w 'f MC First Run Films AGNES OF GOD Three of America's finest actresses, Jane Fon- da, Anne Bancroft, and Meg Tilly are the leads in this psychological quasi-mystery. A young nun (Tilly) is found in a room with a strangled newborn infant, presumably hers, but claims that a miracle has occurred. Fonda is an inquiring psychologist who squares off against the convent's Mother Superior (Bancroft). At the Campus Theater, 1214 S. University, 668416. AFTER HOURS A black comedy about a young man who is plunged into a night of bizarre, comical, and frightening adventure after a first date with a woman from SoHo. Critically well accepted. Stars Tern Garr, Rosanna Arquette, Griffin Dunne. At the Ann Arbor Theatre, 210 S. Fifth, 761-9700. BACK TO THE FUTURE A Speilberg-presented, Robert Zemeckis- directed fantasy about a high-school student who rides a souped-up DeLorean into the '50s, and is forced to insure his own existence by playing mat- chmaker for his parents. A little too cute, but well handled. At the State Theatre, 231 S. State, 6624264 and the Wayside, 3020 Washtenaw, 434-1782. THE BLACK CAULDRON Sword and sorcery-filled animated feature from Disney. Although aimed at restoring Disney to its former reputation, the film wallows in its own mediocrity. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briar- wood Mall, 769-8780. THE BRIDE Sting and Jennifer Beals (Flashdance) don't quite make this monster movie work. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple, 769-1300. COCOON Gentle post-Speilbergian fantasy about benevolent aliens, children, and geriatrics. Direc- ted by Ron Howard (Splash). At the Movies at Briarwood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. COMMANDO Arnold Swarzenegger's performance as The Terminator was all in good fun, but this latest ef- fort from Mr. Muscle looks a little too much like Rambo. A retired mercenary is forced back into action when his daughter is kidnapped. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple, 769-1300. FOLLOW THAT BIRD Big Bird plays a golden fowl who gets lost wan- dering away from Sesame Street. Includes a clever scene where Big Bird finds himself (herself?) in the same precarious field that Cary Grant en- countered in North-by-Northwest. Cameos by Snuful-Upagus. From the Children's television Workshop. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY A marvelously imaginative comedy about an African bushman who mistakes a Coke bottle that falls from an airplane for a dropped trinket of the gods and decides to return it. The laughs are pure slapstick, but ingenious and relentless. A cult classic and deservedly so. Now approaching its fir- st year of running. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. THE JAGGED EDGE A murder-mystery thriller that involves a savage slaying, a man wrongly accused of the murder, a female assistant district attorney, and of course, a romantic subplot. Stars Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briar- wood Mall,.769-8780. JOSHUA THEN AND NOW A free spirit traverses two continents in pursuit of life, love, and success. Stars Alan Arkin and James Woods. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briar- wood Mall, 769-8780 KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN William Hurt supplies the emotional power. This film adaptation is faithful to the dialogue of Manuel Puig's book, but lacks some of its heart. Recommended nonetheless. At the Ann Arbor Theatre, 375 S. Fifth, 761-9700. MARIE No information available at press time. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE No information available at press time. At the State Theatre, 231 S. State, 662-626. PLENTY A heroic Englishwoman is haunted by memories of the passion and idealism of her experience as a fighter in the French Resistance. At the Movies at Briarwood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. RE-ANIMATOR A medical student develops a serum which can bring the dead back to life. At the State Theatre, 231 S. State, 662-6264. REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS An ordinary cop turned secret agent brings justice to international criminals with the help of his mystical training in the martial arts. Based on the Destroyer book series by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple 769-1300. SILVER BULLET Another Steven King story turned into a movie. King himself wrote the screenplay about a young boy trying to save his town from a werewolf. