Cinema Vold Carmen. Directed by Antonio Gades Now playing at the Ann Arbor Theaters 1 & 2 Starring Antonio Gades and Laura Del Sol By David Grayson YjHERE IS NOTHING more disgusting than a poor film trying to be artsy, as is superbly demonstrated by Carlo Saura's new film Carmen. This European equivalent of Flashdance shares many of the same qualities; deplorable acting, trite plot, and dan- cing that is uninspired to the point of 0 0 F w w ,wpr s- _W aw boredom. The film puts to rest once and for all, the notion that foreign films somehow contain more artistic worth than their commercial, American counterparts. Carmen is as much trash as the majority of American films being produced today, and one wishes it had never been allowed to cross the Atlan- tic. The story is of a prominent Spanish dance company's production of "Car- men," sometimes set to the Bizet score and other times to the flamenco guitar of Paco De Lucia. The audience, however, is given no clue as to how and why the music for each particular scene is chosen, not that anyone cares soon after the move has begun. During the production, the lead dan- cer/director/choreographer/producer Antonio Gades (played by himself) and the lead "Bailaora" whose name just happens to be Carmen (Laura Del Sol) play out the tragic story of love and treachery in their personal lives. The whole thing is just too contrived for words. The cinematic effect of having scenes in which the audience cannot determine if it is "real or Memorex" is an exhausted one and Carmen puts it to death with some even poorer than usual use. In the final and symbolically in- distinguishable scene, I did not even care if the murder of Carmen is for real or just another dance sequence. Getting out of the theater and on to more worthy things was foremost in my mind. As far as the acting goes, it is relatively safe to say that there isn't any. Though Antonio Gades is himself an influential figure in the dance world (especially in Europe), he and his three facial expressions do not belong on the screen in an actor's role. Laura Del Sol fits much into the same category. If not to a greater extent. And though Paco De Lucia's music is the only acceptable point in this film, his acting abilities are non-existent. The end result of all these wooden figures is similar to watching a young child playing with dolls in a make believe house, with the only difference being a dance studio for a doll house and Carlo Saura as the little urchin. If this were not enough to make your cinematic enthusiasm curdle, Saura obviously decided that the film was not deep enough and needed something ex- tra. His answer is a sort of reveling in the difficulty of the dancing life and the artistic process. But instead of acquiring a true appreciation for the artist's work as in Truffaut's Day for Night, the audience gets an insipid amount of shots showing a sweaty chorus of dancers lying all over the studio floor rubbing their aching feet. I Best Pizza Winner of Best Smallest Restaurant Award *The best freshly-n quality sandwiche on campus " Fast, personalize c * Daily specials- - oriental lunch box S- .pie ' " D lirin c n r ll Carmen: Curdles cinematic en- thusiasm I was constantly wondering when one of the dancers would give in to asphyxiation. I could go on and on with this film's lesser qualities but I shall not belabor the point. If you are going to the Ann Arbor Theatre (where it is now showing), Liquid Sky is more worth your while. made es rd service ix s Uno's A steaming hot pizza with pepperoni and gr taste it & when students in Ann Arbor get a ca they eat? You guessed it-pizza. This year's w zeria Uno.'Their Chicago-style pizza can't be bea 0 -O s 0 V C Best Bar Atmosphere Ann Arbor is fortunate to have three bars with such ambiance that we were unable to declare a clear winner. The top choices were Charley's, Rick's and the Old Town Cafe. Pick any one of them for the best in Ann Arbor (below the stratosphere, that is.) Best Th1 You j flame. yoursel let thef Like the, 10" r 4" e iicious egg rin MAKE IT THROUGH EXAMS WITH THE LEAGUE The Michigan League Cafeteria, in the center of campus, offers a daily luncheon special, a student special dinner, and a coffee shop for "grill items" and breaks. Our low prices and speedy service will get you back Stone from Page 31 and wins out, it is more refreshing than a brawny movie idol who makes heroics almost glib. His co-star, Kathleen Turner, could get an Oscar for 'best legs,' but don't think she's in the film just to show off her shanks. Once she's over her jungle- lag she boils with energy and resour- cefulness. Joan Wilder quickly discovers that adventures in South America are stranger than fiction as she lives out a wild game of chance that A Carousel of Hair Fashions 315 N. MAIN CR0 US Haircut $9.00 Permanents (including cut) regularly $35-$45 995-5858 outdoes anything her imagination could have devised for one of her novels. As Ralph, the New York toughy, Danny DeVito is out of this world but also terribly out of place in jungles and one-lizard adobe towns. Ralph would be more at home in a Queens' bar playing pinball while sipping a mug of Genesee beer. His new surroundings make him too tense (he chews gum and smokes at the same time) and he barks his lines out with a kind of desperate rasp. With each word comes an underlying tone that says he'd rather be almost anywhere but there. And with good reason since he goes through hell for his boss - including getting beat up by an obese Columbian lady. Despite some cliche lines, like Jack Colton's reaction to some troublesome situations, "Ishould've listened to Mom " the dialogue is fresh and often spontaneous. Direction by Robert Zemeckis (Used Cars) is vivid and usually quite crisp. With some effective cutting and timing he builds suspense and keeps the action moving freely. This film is no Raiders of The Lost Ark (the connection is unavoidable) but it is hard to say anything bad about it. And even though revenge, and the bad guys getting what they deserve, are both almost overdone themes, it's dif- ficult to mind because the adventure is so much fun. Romancing the Stone blends a man of courage, an exotic setting, and, for the ultimate kicker, romance - all which adds up to lively entertainment. Best Street Personality Shaky Jake Shakin' Jake Woods is Mr. Ann Arbor. It's easy to laugh at his far-out costumes, but don't forget he's always got a nod on those days that everyone else seems to be ignoring you. BUTTER PECAN / ITALIAN ICES / PRALINES 'N CREAM / TIN ROOF 7ickle your tummy, the ice cream's yummy Uj at mermade c1 ra ", Now featuring: , o -- - smoothies "sundae in acone +ice cream cakes< 0330 South Main 662-2626 (between William and Liberty) 3 I STRA WBERRIES 'N CREAM / VANILL A / MYER S RUM R AISIN / M & M SSPE CIA L 1 1 . (WITH THIS COUPON); INCLUDES SHAMPOO & CUT i 1DOWN1TOWN. HAIR 'N' COMPANY1 221 S. MAIN ST.1 ANN ARBOR i ~663-6273 Please Request Linda, Sue, or Margie 1bWhen Making Appointment, and Note Coupon Special S OFFER EXPIRES5/31/84 -------- ------- ---- --- ------ .,& 6outhw FOR WOME to your books faster . . . and we have study space for students. With our newsstand and vending room for snacks, the League will give you the edge you need to survive finals. SEE YOU AT THE LEAGUE! . F i R I L The Michigan League 911 N. University * Ann Arbor 764-0446 Jjft 5onteone s spift Balloons for you ANl Oecaiow University Flower Shop, Inc. Phones 665-6037 * 668-8096 7 Nickels Arcade Ann Arbor, Michigan ,I 1200 S. University Ann Arbor, MI 48104 769-0060 32 Weekend/Friday, April 13, 1984 9 Wee