Ross Theatre
offers on-campus
film diversions
By Gerry Beltz
Features Editor
No, you don’t have to venture into the wretched
hive of downtown Lincoln to see a movie. In fact,
you don’t have to set foot off of UNL grounds.
Over on 12th and R Streets, in the Sheldon Art
Gallery, awaits the Mary Riepma Ross Film
Theatre with a cornocopia of summer films to
lighten, brighten and enlighten hearts and minds
everywhere. Films at the Ross play Thursday
through Sunday, ususally only for one or two
weeks at a shot, so move quickly. Also, don’t for
get your student ID for an all-important discount.
The big event coming this summer to the Ross
is the Great Plains Film Festival, running from July
15 through July 27, where moviemakers from all
around this region come in to show their special
works.
“Kolya” (playing through June 15) - A
Czechoslovakian film, following the life of an
unemployed concert cellist who, tired of playing at
funerals and painting tombstones, accepts a rather
ludicrous proposal to get out of a large debt.
“Whole Wide World” (6/19 - 6/22, 6/26 -
6/29) - A small-town romance blooms between a
fantasy book writer (Vincent D’Onofrio, “Full
Metal Taeket”t and the Inral arnnrh tRenee
Zellweger, “Jerry Maguire”). The two powerhous
es in the lead roles make this simplistic-looking
film to be a great piece of work.
“Watermelon Woman” (7/3 - 7/6, 7/10 - 7/13)
-A black lesbian filmmaker (Cheryl Dunye) is try
ing to uncover information and document the life
of an obscure actress from the 30s, but meets up
with both racial and sexual opposition. The cine
matography for the film is splendid, mixing vari
ous styles to come up with something off the beat
en path.
“Waiting For Guffman” (7/31 - 8/3, 8/7 -
8/10) — As a part of a small town’s 150th anniver
sary celebrations, an off-Broadway (make that
WAAY off-Broadway) director puts on a show
detailing the town’s history. His cast includes a
dentist, an auto mechanic and a waitress from the
local Dairy Queen, and he also invites a Broadway
critic to view the performance. The movie is
directed, written by and stars Christopher Guest,
along with Eugene Levy, Brian-Doyle Murray and
Bob Balaban.
“Daytrippers” (8/14 - 8/17, 8/21 - 8/24) -
Eliza thought her marriage to Louis was a dream
come true, but a puzzling love letter has set doubt
in her mind. After coming to her mother for advice,
she and other family members pile into a car to
confront Louis with the letter. On the way, they
meet a variety of interesting people and also find
out a lot about one another. Stars include Hope
Davis and Marcia Gay Harden.
Courtesy Photo
NICOLAS CAGE (left) and John Travolta lock horns in the John Woo-directed action thriller “Face-Off.”
Sequels, aliens dominate movie crop
By Gerry Beltz
Features Editor
Yeow! The summer movie season has
barely started, and already things are heating
up. “The Lost World” and “Con-Air” are
burning up the box-office, and even more
hits are on the way. Sequels, aliens and pres
idential hijackings await anyone willing to
pay six bucks to sit in a big, dark room with a
bunch of strangers. Naturally, the movies
aren’t limited to what is on this list, and the
release dates are subject to change.
JUNE
“Speed 2: Cruise Control” (June 13) -
Sandra Bullock is back, but with a new
hubby (Jason Patric, “Sleepers”) and the
same ol’ problems. Their romantic cruise
hits troubled waters when a disgruntled ex
employee (Willem DaFoe) utilizes some
computer relays and plastic explosives to
work out his frustrations and try to kill every
one on board the ship. With director Jan
Debont at the helm, you can bet on plenty of
action.
“Batman and Robin” (June 20) - George
Clooney (“From Dusk Till Dawn”) dons the
cape and cowl for the fourth installment in
the “Batman” movies. Chris O’Donnell
returns as the hot-blooded Robin, and with
villains Mr. Freeze (Arnold
Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma
Thurman), the aid of new arrival Batgirl
(Alicia Silverstone) will be invaluable.
Expect loads of one-liners, and yes, all of the
Bat-suits have Bat-nipples.
“Hercules” (June 27) - The Disney flick
for the summer. Hercules is being tested, but
Hades (deliciously voiced by James Woods)
has other plans for the son of Zeus. Lots of
yuks and inpromptu dance numbers in this
one.
“Face-Off” (June 27) - Action-film
director John Woo and John Travolta team up
again after the highly-successful “Broken
Arrow” for another explosive flick. This
time, Travolta is an agent who, through the
use of some wildly radical plastic surgery, lit
erally wears the face of the criminal (Nicolas
Cage) who killed his daughter. However, an
identity switch ensues, and the chase is on.
Expect an inordinate amount of action, bul
lets, explosions and testosterone just drip
ping off the screen.
JULY
“Men In Black” (July 2) - With the
release date of “Titanic” moved back to
December, the fourth of July weekend is left
wide open for this hit to stroll right up to the
top spot. In this action/sci-fi/comedy,
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith play J and
K, secret government agents who deal with
extraterrestrial visitors and, of course, pro
tecting the Earth, if not the entire galaxy.
“Contact” (July 11) — Jodie Foster
comes into contact with an extraterrestrial
source. She wants to join them, but a debate
over her decision ensues. Lets just hope the
aliens can keep her from stripping off her
clothes in the moonlight this time around.
“Air Force One” (July 25) - Harrison
Ford keeps moving up the political chain to
the Presidency in “Air Force One.” The
President (Ford), who has been preaching a
“no negotiations” policy with terrorism,
finds himself in bad territory when his flight
is hijacked in mid-air (led by Gary Oldman),
and his family is placed in danger. Glenn
Close co-stars as the vice-president, and
Wolfgang Peterson (“In The Line of Fire”)
directs.
l heater schedules don t stop tor summer
By Gerry Beltz
Features Editor
Live theater performances have been
going on for centuries, so why stop for the
summer? The Nebraska Repertory Theatre
has been going on for over 30 seasons and is
still going strong. Season tickets and show
times are available through the Nebraska
Repertory Theatre Box Office, located in the
Temple Building on 12th and R Streets.
“The Fantasticks” (playing through June
15th, Howell Theatre, Temple Building) - A
musical celebrating life and love which has
been playing for almost four decades now,
“The Fantasticks” will touch something in
everyone’s hearts, from ages 8 to 80.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
(July 9-13, July 15-19, Carson Theater, Lied
Center) — A troubled married couple share
an evening of drinks with a couple of younger
newlyweds, and as the evening progresses
and the alcohol continues to flow, the true
human nature of everyone involved becomes
dangerously evident.
“The Foreigner” (July 23 - 27, July 29 -
August 2, Howell Theatre, Temple Building)
- In rural Georgia, Charlie is a young man
who’s pathological shyness is mistaken for
not understanding English. Once alone with
members of the small town, Charlie overhears
more than he should, including information
from a two-faced minister, and a virtual
cornocopia of other naughty bits. The
comedic promise here is high.