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple, 769-1300.. ST. ELMO'S FIRE Seven young friends share their fantasies at a D.C. bar. Call it The Little Chill. Stars Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson. At the Movies in Briar- wood, Briarwood Mall, 769-8780. SWEET DREAMS The story of legendary country singer Patsy Cline and her turbulent romance with Charlie Dick, her second husband. Stars Jessica Lange. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple, 769-1300. WARNING SIGN Man meets virus thriller. Mutates drama. At the Fox Village Theatre, 375 N. Maple, 769-1300. miracle here By Richard Campbell Agnes of God Starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, and Megan Tilly LAST YEAR, Norman Jewison brought A Soldier's Story from the wooden stage of theater to the silver screen of cinema. Under Jewison's direction, that strongly emotional play barely sim- mered in film. Save for some well tended performances, moviegoers were denied a glimpse of real drama and instead treated to a safe, sanitized version of the play, com- plete with upbeat ending. We've seen the same kind of safe, non-controversial, and ultimately dull productions from a few other prominent directors. Because of their temperments, we are, of course, saved from outrageously altered film versions of stage plays: It is nice to be able to see a reasonable movie whose exposition and characters are developed just as they were on Broadway. But these movies also end up with little energy in them and no passions to drive them. In a film like Agnes of God, a film which attempts to question faith and miracles in the modern age, energy and passion are its very lifeblood. In short, the film tells the story of Agnes, an impossibly naive and pure woman whose cloistered life in a con- vent has shielded her from any con- tact with contemporary society. When Agnes gives birth to a baby, which is found strangled to death in her room, the state must decide whether to charge her with mur- der,manslaughter, or find her in- nocent by reason of insanity. This plot rises above its melodramatic foundations when it is revealed that Agnes hears voices ap- parently from the Virgin Mary. Because Anges cannot remember even giving birth, let along killing the baby, it is suspected that we could be the film grow slack. Rather than confronting the audience with, serious issues of faith and belief, Jewison concentrates on the mystery-story, turning a good play back into a mediocre melodrama. What works in the film, works against the grain of the plot. Meg Tilly is unimaginably innocent as Agnes, a girl whose devotion to God is as pure ar her innocence. But for her performance, Agnes of God could easily have been a farce; it is her ab- solutely sincere expression, devoid of any complexity or deceit that makes us wonder whether the voices she hears are real. As filmed by Sven Nykvist, long time cinematic collaborator of Ingmar Bergman, the characters and settings are for the most part peaceful and muted. Jewison seems to be aping Bergman in many compositions, but his insistance on playing up the elements of gothic horror ("Oh- mygosh! What is Agnes going to find at the end of the dark corridor?") rather than the much more interestng themes of the play, betray his real talents. t] d . c d in Fonda ... earnest admidst sanitized shan-nun-igans witness to a truly miraculous oc- currence turned into blackest tragedy. Enter Jane Fonda, the psychiatrist charged with making a judgement on Agnes' sanity. As Fonda interrogates Agnes and battles with the Mother Superior, the rhythms and content of he deri Agn cha des mei gr tha sol a w( ab cif sn tw pa sli; col ri( sal he Ag do be stc pT SO c b a st to T in m re PC Tc ex srl FRIDAY 4 in B-flat, exemplifications of the composer's Romantic innovations. Included in the program is guest Bars and Clubs piano soloist Barbara Nissman, a university music school graduate who has performed with such Drestigious The Apartment-(769-4060)-Reflect orchestras as the London Philhar- on the sounds of the Detroit Top-40 band Glass.. The Bird of Paradise-(662- 8310)-Jazz with the Jeff Kressler Trio, featuring vocalist Patty Richar- ds. The Blind Pig-(996-8555)-Ska music with Detroit Panic, made up of former members of SLK. The Earle-(994-0211)-Rick Burgess and Patty O'Connor in their jazz ensemble. The Heidelberg-(663-7758)-The bittersweet sounds of country music with singer/guitarist Shawn Williams. Main Street Comedy Showcase-(996-9080)-Laugh to the gags of Stuart Mitchell. Mr. Flood's Party-(996-1133)-You know him from Channel 7, now see folk musician and comedian Ron Coden really perform. The Nectarine Ballroom-(994- 5436)-Domino's powerful and hugely popular Detroit dance band will send you tumbling. Rick's American Cafe-(996- 2747)-From reggae to songs of the 60s with (Bop) Harvey. U-Club-(763-2236)-DJ Tom Simonian flips the discs of new-music dance bands. Performance Ann Arbor Chamber Or- chestra-Washtenaw Council for the Arts Carl Daehler conducts the 35- member local ensemble, which is reputed to be one of the region's finest classical orchestras. The group opens its 1985-1986 season with Bethoven's Concerto No. 4 in G and his Symphony monic, the Royal Philharmonic, andI the Boston Pops. The concert opens+ with the best-known works of univer- sity professor Bill Bolcom. 