The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 9, 1989 - Page 9 The Accidental Tourist no bad trip BY MARK SHAIMAN Macon Leary writes travel books for those people who have to travel but don't want to leave home. That's just the type of guy he is. His wife describes a member of the Leary family as one who always hides inside himself, and thus she wants to be outside of their marriage. So Macon's orderly and routine lifestyle encounters an abnormality. The Accidental Tourist is filled with abnormal characters and situations, and is itself an abnormal film. Abnormally good. Few films in the recent past have been able to present such a meaningful look at personal identity. A large amount of this is due to Anne Tyler, whose novel of the same name created the * wonderful characters that co- writer/director Lawrence Kasdan has brought to life. Kasdan is best known as the creator of the ensemble film The Big Chill, another story in which the relationships between the characters is more important than the storyline. And The Accidental Tourist reunites Kasdan with both William Hurt and Kathleen Turner, whom he directed in 1980's Body Ileat . Both actors have matured since then, and are now playing middle- aged characters. It is Turner as Sarah Leary who brings on Macon's (Hurt's) mid-life crisis by leaving him. He comes to realize that as much as he has traveled, his life has gone nowhere. A year earlier, his son had been brutally killed by a = hold-up man in a fast-food restaurant, and this senseless act only hinders Macon's attempt to make sense of the world around him. Coming into contact with Muriel Pritchett (Geena Davis) doesn't offer any solace either - at least not at first. Macon doesn't like to talk, and Muriel starts conversations by answering questions that weren't even asked. Macon recommends that his readers pack a single, grey business suit because it is easily cleanable and would be handy in case of a funeral; Muriel wears short skirts and leopard skin outfits, and Lee Press-On nails that are as long as her heels are high. The only thing they seem to have in common in the M in their names. But they also have in common Macon's dog, Edward, which Muriel boards and then trains. And while trying to find himself, Macon finds something interesting in Muriel. He sees the side of himself that he has kept inside and never let out, and. through her he can explore his other half. William Hurt is splendid as the befuddled middle-aged man who doesn't smile for the first third of the film, because in his life there is nothing to smile about. But his face is still full of expression,-displaying the bewilderment inside him. But after he meets Muriel he does smile. And so does the audience, because Geena Davis is just right for the part. With such an eccentric character it would be simple to overact, but Davis plays it so smooth that what could have been an obnoxious character becomes endear- ing, and it is not hard to understand why Macon falls for her. Within the framework of the film is a parallel story that adds an amusing twist. Macon's family is a bit eccentric themselves, doing things such as spending long hours organizing their food alphabetically. Macon's editor, Julian, is enamored with the idea that people live like the Leary's do, and gets himself invited over for dinner. At first he just wants to marvel at their odd- ities, but then he finds himself attracted to Macon's sister Rose. Like Macon, Julian is concerned with the state of his life - being a nearly 40-year-old bachelor. 'As Julian spends more time with them, he comes to love them as they are. The same happens to Macon regard- ing Muriel. And on another level, the same happens to the audience. One of Macon's travel slogans is "Less is More." Kasdan's filni also follows this principle. Because Kasdan concentrates so intensely on the characters, they are more thor- oughly developed than the two- dimensional representations so unfortunately common in today's films. As far as movies are con- cerned, Macon-before-Muriel com- plained that they make everything seem so "close up." But the new Macon would think that a good thing, and I bet he'd likeThe Acc- idental Tourist, too. TIE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST is showing at Showcase Cinemas and the Ann Arbor Theaters. Geena Davis (as Muriel Pritchett) company at the movies, and judging their fans. and William Hurt (as Macon Leary) have from the quality of The Accidental Tourist, plenty of so should Rainy Man Continued from Page 8 Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) is Ray's brother. He is a flashy, wheeling ard dealing luxury car salesman who has just learned that his father left him nothing of the $3 million dol'.rs. Out of anger and greed, he sets off to claim his share and unexpectedly meets the brother he never knew he had. What follows is a six- day cross country drive in which Charlie developes a "connection" with Ray. Beyond