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being perhaps too protective of the Careful's greatest problem is it's lack
child, as they try to shelter him from of direction. Director Carl Schultz,
the harsh realities of life. working from a screenplay by Michael
S h h h , Enter Lila's sister, a wealthy, instan- Jenkins, is a typical example of a book
tly deplorable woman who suddenly has to film translation that in-
designs for the boy after having com- discriminately picks and leaves details
pletely ignored him all these years. without regard to how they are connec-
S IHPlayed by Robyn Nevin with a ted. The story moves from family
A u s~s ie disquieting icy poise, Vanessa is a melodrama to psychological drama, to
sinister, creepy presence like one of something that encroaches on a super-
Edward Gorey's sinister cartoon natural chiller.
characters come to life. Schultz moves the film from one to
With her intimidating viciousness the other, and handles each with a cer-
and pack of jackal-like lawyers, tain amount of skill, but the film suffers
Vanessa has little trouble convincing from a sense of disorientation.
the courts that Lila and George (by this What makes the film a truly uncom-
Careful, He Might Hear You time layed off from his job) are unfit fortable experience to sit through is its
custodians for P.S. goddamned self congratulatory over
Directed by Carl Schultz She abscondes with him in her death abundance of production values. As if to
Starring Robyn Nevin and Nicholas black limo and spirits him away, with compensate for all of the previous
Giedhill Lila pushing through the crowded Australian films whose ambitions often
sidewalk after him, pitifully gasping outstretched their technical
By Byron L. Bull and clutching at the air before her, limitations, Careful is as nauseatingly Hughes, Giedhill, and Nevin:
With him safely in the lair of her overglossed as any typical American
AREFUL, He Might Hear You; the cavernous cryptlike mansion, Vanessa extravaganza. A strange triangle
C latest Australian import offered for gleefully and wickedly sets about her From the seeminly always panning humanize their portrayals and there
viewing at the Ann Arbor Theater, is attempts to remold the boy to suit her and tilting camerawork (as if the are few things less enduring than wat-
a movie that would have us praise it own perverse needs. As it turns out Australian crews just discovered the ching talented actors parade their
almost simply for the sole fact it's an Vanessa is actually a wretched lonely camera dolly and crane) to the most technical skills without any restraint..
Australian movie. While the soul whose predatorial facade shields overbearingly emotionally ejaculative
Australians have in the last ten years only an insecure, desperate woman. film score of the decade, Schultz has Careful, He MightrHear You is an
made some significant contributions to It seems that years ago, she had a fashioned an expensive but garish piece unexceptional film from down under
world cinema with some stylishly brief, hopeless affair with a man named of artless craftmanship. that might just as well have stayed
brilliant, absorbing films, they've had Logan who was to subsequently marry None of the characters Careful depic- down there. One hopes that the
their share of flashy but valueless fluff. her sister and father P.S., abandoning s ever show any signs of depth because Australian film industry, which has
To this category (which includes The him at birth to prospect for gold in the the cast is caught up in the spirit of been hawking this as one of their best
Man From Snowy River and the sincere north country. So P.S. is both an outlet exhibitionism as well. The actors are products, will regain its composure and
but nonetheless meager My Brilliant for Vanessa's lifelong resentment too busy concentrating on giving common sense, and get back to the task
Career) oneemust regrettably cast toward Logan, and a chance to recreate powerhouse performances to evoke the of creating its own unique school of
Careful. him to fit her own desires. more honest reactions that would films.
It is, for the record, easily the most Vanessa tries numerous attempts to
expensive and lavishly mounted discredit the boy's idealized image of
Australian production, but for all its his mother, and openly daydreams of
slick packaging very skimpy on con- the day he's grown up enough to
tent. become her partner. During a thunder
Based on the 1963 novel of the same storm, Vanessa bursts into P.S.'s
name by Summer Locke Elliot, Careful bedroom and wraps herself around his
concerns a bitter struggle between two tiny body with a perverse vampiristic
sisters over possession of their nephew craving.
after his mother dies. The boy is named P.S. is a child strangely intuitive and
William, but christened P.S. as wise for his age. In an uncannily intense
something of a bad joke by his mother performance for a young child,
who died immediately following his bir- Nicholas Giedhill seems to possess an
th. adult like capacity to reason. He sees
For the succeeding six years, P.S. and notes Vanessa's various characters
has been the ward, in effect surrogate flaws and weak spots, and
son, of an otherwise childless aunt Lila systematically sets about to exploit <.'
and her husband George. them with devastating effectiveness.
Simple, lower middle class people of __ _ _ _ __
little means but ample generosity, Lila
and George compenstae for what they
can't give the boy materially by Suspension Theatre
providing him with their deepest affec-
tion and care. Their only mistake is in A UDITIONS
CASV
For Henrik Ibsen's
We Pay cash for used
s and cassettes "WHEN WE DEAD
AWAKEN"
Record & Tape Exchange k:.,1s &:nd.
Outwhen he makes his So te Count
7:30 p.m. sandwiches this thick, what are solved the problem
we supposed to do? in his own inimitable
way. But he found that
TK AcretFIRST METHODIST CHURCH tastegatrlbadornongetting the sandwich on the sword
OFANCRO roll.. piles on the salami, ham, turkey, or was one thing.
MAXELL UDXL 1190 each OF ANN ARBORwhatever strikes his fancy... tops it with a Getting it off was quite another. All in all,
ALWAYS Corner of State St. & Washington heap of extras like cheese, onion, lettuce, we recommend the frilly toothpicks.
priced tomato, or sprouts... As for the Count, the doctors say he's
above $1.00 guarantee And can't understand why it all topples heaing nicely, and should be home
Phone 475-1197 ""er. practically an day.
619E.WIL LIAMfor info.
1 e n r-112 1
6 2 1 611 0 S U n v ri y a Ch r h S.12 W eekend/Friday, Sep em ber 28, 1984