'Jesus'Son'explores differences between living, dead
BY SAMUEL MCKEWON
FH, the main character of “Jesus’ Son,” is
invariably someone we’ve met and most certainly
the guy we aspire least to be - the drifter, the ne’er
do well sucker, the junkie Who slips in and out of
Holiday Inns and perpetually dons a scummy blue
coat.
The “FH,” so to speak, which is how he got the
name. What a surprise that in this film a guy like
that is the redeemer.
Like FH, “Jesus’ Son,” adapted from the short
stories of Denis Johnson and playing at the Mary
Riempa Ross Theater this weekend, is tricky to get
a grip on.
Directed by Alison Maclean, it seems constant
ly hazy and indistinct, content to let the mundane,
the peculiar events that litter short fiction draw out
absurd.
Also like short fiction, the scenes have a comfy
and loose connection to the one directly before it,
which adds up to little more than witnessing a slice
of life lived, with a revelation revealing itself over
time.
The movie is doused in death, and yet it doesn’t
seem so. We, like FH, allow those experiences to
pass in favor of whatever odd trial ensues. .
It takes a certain style of filmmaking, and the
certain right lead performance to make this work.
Maclean delivers, as does Billy Crudup as FH, a
dense guy, but not stupid, nor the type of dense
that reveals itself to be a cruel bully.
“Jesus’ Son” is partially about exploring those
differences - or if there is one in the first place -
between the living and the dead, those with hope
and those hoped for.
It is also about heroin addiction in the opening
hour. FH, a 20-something drifter in the college
town of Iowa City, meets up with dope head
Michelle (Samantha Morton) as they begin an off
and-on relationship.
It’s not stormy as much as damaged goods from
the start, as Michelle draws FH into drugs, and FH
often lets her down or abandons her emotions all
together. Michelle runs, but is brought back by the
drugs.
One such reunion comes just in time, which
Maclean shoots in split screen showing FH and
cowboy drug buddy Wayne (Denis Leary) overdos
ing to the same bad heroin in different apartments.
Surrounding that story is a flood of vignettes,
including Wayne's story of stripping his own home
of copper wire for dope money, that pads the cen
tral relationship.
Most intriguing is FH’s short-term job in a
small-town Iowa emergency room with a junkie
thief of an orderly (Jack Black) and an accident
with a hunting knife.
How this scene is established, and how it con
cludes, typifies the distant charm of "Jesus’ Son.”
That mood hangs through nearly every frame, and
Crudup, who reacts to fife events as if they made
scrambled eggs of his brains, fits the bemused tone
of the picture.
And considering the issues at hand - fife, death,
drugs, salvation - a heavier treatment certainly
could have been in order.
Later this year, a similar film with a polar oppo
site tone, Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem For a
Dream,” will gamer an NC-17 rat
ing for its disturbing montage of Courtesy photo
the dehumanizing nature of Billy Crndup stare as FH in the movie*Jesus'Son/The film
druff- , „ , Iowa Qty, Iowa, to Phoenix, Ariz.
Jesus Son makes the same
_1_A_.L ___• _ *
case, nut witn tne mucn quieter,
specific strokes that match Johnson’s writing style.
Hints are dropped about the real nature of FH. But
outside two sequences, toward the end, Maclean
wisely restrains, opting to gear down the camera
tricks in a favorable, pretty, honest view at
Midwestern life.
A frequent but inaccurate criticism of the film
is its draggy nature, especially toward the end,
when FH ventures to Phoenix after getting dean to
work in an asylum.
But the concluding sequences are necessary to
show a more important recovery than sobering up.
It poses the intriguing question of whether the
healer can heal without having the same done to
them.
It is the only question “Jesus’ Son" seems to
definitively answer, and despite all the blur that
has to come before it, the journey still seems prop
er and satisfying, like a life lived. That’s more than
can be said for most movies.
Bjork album explores new venue
BY ANDREW SHAW
Iceland’s renaissance woman,
Bjork, continues to break ranks and
poke her nose into new venues of cre
ative exploration.
“Selmasongs," a seven track sam
pling of the music from “Dancer in the
Dark,” shows yet one more incarnation
of the artist.
