ARTS
Friday, March 23, 1984

Th Michigan Daily
I gainst All

Page 6

By Daniel Dahl
AR BENEATH the shards of
sinuous lies and mixed personal in-
terests, somewhere entangled in a web
of %Shakespearean treachery, the
rudiments of love and unvanquished
ideals exist. In Against All Odds, direc-
tor Taylor Hackford creates a twentieth
century hero brandishing a seventeenth
century code of ethics and badge of
chivalry.
He takes Brugen (Jeff, Bridges), a
football player for the Los Angeles
Rams, and, as was done to Gary Cooper
in High Noon; removes him from his lof-
ty detachment, and thrusts him into a
chaotic circle of politics, love, and
power.
Brugen is put on waivers by indirect
command of the team's owner. He is
employed by an old friend, Jake, and
changes from athlete to hired gun.
Brugen is paid to find Jessica, Jake's
ex-lover who fled to America to be far
from her mother's overbearing control
and Jake's exploitation.
Our hero at first refuses the job
because of pride, but accepts when
Jake waves the bloody shirt, reminding
Brugen of an uncollected debt. He em-
barks reluctantly on his mission to

South America with no conception of
the magnanimity of mixed interest and
danger. He views the opportunity as a
vacation: some time to improve his tan
and reflect upon his career.
The plot and story seem predictable.
Seated in the audience, I
pessimistically wondered where the
plot could possibly lead, but soon
realized that Hackford had yet to put all
of his cards on the table. However
straightforward, the story adopts
several suprising twists. The mind
games inflicted on Brugen and the
viewer are comparable to those of Hit-
chcock. For example, Hackford
chooses to rearrange the chronological
sequence by shuffling several scenes.
True to Romeo and Juliet, Against All
Odds portrays the complications which
develop when the love between Brugen
and Jessica is coupled with family
politics, greed, and a struggle for
power. We are introduced to the fast-
paced, evocative corruption of Jake,
Jessica's family, and the decadent
society they represent.
Jake needs Jessica, for she attests to
his social and financial success, but he
exploits her excessively. Brugen,
however, stands aloof from political
and economic entanglements. Unlike
Jake, he truly loves Jessica. In his

Odds'
metamorphosis, he becomes an un-
compromised 007, a fist-clenched, chest
lifted swashbuckler.
Slowly, the multilayered skin of
treachery is revealed to Brugen. All
the while he grows angrier, but more in
love, as he realizes that the stakes are
greater than anticipated.
The film's style is surprisingly fresh.
Taylor Hackford utilizes an exciting
array of camera techniques to enhance
the mood of each scene. The
cinematographer's eye for detail in
regards to nature and architectural
beauty, although not quite par with
Nicholas Roeg (Walkabout, The Man
Who fell To Earth), gives the viewer a
sense of cultural contrast. Adding to
the mystery the viewer often subjec-
tively observes through the eyes of
Brugen.
Camera angle, too, heightens Hack-
ford's intent. While Brugen is speaking
with his spineless lawyer, for example,
the upward camera angle makes
Bridges tower over the lawyer. Con-
versely, the lawyer is photographed
downward to emphasize his impotence
and two-faced nature. Closeups, long
shots and camera angle are used
similarly throughout the film to create
emotion.
The director's task is aided by the
music of Michel Colombier and Larry
Carlton. Combining the efforts of Peter
Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Stevie Nicks
they create a fittingly cosmopolitan
musical score. The music, at times,
embellishes certain scenes otherwise
lacking due to poor scriptwriting, and
often links two scenes by bleeding over
into the next or foreshadowing the
previous.
Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward are
glamorous together. Unfortunately the

gambles with love

i

1"

ON 27 MARCH, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
will interview prospective applicants for positions in the
WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA
Positions and qualifications are:
ANALYSTS - M.A., international relations, area studies, foreign
languages; B.A. with overseas working experience or post B.A. edu-
cation.
LIBRARIANS -MLS or B.A. Liberal Arts with library experience.
GEOGRAPHERS - MS/MA, BS/BA geography/cartography or
equivalent.
All applicants should possess EXCELLENT WRITING ABILITY,
STRONG REPRESENTATIONAL SKILLS, and KNOWLEDGE OF
FOREIGN LANGUAGE. U.S. citizenship required. Starting date
open. Starting salary range: $17,138 - $20,956 depending on
education and experience.
CONTACT THE PLACEMENT OFFICE, 3200 S.A.B.
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
An Equal Opportunity/A ffirmotive Action Employer

Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward star in 'Against All Odds,' a film of romance and adventure.

script does not exact a great toll in the
intensity department, and the actors'
potential is left untried. Their physical
presence is a compensation, however,

and the lovemaking scene in a Mayan
ruin is unparalleled.
The reasons people are drawn to the
movies are varied. Against All Odds

will be attractive to anyone stimulated
by suspenseful mystery and glamorous
photography interspersed with
poignant insight into human nature.

