Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 25

Lincoln Journal Star Friday, May 24,1996 3D Page design: Vicki S. Reynolds ENTERTAINMENT 'Spy Hard' manages to self-destruct Leslie Nielsen plays another bumbling spy in spoof of Bond films it- BY TODD CAMP Fort Worth Star-Telegram Movie review Lwif l'-y- 'jfr; Spy Hard Director: Rick Friedberg Rating: PG-1 3 Now showing: Douglas, Edgewood The Reel Story: Nielsen breaks out his satiric comedy acting again, this time playing Agent WD-40 in this 007 spy spoof. Nielsen is entertaining as always but this flimsy picture self-destructs well before the final reel. Jr6- It's certainly no coincidence that Leslie Nielsen's 007-jokes-per-minute secret-agent sendup "Spy Hard" is turning up in theaters the same week as "Mission: Impossible." But even though this rapid-fire yukfest doesn't exactly self-destruct in five seconds, it still manages to do so somewhere well before the final reel. Nielsen began his career as a fairly straight-laced, no-nonsense actor with roles such as the spaceship commander in "Forbidden Planet" (1956) or the ship captain in "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972).

But thanks to a comic makeover in 1980's Nielsen has reinvented himself as the Peter Sellers of the '90s. On that front, he has succeeded quite well. Nielsen's characters Lt. Frank Drebin of the "Police Squad! Naked Gun" series or even his Count Dracula in Mel Brook's "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" (1995) are always appealing. Unfortunately, they're usually surrounded by jokes that often fall flat on their way to funny.

The same can be said for his Agent WD-40, Dick Steele. Though more of a Bond parody than a "Mission: Impossible" spoof (even though his snowy coif is closer to Peter Graves than to 007), Steele is the typical Nielsen bumbler who always manages to come out on top. After retiring from the force over the death of his true love, Steele returns to service when he learns that the man responsible the evil, armless General Rancor (Andy Griffith) is up to his old tricks. Lured back into duty by The Agency Director (Charles Durning), I SculptureArt superb in garden Continued from Page 1 going to have an important collection, we have to have them." Expanding the garden across the campus also fits the mission of a university art gallery. "If you're trying to create an environment for self-enlightenment and education, what better than to use the campus itself as something integral in fulfilling that mission?" Neubert said.

Finally, Neubert noted an even more practical reason for developing the outdoor garden. The Sheldon building is nearly full of art outdoor sculpture, obviously, doesn't have to be stored inside. All together, the pieces in the sculpture garden are worth several million dollars. "But they're hard to move! You'd notice a crane coming in to try to take them away. So security isn't quite the concern that it is inside the gallery," Neubert said.

"But I still get concerned when I see workers digging around the sculptures." Given its sprawling outdoor setting, the Sheldon Sculpture Garden is among the easiest of museums to visit. And there's certainly no right or wrong way to view the collection. "In some ways, it's best as an informal tour," Neubert said. "It's not arranged in chronological order. But it's really kind of a textbook on the development of 20th-century sculpture.

You can see all the styles. But it's not laid out in any systematic way, you have to put that together for yourself. It's the mix and match that makes it special." One of the Sheldon's most important works Jacques Lipchitz's "Bather" (1923-25) illustrates Neubert's point. Cubist influence on sculpture can be seen in Lipchitz's statue, which is in front of the gallery. That abstract view of a person contrasts with the figurative "Man in Open Air," Elie Nadelman's 1915 statue that's found in the sunken garden.

Nadelman's work is one of bert's favorites and his story illustrates that art can be important on a personal level as well. "I saw that for the first time 30 some years ago at Morrill Hall. It was etched in my mind until I returned. As a young person, I was mesmerized by that statue," said Neubert, who grew up in Beatrice. "Years later, I could redraw it from my mind and I'm still fascinated by it Steele is on the case, in spite of the taunts by the doubting, envious Agent Coleman (Barry Bostwick).

With the help of sexy, secret agent 3.14 (Nicollette Sheridan) and a goofy driver called Kabul (John Ales) who changes cars as often as he does disguises, Steele struggles to penetrate Rancor's fortress and thwart his evil plan. Whatever that is. Unfortunately, "Spy Hard's" plot is almost as hard to follow as that of the new "Mission: Impossible" movie. But where "Mission" is purposefully complex, "Spy Hard" is ineptly vague. Not that anyone will be looking for in-depth plot devices here, but it certainly would help keep things from coming off as one silly sight gag after andther.