The soundtrack for “Dancer in the
Dark,” a film directed by Lars von TYier
and featured at the Cannes Film
Festival and the New York Film Festival,
was composed and performed by
Bjork, who also played the starring role
in the film.
Since her departure from the
Sugarcubes, Bjork Gudmundsdottir,
thankfully widely known by her first
name, has become the reigning queen
of psychedelic, cerebral, ambient and
completely original techno music. Her
voice is unmatched by any other artist
heard in the Americas, exhibiting the
rich accent and raw beauty of her
homeland.
Bjork’s previous solo albums fea
ture her mystifying talents at mixing
everyday sounds with intricate techno
conflagrations into eccentric master
pieces. Her albums all fit together
under the personal genre she has cre
ated and perfected, but “Selmasongs”
is die first time that all of the songs fol
low a theme and common idea.
“Dancer in the Dark” is the story of
Selma, a Czech immigrant with a
hereditary disorder which: is slowly
robbing her of her vision. She works in
a factory, hoping to raise enough
money while she is still able-bodied to
buy her son an operation to cure him of
the disease.
“Selmasongs" plays on the idea of
the heightening of the sense of hearing
as one loses their sense of sight.
“Cvalda" starts with the repetitious
mechanic sounds of a factory soon
mixed with Bjork’s
erratic voice danc
ing around a full
orchestra and a
seemingly infinite
number of techno
layers until her
voice overpowers
the prisons of her
job and her afflic
tion.
The album as a
complete work is
handled perfectly
in all aspects. The
first track,
“Overture," is a
gently command
ing and electrify
ing piece
untouched by
technological
advancements.
Featuring a warm
brass ensemble,
"Overture” sets up the musical theme
for the rest of the album.
“Selmasongs” ends with “New
World," a vocal composition strongly
based upon the theme from
“Overture." Bjork's voice takes the
place of the French horn on the latter
track, matching the beauty of the brass
instrument with her virtuostic singing.
Traces of techno beats invade “New
World,” giving the song an important
transformation from the original tune,
proving to the listener that Selma’s
character has undergone a change, yet
still revels in the beauty of her past.
Having spent so much time con
centrating on producing the breath-:
taking music for “Dancer in the Dark,”
one would think that her performance
in the movie itself would suffer.
But Bjork isn’t simply the foreign
Madonna. Bjork won the award for
Best Female Performance at Cannes,
an honor that indicates her expertise
as an all-around artist, and dispels
rumors of her being a thinly-spread
performer.
Bjork is already in the process of
working on her album slated for
release in 2001. With the maturity
shown in the album “Selmasongs” and
the film "Dancer in the Dark,” Bjork’s
creative explorations will only contin
ue to grow.
New Green Day album
shows band's maturity
■The rockers once again find a new
form of musical expression with their
new release'Warning.'
BY ANDREW SHAW_
The headlines should read “Hell
Freezes Over, Green Day Grows Up.”
Album after album, Green Day has
released the same sound: Billy Joe’s whin
ing vocals, electric guitars playing the same
three chords repeatedly and drums ham
mering out a basic punk rock beat With
“Warning,” that template hasn’t complete
ly changed, but it has finally mutated into “Love Me Do.”
something noteworthy. “Hold On” takes a folk-infused feel,
Green Day’s last release, 1997's withalightbutpunchingaurastillpossess
“Nimrod,” won the three-piece band ing elements of punk influence,
praise for the introspective single “Good Though it may be the gut reaction of
Riddance (Time of Your Life),” and those with a distaste for Green Day to say
deservedly so. The song, buried near the they sold out, “Warning” shows the band is
end of the 18-track album, was the first sign far from it
that the aging rockers were growing up, It would be easy for the band to try to
mellowing out and finding new forms of reproduce the popularity of “Good
musical expression. Riddance” with another slow, stripped
In “Warning,” Green Day follows the down ballad, but “Warning” doesn't have
advice of their newly-won fans and pro- any definitive ballads,
duces a sound that shows the band’s matu- Green Day has found a way to capture
rity, while still retaining their personal the full-grown sound of the best tracks
sound. from “Nimrod,” but has also found a way to
From the title track, it is easy to recog- keep the sound they have had since the
nize the differences of the new and early’90s.
