The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 14, 1990 - Page 11 For those of you Almodovar fans who missed Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down in the theaters, you'll be mildly surprised by his latest effort *o pander to mainstream tastes. Although even Almodovar at his more conventional contends with the oddest of films the general American public might see, it's still a step back from some of his darker films. And it's a further irony that as Almodovar hits his international stride, this film garnered an X-rating and inspired some of the current con- troversy over a suggested "Adults Wnly" rating to which Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association of America so strongly objects. Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down (Atame in Spanish) was one of the four films this summer that prompted filmmakers and audiences to demand a rating that signifies ex- plicit material without implying hard-core porn. And, as far as the eye ;at tell, the furor is all over one scene involving bathtub masturba- tion with a small watertoy. Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down explores the psy- chlogy of bondage and romance, in a way that cannot escape the most overt sexism. Unfortunately, it's also a movie worth seeing for its other redeeming virtues. It tells the story of a porno star in her first non-hard-core role, and !her relationship with the man who obsesses about her to the point of kidnapping her until she falls in love with him. Whether this is a com- mentary of contemporary male/female relationships or an ex- ample of Almodovar's warped view of female acquiescence, it's hard to tqll. Either ,way, it's worth seeing for its fine performances of people ,who are less that perfect, entrenched in the extravagant world of the Madrid nightclub society. The psy- cllologies of the two main characters emerge in interesting and complete ways. The way in which it toys with audience reaction is perhaps its most uAique accomplishment, because its typically happy romantic ending stirs even the most complacent into questioning the psychology of sex- #9ism and emotional weakness. Either way, it's guaranteed to inspire dis- cussion. Showing at the Michigan Theater on Friday at 9:40. On the other hand, if happiness and warmth is the goal of the evening, Giuseppi Tornatore's Cin- ema Paradiso will suit the taste of a d fferent crowd. Cinema Paradiso, xf r those not generally accustomed seeing foreign films, will affect tle viewer in much the same way as teSwedish My Lfe as a Dog. It sieetly affirms the necessity for lhve and belonging within family 4d community, as it retrospectively tgls the story of a Sicilian film di- r.tor who looks back at his child- hood in a small Sicilian town. Told in three stages, the director's oasession with the art of film be- comes apparent from a very young ae. By far the strongest feature of the film is his early boyhood, with an incredible performance provided by both the young boy, Toto, and the town's old projectionist, Alfredo, who befriends him. Toto lives in a town with one movie theater, before the age of television, and the cinema functions as a 20th-century church in its ability to gather the community together socially. The paternal friendship between Alfredo and Toto unfolds in a way that's so life-affirming, you can't help but come out of the theater buoyant and reenergized. Toto is an imp, both mischievous and ambi- tious, ready to learn the film trade at all costs. By the end of the film, you feel you know the town and its dy- namics like your own hometown. Strong personalities from secondary characters, like the town crazy and the priest who previews all films to splice out kissing scenes, create the dynamic that produces a director. Even if subtitles aren't your bag, Cinema Paradiso breaks down some stereotypes about heavy, emotion- ally exhausting, intellectually ab- struse foreign films. At 7:15 & 9:45 at the MLB. -Jen Bilik This weekend there is a must-see for all music groovers out there. For those who grew up with them, it's like reliving old memories; for those who learned to appreciate their music after they split up, it's an interesting and informative film that lets you get to know the people - the hu- man souls - behind their music. This Is Spinal Tap documents the last few months of England's only contribution to good music during their American tour which licked the nation into convulsions from coast to coast. The film, which began when filmmaker Marty DiBergi wanted to make a kickin' rockumentary about the Tap's Smell the Glove tour, takes on historical importance since the tour was actually the beginning of their decline and led to their even- tual breakup. Mixing concert footage with candid interviews and actual "hidden camera" scenes, we see the Tappers as they actually are, under- wear and all. The fights between lead singer David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel are painful to watch, and re- minds the audience of the pain khey felt when they read about the spats in the National Enquirer-their pain heightening our pain into a painful paean of pain. Is there a dry eye in the audience when the two reunite on stage for one last show? The concert footage intercut is definitive Tap. Filmmaker DiBergi captures all the excitement when that astounding set lowers during "Stonehenge," complete with a Paula Abdul-choreographed dancing leprechaun (while watching the film, I nearly fainted with excitement like I did when I saw them do this live). DiBergi also gives us some Tap classics, while they were being com- posed; in one scene, he stumbles upon Nigel at a piano composing that make-out classic "Lick My Love Pump." ' On a more poignant note, the film also speaks to the current cen- sorship controversy, particularly the obscenity charge over Jane's Addic- tion's latest release. As most fans know, the Tap's Smell the Glove original cover never made it to the stores because their recording com- pany thought it was obscene: a woman on all fours wearing a dog collar and a glove being held in front of her face. Perhaps the lawmakers today should heed the words of one Tapper when he addressed the cen- sorship of his own album cover : That's not sexist,he said. "That's sexy." At Hillel 8:45 &10:30 on Saturday. -Brent Edwards Lounge lizards Capt. Dave gets his (green) tambourine in a twist as Lounge Cats Jessica Peak and Dave Murray gaze on psychedelically. The Captain and his band appears at the Blind Pig on Saturday. Show starts at 9:30 and cover is $4. Vegetarians are welcome but my find theraw meat portions of the show slightly nauseating. 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