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About What's happening. (Eugene, OR) 1982-1993 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1987)
Review: Prick Up Your Ears Tragic, bawdy, funny film by Ross West Twenty years ago last week Ken neth Halliwell hammered British playwright Joe Orton to death, then killed himself. They had been lovers for 16 years. The witty, sexy, and charming Orton seems always ahead of the game, and yet, like Guy Burgess (In Another Country), he is an eternal outsider because of his homosexuality. In one sense Prick Up Your Ears is about insiders and outsiders. By film’s end the au dience feels like insiders, privy to Orton’s most intimate moments and the conflicts that rage both within and about him. The film is startling and well-told, tragic, bawdy and funny. Based on John Lahr’s biography of Orton, Prick Up Your Ears moves smartly through the rocky territory of the young writer’s troubled life. One night he’s presented with the London Even ing Standard’s Best Play of 1966 Award for his play Loot. Later that same evening, after eyeing some like-minded gents in a subter ranean public restroom, he sets the award beside a urinal, douses the lights, and melts into the dark sea of anonymous, forbidden sex. Director Stephen Frears brings to this film the same sensitivity he demonstrated in last year’s low budget gem, My Beautiful Laun drette. In Laundrette Frears cap tured two subcultures: gays and prosperous Indians living in an economically withered London, the central characters in Prick Up Your Ears are not only gay, hut ar tists. In both films Frears’ direc tion subtly denies the walls that could keep audiences from sympathy. He draws lines separating his in siders and. outsiders, however, then deftly places the audience in one camp or the other. The balding and dour Halliwell (Alfred Molina) is left standing in the rain while his lover rides off in a shim mery white Rolls with Paul McCartney. As the camera hangs on the sad-sack outsider, the au dience becomes an embarrassed participant in his rejection and shame. Beyond Frears’ sure-handed direction, the film benefits greatly from fine performances by Molina and Gary Oldham as the radiant teml INtOPNarOAL ArriumBldg ss».nuinsiim 667-073 ) Premiere—4 days only, Aug. 14-17. Shows Pri. Sat. Mon 7:15 & 9:40. Sun at 8 pm Sun Bargain Matinee 4:30 pm and all shows Mon S3. Premiere—3 days only, Aug. 18-20. '1919' shows nightly at 7 pm only 'Beyond Therapy' shows at 9:30 pm only NINETEEN ► NINETEEN Remembering Freud. Based on 2 well known case histories. 4 STARRING RAUL SCOFIELD AND MARIA SCHELL "Maha Schell has matured into a fine actress: and her teaming up with Paul Scofield is tnumphant Scoheld’s Alexander is given to potulant outbursts that expose a lifetime of sexual confusion." VEYONVD GIDOY!/ THERAPY very funny movie. Jen deerUr, Grenee JacAeon, rm cond, Christopher Guest. Directed by Robert Altman. I J LET’S TRY IT AGAIN (Rain flooded us out July 18 & 191) Forgcron Vineyard F “Requests the pleasure of your company" at our 6th ANNUAL BLUEGRASS AND WINE FESTIVAL August 15 and August 16 Saturday 12 to 7, Sunday 12 to 5 Featuring Eugene’s Whiskey Creek 3 Reunion Band and Fiddlin’ Big Sue, * Uncle ‘T’ & Johnny d ( Introducing our own West Lane Lion’s Club with a B-B-Q Chicken Dinner Haywagon rides from the parking lot to the festival, tours of the winery and 5 lots of good music. The cost is $2.50 per person and children admitted free. (No carry in alcoholic Ji beverages, please!) A C f . Join us for a weekend of just relaxing in the country to enjoy some wonderful ) food, good music and great wine. See you there. The Smiths of Forgeron ■ Lee and Linda CIC IO ELMIRA on Territorial and FOLLOW the SIGNS. 1 r< Prick Up Your Ears, the story of playwright Joe Orton, is directed by Steven Frears who directed My Beautiful Laundrette. Orton. Oldham’s last—and first—starring role was Sid Vicious in last year’s remarkable Sid and Nancy. Oldham’s extensive thea trical background and natural talents have prepared him to take on almost any role although twice in a row he’s been cast as a popular artist snuffed out early on. (Should the success of La Bam ba and The Buddy Holly Story give the Big Money in Hollywood the idea of making it three-for three with something like The Big Bopper: Boppin' Till He Dropped, I’d advise Oldham to turn down the role.) Wallace Shawn (My Dinner With Andre, Radio Days) plays Lahr, the biographer whose investigation into Orton's life shapes the film. This device allows for direct inter views of Joe’s friends and associates, interviews that con veniently melt into flashbacks. Not only is this easy, but it opens the door for the film’s only uninter esting sub-plot, that of Shawn and his under-appreciated co-writ er/wife. Their relationship is sup posed to be an artsy reflection of Joe and Halliwell; I'd call it a missed bet. Prick Up Your Ears is a fine and moving film, a backstage pass, an invitation to become an insider, a guided tour through ecstasy and torment. MS 300 (9 492 E. 13th 686-2458 FFTTTI 00 00 000000000 G 0 G( STARTS FRIDAY, AUG. 14 Fri-Sat 7:30 & 9:45! Sun-Thur 6:30 & 8:45 Sunday Bargain Matinee 4 pm $3 ^ABSOL UTEL Y AMAZING 9 • Siskel & Ebert & The Movies "Working dass British playwright Joe Orton had a career with the trajectory of a Fourth-of-July rocket, fast, brilliant, astonishing, with a plunging drop-off when Orton was murdered by his male live in lover. "Prick Up Your Ears" was directed by Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Lauindrette) with Gary Oldman (Sid of "Sid 4 Nancy”) as Orton and 3 3 a 3 J 1 Alfred Molna as his roommate...there is no denying : (the film's) bitchy appeal, nor ths brilliance of it’s principal actors, along with Vanessa Redgrave as Orton's celebrated literary agent." - Shela Benson, Whole Earth Review General Admission $4 / Students w/I.D. $3.50 Msor Monday Adm. $3 /Free Popcorn Tuesdays _ Next MY LIFE AS A DOG_ | i XKK. 00000000 AAKKIS Lunch at Track Town. Pizza Bagels • Salad Bar • Sandwiches • Whole Wheat or Regular Crust Pizza • 484-2799 We deliver free! (Limited area) 1809 Franklin Across from U of O TRACK TOWN । PIZZA Sandpiper Import Service HONDA • TOYOTA VW • SUBARU and others New Car Service REPAIR & MAINTENANCE FREE ESTIMATES • MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-5:30 laetercerd 343-9427 2525 WILLAMETTE VI KZEL 96 • BIJOU LATE NITE If bottor on tho bla tenon IM tt nlahll STARTS FRIDAY, AUG. 14 4. 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