1 0 ARTS The Michigan Daily Friday, April 12, 1985 Pag 6 Engaging film By Byron L. Bull T hematically Mask has a lot in common with The Elephant Man, in that both deal with a mon- strously deformed but intelligent young man's struggle to lead as normal a life as possible. But unlike David Lynch's disturbingly dark, often night- marish fable, Peter Bogdonovich's tale is warm, bright, and surprisingly lighthearted. Based loosely upon a real story, Mask takes place in a lower middle class Southern California neigh- borhood where 15 year old Rocky Dennis, (Eric Stoltz) afflicted with a congenital disease that has caused his skull to swell to almost twice its normal size, lives with his mother, (played by the burgeoning actress Cher) a pill popping, bed hopping motorcycle moll. . They have an odd relationship, Rocky being the smart and more responsible of the two, with the traditional roles often reversed so that he is looking out for her at least as much as she does for him. Both have long since accepted his deformity as a matter of fact, with little if any pity. In fact as far as mom any of her rowdy but good natured biker pals are con- cerned, Rocky's disease is regarded about as seriously as a bad case of acne. Some of the films best one liners-it has a marveously flippant sense of humor-revolve around the boys looks. Mom respon- ds to one group of gawkers with a deadpanned, "What's the matter, you never saw anyone from the planet Vulcan before?" Bogdonivich and scenarist Ann H. P her first screenplay-avoid most of metaphoric and symbolic claptrap one u the film to flounder in. The film'st light-most of the action takes place out daylight-and though there's a tendency charine sentimentality, particularly wh ds romance with a beatiful, comely bli film's overtly comic tone, with inspired gang of keystone cop-like bikers, keeps sinking into lowly Other Side of the Mo jerker status. Bogdonovich's hand may be cruderf any other film-such as the very fineI Show or Paper Moon with crudely stage scenes that make the film as stylelessly1 made-for-TV movie, yet he keeps a prett throughout even its more contrived m minute Rocky walks into a carnival f know he's going to run into a hall of mirro he actually does, and is transfixed befo mirror that reveals a face ironically nor the moment has a quiet, unforced poigna Eric Stoltz, under the elaborate, not vincing latex prosthetic, is the crucia what breathes life into the film. Locke mask (which looks more realistic than1 real Rocky) with nothing to convey sub otion but his voice and eyes, Stoltz inexhaustible wealth of warmth and wi his character instantly disarming, andE unmasked - Phelan-with There's not a single forced, overly intense thrust to the cliched his performance, it is always honest, natural, corn- would expect pletely convincing. tone is kept The media machinery has focused all of the atte4- in the bright tion on Cher-save for Bogdonovich's brief, failed toward sac- legal battle to have some excised Springsteen songs en Rocky fin- put back into the soundtrack-and though she's per- ind girl-the fectly fine in the role, one has to suspect that all th'e twists like a hype has more to do with this being her first starring Mask from role than because of the level of her performance. ountain tear- Yes she does have impressively natural, relaxed camera presence, as well as ample skill and insight, here than in and she sinks into and flushes out the role of a woman Last Picture who is both toughened and streetwise but still heavily d and filmed dependent on her child. But her part, often used for banal as any comic relief, is not so demanding, its strictly a sup- y honest tone porting role. Likewise Sam Elliot; as her sometimes oments. The lover, a silent but strong and smart loner who is little unhouse you more than a limp reworking of an old ors, but when stereotype-he'd look as natural riding into the filn re a warped on a horse as he does his Harley. mal looking, There's not a single idiosyncracy or defining ncy. feature to his character, he's all statuesque stalwar- always con- tness without a shadow of any depth, and his sole 1 element of purpose as Cher's romantic interest only detracts d into a rigid from the story. photos of the Mask is a sometimes staid, though often genuinely tleties of em- charming affair. It tends to wallow in melodramatic exudes an soppiness, but it also has a distinctively senstive mix t that makes of compassion and wit, which makes it a cute, even affable. engaging little film. 