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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1981)
‘Rich& Famous’works • • • Every so often a film comes along that's done so well that you decide to drop everything and become a film di rector Rich and Famous is such a film This is a good time for films that look at relationships Only When I Laugh and Mommie Dearest look at the mother daughter relationship True Confessions attempts to look at the relationship of two brothers Rich and Famous also falls into this category, as it examines the rela tionship of two friends as they go through 20 years of life together The story begins as Liz Hamilton (Jacqueline Bisset) sneaks southern belle Merry Noel (Candice Bergen) out of their dorm room so she can become Mrs Merry Noel Blake The next time we see them, Liz is a literate, down-to-earth novelist who's run into a crippling writer’s block after her first successful novel, and Merry is a charming, self centered housewife in Malibu who writes a trashy book out of jealousy, which somehow becomes a best-seller The plot thickens as Merry's dislikable husband Doug (David Selby) grows tired of the marriage, and makes an extended pass for Liz. When he leaves. Merry turns to her first three loves herself, fame and her books Incredible as it may seem, there are no weak points to this movie (with the pos sible exception of Bergen s southern accent, which gets a little too sickly sweet) Director George Cukor who has turned out such masterpieces as The Philadelphia Story, Little Women, and My Fair Lady, celebrates his 50th year in the director's seat, and his experience shows The photography is stunning throughout, providing many beautiful images which will stay with the viewer long after the last credits have left the screen The pacing of the story is per fect, taking enough time to develop the action perfectly, without dwelling on any scene too long He has a way with Bisset and Bergen which gives the film a touch of brilliance Bisset is radiant Whether mourning the end of a romance or burning a chicken, she is graceful, witty, attractive and believable As the central character of the film, the film's success or failure is dependent on her performance, and she carries it off superbly This performance is definitely Oscar-caliber (Remember you heard it here first ) Bergen's character comes straight out of "Gone With The Wind' A delicate wily creature, she shows an inner drive that makes Scarlett O'Hara look like Olive Oyl Although her character becomes a little plastic when she becomes rich and successful, she shines when she and Bisset are just two girlfriends alone together Bergen and Bisset compliment each other extremely well and bring an impressive humanity to the story Beside the two leads, the best per formance is from Hart Bochner. who plays a 22-year-old reporter for Rolling K_i4 Jacqueline Bisset (right) and Candice Bergen shine in George Cukor s "Rich and Famous", the story of 20 years of friendship Thic ic a nnrmal nart btone ne eventually ian& m ■ uvc wmi . and matches her perfectly with his soft spoken eloquence Like other great films, it'll make you split your seams laughing and break your heart crying In one scene Bisset and a fellow plane traveler are making love in the restroom as the jet lands in New York Over the couple s impassioned breath ing we hear the stewardess saying The sound you are now hearing is the landing of the landing process " At the end of their encounter we hear the stewardess say "Welcome to New York I hope your trip has been a pleasant one ' Rich and Famous is rated R, mostly because Bisset s character makes love to almost every male she meets The film is currently showing at Cinema World by matt meyer -1 Your hosts. Steve and Judy I.esh cordially invite you to visit Naeho's ami try the most delicious Mexican food you’ll ever tuste. Visit .\ach.» % tonight for I he he*I from Heilco. \Y. 1 1 th and C ity Mew Halloween Hair Specials Janice Rivera Perms S22.00 reg $35.00 Haircut $8.00 reg $12 00 Call Janice Rivera 343-4813 for appointment Prices good with coupon only expires Oct 31 2660 Oak The Turning Point It Fitness Fashions Featuring: ★ Dancewear ★ Sportswear ★ Warm-ups ★ Much More October Only 10% off with student I D Now at 5th Street Public Market 342-6501 BE THE LIFE OF YOUR NEXT PARTY! WITH COSTUMES FROM ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Go to St. Vincent De Paul at 110 E. 11th for all your party props and costume needs. Lampshades available too! .. ITrue Confessions’ doesn’t The ad for True Confessions includes a quote from Fred Yager of Ihe Associated Press You couldn't ask for more Yager's wrong — you could True Confessions is the story of two brothers, one a detective, one a priest It takes a deep look at their relationship, and the pressures stemming from a brutal murder which threaten to push the brothers apart The main problem with True Confessions is that director Ulu Grosbard doesn't seem quite sure if the movie’s focus lies on the brothers or on the murder In trying to develop each aspect to its full extent the movie becomes disiointed and fragmented In the long run. Grosbard fails in his examination of the brothers' relationship We don't see anything special happening between them Although the mam thrust of the film doesn t work, other aspects do The storyline although a little thin in places is compelling A prostitute is found cut in half and Tom Speilacy {Robert Duvall) is assigned to investigate the case In pursuing leads the chief of which is a rose tattoo on the corpse s hip he finds a number of connections to a totally obnoxious fellow. Jack Amsterdam (Charles Burning) who is a friend and important business connection of Mon signor Desmond Spellacy's (Robert DeNiro) This story is told through use of a flashback, sandwiched between two ridiculous scenes of reconciliation between the two brothers, in which we learn that Father Speilacy is about to die The short prologue and epilogue seem to be a desperate attempt to oring me >utus tilm back to the brothers, but it doesn't work Although the film is by no means a comedy, there are some thoroughly hysterical scenes which help pass the time In one, Tom finds a priest dead of a heart attack in a cheap hooker's lair He goes to Des so the church can avoid a scandal "Maybe he was just making a house call." says Des "Do you hang your pants over the back of a chair on a housecalt?' asks Tom "Well.' admits Des, "that's not the way they taught it in seminary Only these light touches and the fine acting of the two veteran stars manages to keep the film alive Robert DeNiro is superb as Monsig nor Desmond Speilacy He manages to place a thin mask of gentleness over the violence he projected in earlier films such as “Taxi Driver" and The Godfather Part II The combination works very well, for DeNiro s character is heavily involved in power plays DeNiro s performance is eclipsed only by Robert Duvall's portrayal of Detective Tom Speilacy. who looks just seedy and sinister enough to revive our memories of 40's detec tives It's surprising that, with two actors who project so much violence and raw power, more violence isn’t seen in the film The film is rated R because of some seedy : porno films the cops show a healthy sprinkling of four-letter words, and lots of bloody mess It is currently showing at the Valley River Twin
