—...
movie review
Twists trap audience
"Deathtrap”
Michael Caine
Christopher Reeve
McDonald Theatre
Ira Levine's new movie,
"Deathtrap," is as full of twists
as its "Rubik’s Cube” promo
tions suggest Some might say
there are too many twists, but
far from making "Deathtrap"
tedious, the plot twists only
enhance it
The "who'll do it" mystery
suspense-thriller even pops a
few subtle comedic one liners
But comedy isn't the movie’s
forte, suspense is
Michael Caine plays Sydney
Bruhl, a 42-year-old, once bril
liant playwright who is, in the
writer’s words, "written out.”
After four miserable flops, he
recieves a manuscript from Clif
ford Anderson, played by Cris
topher (Superman) Reeve The
plot calls for Caine to murder
Reeves, steal his play and make
a couple of million dollars, sort
of
Everything falls neatly into
place and Reeve shows up at
Caine's comfortable New
Hampshire home The ensuing
conversation between Caine,
Reeve and Bruhl's pill-popping
wife (Dyan Cannon) is some of
the most subtly humorous dia
logue to hit the screen in quite a
while. While Cannon tries to talk
Caine out of murdering Reeves,
Caine tries to convince Reeves
he is only joking Reeves isn't
quite sure who he should
believe and the audience ex
pects Cannon to keel over any
second from a threatened cor
onary.
And if all this wasn't enough,
Marie Ten Dorp (Irene Worth), a
Dutch psychic in grey jogging
sweats and a pink bicycle re
flector hat enters. At this point
the fairly straight-forward plot is
discarded for roller coaster-like
twists
These twists might have been
confusing, but some (generally)
fine acting saves it.
One exception is Reeve's
acting It's far from super, man
At times his character becomes
overly ‘‘swishy” (everyone
who's already seen the film
knows what I mean.)
One of the best aspects of the
production are the camera
angles, not as dramatic as
APRIL
1 4
Hitchcock’s, but just as effec
tive. The full-face close-ups of
Reeve delivering some tense
lines lend credence to Caine's
statements that Reeve is a
“socio-path.”
The cinematography of the
movie gives the appearance of a
play being performed to be a
movie, which tends to lend
credence to the bizarre plot.
There are some graphic
murder scenes and virtually no
“sex scenes" (again with the
twists). The most explicit show
of affection in “Deathtrap" is a
kiss which horrifies the
audience more than the murder
scenes do. (Once again, to
explain why would give away
the secret.)
The effects in the final scene
are totally Agatha Christie-ish,
with traditional thunder, light
ning and pouring rain.
"Deathtrap” is one of the best
new movies of the year And the
best way to see it is to find a
comfortable, dark corner of the
theatre with a big tub of pop
corn Just sit back in your seat
and figure out what will happen
— if you can.
by debbie howlett
In apMa aI XTC'u cancallabon Hum to Mneaa. JooH HoHand and tut
MWontow mW roc* to* Ballroom Friday at I p.m. Tlckala harm
baan raducad loti lor students, 11.50 lor gaoaral admlaalon.
"Dr Strangelove' at 7 and 9.30 p m in 150 Geology $1 50
SUNDAY
On The Waterfront at 7 and 9 p.m in 180 PLC $1.50
"Tosca" at 7 and 9 15 p m In Beall Hall $1.50donation
TUESDAY
Northwest Film Festival' at 8 p m in 177 Lawrence $150
NIGHTLY
BI|ou Theatre - "My Dinner With Andre at 7 and 9:30 p.m..
weekend matinees at 3:30 p m Students $2 50 (Sunday - Thursday),
general admission $3. children $1 50
Creature From The Black Lagoon tonight - Saturday at midnight
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1 p.m Prices vary
Dance Craze' Wednesday at midnight $1
Cinema 7 • "Pixote" nightly at 7:30 and 9:50 p m Sunday matinee
at 2 p m $3
gallery
University Museum of Art— '100 Treasures Celebrating 100 Years
An Exhibition for the Centennial of the University of Oregon Library "
Also pastel drawings by Ron Kowalke Photography at Oregon
Gallery Color and split-toned still life photographs by Olivia Parker
Shows through May 2
Collier House — Prints made by University artists Shows through
April 16
Lawrence Hall Lobby — Photographs of prize-winning homes
Shows through Wednesday
Artists’ Union — "Light Connections Shows through Apnl 24
Lane Community College — "A Look at Local Resources' by
ceramics artist Chris Gum Shows through Tuesday
Maude Kerns Art Center — "Variations on a Window, fiber wall
panels by Marbara Kensier Also, photos by Hall Anderson
Opus 5 — "New Kiln, New Pots” by Lotte Streisinger
Protect Space - Oil paintings and pastels by James Ulrich and
photographs by Byard Pidgeon Shows through April 17
MISCELLANEOUS
Osland A Co /Dance and Joint Forces present an evening of
dance tonight at 8 in the EMU Ballroom Students $2 50, general
public S3 50
The Toipa Folk Ensemble will present a program of international
folk dance and music Saturday at 8 p m at Condon - Magnet Arts
School. 1787 Agate St Adults $2. children SI, family S5
Peter Stitt, critic of contemporary American poetry, will give two
lectures Tuesday At 1;30 p m . he will lead a discussion on
interviewing, reviewing and criticism in literary magazines in 348
PLC At 3:30 he will lecture on contemporary American poetry in 146
Straub Both are free and open to the public
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