Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 18

1 ENTERTAINMENT. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1 993 LINCOLN, NE. JOURNAL 18 Depp excels in offbeat 'Benny Joon5 Sale silences KHAT, but not big-band sound IE 1 MOVIE REVIEW AC 1 i I If -I Benny Joon Directed by Jeremiah Chechik. Screenplay by Barry Berman. Rated PG.

Edgewood, Lincoln. CAST Sam Johnny Depp Joon Mary Stuart Masterson Benny Aidan Quirm 5: HMMim vsmrf probably closer to this audience than any I have worked with in radio." Fife will do some two-minute spots describing the story behind the song on KMEM. She plans to return to Omaha to host a late-night talk show in the fall KHAT went on the air in the mid-'60s as a country station with the call letters ROLL The call letters were changed to KECK in the late '60s. The station continued with a country format until it was purchased by Tate Broadcasting. At that time, KHAT began broadcasting the Stardust satellite network, which plays big-band music.

Fife brought her morning talk show from KLIN to KHAT in September of last year when she became station manager. KHAT's sister station, KIBZ, 106 FM, better known as the Blaze, was purchased earlier this year by Rock Steady which also owns KKNB, 104.1 FM, called the Planet KIBZ personnel will soon be moving to join the KKNB staff, Fife said. KHAT, 1530 AM, will go off the air at noon on April 30. The land the station sits on was sold for real estate by Tate Broadcasting of Harlingen, Texas, which has owned KHAT since the fall of 1991. Moving the station to another location and continuing operations would be too costly, so the signal will go dark, said KHAT station manager Cathy Fife.

The station, which combined Fife's two-hour morning talk show with a satellite big-band format, had a 5.8 share of listeners aged 12 and older in Arbitron's Fall 1992 survey of Lincoln radio listeners. That share placed KHAT sixth among the city's 13 radio stations. Although KHAT will be going off the air, the big-band format will continue in Lincoln. On June 1, KMEM will go on the air on 1480 AM, the former KLMS signal, with that format, Fife said. "The listeners are very disappointed (with KHAT's closure), but I'm glad they will have the music to follow," Fife said.

"I'm I) BYLKENTWOLGAMOTT Journal Reviewer Johnny Depp has a great talent for making nearly silent characters elo-; quent by projecting a full range of emotions through physical acting. He first demonstrated that skill as I the innocent, charming "Edward Scis-; sorhands." He does it again in "Benny Joon" as Sam, a whimsical, sincere I admirer of Buster Keaton, who uses silent film gestures to become an en- dearingly offbeat romantic hero. 'C Sam's love interest is Joon, a very bright, mentally ill young woman played with great skill by Mary Stuart Masterson. I Staying home with her auto-me-; chanic brother Benny (Aidan Quinn), Joon drives off housekeepers and I winds up wandering in traffic. That psychiatrists to recommend to Benny that Joon be placed in a -group home.

Clearly pained by the decision to abandon his sister, Benny hesitates just long enough for Sam to enter their lives, via a poker game in which Sam's care goes to the loser. 1993 METHO-GOLDWYN-MAYER INC. Mary Stuart Masterson, Johnny Depp (center) and Aidan Quinn star in the offbeat romance "Benny Joon." Women of color to hold conference in Lincoln other characters on screen. The drama primarily comes from Masterson, who is a perfect foil for Depp and strong enough to stand up to the square-jawed Quinn, whose Benny is well-intentioned but awkward in dealing with his sister. The off-beat nature of the characters, the solid acting and well-written script make "Benny Joon" an endearing romance.

Depp makes the movie memorable. ents to shine while simultaneously removing much of the negative edge of having a mentally ill central character in the politically correct 90s. Most of the fun here comes from Depp's great appropriation of the physical comedy styles of Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. Sam's unabashed use of them in daily life sets up smile after smile as he charms both the audience and the The attraction between Sam and Joon is immediate, strong, touching and funny all the elements of a memorable screen romance. When Benny steps between the pair, things go awry, setting up the final will-they-be-reunited? sequence.

