The Michigan Daily-Sunday, January 13, 1980-Page 7
Realism
returns?
(Continued from Page 6)
&ramer was not the fault of one person
alone! It did not work because the two
would not work together and sacrifice
together to reach some hoped-for goal.
Washout: Selfishness breeds a failure
to communicate.
So what Karmer vs. Kramer becomes
is a very real story-the sort that hap-
pens all the time, all over the country.
The premise of the film lies in its con-
elusion-that fulfillment of the self
Warries with it a whole set of con-
sequences and compromise is therefore
necessary-and the ultimate resolution
to the problem, full of corn, is touching
but really more of a cop-out than an an-
swer.
This is life, though. Cop outs and
resolutions that leave a sour taste in the
mouth because there is no turning back
from conflict and pain: Sympathies and
sentiments are wrenching and
misleading; realities dreadful.
. )ustim Hoffman's work is once again
brilliant as he plays the slowly
unravelling executive who tangles with
the demands of his life forcefully but
with the proper touch of vulnerability.
He manages to become a likeable.
character in spite of confusions and
botched efforts at balancing his
energies.
The intensely human side of this pic-
ture is that every character has a
validity of viewpoint, even Joanna, who
bandons the story for the entire first
hour of the film. Streep, who appears in
more movies than anyone else on the
planet these days, plays her small role
well, but with no remarkable force.
Though .she is convincing, her perfor-
mance doesn'tlinger in the mind.
It seems that every publication
currently circulating in the country is
drooling about what a find the public
has in little Justin Henry, the child ac-
or of Kramer vs. Kramer. They gush
'chat he is natural and endearing, all
because he doesn't come on like the
precocious, sardonic brats in movies
like The Goodbye Girl. He looks and
R E'
By MARK DIGHTON
No no! A logical sentence structure
won't do here! Wire don't make records
as much as they send signals.
Forewarnings of our mechanistic
future and the return of our savage
past. Savage pieces of irresistible pop
amidst the shattered remains of life
(and music) "as we know it."
,* /
I-
COT
Clinically engaging Happy-go-lucky as
only those who have their answers
provided for them can be. The 15h
- Psalm: Life itself can be an accom-
plishment!
Monotonal whispers. Murder
mystery ... set loose in time. Still, the
other window was no escape.
A lesson to all those who trust in other
people-DON'T! Your friends and mine
asks, "But what's one submission ...
amongst friends?"
The dawning of the last day of the
world, a touching display. The surf
deposits the seeds of our destruction. It
multiples and spreads, looking sur-
prisingly commonplace. Nuclear
powerchords herald our downfall, the
sound of sirens not far behind. All'sound
melds into the winds of Hell and are
eventually sucked up into their own
ferocity. The only sound that follows is
the infinitely sad, abbreviated howl of
the end of existence.
ON RETURNING, a repelling/
appealing vision characterized by
nihilistic/pop stylings. Perhaps a
"Good Vibratons" 45 on 33/3. Ending
with an offer from 1984, "an evening of
fun in the metropolis of your dreams."
A song that positively grabs both sides
of your soul and pulls ... hard!
An interested letter from a mutual
friend . . . and suspected psychopath.
Occasional returns to normalcy ... only
D S
more frightening for their short
duration and terrifying response. The
edge is never quite far enough to
breathe easily.
Friendly advice for a blessed state.
Sudden transport to new dimension!
"It's sinsiter, I'd attempt a casual
structure" but all I know-is the vultures
picking at my head and the cathederal
organ chords in my stomach. Suddenly,
dimensions begin to click like the chan-
nels of a television set. Once is enough !
Unforgivable and guiltless pop sur-
faces, nonetheless endearing. What else
but a love song to geometry? The Byrds
over the landscape (see Map Ref. 410
N 930 W) are almost tangible. No less so
the burstguns firing crystallinely per-
fect choral volleys.
THE VERDICT is delivered on a
passing stranger. Indirect enquiries
produce no resonse. "A secret denial
would be a waste." What other choice is
there? The jury agrees.
The heart stops beating . . . then
begins again. The doves of redemption
accompany an angellic choir. Rebirth
is always an option. As cats have nine
lives, we have 40 versions.
In short! Talking Heads may talk
about their fears, but Wire become
ours. It's not a pretty picture, but you'll
never be able to resist-or forget-it.
Signal No. 154 received, sirs.
A march into the future. Alienation.
Emotional tyranny. I should have
known better than to expect anything
less.
''2 people in a room./facial
movements betray/a private display/of
nervous disorder/and mutual torture."
No escape here. The intolerant beat of
the clock marches on.
Siren dissolves into apocalyptic pop.
i
5
behaves like a regular little boy might,
with no unusual depth of feeling. The
little mop-head does not steal the show
from Hoffman-as early critics have
contended-and those who think so are
certainly sentimental types who can't
resist the thundrous cuteness of a runny
nose, stifled sniffles, and unkempt hair.
He's pretty real, and the film itself is
pretty real. Aside from the performan-
ce of Hoffman, Kramer vs. Kramer is
entertaining; a cut above the standard,
but uncompelling.
Has the time come for reality instead
of fantasy and extravaganza in motion
pictures? It may be that, like Joanna
Kramer, we have nowhere else to go.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
LUNCH-DISCUSSION
TOPIC: "BANGLADESH AND ITS
FOREIGN POLICY"
SPEAKER: His excellency, MR. TOBARAK HOSSAIN,
Bangladesh Embassador
At the INTERNATIONAL CENTER
603 E. Madison St.
Co-sponsored by the Ecumenical Campus Center
Lunch $1.00 For Info
2 noon
ormation
662-5529
CHARLES CHAPLIN In
1940
THE GREAT DICTATOR
With PAULETTE GODDARD, JACK OAKIE and BILLY GILBERT. A case of mistaken
identities puts a-barber-in charge of the Third Reich. Includes the famous scene
where Chaplin, as Hitler, bounces a balloon globe around headquarters.
Short:MAILING A LIVING (Chaplin).
Mon: Liv Ullman & Bibi Anderson in Ingmar Bergman's
PERSONA (at 7 & 9:05)!
Tues: ZERO FOR CONDUCT plus 2 shorts (Free at 7 & 9:05)
Wed: THE TRIP& HEAD (Counter-Culture Double Bill)
PRESENTS
THE THREEPENNY OPER~j
(G.W PABST, 1931)
This rarely shown classic is based on the Kurt Weill/Bertolt
Brecht opera of the same name. The story revolves around
MacHeath, otherwise known as Mack the Knife, an unscru-
pulous villain and petty criminal in the low-life of London's
slums. With LOTTE LENYA as Jenny, the prostitute without a
heart of gold. From the direc' :r of PANDORA'S BOX. In
German, with subtitles. (112 mir,.)
Ah~el Haf 7:0..&4:00$150
esdo .: THE GREEN WALL
CINEMA GUILD
TONIGHT AT
7:00 & 9:15
OLD ARCH. AUD.
$1.50
1.1- -, mmommow
S I
eej)lipse
presents
An E
vening with....
1
I
N
February 8 -8:00
Michigan Theater
The
I
N I