'Cher and Sam Elliot star in 'Mask', a movie based loosely on the true story of a boy with a-congenital disease that causes his skull to swell to almost twice its normal size. ZONTA CLUB of Ann Arbor announces its ANNUAL. RUMMAGE SALE National Guard Armory 223 East Ann Fri., April 19th, 5-8:30 p.m. Sat., April 20th, 9-2:00 p.m. Zonta appreciates any donation of new and used household goods and wearing apparel. Call for pick-up: 668-8275 or 663-0736 'U' student's video goes MTV By Beth Fertig T his Sunday, at 10 p.m., MTV's "Basement Tapes" will feature a video directed by LSA senior, Paul Devlin. Devlin, a first place winner of last month's Michigan Media National Subac'dibeto The i{iea Uai~q Student Video Festival, shot the clip this past semester of a hometown band, the Blases. Devlin has good reason to be excited. His video was sent to MTV only last month, and if it wins this and a winner's round of "Basement Tapes," his for- mer New Brunswick, N.J. high school classmates, the subjects of his video, could launch a recording career on Electra records. Says Devlin, "I'm not too hopeful. I'm a little worried," he explained, "It's pretty scary. They (the band) have no experience with recor- ding contracts." The subject of Devlin's video, The Blases, have been together for several years, and tour the New Jersey and New York area. After they recorded an original song, titled "You Don't Know Me," Devlin returned to New Jersey to direct a video for them. He and the band spent about five weekends scouting the state and accumulating sixteen millimeter footage for the clip; a wonderfully syncopated montage that contains everyt;.ing from seacoast shots with the New York City skyline, tp hot air ballons and wedding scene featuring the band. Devlin explains that they just located various events in the state and got out there to film them. Af- ter returning to Michigan, Devlin tran- sferred the film to video in Detroit and edited it at the LS&A Media Center. Devlin's efforts have paid off well. .'You Don't Know Me" is an exciting, fun, and thoroughly absorbing video with a professional flare. The uptempo, synth-rock song has been effectively filled with images which Devlin has precisely coordinated to its rhythm. In addition to the MTV debut, "Night Flight," the USA Network's video show has responded to the piece and will be airing it on May 3. Although he had worked with Super 8 in high school, Devlin has only been working with video since his sophomore year here. Last month, in the Michigan Media National Student Video Festival, he took first prize ($500) in the "Short Subject Fiction" category.His clever, ten minute clip titled, "The Squareball," was one of 175 entries from high school and college students nationwide appearing .in the Festival. It was shot in the L s A Media Center, in the basement of Angell Hall. Tune into MTV this Sunday night-with the aid of your phone-in votes, this round of "Basement Tapes" could be a victorious one that promotes the career of an upcoming University talent. A 0 A iCOMEDY Needs tor ECOMPANY Fal'85 Live EXPERIENCED* Generous Cat Peter "Madcat" Ruth, Ann Arbor's coolest harmonicat will perform a benefit concert tonight at 8 p.m. at the U-Ballroom. Proceeds go to the Pound House Children's Center. Tickets are $5 and are available at CTC outlets and at the door. 1 - .Records -MONO E Nik Informational meeting (MC. MONDAY. APRIL 15, 7:30pm, UAC Offices Fo. for more info call UAC 763-1107, Jay 996-1964, or debut -4spawn Ann 7&478~ - Be Go Kershaw-The Riddle A) llowing up on the success of his album Human Racing, which ned the infectious hit "Wouldn't It od," Nik Kershaw has released a new album that is riding the charts titled The Riddle. Kershaw's songs mix music that has pure pop appeal, with lyrics that take a rather critical, and slightly mocking view of the world around hit .One could call it whining, as his voice rarely flexes past a familiar range of about four or five notes. After several songs, this can become a little annoying to the ears. Lyrically, The Riddle ranges from clever and witty (e.g. "The Riddle," "Roses") to somewhat inane, such as "Know How" or "Might Be". His hooks could use some work along the lines of thought inspiration. It is sometimes hard to take his writing seriously if you just look at the lyric sheet, as some pieces have simple lines that keep repeating. Kershaw's downbeat observations, however, are more than balanced by music that is uptempo and danceable. Although not as creative a synthesizer- oriented artist as Howard Jones or Herbie Hancock (who have some really wild arrangements), Kershaw does have a flare for seizing interesting melodies. Many of his songs have a way of slowing down, or dragging musically, and then picking up again; which makes them more unusual and likeable than those of the average syn- th-band. There is only one song that seems Worl Conv d Traveler Pack ertible from luggage to backpack EL ITEMS: 'rters elts really out of place on this album-the S ballad, "Save the Whale". Kershaw singing is noticeably whiney, as it is set to music that sinks equally, in a poolbf pleading, save the whale-save the whale-save the whale... Well, his heart is in the right place. Some more creative use of Kershaw's voice could probably help his material, as it functions more as merely anothjer instrument than as the solo part it could be. Different melodies or harmonies might make him seem less whiney, and the music easier to listen to. A new niix of "Wouldn't it Be Good" that appears on this new album has pushed his voice up a bit, making it stronger. Still, in moderate doses, The Riddleis a decent album,despite these questiong, that can be rather fun at times-even with it's healthy dose of pessimism. -Beth Fertg March of Dimes BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION SAVES BABIES HELP FIGHT BIRTH DEFECTS HARD TO FIND TRAVE -Electrical Adapters & Conve -Passport Carriers/Money B -Light Weight Raingear COMPLETE BACKPACKING SUPPLIES ..-- ._.