Appropriately enough, "Benny Joon" is presented with a fablelike lightness by director Jeremiah Chechik. That technique allows Depp's tal A Young Women of Color Conference for ages 13-18 years will run concurrently. For information call the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women at 471-2039. "Appreciating Differences: The Many Faces of Nebraska Women," is the theme for the Ninth Annual Women of Color Conference to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Villager Motor Inn, 5200 St. On Your Way to the Three American films chosen to compete at Cannes festival FLuncfi live Music, Cocktail before I Order Your Food for Take-Oat "The ensemble work of DeNiro is hypnotic It manages to touch us all." KMuMth Tuna, ANGELES TIMES TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOUI 2 1 1 North 70th 1940 West Van Dorn 466-2660 477-4339 lilt 'Extraordinary.

actor-director Kenneth Branagh's latest Shakespeare adaptation, "Much Ado About Nothing." The festival opens May 13 with one of the French entries, "Ma Saison Preferee" (My Favorite Season), directed by Andre Techine and starring Catherine Deneuve. "Toxic Affair," a French film starring Isabelle Adjani that is not part of the official competition, closes the festival May 21 The winner of the 1992 Golden Palm was "The Best Intentions" by Danish director Bille August, who broke a three-year American winning streak. "Wild At Heart" won in 1990 and "Barton Fink" in 1991. The poster for this year's festival also has an American touch. It shows Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman kissing in a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "Notorious." French director Louis Malle is president of the jury.

PARIS (AP) Three U.S. movies are among 23 films competing for top honors at the 46th Cannes Film Festi-! val next month, organizers an-; Thursday. France and Brit- ain have four films each in the competition. The selections include three directed by former winners of the Golden Palm, the festival's award. American Steven Soderbergh, who won in 1989 with "sex, lies and videotape," is back with "King of the HilL" "Germany's Wim Wenders, the 1984 'winner, is back with "Faraway, So -Close," and Italian brothers Paolo and rVittorio TavianL who won in 1977, are -I Other American entries include CJoel Schumacher's "Falling Down," -starring Michael Douglas, and "Body Snatchers" by Abel Ferrara.

The British entries include "Splitting by Robert Young, and hpnnfifiillv mnrlo film 4 Intelligent and thrillingr A East or West Lee's the Best! David Den by, NEW YORE MAGAZINE "A big, gloriously off-the-wall performance by Robert DeNiro." VlDOMt CubjF, SEW TORE TIMES "Crowd-pleasing mm entertainment Barkin I This newspaper uses recycled paper and it can be recycled again. See Section 123 in classifieds for drop-off sites. is exhilarating." Mika Clark. USA TODAY "Two Thumbs Up!" -SUkalAElMft "The most gripping comingjpf-aee movie PM Colllaa, WWOB-TV "The most fun you and your family will have at the movies all year!" CoUmti Hatty, PARENTING MAGAZINES 'The Sandlot' gang is the funniest group of kids to hit the movies since the 'Little Rascals'." Mkt Ckloni, NSE RADIO NETWORK "Instant Classic. Four Stars A hilarious home run with lots of heart." -Norman Mark, WMAQ-TV i A "This Is the best dating movie Hi some time thrillingly romantic, stunningly skillful.

Lyne makes us believe without Georgia Brown THE VULAQE VOICE Powerfully seductive. Mr. Lyne's films keep you glued to the screen This fimmaker has a particular flair for warm, inviting imagery." Janet Mulln THE NEW YORK TIMES "One of tfv most surprising and unusual love stories you'll ever see. Redford at his best Woody Harrelson Is terrific Demi Moore is exquisitely wonderful as the lady in the middle of it all. Davtd SriMtian KNBC-TV Weekdays At: Sat.

Sun. At: 13th a 'P' PH: 475-5969 mmm check TOnnTTTror I DIRECTORY I 5v13th tNO'Py PH475-2222g INDECENT PROPOSAL FOR TIMES! Swand-PPH' 467-33133 A Place You'll Never Forget. A Time You'll Always Remember. A PARAMOUNT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Weekdays At: Sat Sun. at: 2 I SPECIAL EUGAGEMEUT NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCCPTEdI 12THAND'P7PH: 475-3222 mnmmnmmm 7 mamma A MOT-TQ BE MISSED TREASURE ndian I ummer Eight Friends Returning The Best Summer of Their 1 Jives.

i with talent and memorable characters." -Chuck Henry, KABC-TV 'A DELICIQUSLY OFFBEAT ROMANTIC FABLE, with nice appreciation for the triumph of heartfelt innocence over levelheaded reason." Bruce Willamson, NEW WOMAN "Charming, entertaining and deliciously romantic with GREAT PERFORMANCES by Depp, Masterson and Quinn." "'Benny Joon' will make you feel good all over HEARTWARMING, ROMANTIC and FUN." tel Rosen, WNCN RADIO NY 1 NEWS 11 If liEt! X' i A A I I 1 .1 I aT MINiM STARTS TODAY AT BOTH THEATRES! STARTS TODAY AT BOTH THEATRES! Check Directory For Times Check Directory For Times Starts tonight I 12ih -rl PH; b13TH AND 'P7PHi475 EX 467-3313j 12 t'P'PH: 477-1234 0 1.