'Zelig' is indeed likable
The truly
wonderful
thing about
Woody Allen
is not that he
is a brilliant
American ac
tor and direc
tor, nor the funniest-looking one
(although both are true).
The marvelous thing about
Woody Allen is that he has a gift
for recognizing human faults and
sometimes virtues, and artistically
incorporating them into movies.
Take his latest venture, "Zelig.”
Leonard Zelig, a character out of
the Twenties, has an incredible
desire to be like everyone else —
to blend in, to be liked. Ah yes, a
very human fault indeed.
Allen expands upon this ques
tionable characteristic and molds
a story. You see, in Leonard Zelig
the desire to fit in is so emphatic
that he has cultivated the ability in
himself to look and act like
anyone in whose company he is.
You read me right.
Interesting approach. Of
course, Allen is not one to do
anything halfway. In addition to
the basic story line, Allen adds a
love affair and lots of good one
liners (e.g., "It just goes to show
what you can do when you're
completely psychotic").
Finally, he ices the cake by
employing a documentary style
and using antique (relative to the
movie-making business, that is)
tootage, mingled with modern
day color "interviews" with old
folks who knew Leonard Zelig in
his prime.
Quite simply "Zelig" is
wonderful.
Mia Farrow co-stars as Leonard
Zelig's saviour psychologist, and
as the target of his amorous ar
rows. Her performance is sharp
and convincing, a contrast to the
1982 character transplanted into
the early 1900's, whom she played
in Allen's last movie "A Midsum
mer Night's Sex Comedy."
Cordon Willis does a
remarkable job as director of
photography. "Zelig" is loaded
with creativity; in several scenes
Allen and Farrow are being filmed
through a window and recorded
on tape during their “sessions." It
was so believable, it reminded me
of the few taped sessions I've seen
in psychology classes.
Allen didn't indulge Leonard
C.raphu by Shawn Bird
Zelig with lots of lines. I missed
the expected laughs I usually get
from just listening to him talk. But
the jokes were ever present —
never faltering during the
75-minute movie.
Because it's unusually short,
"Zelig" is great study break
material. It's playing at the Valley
River Twin Cinema.
Kim Carlson
We of the Never Never'
is the latest Australian gem
Who can
deny it?
Often most
foreign films
released in
the United
States are
more enter
taining and thought-provoking
than their American counterparts.
"We of the Never Never,” the
latest Australian gem which is
now showing at the Bijou theater,
is no exception.
Set around the turn of the cen
tury, "We of the Never Never” is
the true story of Jeannie Gunn, a
recently married woman from
Melbourne who travels with her
husband, Aaneas, to his new job
at a cattle station in the Australian
high country.
The Gunn's cross-country
honeymoon is anything but lux
urious, and proper and prim Jean
nie soon realizes how uncivilized
the outback life is.
Upon arrival at the station Jean
nie is confronted by the lack of ac
ceptance from the cowboys who
think the station is “no place for a
lady," a ramshackle cottage with
not even a mop and a Chinese
cook who resents her and whom
she dislikes at once.
To make Jeannie's life even
more interesting, an Aboriginal
tribe is camped near the
homestead, trading their toil for
tobacco.
As she struggles to make a
home for herself, leannie is
gradually accepted by both the
tribespeople and the cowboys.
Angela Punch McGregor does a
remarkable job as leannie, a
woman who is not overtly tough
— meaning that if you expect Jean
nie to be "one of the boys," she'll
disappoint you — but very strong
in her own proud, feminine way.
Arthur Dignam plays Jennie's
husband — a very dignified,
civilized one-time librarian — try
ing his hand at cattle ranching.
While his performance is also
good, his character lacks the
backbone that makes leannie so
intriguing.
Unfortunately, at times "We of
the Never Never" is too slow. It
could be shortened without losing
any focus.
Kim Carlson
Angela Punch McGregor does a
remarkable job as real-life
Australian heroine leannie Gunn.
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