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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1998)
^^T^Counse/ingr & Psychological Services, 472-7430- B .■^■"-Eating Disorders Education Group J — A feam approach for individua/s wifh eating disorders „ fl ;^H^medical aspects Tuesdays, Feb. 3 - Mar. 3jfl ‘exercise guidelines 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. ~~B, n^^Bb heal thy nutritional needs UHC, Rm. D B ‘emotional and Register in CAPS or_ fl psychological aspects OHC Business Office ^_Open to students, family & friends! AHEMUH (8tw %srj! 'lalrcut. 474-4244 Tues 8 Thurs: 9am - 7pm Wed 8 Frt: 9am - 5pm Sat: 8am - 3pm Mon: Retall/Refll! the Best in Men's Haircare National Look for in the ^ Daily m every day Come to the Community Health Department in the Unive^:*“ between 8:30 to answer with the corr< driswer are the daily drawing o win prizes! elude: 2 passes to the R gift certificates t Sponsoi „ _ ‘^fPIfeall 472-7440 for more information. ; ‘Sphere’ leaves lingering questions r By Cuff Hicks ' Film Critic . “Sphere” had so many chances to be a great film but fell short on so many counts. ' Based on what is arguably Michael _ Crichton s best book, “Sphere” tells the story of a group of scientists called to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They are supposedly investigating a star ship that crashed there some 300 years ago. Good premise, right? Dustin Hoffman plays a psycholo gist named Norman, Samuel L. Jackson a mathematician named Harry and Sharon Stone a marine biologist named Beth. These three form the core of main characters. Good actors, right? Not much more can be revealed without spoiling some of the story, but in the star ship they find a giant golden sphere, which provides a focus for the whole movie. Even a good gimmick, right? “Sphere” is based entirely in the psychological realm. A lot of the film preys on fears, hopes, dreams and desires, much like the book does. There are quite a few nail-biting scenes that provide tension as it should be provided. Filled with dark, underwater imagery, the visuals are a feast for nerv ous eyes. But great looks do not a great pic ture make. While those of us who have read the book understand what the film is trying to communicate, a lot of people came out of the film saying “Did I miss some thing or did it not answer half the ques tions it raised?” “But what about... ?” was heard from many people as they left the theater. “Did the film just not make its point clearly?” they asked. Yep, they’re right - it didn’t. “Sphere” raises a lot of questions in the process but leaves so many of them suspended in air. The worst part is that it didn’t have to be this way. The majority of these answers were provided in the book in one form or another. There’s a speech that Harry makes toward the end that, had it been included in the film, would have put most of these questions to rest. But it wasn’t in the film. As it stands, the plot has enough holes to fly a 747 through. Little details slowly add up piece by piece; by the end, there are simply too many mistakes that should have been caught. Even people who haven’t read the book catch tons of them. Director Barry Levinson has done Crichton before (with “Disclosure”) and should know how important details are to the story. But for all the details he Womens .Services P.C. Abortion Services Provided During All Legal Stages Awake or Asleep Outpatient Care Full-Time OB/GYN Physicans Birth Control Saturday Appointments Available Total OB/GYN Health Care IN OMAHA: 554-0110 • TOLL-FREE: 1-800-922-8331 201 S. 46th St., Omaha, NE 68132 • http://gynpages.com/omaha SMILE. Internet Banking Is ’ ere. Once upon a time, you had to wait in line to bank. :-( You could only bank during certain hours. :-< But now there’s Internet Banking from Home Federal! :-) So you can open accounts, transfer funds and check balances on the Internet whenever and wherever you choose! :-> Best of all, there’s no software, no fees, and total security! :-D Contact us today to find out more. And smile.:-) www.homefederal.com ikS make it Happen Home Federal Savings Bank |FDIC [insured ' } ■’ * ' » ' ' > • ■ .« ' ' ■' . )' f ■ '• ? ,f l „5 . . j » ‘ / Tj --,■ < . . .-—-:- . The Facts Title: “Sphere" Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone Director: Barry Levinson Rating: R (violence, language) Grade: C+ Five Words: Too many questions left unanswered. caught in “Disclosure,” he lets twice as many slip through his fingers with “Sphere.” The density of the book ham pers picking up everything, but the selection of what to include and what not to include in the film really cost a lot of the book’s intensity. The performances of the three main actors are the real justification to see the film. Stone actually puts in a respectable turn as the marine biologist with the twisted background, and Hoffman makes an excellent psycholo gist. But the real gem of the show is Jackson. In his role as a brilliantly arro gant mathematician, Jackson’s acting skill really shines. When he’s in a scene, he almost overpowers everyone else with his charisma. It fits the role perfectly. But “Sphere,” despite all these great performances, will leave audiences with too many questions, too many things unexplained and a sense of incompleteness. For those of you who have read the book, it might be worth seeing in the cheap seats for amuse ment; but the rest of you, go read the book. The film honestly doesn’t do it jus tice. Play relates to Gen X’ers ANGER from page 7 man working to find himself in a tumul tuous urban society. Karen Liebman, director of the show, said she chose to update the script for many reasons. “The play was originally famous because it was set in the ’50s, which was a very influential time for many young people,” Liebman said. “When I was doing my research and trying to find a vision for this production, it seemed the ideas in the play were simi lar to what young people of today were going through.” Liebman said she thought the image of Generation X worked well with the show. “It seemed the idea of being discon tent and the whole idea of the slacker worked well with the complexities of the script,” she said. Eric Harrell, who plays Jimmy, said the part offered a unique challenge. “It’s such an emotionally complex role,” Harrell said. “I have done a lot of comedy in the past, so this was a chance for me to perform in a different way.” Liebman said she thought the play would move viewers to examine their own lives. “I hope it makes them think about how they treat other people and makes them reflect on their own lives” she said. Harrell said he hoped students, many of which are members of Generation X themselves, will walk away from the show feeling satisfied. “This play has a lot to say to mem bers of the so-called lost generation,” he said. “It really echoes those feelings of disillusion.” Liebman encouraged people to come with friends to the show. “Look Back in Anger” is showing in the Howell Theatre in the Temple Building, 12th and R streets. The show opens with a student preview on Thursday. It then runs Friday and Saturday and continues Feb. 24-28. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the preview are $5. Tickets for the remaining shows are $6 for students, $9 for UNL faculty, staff and senior citizens and $10 for all oth ers. For more information, call the Howell box office at (402) 472-2073.