8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty.+ Tickets $6-$12 in advance and at the door. For information and to charge tickets by phone, call 996-0066. Ann Arbor Dance Works-University Dance Department The newly-formed resident professional dance company will present a diverse program which in- cludes a special reconstruction of Jose Limon's classic solo Chaconne and works by the company's -faculty choreographers. The group will per- form' the works of Gay Delanghe, Bill DeYoung, Peter Sparling, and Jessica Fogel. Scores written by David Boden, Frederic Rzewski, Chick Corea, and University Dance Depar- tment Artistic Director David Gregory. Performance at 8 p.m., University Dance Building Studio A, 1310 N. University Ct. Admission is $5 for students and seniors, $6 for others. For more information call 763-0450. Kate Clinton-Act II Productions "We are each equal to the task of making light," says Clinton. "Light enough to see where we are going in these dark times, and light enough to make women visible to each other," is the philosophy of this feminist- humorist ("fumerist"). Clinton's first comedy album Making Light is a fine showcase of one who uses humor as an abrasive yet illuminating force. Singer Deirdre McCalla opens the show. 7:30 and 10 p.m., at The Ark, 6271= S. Main. Tickets $7-$9 at the door, or at PJ's Used Records, Schoolkid's, and Earth Wisdom Music. Call 769-1298 or 761-1451 for more information. Loot-Suspension Theatre Directed by Andy Mennick, this Joe Orton farce mocks drawing room comedy and other genres by tran- sposing immoral characters into traditionally comic situations. Orton, one of few counterculture playwrites to eventually realize commercial suc- cess, wove this lampoon about a struggle between a corrupt police in- spector and his prey-a wicked mor- tician and his equally evil sidekick who have cached stolen loot in a cof- fin. This production stars Mickle Maher, Christopher Flynn, Alison Maker, Scott Palmer, and John Nicolson. At Performance Network, 408 W. Washington, 8 p.m. $6 in ad- vance and at the door ($5 students and seniors). Tonight only, two for one. For more info, call 665-1400. Manuel Lopez-Ramos-Ann Arbor Classic Guitar Society Lopez, winner of the Argentine Chamber Music Society's highest award, performs works composed by Sylvius Leopold Weiss (a contem- porary of J.S. Bach), Scarlatti, Granados, and Albenis. Lopez teaches guitar classes and workshops around the world and is founder of Estudio De Arte Guitarristico, an internationally famous guitar studio in Mexico City. Performance at 7 p.m. at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave. Tickets are $7 in advance and at the door. To reserve tickets or to obtain more information, call 769- 2999. University Chamber Choir-Univer- sity School of Music Klaus Roy's Canticle and Handel's Dixit Dominus are just a few of the works to be performed. Thomas Hilbish conducts the student ensem- ble. Concert begins at 8 p.m. at Hill Auditorium. Admission, free. Call 763- 4726 for more information. Campus Cinema Entre Nous (Diane Kurys, 1984) Alternative Action Two women become friends and find that their relationship keeps the rest of their lives on an even keel. MLB 4, 7:15 p.m., 9:30 p.m. $2.50. Muddy River (Kohei Orugi, 1981) Japanese Film Society Engaging and subtle look at life in Japan in the late '40s as seen through the eyes of two young boys. Aud. A, 8 p.m. only. Free Ordinary People (Robert Redford, 1980) Mediatrics Redford's years in front of the camera are put to good use behind the scenes. The Judith Guest novel of a preppie family's emotional instability is directed with clarity and acted with sincerity. With Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland as mom and dad and Timothy Hutton as the mixed-up kid. MLB 3, 7:30p.m., 9:45p.m. $2.50. Poletown Lives (INFFAC, 1983) Bullard Film Society When the city of Detroit and General Motors decided to build a fac- tory, the only thing standing in their way was the neighborhood of Poletown. East Quad, 7:30 p.m only. Donations requested. Two English Girls (Francois Truf- faut, 1971) Cinema Guild Truffaut delicately directs the story of one man's love for two sisters. Nat. Sci., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. $2.50. Furthermore International Folk Dancing-Univer- sity Folk Club Every Friday the Folk Dance Club teaches steps from 7:30 to 9 p.m. or so, and then fills the rest of the evening with open invitation dancing. No par- tner is necessary. 