its entertainment value, Rain Man is an educational and important picture which is gripping and sensitive. It addresses a rare mental disorder head on with a documentary-like approach. Levinson triumphs by creating a perfect balance between a psychology lesson and a motion picture with com- mercial appeal. He reveals the working minds of these two characters with a frightening clarity and shows their growth as they accept each other for what they are. The glory and celebration of this film is Dustin Hoffman. He is what makes Rain Man work. The other characters are almost meaningless in comparison to the grandeur of his portrayal, even Tom Cruise. Cruise's role is a particularily undemanding one, and when his character becomes pivotal to the storyline - when Charlie stops using Ray for his own greed and comes to love him as a brother - this happens so suddenly and so unbelievably that it breaks the streak of magic which the film has enjoyed so well to that point. Levinson is a master at relationships and bringing characters into our hearts. He implements both of these skills in Rain Man with a professional flair and subtlety. There are a few tender moments which gloss the film's texture and intensify an already high-quality work. The bathroom scene in which Raymond reveals that he was the "Rain Man" in Charlie's childhood is emotionally powerful as well as distinctively soft. Another touching memory occurs when Charlie teaches Ray to dance in Las Vegas. These are the scenes in which Ray peeks out from his inner world and shows his true self to us. The end of the film, however, is somewhat inconclusive, which is another of its strengths. The psychologists ask Ray whether he would like to remain with Charlie or return to the sanitarium, and even after a week of living with his brother and growing to accept him, he is still unable to understand the question or its implications. This leads one to ask whether Ray has been changed by his "renegade" week. Although the answer is indeterminable, this is the most brilliant aspect of the film. It defies the conventional live happily-ever-after ending and pro- vides a realistic conclusion to a meaningful motion picture. Rain Man is a film trapped in its own world as much as Raymond is. It is filled with meaning and significance, with educational and entertainment value, and a glittering performance by one of the premier quality actors of our time, Dustin Hoffman. It is a film that requires that we give of ourselves to find the benefits in it which make it so special. It's a movie about people and relationships and in the make-believe world of movies, reality is a close companion to the Rain Man. PASS* IT AROUNDI. 0 To meet your deadlines kinko'rs Open 24 Hour 540 E. Liberty 761-4539 the copy center s Open 24 Hours Q 1220 S. University M 747-9070 6 )pen 7 Days ichigan Union 62-1222 CLASSIFIED ADSI Call 764-0557 r ,, * TEXTBOOKS NEW AND USED: REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR AIL COURSES * BOOK BUY BACK CASH FOR YOUR USED BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. RECEIVE UP TO 50% OF LIST PRICE SCHOOL SUPPLIES COMPLETE SELECTION . RAIN MAN is now showing at the Theaters and at Briarwood. Showcase LIL p -J Student Humanitarian Service Award Call for Nominations The Student Humanitarian Service Award is designed to recognize and honor five students' outstanding contributions to public service and to support their continued. efforts. to address social needs within the community. Five awards of $1,500 will be granted to undergraduates whose college or university is an institutional member of Campus Compact. The University of Michigan is a member, and may nominate one candidate for these awards. The award money will be used to further humanitar- ian activities as directed by the recipient. To nominate a student, please complete the form below. Students are encouraged to nominate themselves. All nominees will then be asked to submit two short essays (250 words each) about their past service activities and their proposal for a future service effort. The University of Michigan nominee will be selected by a committee here on campus and their name forwarded for consideration for the awards. A .4 4. * REFERENCE AND LEISURE READING: NEW AND CLASSIC TITLES IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS. EXTENSIVE LAW, MATHEMATICS, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE SECTIONS. OKSTORE CONGENIAL IrlMICHIGAN UNION B0u CLOSE CONVENIENT OPEN DAILY ALL SEMESTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE MICHIGAN UNION Deadline: Monday, January 23, 1989 (5:00 p.m.) Project Community 2205 Michigan Union Nominee's Name: Address: Phone:4C r MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY - 9:00 am 9:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - 6:00 pm *. 4, Please describe the service activity in which the studentI mately 100 words) during the previous year. has been engaged (approxi- i