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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1987)
At the movies ^ C xwrtwv photo The steller hereos of Mel Brooks’ "Spatehalls" include (lefl to right) lohn Candy as Barf the Mawg: Torene Yarnell as Dot main* (voice provided by loan Kivers); Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa; and Hill Pullman as hem-for hire Tone Star. 'Spaceballs' uses familiar jokes Mel brooks has always used the shotgun <nituo.it h to com edy: spray enough shots at your target and something is bound to find the mark. The measure of his success is whether or not the hits outnuinlier the misses Review by Aaron Knox In his latest r eIe a * e. "Spaceballs." they do not. His targets are simply a little too distant to l>e offer tive. The film is largely a parody of "Star Wars." which was released mom than 10 years ago. and the gags have all been done before by filmmakers, either by acci dent or design, in countless ripoffs of the original. Brooks went out of his way to include passing shots at a few other pictures in the science fiction genre (most notably "Star Trek" and "Alien") in an attempt to minimize the fact the “Star Wars" material is hopelessly dated. But the efforts have all the earmarks of post production salvage work in (ho editing room, and that is un characteristic of Brooks' better efforts Other problems witli this movie are further examples of lunl timing. Brooks gives a lot of screen time to a female C.'tPQ (called Dot Matrix) played with the voice of loan Rivers Now. I have never been a Rivers fan, hut the precipitous decline in her popularity recently must have had Brooks reaching for the Tunis and crossing his fingers. Another problem with this movie, which is a problem with all Brooks movies it seems, is his preoccupation with black stereotypes. It was disturbing to note the audience laughed at the jokes involving familiar black typecasting, while those involving jewish caricatures did not. In light of the fact that Brooks is himself (ewish. one can't at tach any malicious intent to it. I would have to place the blame for this reaction squarely with the audience, but the inclusion of both racist cliches perpetuate images Inconsistent with a con temporary and enlightened social reality. The editing, to which i earlier referred, is disappointing and even amateurish al times. In spite of all that is wrong with it. this is a difficult movie not to recommend Kick Morunis and John Candy are well cast in their respective roles. Brooks has his moments (the best of which involves the common last name of the members of the Spaceball crew), and there is a lot of ge nuinely funny stuff here. both in the form of throwaway one liners ami quick sight gags. I him Deloise makes a cameo as Pizza the lint That is clever, but it has been seen nearly in its entirety on TV previews. Other performances, including that of George YVyner as Colonel San dun, are small but effective, The entire sci-fi genre has become such an institutional part of our culture that it lends itself naturally to satire, and Hrtmks is at his best when he lays it on thick. Running gags Turn to 'Spat eballs,' Page 8 'Eastwick' contains divine performances Divine powers simmer and erupi in "The Witches of Kastwick," a film now playing at Eugene's National Theatre Based on a novel of the same name by |ohn Updike, the film depicts how the supernatural powers of three women blossom when the devil comes to town. Review by |a< kie Barry The story line of the film deviates significantly from that of the novel, but the movie ver sion is an improvement on Up dike's theme, which depicts the women as vengeful and self serving. with no devil to in fluence them at all. The film, on the other hand, includes only men of dubious character: a philandering school principal, a spineless newspaper publisher and the devil. jack Nicholson gives a definitive performance as the devil, embodied in Darryl Van Horne. One comes to expect a g oo d show base d o n Nicholson's previous work, but his uncouth behavior and dum py exterior reach new heights in this role The witches (('her as Alexan dra. Susan Sarandon as lane, and Michelle l*feiffer as Sukie) don’t fare as well, leaning a lit tle too much toward the beautiful but stupid variety. Their performances are ade quate. however, with Sarandon attaining excellence most often. Veronica Cartwright em bodies Van Horne's antithesis as Felicia Gabriel. Cartwright's performance as a goody-two shoes possessed by her awareness of Van Home's true colors shines above the other women. The screenplay, by Michael Cristofer. blends supernatural qualities with real life counter parts. removing the tale from the horror genre and placing it firmly, through his characters, as a study of human nature and behavior. The witches typify strong, female characters fighting the natural desire to have a man in their lives. But when they get together and all think the same thoughts, their influence proves strong enough to start a downpour, heave the bowels of the earth, and bring the devil to town. Van Horne, despite his unat tractive demeanor, knows how to pique a variety of women's interests toward self-serving ends. He pinpoints Alexandra's frustration and tells her a woman is like a hose with the futility of the world pouring through her. He tells |ane the burning of midwives as witches is just another example of male dominated society exploiting women. He tells them both, "Let it out. 1 can take it. I want it." The physical appearance of the film contributes heavily to its success. The locations used in the New England town as autumn leaves swirl around the gabled roof tops, the long legged sensual beauty of the witches — one blond, one auburn, the other ebony haired, and the furnishings of Van Horne's mansion replete with elaborate ancient furnishings and a wall covered ceiling to floor with television monitors make the appearance of the film a rich, visual feast. Tape duplication instant cassette copies! Quality stereo or monaural duplication. Check the prices today at your Bookstore Recycle This Paper LETTER PERFECT GRAPHICS 300 EMU 686-5511 Personals PICK UP THE PHONE! II you KM • VIM o< M*at*rc*rd you can phona in your Claaadlad Ada and h«v« it Wllad to your account Juat nivt u» • call by 1 p"> iba day batora you want tba ad to ba publiabad and i*ChYuUUl INVEiTMENT ••UNO ■10 RETURNS! 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