In "Spy Hard's" favor, however, some of those silly sight gags are pretty funny. And "Weird Al" Yan-kovic's Bond girl sendup in the opening credits is a hoot. 3 i cLLIOTT MAHKSHotlywood Pictures Co. Leslie Nielsen stretches his acting powers as Agent WD-40 (aka Dick Steele) attempts to rescue Stephanie Romanov (in the dual roles of Victoria and Barbara Dahl) in the Bondlike spoof "Spy Hard." New movies gives an Academy Award-nominated per Top weekend Weekend of May 17-19, 1996 KLKN now fully broadcasting here KLKN Channel 8 began broadcasting at full power this week. The new ABC affiliate has been available to Lincoln Cablevision subscribers since April 1 but not to non-cable viewers because of a delay in tower construction.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, however, the station's signal was being transmitted from the tower near Utica. Until KLKN began broadcasting, Lincoln was the largest market with only one commercial television network, KOLNKGIN. (Start Friday.) Spy Hard. Leslie Nielsen stars in spoof of spy movies.

PG-1 3. (Douglas, Edge-wood.) The White Balloon. Perfectly realized Iranian film on one level tells the story of a little girl who loses her money to buy a holiday gift and on another provides vivid social criticism of Iranian society. G. (Ross.) Also showing: Bed of Roses.

Christian Slater plays a flower shop owner who courts Mary Stuart Masterson in. this entertaining, well-made omance. PG-1 3. (Star Ship.) The Birdcage. Robin Williams and Gene Hackman star in this funny remake of "La Cage Aux Folles" set in contemporary Miami.

But Nathan Lane steals the For more info A map of the sculpture garden showing the locations of the pieces and listing the names of the artists and dates of their works is available inside the gallery. After this fall's installation of the Oldenburg-van Bruggen piece, a Sheldon sculpture catalog and a more extensive brochure for visitors will be assembled, Neubert said. formance in this long drama that follows the career of a high school music teacher from the '60s to the '90s. PG. (East Park.) 12 Mulholland Falls.

Nick Nolte plays the head of a 1950s L.A. police squad who puts his co-workers and his marriage in jeopardy when he investigates the brutal murder of his mistress. (language, violence, nudity). (Lincoln.) 12 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. Cult television show in which robots and a guy trapped on a space station make major fun of an old, bad sci-fi movie makes the transition to the big screen with all its smart-mouthed humor intact.

PG. (Douglas.) The Pallbearer. David Schwimmer of "Friends" plays a young man who pines for high school love Gwyneth Paltrow while having an affair with Barbara Hershey, the mother of a friend he can't remember, in this spotty comedy. (language, adult situations). (Cinema.) The Quest.

Jean-Claude Van Damme created, directed and stars in this old-fashioned 1920s adventure about an American street criminal who is shanghaied, enslaved and winds up fighting in an international tournament. The fight scenes are terrific and the rest of the film is fun. PG-13. (Cinema.i 3 4 5 All dollar figures in millions Gross to data, weeks In Weekend fetease, number of screw giost Twister $37.1 S95.1 two weeks, 2.785 screens Flipper $4.2 $4.2, one week, 2,385 screens The Craft $3 $16.5, three weeks. 1,762 screens The Truth About Cats and Dogs $2.9 $24.3, lour weeks, 1 ,654 screens Heaven's Prisoner $2.3 $2.3, one week.

907 screens Primal Fear J2 $51 .1 seven weeks, 1 ,728 screens The Quest $1.6 $1 8.6, four weeks, 1 567 screens The Birdcage $1.3 $117.1, 11 weeks, 1,181 screens Executive Decision $1 $54.1 10 weeks, 827 screens Late night Layne to play at Pla-Mor $.84 1(1 The Great White Hype f- IV $6.9, three weeks, 1,183 sot screens AP Source: Exhibitor Relations Inc. show as Williams gay partner, (language, subject matter). (Star Ship.) 12 Broken Arrow. John Travolta plays a military pilot who steals a pair of nuclear bombs. Christian Slater is the partner who has to catch him in this fast-paced, implausible thriller from director John Woo.

