University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, June 20, 1990
11
'Dick Tracy' sizzles and entertains
Leave the hype elsewhere — All-star cast keeps moviegoers enthralled
By Bryce J. Tache Special to the Kansan
When you go to see "Dick Tracy," try to leave the hype outside the theater doors.
Forget about the multi-million-dollar media blitz and the sizzling tabloid headlines declaring off-camera romances.
--ney (Madonna), a nightclub singer, wants more from Tracy than a game of cops 'n' robbers.
Just go in, grab some popcorn and get ready for what movie-going is all about.
"Dick Tracy" is not flawless. But you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen for a second.
Warren Benty stars as the not-so-hawk-nosed comic-book cup who blasts away the bad guys before running to the soda shop to see his sweetie, Tess Trueheart (Glenne Headv).
A gangster, Big Boy, (Al Pacino) and his ring of nasties make sure things tough. And Breathless Mahoney (Madonna), a nightclub singer, wants more from Tracy than a game of cops 'n' robbers.
Madonna is the indisputable star of the film. Sure, she is playing herself, but she is great.
Even if you shun pop music, don't worry. Madonna often tackles the several songs written by Broadway genius Stephen Sondheim.
Pacino, as Tracy's nemesis, hilariously spouts misattributed quotes but Dustin Hoffman steals scenes as Mumbles, whose lips refuse to form anything vaguely resembling English.
Trying to spot the famous faces in the large support cast in a blast. Under heavy makeup and prosthetics are James Caan, Dick Van Dyke, Mandy Patinkin and Michael J. Pollard, among others.
For As beauty, well, he's getting up there in age, but he makes Tracy a real person. Tracy knows how to use his voice and has the wit of her girl or the flirtatious Madonna.
"Batman" comparisons are inevitable, but the two movies are completely different. While "Batman" was broodingly realistic, "Dick Tracy" is like a comic book come to
life. Every object on the screen — clothes, cars and buildings — are rendered in bright primary colors.
A lot of the movie is shot from strange angles and the camera often focuses on unsetting images, such as a cockroach. Sets and props are obviously fake but delightfully surreal.
Now for the bad news. Beauty tries to do too much in too little time. Few characters appear on-screen for any reason, so there is little character development.
The wonderful music is interrupted with needless flashes of action. Sometimes the lyrics are buried under explosions and gunfire. Sometimes we have kept camera on Madonna as she crowns in Bib Boy's nightclub.
Still, underneath all the publicity and merchandising mania, "Dick Tracy" is at once old-fashioned fun and high-tech filmmaking.
If anything, all the hype is what could keep "Tracy" from being the next "Batman." People are expecting too much. The movie's letter words, "Tracy" might not have what it takes to become this year's summer hit.
Lawrence will continue to clean up
By Jennifer Hoeffner
Special to the Kansan
A program to reduce yard waste began Saturday in Lawrence.
The program includes a drop-off site for grass and leaves, crossside pick-up in a limited area and literature epocupatory home-composting.
Composting refers to mixing soil with organic waste, which decays to produce a rich humus.
Patricia Marvin, Lawrence recycling coordinator, said the city is encouraging the refinement of yard landscapes and landfills for grass and leaf disposal.
A drop-off site for grass and leaves was open Saturday at Centennial Park, Rockledge Road and Sixth Street, to begin the program. City employees transported the waste to a compost site outside of town.
Twenty-five percent of the nutritive value in grass is retainable in compost, making it very useful as a fertilizer and soil additive, Marvin said. The compost will be used by the garden for such purposes as landscaping.
Trash bins for grass and leaf disposal and home-compost containers are on sale at the drop-off site, as well as literature on how to make compost from grass. You can buy in a month, and the containers for home composting sell for $55, Marvin said.
"The most efficient way is to not use this service at all," she said. "Just leave the grass on your lawn, make your own compost at home."
post a home
The Indian Hills and Chaparral Park neighborhoods will participate in the curbside pick-up program
beginning June 20, said Judee Johnson, a representative for the Indian Hills Neighborhood Association.
Johnsen said many residents in Indian Hills already compost their grass and leaves.
"Unfortunately, not everyone will do that," she said. "The next best thing is to have the city pick it up."
Marvin said she was optimistic about the program because residents of Lawrence were eager to help the environment.
"Lawrence is incredible," she said. "People are so willing to clean up this town."
Curbside pick-up will begin today for the area between 32rd and 31st streets from Iowa Street to the east city limits. There will be a weekly drop-off site open from 9 a.m. to p.m. saturdays at Centennial Park.
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