Page 8 -The Michigan Daily-Monday, February 15, 1988 'Ironweed' enhances storyline with fine acting By Mark Shaiman Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep have teamed up again in Ironweed. After the disappointment of the lackluster Heartburn, their first film together, this is an extremely wel- come movie. Instead of just being a vehicle in which these two talents can act together, Ironweed uses the stars to enhance the storyline. Of course the initial draw to this film is its headliners. Between them there are four Oscars and 14 nominations. These are quite im- pressive stats, but rightly so, and their performances here are up to their self-developed standards. Nicholson plays Francis Phelan, an ex-big-leaguer turned bum when he could not cope with his guilt upon causing the death of his infant son. He's scruffy and hard-nosed, but he's got a heart of gold and an empty pocket; it sounds like the role was even written for him. Then there is Streep, who has such ability and flexibility that any role seems to have been conceived with her in mind. As Helen she por- trays a former singer and pianist who is down and out. What may be most impressive about her part is that she is a secondary character, and is only on the screen a quarter of the time of the film. In that time she never once tries to upstage the rest of the cast. Streep understood her role and did just what she had to do with it - no nore, no less. The film is an adaptation of William Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, and Kennedy himself did the screenplay. Set in Albany in 1938, the story is concerned with the lives of the homeless, mainly Fran- cis. Through various characters we learn about this type of life - where they sleep, how they get money, what they eat, why they live like they do. No solutions are offered, tightly knit. He knows how to use film techniques to get across a story and a meaning. Transitions are smooth, especially in certain critical scenes where Francis sees appari- tions from his past. These could be very hokey, but in Babenco's experienced hands they fulfill their purpose of providing insight into Francis' personality. Ironweed is one of those films where everything works as it is meant to work. The acting is terrific, the visuals are expressive, the story is interesting, and this all leads to an effective statement. CONTRADICTIONS AND INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH CARE OF THE ELDERLY: A DOCTOR'S DILEMMA by GARY R. ANDREWS, M.D. Professor and Chairman, Department of Primary Care and Community Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia and Chairman of the Executive Committee Asia/Oceania Region of the International Association of Gerontology. Tuesday, February 16, 1988, 4:00 p.m. Rackham Amphitheatre, Fourth Floor 915 East Washington, Ann Arbor The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports presents SU'MMER SO FTBALL Unlike their disappointing appearance in 'Heartburn,' Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep both turn in engaging performances in 'Ironweed.' Nicholson plays Francis Phalen an ex-big-leaguer turned burn with a heart of gold. Streep portrays Helen, a down and out singer and pianist and succeeds by not overplaying her secondary role. but the exploration of the problem is as relevant today as when the story is set. The isolation that these people feel is well demonstrated in the sim- ple idea that many of the characters do not have last names. It empha- sizes the point that they are just shadows of their former selves, and not whole people. The final blow comes when the old railroad station where the homeless "reside" is raided by the town folk, entirely without provocation. In this case, ignorance is not bliss, but the cause of hatred. In a somewhat comical scene He- len poignantly summarizes the way of life of herself and her compan- ions. Kneeling in front of a statue of Christ she says "Forgive me for I have sinned. You may call them sins, I call them decisions." To th homeless, life does not consist of right or wrong; it is a matter of sur- vival. And that is the point of the film. Social commentary is a prevalent part of the story and it is well- han- dIed. This in itself is a good reason to see the film, if Nicholson and Streep aren't enough already. But there are still other features that make the film worthwhile. Tom Waits has a supporting role as Rudy, a slow-witted bum who has terminal cancer. He evokes the right amount of pity and pathos from the audience and from Francis - his character takes the place of the child that Francis lost. And Carroll Baker plays the wife that Francis left be- hind and visits after 22 years. She is able to display a calm exterior and inner turmoil at the same time. Such able performances should not be overlooked in the shadow of the two main stars. The other star of the film is be- hind the scenes. Director Hector Babenco (Kiss Of The Spider Woman) has kept the production Classics CF #" lx~fr 4 17. - I8t0) ) RECRUIT U.S.A., INC. (800) 325-9759 CITICORP PLAZA, 725 S. FIGUEROA ST., SUITE 3100 LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 PHONE:(213) 955-4900 c'mon.. thursday's classes aren't all that important LAUGHF <7IAK presents comedian DIRECT FROM L.A.'S IMPROV & DANGERFIELD'S IN N.Y.C. TI ALE DETROIT'S ORIGINAL BAD BOY OF COMEDY Student Comedians Adult Slow-Pitch Leagues Mass Meeting February 24-6:00 p.M. 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This is an award presented annually to an undergraduate student who demonstrates excellence of both technical work and the presentation of that work in written or graphic form. The prize is presented in memory of George M. Landes, a 1977 graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Department and a Ford Motor Company engineer who was killed in an automobile accident in 1981. To enter, a student must submit a single piece of technical work. This presentation -- written, graphic, or some combination of communication media -- can be a technical article, a design report, a piece of technical journalism, or Is the only MAC you know a hamburger? " Zs- You can't eat a Macintosh computer, but you can learn to use one. That's wvhyPIC--Peer Informtion Couinseling--offers asistance in basic wrord nro- A