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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1997)
Photo courtesy of Rysher Entertainment HOWARD STERN (right) stare as himself and Mary McCormack (left) stare as Alison, Stern'S girlfriend and fotare wife, in the pseudo-documentary about Stem’s personal and pnbllc life, "Private Parts.” ‘Private Parts’ shows all of Howard Stem By Bret Schulte Film Critic What could be more loveable than a tall, gangling, sex-obsessed guy with an arena-rock haircut, delusions of grandeur and a tendency to loudly proclaim the disadvantages of his small penis? After seeing “Private Parts,” Stem’s new est and funniest contribution to his self-pro pelled ego/media machine, it’s difficult to come up with an answer. Stern has been a longtime staple of America’s ever-growing shock radio tradition, relying heavily on sex^and groin-oriented top ics, near-naked superinodels, rock stars and even the occasional rigid, and understandably frightened, conservative to supply a source of amusement for himself and his audience. In a motion to bring his popularity to the big screen and capitalize on the purported suc cess of his autobiography, which easily can be found in a bargain bin, Stem has provided his public with a candid, hilarious and typically grandiose vision of none other but himself. “Private Parts” opens and closes with the appearance of America’s No. 1 hero, “Fartman.” In between, Stem reflects on his life, narrating his rise in American radio with out leaving out a single misfortune or incident of deviant behavior. He speaks to the more-than-attractive Carol Stars: Howard Stem, Robin Quivers, - ^ Mary McCormack, Fred Norris, Carol Alt ‘ Director: Betty Thomas Rating: R (language, nudity — including a particularly horrifying vision of Stem’s butt) Grade: B+ Five Words: Better than the real thing Alt, who reluctantly takes her seat next to him on a plane. Through the story Stem occupies himself with convincing her, as well as the au dience, of his genuinely good intentions — despite his general image as a no-good, trashy and offensive embodiment of everything that’s wrong in America today. He begins with his mildly tortured child hood, during which Stem was turned on to ra dio by his father, who worked as an engineer at a local station. Bent on his ambition, he glided through high school in a haze of pot smoke and unfulfilled sexual desire. After graduation, Stem attended Boston University where he met Alison, who proved to be the love of his life.' The film goes to great lengths to illustrate the many dimensions of Stem — well, two, Please see PRIVATE on 10 ; Shakespeare comedy “Night? combines mix-up with mayhem By Ann Stack Film Critic Soap operas of today have nothing on Wil liam Shakespeare. Even 500 years ago, the man was writing plays that read like a script from “Melrose Place.” Take “Twelfth Night,” for example. It’s a romantic comedy based on the hilarity that ensues from miscommunication and game play ing. Released to the big screen by Fine Line Fea tures Productions, “Twelfth Night” is showing at the Mary Riempa Ross Film Theater this weekend. *" This is one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, and the amazing scenery and brilliant costume design act as a foil to offset this. The scenery helps the rather farfetched plot manifest itself on-screen. Viola (Imogen Stubbs) and her twin brother, Sebastian (Stephen Mackintosh) are vaudeville actors performing on a ship at sea. They’re separated during a violent storm, and each be lieves the other is dead. Viola finds herself on the foreign shores of Illyria and decides she’d survive better if she were a man. She whacks her hair, binds her boobs, stuffs her drawers and pastes on a mous tache that’s about as convincing as Ellen DeGeneres’ heterosexuality. Thus enter Cesario, who gets a job as the gentleman of Duke Orsino (Toby Stephens). Orsino’s raison d’etre is the beautiful Count ess Olivia (Helena Bonham Carter), who is still in mourning after the death of her brother. He sends Cesario to court her in his place, and Olivia ends up falling head-over-heels for the androgynous Cesario/Viola. Film: Twelfth Night Director: TVevor Nunn Stars: Helena Bonham Carter, Imogen Stubbs, Mel Smith Rating: PG Grade: B Five Words: Movie translates well to 1990s Add to the mix-up Olivia’s pretentious but ler Malvolio (Nigel Hawthorne) mistakenly believing Olivia is in love with him, Viola fall ing in love with Orsino, Orsino Questioning his own sexuality when he finds himself attracted to his servant boy, a suitor of Oliyia’s unex pectedly challenging poor Cesario to a battle and a couple of drunks wreaking havoc for good measure, and you’ve got yourself a grand mess. Eventually, Sebastion finds his way to Illyria, and quite a bit of mistaken identity/deja vu abounds before he finally hooks up with his long-lost twin. In the meantime, he marries Olivia — with her thinking she’s marrying Cesario and him not knowing what is going on. The best performance of the flick was turned in by Mel Smith, who played Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s cousin. He’s nothing but a drunk, but adds quite a bit of humor to the film when he plays ofFFeste the Fool (Ben Kingsley) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Richard E. Grant). “Twelfth Night” is a presentation of the University Program Council’s International Film Series, and it is showing this weekend at the Ross Theater. Show times are 1,3:15,7 and 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, and 2:30, 4:45, 7 and 9:15 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 with a student ID. ouuuay. /A.U1U1MJ _ CD _ Review He may be white, he may be a guy, but Jimmy Pop Ali is anything but dumb. As the lead singer, lyricist, writer and producer for the Bloodhound Gang, he has broken new ground in the arena of rap/rock/altemative ... kind of “One Fierce Beer Coaster,” the Bloodhound Gang’s sophomore effort, doesn’t do anything / artists haven’t tried before, except succeed at it. The culmination of irresistibly catchy beats and inanely satirical lyrics actually produce something other than “Weird A1 novelties” and redundant trip-hop — it’s actually music. This Pennsylvania band composed of Jimmy Pop, Spanky G, Evil Jared, DJ Q-Ball and Lu pus pulled out all the stops for “Beer Coaster” by sampling and replaying elements from “The Roof is on Fire,” “Spooky” and “Hungry Like a Wolf.” The group even pays homage to rap pioneers Run DMC by covering “It’s THcky.” From knocking Mr. Rogers in “Your Only Friends Are Make Believe,” to numerous Chewbacca references in “Why’s Everybody Always Picking On Me,” Bloodhound proves that no one is safe from artistic derision. Even little Webster (Emmanuel Lewis) is declared the Antichrist during “Fire Water Bum,” the first single that, despite some off-color lyrics, received heavy airplay and video rotation on MTV. Jimmy Pop’s quick wit and sarcasm make for an instant laugh but the infectious grooves and “elementary music,” as he called it, keep you coming back for more. The Bloodhound Gang will perform with Nerf Herder at Omaha’s Ranch Bowl tonight at 7:30. Tickets are $9 and doors open at 7. — Chris Thames Midwestern blues, punk-rock bands come to town for weekend shows From Staff Reports If midterms have you mired in books and papers, you might want to step out and take a break with some live music; if you do, you’re in luck this weekend. Fresh from the presidential inauguration, the young blues outfit Indigenous will be play ing the Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St., tonight and Saturday. Four American Indian siblings from Marty, S.D., Indigenous is a hot blues guitar-based band burning up the charts and turning critics’ heads everywhere. Besides playing at the inau guration, the band recently did a photo shoot for People magazine. Indigenous will play a 21-and-over show. There’s a $4 cover charge. Hangar 18, 1118 O St., will also feature some musical entertainment this weekend, al though it may be a little less presidentially sound. N.I.L.8, a four-piece punk-rock outfit from Springfield, 111., will play at Hangar 18 Sun day night. The band is currently touring in sup port of its latest album, “...doug,” which was named in semi-tribute to its biggest fan. ^ I Sunday night’s show starts at 9.