improved Green Day. The guitar riff, It is unfortunate that it took this long
though still simplistic and somewhat for Green Day to produce “Warning,” but
redundant, is played on acoustic guitar. the effects of the album will hopefully be
The vocal layering, simple melody, commercial success. At this point in musi
exciting harmony and raw sprit of Green cal history, a time when the industry has
Day's previous music is still in tact; howev- moved away from the rock acts of the
er, die addition of the acoustic instrumen- “grunge era,” it will be easy for a great rock
tation changes the feel just enough to tell incarnation like Green Day’s to dip by the
the listener there is something special consumers.
wrapped up in “Warning.” The band has supported us through
“Hold On” opens with a raw harmonica the teenage years and now shows promise
sound played over a rhythmic acoustic gui- to inspire us for years to come, lb disregard
tar, which is reminiscent of the Beatles’ this “Warning” would be a musical tragedy.
(402)472-2588 $5.25/15 words ■ B BBI ■
FAX: (402) 472-1761 $3.50/15 words (students) B
dn@unl.edu $0.15 each additional word ■ — B BTB^^BbB^S
$0.75 billing charge m^JBE fl B^^S^jB^^B
$0.75/lineheadline ■BBWWl ■ ■
Deadline: 4 p.m. weekday prior
200s frntm |
Used men's bicycle, $20. Call (402) 742-5515,
leave message.
Specialized Cyclocross bike. Custom built, $200
or best offer.
Literally hundreds of National Geographies,
some collector sets. Call for information on
issues and prices. Call (402) 770-3347. .
Computer
Apple IMac, 7 months new, grape, 400MHz
Power PC, G3 processor, 64MB ram, 10GB HD,
slot loading DVD. Rom drive, built in 56K v.90
modem, comes with all pre-installed software
PLUS, a Zip drive. Totally excellent condition, I’D
miss this computer, but you'll love it! No ship
ping, no taxes. Great deal for a great computer.
$1,150. CaD (402) 770-3347,
HP 8670 Computer. Intel Pill 600mhz, 128mb
ram, 30gb HD, DVD, CD-RW, 56k modem, NIC,
8mb AGP Graphics. Loaded with software. 5
year extended warranty. $900 OBO.
402-327-9114.
IBM, Deli, Compaq, Toshiba Laptops. Prices
from $295. 30-Day Warranty visit
www.usedlaptops.com.
PC Software for Sale
Titles include: Magic: The Gathering Encyclope
dia ($25), Rainbow Six ($20), Rainbow Six:
Rogue Spear ($25), WWII Fighters ($10), and
Mechwarrior 3 ($20). All titles in excellent condi
tion and include original box and manuals. Call
476-5079, evenings please.
Used computers starting at $175 and up. Also,
parts and upgrades. Call Mike at 477-6977 or
474-1472.
dn@unl.edu
dailyneb.com
phone: 472-2588
fax: 472-1761
J 7
Grey Queen hide-a-bed with matching love seat
Good condition. $200 or beet offer. 423-0242
Aquarium For Sale
5 Gallon aquarium, excellent condition. (Domes
with filter, cleaning tools and water solutions,
rocks, plants and four small, very cute healthy
fish. $35 for all. Total bargain for this complete
setup! Call (402) 770-3347,
Alto Saxaphone
King 613 Alto Saxaphone with everything In
cluded. Meyer mouthpiece, orginal case plus
hard gig bag, music stand, instrument stand,
beginning thru advanced music books, padded
neckstraps, and more. Asking $290 080. Call
Tim in Lincoln at (402) 423-7882.
Answering Machine
Panasonic cordless digital answering machine,
black, excellent condition, one year new. $40.
Cali (402) 770-3347,
Arcade Games
Street Fighter II Champ. Edition and Final Fight
fullsize upright arcade games. Perfect for the
house gameroom or dorm room (it will fit, I
promise) 477-0397.
BARTENDERS MAKE $100-$250 PER NIGHT!
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! CALL NOW!!
1-800-981-8168 ext. 9073.