8 p.m. at the Ingalls Mall. Call 665-0219 for more infor- mation. " " Raining (Continued from Page 4) sound. I mean, we do our own thing. W: You mentioned the Damned, any thoughts on them? S: They're the most underrated rock 'n roll and ever. And their new album is just great. Even with their constan- tly shifting personnel, the spirit of their music improves constantly. They're one of my all-time favorite bands. W: What about local music favorites? S: I like Viv Akauldren, Sleep, the Frames ... W: Tell me about the Frames. S: They write really great songs. W: Aren't they pretty old? S: Yes they were doing that guitar kind of '60s-flavored music several years ago. (They started in '82). They've been doing it very sincerely and from the heart since then. I think they do it better than most bands that made.a claim to that kind of stuff. W: Regarding your songwriting, ********* * VAIL- BEAVER CREEK * " ski vacations are being reserved. Our 3 3 ,L bedroom townhouse is convenient to both .( areas; all amenities; reasonable. (303) . 526-0064-(303)945-6065.- HARRY'S I I K U ARMY SURPLUS j OFF ALL I iO/ MERCHANDISE ' except sale items ' coupon expires Oct. 24, 1985 I .I 201 E. Washington ! CORNER OF FOURTH AVE. 9 3Open 7 days a I 43 week to better mm.m-...serve you. MJ what kinds of things went into writing the EP? S: Radioland is a strange culmination of all sorts of images from my childhood and dreams. It just sort of came together. It's kind of hard to ex- plain. Other songs on that record, like "Go Along With You" are about per- sonal experiences and "Looking Glass" was written for Stefan (Ver- nie, synths/keyboards). W: As far as the sound of the EP, it seems very ethereal. Nothing's mun- dane, everything's real airy and moving. S: Well, the Simmons drum machine isn't there anymore. We used it on the EP, but we've found our sound is more powerful with more drums. The results have bee, pleasing. W: Game Theory ditched them, too. Speaking of them, what do you, as a "-SHIRT 'PRINTNc Ann Arbor's fastest! From 10-800 T-shirts screenprinted within 24 hours of order. Multi-color printing our specialty. You supply art or use our expert design staff. Hundreds of surplus T-shirts only $2. each. Located behind the Blind Pig Cafe 206S.FirstSt.Phone994-1367 US AANNl 1ARBOR LOCAL local musician, think of the national our current lineup, it's a mo success of local scenes like spired band. Live, we're mo in Sacramento, Athens, and Austin? volved and there's more S: I think it's good,but there's been munication. That's the only too much good music that's been we've played in a while. ignored from Detroit. Too many good W: What about your new bands have come out that just haven't player? gotten anywhere. I find it kind of anti- S: Well, Brian Salk and I have climatic seeing all these bands like friends for several years and Dream Syndicate and Green on Red worked together on and off, so making it so big. our last bass player left the W: What local acts do you think are Brian was immediately our c more deserving? Things have managed to work' S: Urgent Action, Western Arrest. tistically and he contributes a Bands like that could have gone on to the band. He's really incredible do amazing things. W: Does Brian do any writing W: I know your band just recently S: I used to do a majority formed. How long has it been since writing, but it's gotten to the you played a show? where Brian will just start p S: We played a show in Detroit last something and then we'll all ju August at Paycheck's. I think it was playing. Songs just tend to h the best show we've ever played. With sometimes and there isn'te re in- re in- com- show bass e been d have owhen band, choice. out ar- lot to a of the e point playing st start happen even a I RALPH'S MARKET Coupon and Save This Week's Specials 1 lb. Doritos 1.99/reg. $2.49 71/2 oz. Doritos .99 Ireg. $1 49 Al Beef Bologna $1.89 lib. 709 PACKARD 665-7131 Open 10 a.rn. - 12 a.m. Sun-Thur 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. Football Saturday hrs. 8 a.m. -2 a.m. MONDAY-THURSDAY T1 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. 1 Pitchers of Budweiser $2.75 Ic Iced Tea $2.75 W MONDAY 1( 5 p.m. to Midnight W Half Off whole or half pans of A pizza! No takeouts please. de og 10 p.m. to close 50ยข Drafts DON'T GE 'TO YOUR Sandi v Sandi's Typi 42 campus good thrv: I S--- -- -- -- -- 8 Weekend/ Friday, October 18, 1985 Weekend