the quality of life around them,
turn into bank robbers.
The film stars Vivica Fox, Kim
berly Elise, Jada Pinkett and Queen
Latifah. It looks to be part social
commentary, part “Thelma &
Louise.”
The Ranch Bowl in Omaha has
a fantastic selection of alternative
music this weekend.
Son Volt, half of the now-de
funct legend Uncle TYipelo, will
play at 9 tonight. If you haven’t
heard the single, “Drown,” you
probably haven’t had alternative
radio on in awhile. Tickets are $10.
Industrial thrash-rockers Stab
bing Westward storm Ranch Bowl’s
stage Saturday night. While the first
single of their second album didn’t
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done quite well. The show starts at
9 pm. and tickets are $10, but if
you wait until Saturday and they’re
$12.
Upcoming shows from the
Ranch Bowl include Primitive Ra
dio Gods, with Duncan Shiek open
ing, and Semi sonic, both before the
end of the month.
The Zoo Bar will be offering the
reggae stylings of Yabba Griffiths
tonight. Saturday, blues guitarist
Tom Principato will perform. Tick
ets are $5 for both shows. Music
will begin at 9 tonight and Satur
day night.
Hispanic roots-rock band Los
Lobos takes the stage at the
Pershing Auditorium on Saturday.
The show starts at 8 pm and tick
ets are $16.25.
The Mueller Planetarium will
feature the music of Metallica this
weekend, with shows at 8,9:30 and
11 both tonight and Saturday night.
Comedian George Carlin will
take over Omaha’s Orpheum
Theater’s stage tonight at 8. Tick
ets are $25.
TG1F Is compiled by staff re
porter Cliff Hicks.
Lane Hickenbottom/DN
TORI AMOS sings at the packed Orpheum Theater in Omaha
Thursday night.
Lane Hickenbottom/DN
SWITCHING BETWEEN a Bosendorfer grand piano and a
harpsichord Thursday night, Tbri Amos entertained a capacity crowd
in the Orpheum Theater in Omaha.
Amos brings intimacy
to Omaha'S Orpheum
By Joshua Gillin
Music Critic
OMAHA—Entertainment Weekly
once compared Tori Amos’ fans to The
Grateful Dead’s in terms of devotion.
At Amos’ concert at the Orpheum The
ater Thursday night, it was easy to see
why.
A capacity crowd of2,759 watched
as Amos gave a classically bizarre per
formance, writhing on her piano bench
and improvising on songs that already
showed a wide range of musical influ
ence.
After the satisfying performance of
blues-style guitarist Joshua Clayton
Felt, Amos came on stage amidst the
cheers of hundreds of adoring fans.
Singing in a voice that ranged from
an airy whisper to a high-pitched wail
to a guttural growl, Amos opened her
lengthy set with “Horses,” the first cut
off her latest album, “Boys for Pele.”
While the lighting effects were a bit
sloppy at first, the show quickly be
came visually and aurally entertaining.
Amos switched between the on-stage
Bosendorfer piano and harpsichord
during the performance, playing
“Blood Roses” early in the set.
A peppering of cover tunes, includ
ing Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” were fol
lowed by a soulful version of “Little
Amsterdam.” Amos also played her
past hits “Little Earthquakes” and
“Leather” before starting to converse
with her audience, a signature of
Amos’ performances.
The singer then broke into an in
terpretive dance after her visit with the
audience and began to play her smash
“Cornflake Girl.” A swinging version
Please see AMOS on 14
By Bret Schulte *
Movie Critic
Imaginatively derived from the fa
mous Lindbergh kidnapping, this mod
em re-telling resonates with Holly
wood gloss, suspense and almost un
believable bravado. ,5 > ^ -
Ron HowardVremakeof the 195(5
classic “Ransom” operates with tech
nological intelligence, passionate act
ing and a plot which jumps from scenes
of laughter to scenes of silence with
both competence and style.
Tom Mufien/(Mel Gibson) grew up
as an ordinary American kid in an or
dinary American family. Through ini
tiative and ambition he founded the
fourth-largest airline in the country
from his humble beginnings as a fighter
pilot.
Although Mullen is portrayed as a
family man, there are questions about
his ethics, specifically a possible bribe
to the machinists union that is striking
his airline. The doubt raised about
Mullen’s character is effectively and
skillfully manipulated throughout the
negotiations of the kidnapping of his
son.
The abduction of Mullen’s son
Seal, well-cast with Nick Nolte’s boy,
Brawley Nolte, occurs very early in the
Film: “Ransom”
Cast: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary
Sinise, Delroy Undo, Lili Taylor,
Brawley Nolte
Director: Ron Howard
Grade: B
Five Words: Two macho men face off.
film. “Ransom” rapidly pulls the audi
ence through fear and shock as the cal
culating and technically advanced ab
ductors demand Mullen’s money, or
Sean will never be seen again.
Tom Mullen, sick of the games
played by die abductors decides to take
the offensive, and the suspense kicks
into high gear. Although such blatant
disregard for his son’s safety may seem
hard to imagine, both the script and the
acting create a believable scenario of
frustration and desperate actions. Rene
Russo’spassionate portrayal as Sean’s
grief-stricken mother gready assists in
the sudden tragedy of her boy’s abduc
tion.
Gary Sinise plays detective Jimmy
Shako1, a hard-boiled New York cop
grown resentful of the upper class and
their removal from the daily stresses
and dilemmas of the working class.
Although most characters in this
r i i 1 _
■* ' ' * Photo coukiesy of Touchstone Pictures
MEL GIBSON stars as a father pushed too far in Tbuchstone Pictures’
new release, “Ransom.” __.
film are relatively believable, Donnie
Wahlberg, whose failed music career
has led him to Hollywood, is sorely
miscast. He plays “Cubbie” a stupid,
yet affable abductor whose kind
hearted tendencies are Supposed to
bring a touch of humanitarianism to his
deplorable treatment of Sean Mullen.
Wahlberg’s acting is minimal and
laughable, and the character is a worn
♦.
out stereotype which was completely
out of place in this intelligent and well
paced film.
“Ransom” joins the ranks of sev
eral successfully entertaining main
stream thrillers recently released, such
as “The Fugitive” and “Speed.” Al
though these movies are quickly be
coming a dime a dozen, they are still
good fa- a fun two hours of easy es
capism.