Tuesday, September. 12, 1989- The Michigan Daily - Page 5 ARTS The Midhigan Daily -Tuesday, September 12, 1989- Page 5 Zit 's swell Advertising boils with cynicism BY NABEEL ZUBERI How To Get Ahead in Advertising is about a boil... a bump, lump, oily node, carbuncle, pimple, spot, zit... a festering pus vessel that changes copywriting ge- nius Dennis Dimbleby Bagley's life forever. Bagley (Richard E. Grant) is bead writer at a top agency in London, but the stress of coming up with a campaign for a new acne cream proves too much, resulting in the appearance of a serious protuber- ance on his neck. This dermatologi- cally troublesome turn of events of- fers the opportunity for director Bruce Robinson (Withnail & I) to present us with an often hilarious diatribe against advertising, television and Thatcherism. Grant is superb as the manic copywriter with flailing limbs and the carefully chosen obscenity. He's like a younger, even more malevo- lent Basil Fawlty, bossing around his juniors and blissfully arrogant about his advertising genius. Of course, all this nastiness is what makes him such a brilliant creator of campaigns, for Bagley is completely cynical about the marketplace and what he's ,selling his average consumer. The movie is full of great capitalist Thatcherite aphorisms that slip off Bagley's acid tongue: "There's no greater freedom than freedom of choice," "The world is one great big shop. I can sell anything!" In an early scene in his plush executive of- fice, he brainstorms for ideas, com- ing up with voice-over ideas to sell the product. Quite tellingly, all the voices have slick American accents, is, whether they are secreting sincerity, oozing sex, or bubbling with health and vitality. The Americanization of the British media is clearly one of1 Robinson's major axes to grind. After the boil appears, however, there's a crisis in confidence forJ Bagley, and schizophrenia rears itsI ugly (black)head - the nasty, bril-1 liant advertising genius wars with the moral, decent chap in Bagley, the lat- ter wanting to expose the lies, deceit and greed that constitute the advertis-1 ing industry and British society inl Thatcher's dystopia. This is a world where hamburgersI are going to cause World War III; the1 rainforests will disappear, and there< will be a commodity crisis - theI commodity being oxygen. The; Brazilians will raise the price of the commodity and we'll all go to war for it. This is also a world where the politicians sell us the bomb with the ingredient of peace. In the present of. tHow To Get Ahead in Advertising the absurd quotes the vulgar (to cite Lou Reed). The tone of the movie goes in swings and roundabouts from the ab- surd to the farcical to the grotesque.. At points it's as stomach churning as the green vomiting in The Exorcist. However, there's many a belly laugh along the way. These are inspired mainly by the hyperkinetic Grant, but also by the cast of fine character actors. Richard Wilson is wonderful as Bagley's cynical, but camp and ef- fete boss. And as Bagley's wife, Rachel Ward ably plays it straight beside him. The conclusion to the movie is wonderfully over-the-top with Bagley riding on his steed over fields and hills in England's green and pleasant land, with the majestic music of "Jerusalem" swelling up in the back- ground. He's hyped up, ranting to himself and to nobody in particular as he gets off his horse and runs over the hilltop like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. He's in aphoristic overdrive like Nietzsche with a riding crop. It's a visually stunning and comically baroque wonder. With its sharp verbal humor, How To Get Ahead in Advertising is a must for those who like their social commentary and satire peppered with loud comedy. The only thing is: you must have a strong stomach. A pim- ple will never look the same again. HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING is now showing at Ann Arbor 1 & 2. N i R Y } 7 t k 9 #, x ' .y . C r , Riders in the Ark Riders In The Sky, that upbeat trio of pseudo-cowboy crooners that camped out at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival last year, have ridden back into town to play at the Ark tonight at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Legend has it that one of these guys started the "Paul is dead" rumor right here at the Daily. And always remember, when times get tough: It may not be the easy way, but it's the cowboy way. Are you questioning your existence? Still searching for the meaning of life? Do you spend most of your time compiling facts about the life of Victor Buono, the guy who played King Tut on the 1960's Batman TV show? End the meagerness-- now you can make a difference! (albeit minuscule.) Join the MICHIGAENSL/N &l f L' f I PASS IT AROUND ! Share the news, ~ g I- CI) QI presents GUYS & DOLLS Sept 12 at 7:00 pm ' p IN 2105 MICHIGAN UNION Accepting applications for MUSKET The University of Michigan's humor magazine. We need writers, artists, photographers, and business people. M ass M eeting: Sunday, September 17th at 2:00pm in the GARGOYLE OFFICE First floor of the Student Publications Building, 420 Maynard Street Grya Or to speak to the editor individually, stop by the office on Weds. the 13th from 2pm to 4pm; Thurs. the 14th from 4pm to 5:30pm; or Friday the 15th from 12pm to 2pm. IT'S A GOING t. Welcome Students -7 Barber Stylists " For Men & Women " To please you - No waiting Dascola Stylists Opposite Jacobson's 668-9329 Director Choreographer Music Director q A ,5 BUSINESS SALE! YOUR CHOICE - $6.99 ON CASSETTE! Info regarding stage managers,set designer, tech director, make-up, publicity and other positions/ commmittees including audition info call the UAC office 763-1107. Get involved! IYJ F4 W Q- a. 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