Mid 70’s Kustom 200w. powered. 6-channel
P.A. with two 15 inch cabinets and two horns.
$350.423-0242.
Round, brilliant cut diamond. 70 carat, SI2, F
color. Appraisal value $6200 asking $3500 obo.
Sega CD A Saturn RPC's for SALE: Albert Od
yssey, Dark Wizard, Dragon Force, Lunar, Lunar
2, Magic Knight Rayearth, Panzer Dragoon Sa
ga, Popful Mail, Shining Force 3, Shining Force
CD, Shiningthe Holy Ark, Shining Wisdom, Vay
6 a Sega CDX System. Email botte220aol.com
to get CHEAP PRICES!
Signet B-flat clarinet, original case, 1 -owner. Ex
cellent condition-’like new.’ $250 OBO. Becky
328-8917.
SOUND/RECORDING System
6 channel/4 track mixer, power amp, mics,
stands, speakers, accessories. Quality/Clean,
486-0382,540-2316._
Surplus City
Scooters, camoflauge, airsoft pistols, jeans and
much more. 3241 South 13th. 420-5151.
TI-89 Graphing Calculator with manual &
graphlink, $120.477-7691.
WASHER FOR SALE (HOTPOINT) NEWER,
WORKS GREAT, FIRST $75 TAKES. CALL ROB
421-6534.
Work from home, $25 an hour part-time to $75
an hour full-time. 1-888-570-4848. rich
esbeginhere.com
AKC Rottweiler Puppies, 7 weeks old, papers,
shots, wormed, very friendly and loving, parents
on site, health guaranteed to 6 months of age
$500. 477-2457.
Pit Bull puppies: 9 weeks old, ready to go,
shots, dewormed. Please call 416-3382 or
483-6318 for more information!!
Yakima Racks and Accessories. All good condi
tion. Towers, cross bar, bike tray, ski mounts,
and security cable. Towers for car with rain gut
ters (1A- raingutters) $65, Round bar (crossbar
58”) $30, bike tray (sim. to CopperHead) $60.
PowderHound ski accesory- $50, 6ft. security
cable $15. This is an excellent deal! Call (402)
770-3347.
19” color TV with remote control, $40. 25” color
TV with remote control, $80. Call (402)
742-5515, leave message.
MOVING-NEED TO SELL!!
Great Stereo System, Sony Receiver and
cd-player. Huge Cerwin Vega Speakers. Full
transferable warrantee. $900, want $650 o.b.o.
call 310-0979.
Sony car stereo, detachable face & case, cas
sette, 1 year old. $50 OBO. Becky 328-8917.
Dixie Chicks
Floor Seats
4 seats, row 7 and 3 seats, row 12. Call
402-731-9389, leave message. Cash only.
amore280aol.
Two Dixie Chicks tickets, $200 or BO. Call Jill
at 486-4393.
Will buy up to ^tickets to Iowa State. Call
438-4409.
‘87 Mercury sable for sale. Very good V6 en
gine,automatic, air condition,cruise,power steel
ing, power mirror,125k,looks good,runs great.
Asking $1250(a free rio300 mp3 player will go
with the car). Telephone: 474-3047, email:
gg19990yahoo.com.
89 cutlass ciera, great condition, looks good in
and out. CD player, Runs excellent. Very well
maintained. Must sell! $800 o.b.o.
‘91 Honda Civic DX 2 door hatch back, 5 speed,
a/c, cd player, in great shape, 101K $3,200. CaH
484-8992.
‘96 CHEVY Cavalier Z24, 1 owner,
sound/security system, p/w, p/I, tinted win
dows, car cover & front end bra included, great
maintenance record, 74K, $8100 obo. Call
402-310-0169.
1987 Nissan Sentra station wagon for sale.
Power steering, A/C, AM/FM cassette, 5 speed,
116 K miles. $1200,436-7284.
1988 Dodge Shadow ES107K. Black w/ tan in
terior. Good body, runs good. Needs approxi
mately $600 work. Bluebook $2200, asking
$1200. Call 477-7691 for details.
1995 Ford Probe. Black, leather, sunroof, p/w,
p/l, a/c, cd, 5spd. $6500 OBO, 464-3474.
