ARTS Tuesday, January 13, 1987 he Michigan Daily Page 7 Autuer Estevez makes unwise move Iy Geoffrey Riklin It seems unfair to see Emilio Estevez, who appears to have no cinematic ability, make big budget movies when there are undoubtably scores of gifted people waiting tables because they cannot obtain financial backing for their ideas. Estevez plays auteur in his new film,Wisdom, in which he portrays a young man, named John Wisdom, who can't get a decent job because he has a felony conviction on his record that resulted from a drunken joyride in a stolen car. Wisdom committed the act at the age of nineteen, and that, when combined with a simple explanation of the incident and a glance at his college record, would probably mitigate the misdeed and land Wisdom a job. But this isn't the way the plot goes, and so the entire basis of the film is open to doubt. In any case, Wisdom, depressed at his unemployment and the tnfairness of it all, wanders (for no apparent reason) into a bus station, inserts a quarter into a t.v. monitor, and thereupon watches (for at least twenty seconds) a report about mortgage foreclosures, homeless people, etc. It is then that John Wisdom's consciousness is sud - denly raised! Wisdom vows to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed, and embarks on his new mission, consisting of invading banks and burning the mortgage records contained within. Estevez has starred, written, and directed this bit of egregiousness, so its failure is entirely attributable to him. The most conspicuous aspect of his acting is its utter lack of intensity. He explodes with all the power of a keg of sodden gunpowder. His writing distin - guishes itself by its vacuity. Estevez spent three weeks preparing the scripts' first draft. Think about it: in three weeks he couldn't come up with a single interesting line, and through its subsequent develop - ment it retained an amazing number of statements that are less profound than the fortunes printed on the cartoons that accompany Bazooka bubblegum. As a director Estevez can't resist a weakness for cliches and is unable to include anything else. He can't obtain decent performances from his actors and actresses, has rotten taste in musical scores, neglects to include a single interesting set, pollutes his serious scenes with silly comic asides, and, lastly, chickens out in a scene added after the logical climax, which, by the way, is absurdly melodramatic. Estevez's co-star is his girlfriend-soon-to-be-wife, Demi Moore. Well, doesn't love conquer all? Moore was passable in About Last Night, but here she is dreadful. Moore has tolerated Estevez's brush with disaster, and vice-versa. Let's hope their marriage is so mutually tolerant. People who have to pay to see movies can't afford to have as much patience. Car smashes, superfluous slow-motion, laughable robberies, insipid supporting performances- this one has it all. Perhaps what's worse is that I saw this thing shortly after having my faith in film restored by Platoon and a VCR viewing of The Road Warrior. Looks like it's back to cinematic atheism. Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore play 'Robin Hood' ina truly stupid 'Wisdom.' Records Debbie Harry Rockbird . Geffen Thank Heavens, Debbie Harry is back. Her new album, Rockbird, is the expected return of her usual simpleminded lyrics. "Buckle up that seat belt baby. It's gonna be a bumpity bump. Buckle up your sweet self sugar. Ya make me crazy and I jumpity jump.". ,These are the lyrics to "Buckle one of many barely excusable gems on Rockbird. While this giddy public service announcement is remarkaby devoid of any thought whatsoever, it hoppity hops along Let a ' in a riproaring groove. Seth Justman's production, which resembles the lightweight R&B of his later albums with J. Geils, is a perfect compliment. "Buckle Up" is a goodtime ditty, as is "You Got Me in Trouble" and the single "French Kissin'." For those who buy the record to hear Blondie, Harry co-writes with ex-mate Chris Stein on three songs that echo that group's new wave posturings. The best of these is "In Love with Love," in which she resurrects the sultry whispersof 1979's "Heart of Glass" to produce an absolute cotton puff of a dance number. Because nobody will expect any - thing significant to come from "Howie's Teed Off" by the Real Rockbird, no one will come away Roxanne with Howie T., every cut unsatisfied. Debbie Harry is on this record is a bona fide hit by a nothing more than a strikingly bona fide rap giant. attractive, talented vocalist, backed The line-up is startlingly solid. with likable musicians and Run-D.M.C.'s now classic "King production. For a nothing album, of Rock" is here, as is the Fat though, it is rich with vibrancy and Boys' eponymous debut. The Boogie Boys rap out "Fly Girl" and vitality. UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" is -Mark Schwartz here. One can quibble with the inclusion of Timex Social Club's Rap's Greatest Hits "Rumors" on quality grounds, but Various Artists not on grounds of popularity. And this record is now the only place Priority one can find the original mix of Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh This one comes up just short of Crew's "The Show," with its nifty outstanding. With the exception of "Inspector Gadget Theme" lift. The record would earn an A-plus, even with the non-hit from Real Roxanne, were it not for an extremely gutless choice on the part of the compilers. The compilers were wise in their selection of "The Roof is On Fire" by Rockmaster Scott & The Dynamic Three, but they balked at the lyrics of the chorus, which includes the word "motherfucker." While this word is definitely one of the real baddies, it is wholly appropriate in context ("Burn,motherfucker, burn!") and their presentation of an edited version, which is precisely as long as the original, but never once includes the title phrase, is api - neless and indicative of a sus - piciously loose attitude with regard to the artistic integrity of the product. An album titled "Rap's Greatest Hits" should not be squeamish about presenting the music it celebrates in an uncensored, whole form. The occasional obscenity is a part of rap, and slicing and dicing master tape is both condescending and deceptive. It may make Tipper Gore feel better about rap music, but it cheats those who buy the record in order to find out what rap is all about. And if the compilers just couldn't bring themselves to include a naughty word, why didn't See RECORDS-page 8 2-Year Old Help You With Your Homework Get in on the BEST opportunity E to get your own: * MacintoshM Plus comput *800K external or SCSI] " ImageWriterII printer ver er hard drive .3. 7r li Advance orders now being taken. For more information on the sale and the machines, pick up a supplementary information packet at: *Any Computing Center public facility, such as UNYN, NUBS or the Undergraduate Library; *The Microcomputer Education Center, School of Education Building; *Photo and Campus Services, LS&A Building; *Campus Information Center, Michigan Union. or attend an information seminar in Auditorium 3 of the Modern Languages Building, 812 E. 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