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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1982)
-emu Del^^Sod^Bar Meet a friend for coffee in the FISHBOWL! cultural forum presents is Seattle Mime Theatre Tuesday, January 26 8 p.m. EMU Ballroom Tickets available dt the EMU Main Desk $350 UO Students $450 General Public $2.00 children 15 and under Free workshop in the EMU Dad's Room from 230-430 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26. read RE Magic from page 1B the people on the screen, but also in the audience, because the event on the screen is real and we care about its outcome. Furthermore, this scene is not gratuitous, nor is it included just for its possible sensationalism The filmmakers use it to make a point about Ferrell and Torn's relationship, and it winds up as an excellent meta phor for the entire film. A word of warning might be in order here for the squeamish The film does show a certain amount of farm violence A calf is castrated, a pig is shot, bled, and the bristles are scraped from his hide, and a dead cow is skinned. But in contrast, the film contains no violence between human beings, nobody gets shot, stabbed, killed, or even punched out It's certainly refreshing to see a modem drama which does not rely on those techniques “Heartland" is loaded with memor able visual moments which will linger long after the film is over: a beautiful horse galloping off on a spring day to graze, which is recalled during a later shot of the same horse being turned loose during the winter because there isn’t enough hay to feed him; the vast open stretches of land (the film was shot entirely on location in Montana) which contrasts sharply with the closed-in intensity of the human story going on; and the awesome beauty and cold of the first snowfall, to name but a few “Heartland" exudes a warmth and muted beauty mixed with a brand of truth which is almost never seen in a Hollywood movie I would even recommend seeing it twice The second time I saw “Heartland” was here in Eugene It was raining when I stepped into the theatre, but when I came out, I was confronted by the unexpected thrill of seeing ever ything covered by a fine blanket of snow Maybe this film does contain magic by robert webb I Ragtime Jamas Cagney, Howard Rollins Mayflower Theater Americans are always trying to im prove things, like toothpaste and deter gents. But why do screenwriters try to improve history? History was the one thing that I was counting on being the same tomorrow when I open the morning paper A recent attempt at trying to improve on what’s already happened is screenw riter Michael Weller's adaption of the best-selling novel of turn-of-the-century America, "Ragtime". Blending historical fact with fiction into a film isn't as simple for a screenwriter as, let's say, blending scotch and soda into a cocktail — but "Ragtime" should be sent back to the bar because some historical ingredients are missing The film opens in the midst of the hustle and bustle of America in 1906: new-fangled automobiles frightening horses in the street, socialites drinking up their newly acquired wealth in cham pagne glasses, and always in the back ground is the fast, even time of ragtime music Somehow. New York's impoverished immigrants were edited out somewhere along the line That is, except for the Cinderella story of a poor sidewalk ped dler of silhouettes who turns his talent into the career of a successful silent movie director Not something that hap pened to the majority of immigrants in the Land of Opportunity in the early 1900s But if you can remember that you're watching a movie and not a newsreel, % Ragtime: complex. •. but catchy ■Ragtime" is somewhat like its music: syncopated, but enjoyable Unfortunately, unless the movie-goer has had the benefit of reading the novel beforehand, or studied United States history of the early 20th century, "Rag time" includes too many story threads to weave into an easily-understandable yam There's the story of a millionaire who’s murdered in the ballroom of Madison Square Garden, the discovery of a little black baby in a garden of a respected white family, and, most developed, the story of Coalhouse Walker, a ragtime piano player who finally becomes suc cessful enough to own a Model T Ford Bigoted fire chief Willie Conklin (Kenneth McMillan) victimizes the glib, well dressed Walker, and he and his band vandalize the Ford After Walker tries every legal means to gain retribution, he organizes his own band to firebomb a series of firehouses with the demand that Conklin be turned over to them The battle finally leads them to occupy the famous J.P Morgan Library, threatening to blow it up if Conklin is not given over to them There are as many transitions in "Ragtime", perhaps, as there were in America at the turn of the century. Al though the movie packs a powerful emotional punch that makes up for some of the story's complexity, it's hard to tell who the players are if you don't have a scorecard This is one time when you should read the book before you see the movie by gabriel boehmer I mi in mu M Screwed-up screwball Modem Problems Chevy Chase West 11th Cinemas There’s a class of Hollywood films called "screwball comedies,” happy go-lucky affairs where things get really crazy and everyone has a good time. Kind of like Friday nights in a freshman dorm. "Modern Problems" is a screwball comedy a bad screwball comedy. Oh, it’s crazy all right, but it just isn't very funny. Chevy Chase is an air traffic con troller whose girlfriend (Patti D Ar banville) walks out on him because of his uncontrollable jealousy. After be ing doused with radioactive waste, he develops telekinetic powers, and uses them to get his girlfriend back, and get back at all his enemies. "Modern Problems" is a real radioac tive waste. There are only two rela tively cute scenes: one in which Chase gives a romantic rival a bloody nose rivaling Old Faithful, and a bedroom scene in which Chase uses his telekinetic powers on his girl friend. Unfortunately, everything else is either dumb, predictable, or totally ridiculous. There’s nothing in “Modern Problems" that a group of stoned high school students couldn't come up with in an hour or two. Ken Shapiro, who directed and co wrote the film, and Tom Sherohman and Arthur Sellers, who make their screenwriting debut with this film, should go back for a long session at the drawing board. Chase should be forced back to late-night television, or maybe into a sequel to “Foul Play ” Movies like "Modern Problems" are a waste of his talents. Sometimes I wonder what future generations will watch as "classic screwball comedies ” I don't know, but you can be sure "Modern Prob lems" won't be one of them. by matt meyer NOT HIRING JOBS ARE TIGHT. EXCEPT AT THE PEACE CORPS. Let’s face it. This isn’t the best time to be finishing school and heading for the job market, unless you're heading to the Peace Corps. We have plenty of jobs for qualified applicants with degrees in architecture to education. While helping others broaden their horizons, you’ll broaden your own. You'll learn new things about your world and yourself. You’ll also make an investment for your future. In the Peace Corps you’ll bring home on-the-job experience. Experience that will pay dividends in future endeavors. But, the time to act is now. Understandly the jobs are going fast. Contact the Peace Corps today at 686-3235, or visit the Peace Corps office in room 246 Susan Campbell Hall on the U of O campus. INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE BY GIVING ONE TO OTHERS... WITH THE PEACE CORPS. Page 2 Section B New Fiction, Children’s Books, Women’s Literature, Calendars, and Cards. Winter Sale 20-60% off all books BOOK and TEA 1646 E 19th Monday-Saturday, 10-5:30 • 344-3422 Wednesday. January 13,1982 Portland Instrument 811 W. 6th Eugene, Or. 97402 683-9540 YEAR-ROUND 10% DISCOUNT GIVEN TO STUDENTS ON ANY DRAFTING SUPPLIES WITH I.D. (EXCLUDING SALE ITEMS) RECEIVE 25% OFF ANY MARS PRODUCT Another special SAVINGS of 25% off ALL LUXO LAMP MODELS! Stop by and see our unadvertised SALE items as well Oreaon Dallv Emerald ^German AUTO SERVICE VWs-MERCEDES-BMWs DATSUN-TOYOTA-AUDI Reliable service for your foreign car 342-2912 2025 Franklin Blvd Eugene, Oregon |« THE OUNCE at the EMERALD VALLEY FORREST INN GET STUFFED! I wanna stuff you an' yer favorite wid a small Southsider pizza anna pitcher a soft drink er beer fer CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA * * EAST MGABWAY HEXEBiA TAKE-OUTS 652 EAST 345-4114 BROADWAY Paae 3 Section B
