ARTS Thursday, December 6, 1984 The Michigan Daily Page 5 A unique and delicate approach By Richard Campbell EOPLE expect an awful lot from movies. When Steve Martin or Bill Murray 1urns up in a cinematic turkey, or when the latest Bond or Star -Trek flick doesn't live up to previous versions, not only do we feel disappointed, we feel downright bitter and betrayed. Expectations may not always generate such feeling. But since almost every film that hits this toddlin' town has been preceded by lengthy New Worker critiques or glitzy "Entertain- mrent Tonight" reports, it's kind of hard to tell whether it is our insights or our expectations influence our perceptions. That may not be the most ;enlightening of observations but it does serve to explain what happens when we view a film about which we know ab- solutely nothing. When that rare event happens, expectations are absent and any marks of quality become all the more memorable and luminous: our critical cup is half-full rather than half- empty. What's all this leading to? It's not hard to guess. There just happens to be such a film playing in town right now. But the film has a unique, delicate, and eccentric voice, in other words, exactly the type of film that raised expectations would destroy. The best way to see this film is by accident, by driving out to Briarwood, hypothetically speaking, and discovering that the other major studio productions are sold out and that the only film for which tickets are available is a little-publicized, oddly- titled picture from Africa playing in one of the small theaters in the back. Ostensibly, what you are reading is a review of that movie which is supposed to invite or discourage you to go see this as-yet unnamed movie. But it seems that the purpose of most mainstream reviews is to inform you of exactly what you can and cannot expect from a par- ticular film. Even erudite critiques serve only to carefully explain the basis for our expectations. And, as should be clear by now, such expectations will only serve to destroy the fragile (though definite) veneer of genius which surrounds this film. At this point, I can either give you the name of the movie with no further ex- planations or I can start describing the film and leave the name a puzzle. The trick is to do both at the same time, for as convoluted as this review is becoming, I really want to encourage you to see the film. Few films manage to reach out to an audience on as many levels as this one and yet seem as in- nocuous. Though the film is laden with slapstick and is easily the funniest pic- ture in town, social satire and haunting visual images crop up from time to time and stick in your mind long after the laughs have stopped. Gods, bushmen, terrorists, subur- banites, and even a few ordinary people populate the film, yet at its heart lies a child's eye view of the universe. Everything is real, but nothing is im- portant. During the odyssey that frames the story, we see many things that we know to be true, but it is the surprise of seeing things that can't be true exist that transforms the film from pedestrian comedy to extraordinary epic. Must every epic look like an epic? This one doesn't. What many will mistake for the cheapest of production values and the most amatuer of cinematic ability is actually the most disciplined of talents. Our director has used every technique and all of his ex- perience to turn the film into a coherent, complete, and deep struc- ture. Be warned that the film starts with a whimper but ends with a bang. It begins by mocking dull documentaries, and then broadens its scope to include simple social comment plus political parody. Yet by the end of the film, these three strands have been woven in- to a firm fabric that can only be discar- ded by the film's shocking, unsettling, ultimately exhilirating final shot. Crazy as the film looks (and as this review sounds), it will be worth your while to check into the less publicized films playing at a theater near you. This applies not only to the commercial cinemas but to the campus films. The moral of the story is that good films of- ten come in small packages, and when the urge hits you to experience the miracle of motion pictures, it is the unexpected that gives the most pleasure. There is a movie in town that is worth seeing. i Records 4 :,1 f Civilian Fun Group will bring their show to the Union Ballroom tonight. Dl Big Country-Steeltown (Mercury) When Big Country burst upon the new music scene a year and a half ago with The Crossing, their sound was like a breath of fresh air. They combined up- tempo, folksy rock with optimistic lyrical themes and a grab bag of won- derful electronic effects. With their new full length album, Steeltown, this Scottish band has maintained their sopisticated musical style while progressing lyrically. Much of the music on Steeltown soun- ds a great deal like that on their previous LP. There are a lot of the same basic tempos, chord progressions and effects on the lead vocals. They of- ten use that "bagpipe" effect on the lead guitars, which has become a trademark. But things are slicker, here. It seems as though they have hit on some sort of magic formula, with the aid of producer Steve Lillywhite; and there isn't a weak track on the album. Each is a well-polished work of art. The songs are so busy that there is always someting interesting going on, especially if you like guitar and per- cussion. The dueling lead guitars of Adamson and Watson never let up as they effortlessly glide over Tony Butler's steady bass line. Mark Br- ze7;^ki has got to be one of the most original, talented drummers on the new music scene (even his name implies that), for there are a countless amount of teriffic percusive effects. However, the big difference on this album is the lyrics. The Crossing ten- ded to be overloaded with abstract, "rah-rah", anthematic songs. Steeltown deals more with deception, personal loss, war ballads and relation- ships. Combined with their musical style, they are therefore true folk ar- tists of the eighties. For example, "Just a Shadow" is a nice piece about self failure, and never reaching one's goals: It's just a shadow of the man you should be Like a garden in the forest That the world will never see You have no thought of answers Only questions to be filled.. . One of the most poignant parts of the album is actually two pieces that merge together. These are, "Where the Rose is Sown," and "Come Back to Me." "Rose is Sown" tells of the calling of the young men to war. Its militaristic, up- tempo beat is a cry for action. The lyrics are from the point of view of the men who have been asked to serve, shortly after leaving school. They ask, "If I die in a combat zone, box me up and ship me home. If I die and still come home, lay me where the rose is sown." The song breaks off and changes rhythm, becoming the mourning, "Come Back to Me"-a vision of the weary soldiers returning victorious, as told by the wife of one who was not lucky enough to make it back. She crys, As tears hang on me, you will always be young. And one day I will lie down where the rose was flung. The beautiful acoustic guitar and wailing electric lead combine to form an exquisitely touching ballad. This i QJS q, rs GP s ..g SPRSS n r . i ti subscribe nowl call 764-0558 piece is especially pertinent today, when the youth of America is won- dering if Nicaragua is to become our generation's Viet-Nam. Big Country is not a band that writes consistently deep and profound lyrics. They are extremely skilled musicians with a wonderful folk-art style, and lyrics that work well -in this context. Their songs can be touching or an- thematic. On Steeltown, they have progressed into the realm of more sophisticated lyrical quality that fits in- to their polished musical style. My only regret is that there are no big surprises. It leaves me wondering just how limited they are. This album sounds like Big Country-which is good, but for their next album, we should hope to hear some more experimentation. All in all, highly recommended. -Beth Fertig utcbtpttn ]Ontlij A reasonably Fun Civilian event i By John Logie A complete list of thoroughly unacceptable reasons for missing tonight's Civilian, Fun Group show. 1*You just can't spare $1.50. 2. You don't think rock bands should use trombones. 3. You are unable to deal with music you don't have to by special clothing for. 4. You don't know where the Michigan Union Ballroom is. 5. You're not sure whether five social science majors can be trusted, no matter what they're doing. 5.3 You don't like politics in your music. 6."Family Ties" is at 8:30 too. 7. Spanish songs cause cancer in laboratory animals. 8. Aren't they just an East Quad band? 9. The band members' names make them sound like characters from Hemingway novels. O.K., Dave Waldstein is an exception, but Lawrence Kent? John Shaw? Jake London? Nick Griffin? C'mon! 10. You've got too much homework. 11. Your legs were recently severed in an industrial accident. 12. You don't want more than one kind of music to be played per band, otherwise how can you tell 'em apart? 13. It is a UAC Soundstage concert. 14. Where's the synthesizer? 15. The opening act hasn't been announced. 16. Things might get a little rowdy. 17. President Reagan has not invited them to the White House for a com- mand performance yet. 18. You don't think the poster is an accurate representation of God's love. 19. Thursday night is Lady's night at one of the bars. 20. You don't know the lyrics to the "Space Shuttle" song, and don't want to feel left out. 21. Local music sucks. 22. You are morally opposed to use of the "F- word" in art. 23. They don't all stay at the same instrument for the whole show, and it's confusing. 24. You are a member of the Astonian Anti- Defamation League. 25. You hate shows where everyone is noisy. You paid your money, now why doesn't everyone sit down and shut up so you can listen to the band? 26. Slamming is tasteless in any form. 27. There aren't any special effects like the "Victory Tour" had. 28. None of the band members will be wearing lace. 29. Your mother won't let you. 30. You're deaf. 31. You are incapable of recognizing an opportunity to see Ann Arbor's most exciting band in it's first gig outside of East Quad. 32. You are unwilling to have fun. 33. You are dead. 34. You are easily over- whelmed, and CFG's mix of rock, punk, ska, country, heavy metal, rap, and Algonquin fertility rite chants would give you a heart murmer. 35. You've got to do your laundry. 36. Your baby is due. 37. (Fill in anything.) 0 0 9 *0*000 --- - I llsei!!ieliteteiilolieliiiililioloiieliiiili!!eg e$ WITH THIS ENTIRE AD $1.00 OFF ADULT EVENING e | O FADMISSION TICKET. COUPON GOOD FOR PURCH ASE OF ONE S 0 OOR TWO TICKETS. GOOD ALL FEATURES THRU12/13/84. i ENDS TONIGHT! e * From Bill Forsyth, the Director/Writer "FIRST NAME CARMEN" at 1, 7, 9 * of "Local Hero" and"Gregory's Girl." STARTS FRIJ 0i AlanBBirdBis getting nothing he o wants this Christmas. * ® PG A UNIVERSAL RELEASE * THURS., FRI.1:00, 7:20, 9:20 FRI. 1:00, 7:00, 9:00 11 P.M. : * 0 f " 1st Prize $500 A Campus Wide Talent Search Applications Deadline Dec. 14 Applications available at UAC offices Michigan Union j y I 5 50 5 Q I DEC. 6,7,8 8 p.m. MENDELSSOHN THEATER PAT METHENY r nwit Mhv t U