King of the wild frontier
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ARTS
Lethal Weapon 4?''Die Hard' with a partner
y Michael Zilberman
ally Arts Writer
A claustrophobic thriller, a mousetrap
ovie, a location-specific action flick -
1 it what you will, 1988's "Die Hard"
mp-started the trend. Select a looming
ultural artifact not unlike those
litchcock's thrillers culminated with,
e the set a star and explore its intestines
- elevator shafts, ventilation systems,
tenacing hallways. Oh yeah, add a plot.
'he problem is, this formula bordered on
elf-parody the minute it was conceived.
ter a string of successful entries -"Die
lard" on a bus ("Speed"), on a boat ("Un-
r Siege"), on a train (upcoming "Under
ge 2"), in an amusement park("Beverly
lills Cop 3") and in an airport (Renny
iarlin's "Die Harder")- Hollywood ran
ut of locations. The creators of "Die
lard With A Vengeance" clearly didn't
want to see their labor of love come to its
>gical end with, as Bruce Willis put it,
'Die Hard' in a delicatessen." So the lat-
st installment dumps the Three Unities
ltogether, instead sending Lieutenant
J cClane hopping around Manhattan
h an unlikely partner and a bad hang-
ver.
Considering that HBO, TNT, USA
nd CBS ran "Die Hard" specials sinul-
taneously the day before the film's re-
lease, plus an extended plug on the hit
ABC show "Ellen", I seriously doubt
that there is a-potential reader of this ar-
ticle who dosn't know the premise. But
1ie Hard: With a
Vengeance
Directed by John
McTiernan; with Bruce
Willis and Samuel L.
Jackson
At Briarwood and Showcase
for propriety's sake, here goes. A
Eurotrash mad bomber (in a good old
"Die Hard" tradition, his agenda is not
what it seems to be in the first hour) chal-
lenges McClane to find and disarm the
chemical bombs he planted in various
Manhattan buildings, dropping murky
clues and then watching McClane react.
In what is arguably the greatest gimmick
in the history of the series, his clues are
given in form of twisted nursery rhymes
and annoyingly infantile brain-teasers.
The sight of a grown-up man reduced to
frantically trying to solve a puzzle about
seven cats and seven mice as if his life
depended on it (because it does) is flat-
out unforgettable, and only McClane, of
all American heroes, could retain dignity
in the process. The charm of "Die Hard"
films always lied, among other things, in
McClane constantly being on the receiv-
Mug end of the violence (take the unfor-
gettable "Shoot the glass!" sequence in
the original) and honestly accepting his
share of cuts and bruises before annihi-
lating the chief villain. I hesitate to use
the term vulnerability in relation to any
character played by Bruce Willis, but
"With A Vengeance" lends him just that.
Still, something is missing with the de-
parture of the original concept. With the
action scattered around New York,the film
does come off as somewhat disorganized,
a heap of self-sufficient episodes of varying
length. One might argue that the creators
consciously went for the feeling of general
urban chaos swirling around McClane's
Aspirin-craving head, but unfortunately,
the trouble doesn't end here. Gone is
Bonnie Bedelia as McClane's wife, gone
her petty nemesis, a TV reporter (their ver-
bal bouts, bordering on flirtation, were the
comic highlight of "Die Harder"), gone is
Ron Hubbard's Twinkie-addicted L.A.
cop. Instead, there's Samuel L. Jackson as
Zeus, McClane's street-smart companion.
Jackson heris more reserved than in "Pulp
Fiction" and equally as good, yet the very
prominence of his character reduces "With
A Vengeance" to a buddy-cop movie. An-
other significant part of the series' charm
was how easily the scripts threw in and
out colorful minor characters, like
"Agent Johnson and special agent
Johnson. No relation" in the first install-
ment and the airport janitor in the sec-
ond. "With A Vengeance" does have
something to offer in this league: in a deliri-
ous casting coup, folk-rocker Sam Phillips
plays Katya, a knife-wielding German ter-
rorist with a Russian name who is also
mute ("a bomb destroyed her voice box",
the press kit lovingly explains). I would
love my screen debut to look something
like this.
