ARTS The Michigan Daily Wednesday, April 7, 1982 Page 5 Pryor is the hero of 'Some Kind of Hero By James Clinton SOME KIND of Hero is a somewhat uneven version of the fine novel, but an excellent vehicle for Richard Pryor. In this film he plays a prisoner of war who's been help captive in Viet Nam for over five years. If this sounds depressingly familiar, it's offset by a coalescing of humor and horror. The scenes where Pryor is held cap- tive are among the best in the film. In one sequence, he stares at the insects in his soup and screams at his captors "I told you I want my roaches sauteed in butter." This is perfect Pryor-humour as a secondary species survival mechanism. The simultaneity of comedy and pathos is Chaplinesque and a refreshing departure from the typical Viet Nam vet, hair-trigger psyche that permeates this genre of films. James Kirkwood adapted the screen- play from his own novel and doubtless granted certain alterations in both plot machinations and characterizations to blend with Pryor's peculiar comedic gifts. This has a cause and effect relationship that is not always to the films advantage. Pryor's personna represents an acute susceptibility to "getting shafted." He accepts the onset of catastrophe as inevitable to existan- ce. Indeed, his comedy rises as a defen- se against despair, prejudice, and hatred. In Some Kind of Hero he's the archtype of the guy who might be get- ting screwed, but who will at least get in the last word. When the film gets back to the states, director Allen Pressman loses the rhythm by attempting to move in too many divergent directions at once. As one might expect, things are even wor- se for the returning hero back in the states. Bureaucratic ramifications tie up his money, his wife has left him and blown his life savings, etc. Enter Margot Kidder as a two hundred dollar a night hooker and the confusion really escalates. Kidder is on screen far too haltingly to be judged seriously and ad- ds little but decorative confusion to this film. The same can be stated regarding the other supporting roles, which seem to be set up as foils for Pryor. Haphazard editing reduces the credibility of the scheme at the center of the film, wherein the embittered G.I. gets even. In the novel this section is carefully structured, though here the coinciden- tal is asked to replace the strategic and it simply doesn't work. Obviously time is a factor in such a concession, but a more judicious sense of priority might have made this a better film. Central to the premise here is the redemptive factor. Revenge is an in- tegral matter in the plot and ultimately how it is exacted goes a long way in establishing the movies success. Unfor- tunately the final few minutes were shot as though the director was running out of time, money, patience or all three. Some Kind of Hero works for the most part because of Richard Pryor. This is his least idiosyncratic performance and he remains contained throughout. The doomed, out of sine, returning Vet has received undue mileage, in recent years. By temperment and design, Pryor takes the character in a different direction. The psychotic stereotype of Bruce Dern cleaning his guns or DeNiro stalking the streets like a human time bomb would have been incompatible. with this script and it's to Pryor's credit that his performance is more flippant and less menacing. Some Kind of Hero just misses the, mark, though it's engaging and con- tains several very fine scenes. The faults of the production in no way negate a surprisingly disciplined and intelligent performance by its star.. This is the first film in which Richard Pryor doesn't play Richard Pryor and it gives every indication that in addition to being the funniest stand-up comedian working, he can act. i ,Records Eye Eye' To Eye- Eye To (Warner Brothers) When Gary Katz produces, people listen. Katz is the often-overlooked third leg of the Steely Dan triad, and he has just lent his immaculate production skills to the debut album for another winning duo, Eye To Eye. Eye To Eye is composed of a Wphenomenal female vocalist named Deborah Berg, and her co-writer, keyboardist Julian Marshall. The collaboration of Berg and Marshall with the finest studio musicians on both coasts is no less than magical. Their self-titled album is one of the most engaging pieces of work this reviewer has heard in quite a while. Eye to Eye is the thoughtfully con- ceived and creatively presented story of a young woman's coming of age. The album traces Berg from her socio- political awakening to her first on- again, off-again relationship with a man. While having the best musicians Warner Brothers can rent is useful to the final product, it is the Berg- Marshall partnership that makes Eye To Eye so unique and endearing. While Marshall's keyboards form hypnotic, jazz-based melodies with im- pressive . dexterity, the heart of the album comes from Deborah Berg. This woman has a voice that should, if anyone bothers to listen, make music- loyers forget about virtually every other female vocalist in pop or rock, save Rickie Lee Jones. Berg can caress a phrase, ooze desire, cry displeasure, and deliver emotion with almost un- paralleled effectiveness. The album opens with "Hunger Pains," a reggae-fied ballad that finds Berg awakenihg to the fact that the world is not all silver spoons and suc- cess.dIt is followed by "Life In Motion," a Blondie-like rhythm-rap that relates the faddism