10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, August 10, 1994
Muddied but harmless
By Micah Berryhill where things are taking place or even
Perhaps I didn't pay attention too distinguish between the good guys and
closely or give this movie a chance, the bad guys. OK, it's not that bad, but
but"Clear and Present Danger"proves pretty darn close.
to be clear and present confusion. One bonus point is Harrison Ford's
This doesn't necessarily mean I character, Jack Ryan, who for the most
thought it was a bad movie, but it's part acts as the deputy director of the
definitely not among my favorites. CIA.Basically, hetriestocapturethese
It's just one of those complex movies, drug cartels from Columbia, who have
jumping from one scene to another, ties to influential people in the United
where everything seems to be unre- States. However, Jack also uncovers
lated at the time, but somehow ties dirty dealings in the White House, in-
volving Cabinetmembersandthepresi-
dent.
Clear and Ford's character is well developed,
Present Danger showing multiple sides to his person-
ality: his shy side, when talking with
Directed by Philip Noyce; the president for the first time; his
based on the novel by Tom clever side, creating theories to solve
Clancy. the White House mystery; his sly side,
With Harrison Ford, James breaking into personal computer files;
Earl Jones, Willem Dafoe. and his outspoken side, giving the prez
hell for his transgressions.
together in the last 30minutes of a 2 1/ That brings up another problem
2-hour flick. "Clear and Present Dan- with the movie. Most of the time is
ger" demands constant attention to ev- spent focusing on Jack Ryan and not
ery word spoken and the actions of all enough on the other characters, leav-
characters, big and small. So if an un- ing only names with faces and noth-
expected bathroom break arises, forget ing more. Severaltcharacters each have
it - you're lost for good. You won't maybe two or three scenes and then
know who's doing what to whom, they're cut out, leaving the audience
Touch not the
wondering about the importance of
those scenes to the overall story.
A bonus is the awesome sound
effectsfromtheDigital Sound Theatre.
The movie would not be the same on
video. You have to experience your
chest rumbling when a helicopter flies
by.
Other effective methods in hold-
ing attention are scenes in the movie
that capture intense emotion, such as
Jack witnessing one of his good friends
being shot.
Weighing these things, it's worth
$6.25 to see this movie, but don't be
surprised if you leave confused, frus-
trated or annoyed. It's a difficult
movie, but somewhat entertaining.
Sausage, 1
By Ted Watts
Sausage. Say it loud and say it
proud. Patty or link, it's a fine food
group. Oh, wait. Sausage is actually the
original lineup of Primus, and they've
released a CD called "Riddles Are
Abound Tonight"? And they've gone
on tour? And that tour is barrelling
toward us like a freight train toward
small children play-
ing "cutting the
wings off flies" on
the tracks near th
river which will soon
bered with the spurt-
ing blood of not-so-
innocents? I see.
Yes indeed, Les
Claypool has taken his little show on
the road, opening for the Rollins Band
and Helmet. One might almost think
that the order of the bands has been
reversed, and only by some error does
a band of such a luminary as Claypool
open for that poet laureate of MTV,
Henry Rollins. But Sausage is a very
anbelievef
unpresumptuous unit, and the mo
laid-back spot seems to fit the ban
well.
"It's not weird, it looked like agre4
tour to be on, and it's a good bill,
Claypool says. "Variety is the spicec
life. It's nice being in a lot of th-
venues again and playing smaller v.
ues and such. We're having a goo
LONG
Continued from page 9
striking transformation after Mary's
first morphine shot, and her ticks and
obsessive movements - fixing her
hair or rubbing her crippled hands -
make her Mary positively entrancing.
It should be noted, however, that
Henry is not carrying the production
for a lack of supporting talent; she is
in the company of three very com-
mendable actors: Peter Donaldson,
William Hutt and Tom McCamus.
Hutt's work in the past 30 seasons at
Stratford is evidence that he is fully
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capable of carrying the show as James
Tyrone; here, however, he backs off
(wisely) to Henry. And Tom
McCamusismemorableinhisStratford
debut as Edmund.
Astrid Janson's set projects a very
temporary feeling: The wicker furni-
ture is flimsy, the cushions worn, the
oriental rugs carefully mismatched.
The costumes are in subdued pastel
tones, in appropriately rumpled linen
and flowing cotton; the shoes are worn
to the soles. LouiseGuinand's lighting
is soft and unobtrusive. Day lighting is
filtered through two wings of dove-
gray gauze, hovering over the stage
ominously. Thiseffectnotonly softens
the light, but suggests the oppressive
fog which plagues this and so many
other O'Neill dramas.
This play is long and exhausting,
and O'Neill shows the frustrating futil-
ity of thatjourney. Somehow youknow
that the Tyrones will take the same
journey tomorrow, and the day after
that. But the richness of the play and of
this well-crafted production lies in the
surrender: You have to allow yourself
to be taken on this journey. And you
learn to relish not the end result, but
what happens along the way.
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO
NIGHTrunsin repertory throughSept.
17 at the Tom Patterson Theatre in
Stratford, Ontario. For tickets,
accommodationsorinformation about
this or any other production, call the
Stratford Festival Box Office at (519)
273-1600.
time. Ihaven't been thinking aboutit asi
an opening spot, cuz it's been a good
gig. Sausage is a totally differentband,
so I don't feel like I'm opening up with
Primus."
Of course, opening up, one won-
ders if there was any pressure from the
short-haired individuals in the other
bands. "No, not at all," says Claypool.
"I did shave my head a week before'
tour, but it had nothing to do with
conformity."
Maybeyou'rewonderingwhatSait
sage sounds like. Well, simply take
Primus and take a bit of the edge off. If
you like one, you'll probably like the
other.
But take heed: Sausage isn't going
to be omnipresent. "We're just doing
this one tour this time. It's about five
weeks long." And without any str4
idea of when they're going to recor
next, it could be a long while bef
you can see Sausage again and a long
time until you see Claypool play in the
sunlight.
Sausageplaysthis FridayatthePhoenix
Plaza Amphitheatre in Pontiac with
the Rollins Band and thosefine boys in
Helmet.
o
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