1st $3000 takes it!
1993 Pontiac Sunbird, white, excellent condi
tion. 489-1855.
‘89 Bronco II XLT. Runs Good. 1500/offer.
730-3540.
‘91 Chevy Beretta GTZ. Red, pw, pi, cruise, tilt,
sunroof. Grey interior. $3000 OBO. 477-2457.
For Sale: 1994 Mazda Protege DLX. Excellent
condition, A/C, PS, cassette, 4 dr., $3,450.
483-4887.
Sell your CAR or TRUCK with pictures FREE on
the internet at www.ezcar1ocator.coin.
Attention
Need 31 people who seriously want to lose
weight. Great business opportunity. Flexible
hours. Call (402)730-3745 or 1-888-390-5645.
Natural Herbal
Breast Enlargement
Safe, effective, and affordable. Please visit
www.figureplus.com, 1-888-603-9800. Distribu
torships also available.
Auto Accidents & DWI
Other criminal matters, call Sanford Pollack,
476-7474.
Auto Accidents/DWIs
And all other criminal and civil matters, call
Franklin E. Miner, 423-4417.
» Automobile Accidents
and DWI
Call Jeffery F. Dean at 435-2424.24 hour line.
Cycle Works
Don’t put your Dike away just yet. The expert
mechanic staff is waiting to tune up or upgrade
your bicycle with the newest and greatest part.
Expert repairs on all makes and models with
quick turn-around time. Close to campus, 27th
and Vine. 475-2453.
For all your insurance needs: auto, home, health,
life and business, call Jim Wallace at American
Family Insurance, 1340 L St., Lincoln, NE 68508
or calf402-474-5077.
Need Affordable Health
Insurance?
Call 24 hours. 477-8383.
NEED PAPERS TYPED?
Reasonable rates. Rush jobs extra. 464-3013.
Free
Pregnancy Test
Birthright is a confidential helping hand. Please
call for appointment or more information,
483-2609. Check out our website
www.birthright.org.
1 female needed to share 2 room apartment
$282/month + 1/2 deposit + 1 futilities. Call
325-9474.
2 roommates needed for either 2 bedroom
apartment or 2 bedroom house. Both close to
East Campus. F. 325-6893.•
Christian guy needs clean, N/S roommate be
tween now and December. Roommate is getting
married. 484-7062.
Female nonsmoker to share 3BR apartment,
$175/month+ 1/3 utilities. Call 476-1159 or
472-6364.
M/F roommate needed to share 3 bedroom
apartment. Near East Campus. Call Scott,
464-6879.
M/F roommate needed, nonsmoker,to share 3
bedroom house. $240 plus 1/3 utilities. Close to
city campus. Call 477-7183.
Male to share three bedroom newer home in
southeast Lincoln. Many extras. 421-0977 leave
message.
Non-smoker to share townhome. $325 plus half
utilities. Washer/dryer. Off-street. Graduate pre
ferred. 474-0471,
Responsible roommate needed to share 3 bed
room house. $200 plus 1/3 utilities. 470-0453 or
310-6877.
3 bedroom, 2 baths, washier/dryer, AC, parking.
Close to UNL. Available November 1. 738 Y
Street. $750/month. 730-7368.
219 North 30th. 2 bedrooms+2. Garage. Appli
ances. No smoking or pets. $700/month. Call
489-1992.
1429 N 14th, clean, 2+ bedroom, AC, close to
UNL, $66Q/month, 466-7349 or 438-8662.
1830 L. 4 bedroom, 2 bath. Lease $850/month.
Call 730-5565 or 489-7000.
4700 South SL Immaculate 2/3 bedrooms, c/a,
finished basement, garage. $850+deposit, refer
ences, no pets. 483-488/.
Four bedroom near stadium. Central air. Wash
er/dryer included. Lawn mowed. $650
489-9294.
Large 4+2 bedroom, 3 bath. Central air, dish
washer, porch. 835 S. 12th. $895.435-2552.
Deluxe 4 Bedroom/2 Bath
2701 N. 37th. Near new. Between Campuses.
Low Utilities. Washer and drier included. No
Pets. Available January 1. $995.474-5327.