of modern culture. In spite of a whirling Elliot Randall guitar solo, it somehow falls short of the frantic speed it tries to convey. Eye To Eye then arrives at its finest track, "Nice Girls." Berg's infectious, prurient lament is dominated by Chuck Rainey's authoritative bass. After almost finding that alusive someone in "More Hopeless Knowledge," Berg sees "Progress Ahead." Though fatalistic, it foreshadows her coming success. The album concludes with a hook- laden romantic triology. Berg finally finds her "Physical Attraction" with Jeff Pocaro's drumming and Rick Derringer's guitar dissecting Mar- shall's keyboards rhythm in a Gauchoesque manner. On the heels of "Physical Attraction" is even catchier "Time Flys." The album's last song, "On The Mend," features a Donald Fagen syn- thesizer solo, and closes the album with the self-confidence and hope that was absent at the outset. Eye To Eye requires more than one listening. It is difficult to absorb in one try, in the manner of, say, a Police album. But after one spin, the hook sinks in. At that point you are doomed to have Eye To Eye pulsating through your head as you go about your daily ac- tivities. It begs you to play it again. Do it. -James Harris The Whispers-Love is Where You Find It (Solar Records) Make no mistake; this is definitely a soulful album full of music made for dancin' and romancin', as the records sides are labeled. There is the scor- ching sound of "In the Raw" as well as the mellow, sensual strains of "Say, Yes." This album establishes the Whispers as one of the premiere male vocal groups in the country due to their superb harmonies and ease in performance ming all types of soul music. Backed up by the Sylvers musically, the Whispers try a little bit of everything and suc- ceed. After a long and bitter climb to the top, the' Whispers are finally able to en- joy some of the good life that they have been singing about for so long. The in- side sleeve of the album show the members finding love in a variety of ' ways (such as raising horses or reading books) and anyone who has followed the group for a while knows that no one is more deserving of it. Love is Where You Find It demonstrates the Whispers' usual grace and charm that has brought them their current popularity . that will hopefully remain for some time to come. -Elizabeth James Comedian Kaufman injured MEMPHIS,' Tenn. (AP) - Comedian Andy Kaufman was hospitalized with minor head and neck injuries after going to the mat with a 234-pound professional wrestler who didn't like his brand of humor. Kaufman, who spoofs professional wrest lers as part :of his comic routine, was in good condition Tuesday at St. Francis Hospital. A hospital spokesman said he was in traction and undergoing tests for possible spinal damage suffered in the exhibition wrestling match Mon- day night. George Shapiro, the comedian's manager, said Kaufman suffered cuts on the top of his head, strained neck muscles, and a'compressed ; space between the 4th and 5th ver- * tebrae in the neck. He said Kauf- man's wrestling days may be over. Kaufman was unavailable for com- ment. Kaufman, a co-star on the ABC-TV show "Taxi" and a former star of "Saturday Night Live," claims to hold the inter-gender wrestling championship and often wrestles women during his performances. In the past two years he has wrestled 30 women, Shapiro said. a Out of bounds with the B-52 's Andy Kaufman is strapped onto a stretcher after being 'pile-driven' during wrestling match. ;a I By Walt Owen I DON'T CARE if the B-52's new album isn't a third installment of jumping jokes and simple fun-in-the- sun running around, as the song says. As -far as I'm concerned, and I'm not, any pretentious critic who labeled this jpright boogie band's recent "Mesopotamia a new-twist failure is a creep. Send 'em "53 miles west of Venus," as the song says. Any band 4-uf I+L hn,- tiditcn it albums is day ..." (as the song says) this wild- with-a-smile group should put all unabashed viewers in a "party out of bounds" (you guessed it) spirit. Many questions have been asked about the B-52's and their 18 month layoff"which preceeded Mesopotamia. Have they gone artsy-fartsy by hiring David Bryne of the Talking Heads to produce the new six-song album? And hey, why only six songs? Is it punk? Is it funk? Is the last laugh on us? Who cares. Just let it be ba-by. Tickets are still available (CTC outlets) for Thursday's 8 p.m. show, which was added after the April 2 show sold out quickly. A quick shoot down I- 94 is all it takes to get in on the unique madness of this wacky bunch. The Grand Circus has been the recent home for both punk and funk. Thursday it should be jumping with a little of both. - Walt Owen 1 737 N. Huron, Ypsilanti that wor T are ma Th t lists hairdo cre ls on is amnsm rth a second look. ANN ARBOR Chat's why it's so cool that the B-52's giving a second Detroit Performance INDIVIDUAL THEATRES ince Thursday at the Grand Circus eatre. Even if it's a dreary downtown WEATSUN EU only $1.50 shows before 600P.M. 375 N MAPLE B n $ B -1300 Bargain Shows $2.50 Before.3 PM HURRY ENDS SOONI HOTLINE 48,-0240 For Bands and Drink Specials Wednesday I BLAKf £BoARDS' 130 4:151 7:00 9:35 RICHARD LIVEON THE SUNSET STRIP DAILY-6:55, 8:35, 10:15 (R) WED- 55,3 35,5 15,655,8d35,10.15 " 'DEATHTRAP' is deadly Thursday LLIF mWoNMMMMMMMWWmmmmWWMMMMWVAMM r"" - . I t ::+ , a 'i ' 2<.. t " a!ti"!a la V" Vli aa V " "V "VV! V" !!!4 " l