Section A · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 1, 1998
BURRITOS·TACOS·SALADS·FRESH SALSAS MARGARITAS·IMPORTED BEERS Now Open In Downtown Lawrence 743 Massachusetts·865-0700
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The Impostors leaves little to like
Review
By Jeremy M. Doherty Kansan movie critic
Many directors try their hand at slapstick comedy, and only a handful succeed.
Actor Stanley Tucci, who steps behind the camera for *The Impostors*, is not among the lucky few.
As a tribute to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, The Impostors nails the right mix of kooky characters, muddled plot and
muddied plot and frenzied pace.
The movie's a marsh mallow, fluffy as hell, and that's about it.
The Imposters
The Impostors journeys into the
Stanley Tucci, left, and Oliver Platt, right, star in the forgettable The Imposters. Contributed Photo
Kansas rating: ** out of ******
Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Rated R for profanity, luggage and
a manly tennis pro
world of starving actors. Tucci and Oliver Platt play Arthur and Maurice, two thespians whose perfectionism and pretentiousness has kept them unemployable.
Unwilling to take "real jobs" to make ends meet, the two have moved their routine to the streets, where their craft allows them to wrangle free meals.
One such performance earns them tickets to a production of Hamlet starring the stridently untalented Jeremy Burtum (Alfred Molina). A chance encounter afterward with the bigger star leads to a skirmish, and Arthur and Maurice are soon evading the police.
The first hiding place they find just happens to be the cargo hold of a luxury liner bound for Paris. There, the actors, who routinely take time to trip over luggage and bump into rotund women, fall into the good graces
of the ship's stewardess (Lill Tavlor).
The best of the cameos belongs to Scottish comedian Billy Connolly as a gay tennis pro who becomes smitten with Maurice. Trapping the on-the-lam actor in his cabin, Connolly delivers one of the year's best pick-up lines.
"I once wrestled a man on the steps of the Acropolis when the sun was at its peak, wearing only what God Almighty sent me into the world with," Connolly says. "Can you picture that?"
The presence of so many fine actors in The Impostors, including Campbell Scott, Isabella Rossellini and an uncredited Woody Allen, adds to the enjoyment, but only in a Love Boat sort of way.
Six-String Samurai strums silly tune
By Jeremy M. Doherty Kansan movie critic
Is it an homage or a rip-off?
How viewers answer that question will determine whether they enjoy Six-String Samurai.
Six-String Samurai
One could describe Six-String as the independent cinema's answer to Armageddon. Both rely heavily on the fact that peoples' attention spans are shorter than the members list of the Mike Dukakis fan club.
Bursting with pop culture references to everything from The Wizard of Oz to imitations of Waterworld, Six-String isn't content to merely entertain. Rather, director Lance Mungia seems intent on thrilling the audience even if it kills them.
Kansan rating: ** out of *****
Running time: 90 minutes
Rated PG-13 for exaggerated violence and a very scary Kevin Costner fixation
The story kicks off with a bang. In 1957, Russia drops the bomb on the United States and installs a totalitarian government. The last bastion against tyranny is a magical land known as Lost Vegas, ruled by (who else?) Elvis.
After 40 swim'n' years, King Elvis takes the night train to the Big Adios, leaving his throne up for grabs. Rising to the challenge is
Buddy (Jeffrey Falcon), a dark-attired swordman in Buddy Holly glasses who embarks on a cross-country trek to become the next king.
But the Grim Reaper (Stephane Gauger), who looks like Slash from Guns N' Roses, is none too pleased with this turn of events. Determined to keep Buddy from becoming the new king of rock 'n' roll, Death dispatches a small army of renegade bowers, rufflers and surf rockers to thwart his plans and ... oh, never mind.
Falcon's dweeby, hero character suggests a freakish cross between Dirty Harry and Pee-wee Herman, and the scenes that he turns the bad guys into chop suey contain a high level of energy.
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