Scriptwise, "With A Vengeance"
strangely bypasses the second install-
ment and builds itself from the ashes of
the first one (it might have something to
do with John McTiernan back at the
helm). The obviousness of the device
that sews the plots together might make
you cringe; Nakatomi building is men-
tioned, and everybody just keeps talking
Bruce Willis dies the hardest of all.
about the absent Holly. In the end, how-
ever, all this gives you a decidedly unset-
tling feeling: that this film, however en-
tertaining, tries a little too hard to be "Die
Hard" when it could have easily become
"Yet Another 48 Hours" or "The Last
Boy Scout Part 2" or "Lethal Weapon 4"
(which the script was originally slated to
be). As a result, what could have been
the grand finale to the McClane saga is
instead just a very efficient action flick
with numerous tributes to the original
"Die Hard". Then again, wasn't
"Speed"?
l
r
:;
New British sensation Tricky lives up to his old name
ly Heather Phares ting the road has become an enjoyable ex- They're like my little babies, y'know?" he The sound systems in clubs are where
aily Arts Editor perience. He explained:"With touring, you explained. One of the highlights is the Tricky found his gift for performing. He
"I've got a new name now, it's not give something to the audience and you get cover of the Public Enemy song "Black explained the typical sound system setup:
cky anymore. My new name is Nearly it back straight away. Instant emotion. Steel," which has been receiving airplay on "You go to a club where there's guys im-
. It's too easy to stay Tricky; I like to With recording, you do a song, and you put modern rock stations. "People keep asking provising. There would be battles between
lay around with people's minds a bit." it out, and then it's finished. This is the first me if I was scared to cover this song be- sound systems, where the MCs would cuss
That's an understatement. This British time I've ever toured properly, so I don't cause it's Public Enemy, but I'm not. It's a each other out and slag on each other's
ecording artist hates the music industry. "I really know that much about it, but I like personal favorite of mine," Tricky said mums, like a giant soap opera. You can lis-
emember when I used to buy albums, boldly, once again unafraid to challenge ten to it in the car and it's like being there.
ou'd hear about it, then you'd save up TRICKY the assumptions of others. Records can touch your soul, but it's
our money and wait for weeks and then When: Saturday, May 27 Even though Tricky occasionally nothing like actually being in the jam
ou'd buy it and was really special. But Where: St. Andrew's Hall comes across as arrogant, it's evident with thousands of other people. That's
here's so much music coming out now Tickets: Sold out. that his passion for music is entirely deep amazing." Just like Tricky's musical gift,
nd it's such a big industry that it's less spe- and genuine. Tricky mused about his vo- his new album and his ambitions to be
i," he sighed. Interestingly, though, it." cation and about how he fell into per- Nearly God.
Mcky has a record contract that allows Tricky also enjoyed working with PJ forming as a teenager: "Music was my
im to release material with any record la- Harvey on her world tour, and working life. That's all I knew. I never had no
el, includinghisown. with Icelandic singer Bjork on remixes qualifications from school, I never had Stuident organizatio
However, he really hates being of her songs. Tricky's theory on why no qualifications for a job. I think people
umped in with Massive Attack (with these projects were successful? "I like stick with what they're good at, and I SjjS [eneral Fund
vhom he has previously worked) and working with women in general, I really stuck with music since that's what I'm
'ortishead, a.k.a the "Trip-Hop" scene. enjoy and feed off of the sexual tension good at. Beginning September 1, 1995,
I fucking hate being labeled 'trip-hop,"' created by that situation. I don't really "I was in a sound system called Shock 1996 SOAS General Fund (GF)Accoun
e growled, his cockney voice dripping care what men think of my work. I'm Wave. You battle for the mic, like 50 kids
ith venom. "Hip-hop has always been much more interested in what women rying to grab the mic to prove that they're of this conversion, student organizations
veird. I'll make whatever kinds of think," he laughed. good MCs. And if you throw down good account to what is now referred to as a'
nds I want to. If I want to sound like Another positive has been his feeling rhymes and good words, you get props. the GF account and remove the funds. A
-hop, I will. If I want to sound like of satisfaction with "Maxinquaye." "I'm People say, 'See that guy? He's wicked. 30, 1996 will automatically be converted
ock, I'll do that too. I don't need long really sentimental towards the songs. He's got a wicked style."
air and a guitar. I don't like imposing Open f oas will e held t provide ii
in Hccouni's Service
IAccounr Conversion
,and running through September 30,
ts will undergo a conversion. As a result
s can either choose to convert their GF
"University Fund" account, or to close
All accounts remaining after September
into an SOAS Account (UF).
nformahion, ad answerqueshions on:
chigan Onion (Wolverine 00om]
igan Union [nderson ARioom]
,ichigan Onion (Wolverine Room]
o, Michigan Union [Wolverine Room]
ase feel free to stop by the SOAS office
63-5767. Our office is open Monday
ippy to serve you!
xoundaries on myself."
Another understatement. Tricky's
treat new album "Maxinquaye" ranges
from the ethereal ("Pumpkin") to the
electrifying ("Overcome"), and his ad-
venturous ways are perfect for touring. "I
eally like touring,"he agreed. "You get so
0zh attention, and I kind of need atten-
n" And fortunately, the tour has been
going well. "We've been doing encores
every night. Half the crowd is coming to
eu s,"Trickysaidproudly.
Though this is Tricky's first tour, hit-
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"-March 30,1995, at3pm-4pw, Mi
* April 11, 1995, at4pm-Spm, Michi
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