(language, violence). (Star Ship.) The Craft. A quartet of high school girls discovers witchcraft and uses spells to change the world around them. But the magic backfires in this entertaining, if ctiched, horror picture. (violence, language, adult situations).

(Plaza.) '2 Executive Decision. Kurt Russell starts in this action movie about a terrorism expert who finds himself on an airborne mission to stop terrorists who have hijacked an airliner and threaten to destroy Washington, D.C. (language, violence). (Star Ship.) Fear. Underwear model and former rapper "Marky Mark" Wahlberg stars as a would-be suitor who becomes violently obsessive when he's rejected by Reese With-erspoon in this thriller that works an old formula.

R. (Star Ship.) Flipper. Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan star in this new twist on the '60s TV show. This time, Hogan plays an ex-hippie fisherman and Wood is his nephew who befriends Flipper while staying for the summer, then discovers illegal dumping in the ocean. PG.

(Plaza, East Park.) Happy Gilmore. Adam Sandler plays a terrible hockey player who stumbles onto the pro golf tour in this funnier-than-it-should-be movie. PG-1 3, (Star Ship.) Vt David Letterman Highlights of O.J.'s Visit to New York 10. Kept mistaking New York City rats for his lawyers. 9.

As tribute to F. Lee Bailey, drank everything in his hotel mini-bar. 8. Looked in Yellow Pages under "Real Killers," didn't find any, went golfing. 7.

To raise money for legal fees, wandered subway stations trying to get shot by Bernhard Goetz. 6. Saw movie in Times Square about his trial "O.J.'s Hung Jury." 5. Killed dozens in Midtown by hitting golf balls off the top of the Empire State Building. 4.

Went to Macy's and bought a diggity-dank new pair of gloves. 3. Registered at hotel under the alias "I.M. Guilty." 2. For hotel wake-up call, asked for three loud thumps on air-conditioner.

1. Nostalgic slow-speed taxi ride from the airport. Sgt. Bilko. Steve Martin stars in this laughless remake of '50s TV show.

PG. (Star Ship.) Toy Story. First computer-animated picture is a terrific adventure starring a pair of battling toys, a cowboy with voice by Tom Hanks and a space hero with voice by Tim Allen. G. (Star Ship, Joyo.) The Truth About Cats and Dogs.

Jan-eane Garofalo and Uma Thurman star in this comedy that puts a female, '90s-style twist on "Cyrano de Bergerac." Because the plot is so familiar, there's nothing surprising here, but strong performances by the two stars make this one funny and watchable. PG-1 3. (Plaza, Edgewood.) On June 15, Bobby Layne will take 30 people on a trip back in time. At 5 30 p.m., a motor coach will depart from the Pla-Mor Ballroom bound for the Sentimental Journey Dinner Theater. On arrival at 7 30 pm, the travelers will enjoy food and vocal entertainment from the World War II era.

At 9 p.m., there will be a dance in a large hanger as Layne's big band pays tribute to the '40s. At 11 30 p.m., it's back on the bus for the one-hour return trip to Lincoln. Cost for the package is $42.50 per person. Deadline for reservations is today. Reservations can be made by calling the Pla-Mor at 475-4030.

Heaven's Prisoners. Alec Baldwin is a retired cop who goes back to work when he rescues a little girl from a plane crash in the Louisiana bayou and finds himself in a drug war. (language, violence, nudity). (Douglas.) II Postino (The Postman). Wonderful Italian film about a rural postman who meets poet Pablo Neruda and changes his life.

Nominated for best picture Academy Award. PG. (Plaza.) Jumanji. Robin Williams plays a man who is trapped inside a jungle game, then released with a bunch of creatures in this family adventure. PG.

(Star Ship.) Vi Mission: Impossible. Tom Cruise stars in this action-drenched picture that blends '60s television adventure show with '90s "Die action. PG-1 3. (Stuart, Edgewood.) Mr. Holland's Opus.

Richard Dreyfuss Twister. The first big picture of the summer is a gripping thriller about tornado chasers who try to track down and study killer twisters. The story line is nothing new, but the tornado effects and storm scenes are Intensely fun. PG-1 3. (Lincoln, East Park.) 1 A If ft.

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