ARTS Page 8 Friday, April 13, 1984 The Michigan Dairy 'Moscow'invades America By Byron Bull L IKE ALL PAUL MAZURSKY films, Moscow on The Hudson is loosely plotted, and more than a little clutzy at times. But it's also his funniest and most complete film since Next Stop Greenwich Village. It's an un- sophisticated play on the emotions similar in vein to a Frank Capra film, so good natured and humorous one can't help but be charmed and even moved. The film centers on Vladimir Ivanoff, a Soviet saxophonist who defects to the states while the circus he plays in per- forms a New York engagement. Though Moscow does look a little bleak in Mazursky's eye, it's not so op- presively suffocating. The government is more like a strict, easily provoked parent than some Orwellian om- nipresence. People go about their business, almost nonchalantly buying black market gasoline and bribing local officals with presents. Robin Williams, as Vladimir, gives a surprisingly strong performance. Pudgy, with a thick beard and an even thicker accent, he is lighthearted and has a disarming screen presence. Without all of the earlier comedic histronics that distracted from his earlier performances, he exhibits a knack for subtlety and timing. The first half hour, from the opening scenes in Moscow through Vladimir's defection, is the film's best. The scene takes place in, of all places, Bloomingdales. In this film, it is more of an American monument than -the Statue of Liberty. While everyone else in his troupe, including the KGB agents, are cleaning the store racks with a starved frenzy, Ivanoff makes his break. He dashes down the escalators and through the aisles, finally seeking sanctuary behind the cosmetics coun- ter. The KGB pursue, but in minutes Vladimir is virtually surrounded by federal agents, store security, and a hefty New York cop who scowls defian- tly, "This is New York, a man can do whatever he wants." In short time, and with surprisingly few legal technicalities, Vladimir is left on his own. He's befriended by Lionel (Cleavant Derricks), a black security guard from the store, who takes him home to his ghetto apartment. He is soon working his way through a variety of odd jobs-street vendor, busboy, and limo chauffeur. Admittedly it's hard to believe the ease with which Vladimir .4 Robin Williams (Vladimir Ivanoff) seems astonished by his new-found life in (Lucia Lombardo) may be one of the astonishments. finds work under the circumstances, but the style and enthusiasm with which he tackles them is amusing. Vladimir has little trouble being assimilated. But then again, in Mazur- sky's New York it seems that everyone is either an immigrant or part of a native born minority. Moscow's greatest asset is it's celebration of ethnic and cultural diversity. It's the America-as-the-world's-melting-pot premise taken to its most extravagant, colorful extremes. The New York of this film has few roots in reality; it's more like some Disneyworld attraction sporting agnew animated display every ten feet. What the film does lack is a story. There is a thinly defined romance bet- ween Vladimir and an Italian woman named Lucia (Maria Conchita Alonso), but its stock plot filler. After his defec- tion, Vladimir doesn't grow or change much. He learns his way around but becomes less interesting because his character doesn't expand. All-of the jokes about foreigner's infatuation with American consumerism grow tiring, and only cheapen the characters. Some brief scenes are hilarious. In one, Vladimir makes some misinter- preted eye contact with a gay gen- tleman on the street, who begins to follow him down the sidewalk. Vladimir, glacing nervously over his shoulder, thinks he might be a KGB agent, and breaks into a run. There's also one short, wonderfully funny joke in the film. Vladimir, Lionel, and Lucia exit a movie theater with Vladimir complaining, "It was childish. It had no plot." The movie on the marquee is An Unmarried Woman, Mazursky's breakthrough film. Some scenes, deftly underplayed by Williams, are movingly bittersweet. In one', he is sitting on the fire escape by his window trying to'play the blues late at night, but ends up in a shouting maf- ch with a neighbor. In another, he and Lionel get drunk on an abandoned sidewalk sofa. Feeling sorry for him- self, Vladimir explains to Lionel that in Russia, people love their misery, for it is the only thing they can touch and hold that it their own. It is outright melodrama, but Mazursky is such a sensitive director, and Williams a good enough actor, to make it work. But short, even brillant vignettes don't make for a story, and Moscow is a movie as lost as its protagonist. None of 'the threads tie together strongly enough to leave one feeling satisfied. The development is often uninspired even formulaic. When Vladimir is4 mugged one night, he walks down the streets, bitterly disillusioned and disenchanted. Moments later he ends. up in an all-night diner, surrounded by other immigrants who, when the distant sounds of fire-crackers remind them it's IndependenceDay, all join in to repeat the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Vladimir's reaffirmation seems trivial,and his character trivialized. But as uneven as it is, and though it' lacks depth, Moscow remains a praiseworthy film that can still be quite engaging in its warmth and love of. humanity. Some people will be put off by its occasionally patriotic overtones,, but they're harmless, and never degenerate into overt nationalism. Others will find the sentimentality too strong, at times, but that's a part of its innocent appeal. It's a brief, lighthan- ded repose from reality that just leaves, one feeling good inside. 'London' assures fun 'I YEARBOOK DISTRIBUTION STARTS MON., APRIL 16th Bring receipt and ID to Ensian office at 420 Maynard, Mon. - Fri. from 8 -,5 p.m. By Emily Montgomery T HE UNIVERSITY PLAYER'S production of London Assurance, directed by Richard Burgwin, opened Wednesday night, filling the immense Power Center Auditorium with an almost steady stream of laughter. London Assurance, is a Restoration period style comedy, which was ac- BIOLOGICAL ANTHOPOLOGY Introduction 161 (Div. 318) OFFERED SPRING HALF 1984 4 cr. MTWTh 1- 3 MLB Lec. Rm. 2 N.S. Distribution For more information call ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT 764-7274 tually written in the Victorian Age (1841) by Dion Boucicault. Boucicault recognized the need for a change from the heavy melodramas of his time. Looking to the past greats, he "borrowed" the fundamentals of Lon- don Assurance from them, adding his own special touches of humor until he had what Director Burgwin calls "the greatest comedy of the 19th Century." London Assurance addresses the theme of identity - why it's better to be yourself than to try to pretend you're something you are not. The plot centers around a young heiress, by the name of Grace Harkaway and her plansto marry an old, though hewon't admit it; coot, Sir Harcourt Courtly, in order'to ensure her right of inheritance. Grace accepts her fate willingly, for she considers love a waste of time, a silly notion pursued only by the most foolhardy. She changes her mind rather quickly, though, when young Charles Courtly comes on the scene. Unaware of his father's plans, Charles im- mediately commences to woo her and, when he realizes the predicament of the situation, devises a plan to steal Grace See 'LONDON', Page 9 i -- JOSTEN'S GOLD RING x AF "OllorwMMMMON SALE ... /4 i r one step at a time toward fitness oV / The Univetsity of Michigan Dlepartment of Recreational Sports Stop by Ulrich's and see a Josten's representative on Monday, April 9 through Friday, April 13, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. He will be glad to show you the entire line of rings from Josten's. During this week you can get $15 off 10K gold rings and $25 off all 1 4K gold rings. The White Lustrium ring is only $79.95 on 9 Friday. April 13, 1984 CCRB 8 pm - 2 am Valid I.D. or User Pass $3.00 guest fee ACTIVITYP PLACEI Aerobic Dance' Activity Room8 Advance Training Center Room 22208 Fitness Center Room 22308 Universal Weight Training Demo Weight Room9 TIME 8 p.m. 8 p.m. - midnight 8 p.m. - midnight 9 p.m. i I