0

The Friars sing,

spontaneously

By Alan Melchoir
PASSERSBY MAY NOT notice any-
thing unusual as they give a quick
glance to the piano lounge at West
Quad. It contains only a few people
relaxing, studying or conversing.
While a group of boisterous young men
sing a tune. This informal setting is ac-
tually a rehearsal room and the young
men are the Friars, a University vocal
group. They are currently preparing
for their Annual Spring Concert, which
will be held at Rackham Auditorium,
Saturday, March 24.
Established in 1955, the Friars were
the brainchild of University Glee Club

Director Walter Collins. They were
created in the image of the Wiffenpoofs,
though there are striking differences
between the two. According to business
manager and member Tony Alcantara,
the Friars have always had eight
singers while the Wiffenpoofs have thir-
teen or fourteen.
Choreography is a major part of the
Friars' on-stage performance-another
feature which sets them apart from
other vocal groups. Yet behind the
flashy choreography and quick-witted,
humor that characterizes their perfor-
ming style, is a finely-tuned unit which
sings almost exclusively a cappella.
To be a Friar, one must be a member

of the University Men's Glee Club. New
members are chosen by the active
Friars at apditions, which are held near
the end of the Winter Semester.
Graduating members are replaced at
the start of the fall semester. The
current lineup consists of Alcantara,
Fred Vipond, Tim Eaton, Jim Price,
Derryle Daniel, Tom Hotwagner, Bob
Shrosbree, and Steve Googasian.
The Friars act as managers by
arranging their own hectic tour
schedule. They often travel to nearby
hotels and shopping centers to perform,
but they have also made three trips to
Hawaii to perform for the governor, a
University graduate. On a recent
weekend, the group found itself com-
mitted to seven different engagements,
shuttling from job to job in Alcantara's
van.
Some of these performances were on-
campus, playing for the Military Ball
and entertaining Billy Frye, while
others were a two-hour drive away.
Eaton claims the Friars are "well-
known through the Greek system" and

. therefore many of their performances
are for the sororities where there is "a*
high concentration of women" who
spread the good word.
Alcantara explained that the Friars,
get much of their work through "spon-
taneous singing." "We enjoy starting
up a song just about anywhere," he
states enthusiastically. As an example, q,,
he told of a potential summer perfor-
mance in Japan which is due to some
spontaneous singing" in an airport.
Though the reasons for becoming a
Friar may vary, one thing all seem to
share is the enthusiasm that they put
into their work. Alcantara says his
"desire to perform and entertain" en-
ticed him to join. Eaton added that he
enjoyed "playing off of each others
jokes. . . and (playing off of) the
audience," and he didn't fail to mention
that "we get the chicks." Vipond ex-
pressed a sentiment that seemed to be
shared by many of the Friars: "The
first time I saw the Friars perform,.I'.
thought 'that's what I want to do.'"


t", lowt A* I A

l4~~lJl

I "a comedv about adults"
bv A.R. Gurnev
Wednesday-Saturday 8pm
Sunday 2pm

March 21;,2223-25
March 29-April 1
'preview performances

New Trueblood Theatre
tickets available at the PTP Ticket Office
in the Michigan League 764-0450
3j Michigan Ensemble Theatre
Directed by Terence Lamude

The breakup of
an American family

By Tracy Uselmann
BASEBALL, HOTDOGS, apple pie
and Children, one of the most
American plays in the history 'of
theater. Childen, written by A.R. Gur-
ney, Jr., deals with a Wasp family from
the East. The stereotypical-preppy
clothes, snobby attitudes and children
from authentic New England prep
schools abound.
Most importantly, though, is the
preservation of tradition and old
idealistic attitudes that the Wasps at-
tempt to keep. The conflict of Children
arises when the family falls victim to
the changing times surrounding their


secure, traditional dwelling.
The play is American in its ex-
ploitation of American characteristics.
While at the same time, it is universal
because of the importance almost
everyone attaches to the preservation
of the family.
The play is; also, rather humorous.,
The problem with this humor, however,
is that it is especially directed towards
those who understand the Wasps. Other.
audiences may find it only a serious
drama.
The cast became extremely close
over the course of the production.
Lamude says this has been a great .
benefit in portraying the family at-
mosphere on stage.
Lamude feels many people have
misinterpreted the Wasps. He says,
.they are not snobs, but rather they AK
poettheir land."
*Children will be performed at the ' a
New Trueblood Theater March 29-April
1. Tickets are $10. Call 764-0450 for
more information.
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CLUB
of Ann Arbor announces its
ANNUAL
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