MOVIES A Lemgue of Their Own Columbia, PC ***1/2 By Lee Williams - Emerald Contributor In a siimmrrr overrun with al iens, lethal weapons, and re turning batmen, A League of Their Own is a welcome breeze of comedy. It is kinder, gentler summer film fare. Although stars Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, and Madonna do rack up a fow scrapes, bruises and halls to the head, rmhody gets bombed, beheaded or bashed by a Buick — an amaz ing feat for any movie released after June 1. I ho film retraces tho begin nings of Tho All-American (»ir!s Baseball Loaguo und re counts tho rough road loading up to tho- league's first Worlil Sorios. Bogan in 1<143 as a sort of sports novolty to fill in the void loft by tho male players who had traded "fiats for bul lets" to fight in World Wur If. tho AADBL would run strong for 11 seasons, and eventually be honored by Tho Baseball Hall of Kamo in 19HH, Tho story opens with sisters Dottle (Davis) und Kit (Lori Bet ty) getting scouted off an Ore gon dairy farm and Into tho big loaguo. Scriptwriters Babaloo Mandoll und Lowell Dan/, and director Penny Marshall wisely stay focused on Dottle and Kit's relationship — the joy that the sport brings out in one sister is u joy that the other sister is forced to hide. Duvis is perfect as the gawky, older sister — the better athlete, but star-shy. Petty plays the lit tle sister with the right mix of sibling anger and sisterly love The acting all around is first rate — a true team effort — from Tom Hunks as Jimmy Dougan, the former player turned-manager, who battles the bottle off the field, to Rosie O'Donnell's super-motor-mooth Doris. (Fans of Madonna will on joy her extended ciimiK), but playing tho loam tramp is hard ly a stretch.) Director Marshall pulls to gether all of her actors with a gifted comodic hand, while, at the same time, highlighting the Inequalities between men’s pro ball and women's pro-bull. {Would the Yankees have dared try the promo "(latch a foul, get a kiss" if altendafti e for The Babe had btan down?) These were women In the workplace, and the Issues raised then remain germane to day. (Child care then meant bringing your kid on the road ) But the director must also take credit for the Aim's only flaw oversentimentality Deft with comedy. Marshall seems unsure with drama forcing it She milks every millisecond of sentiment out of the quieter, emotional scenes, [lushing tight the close-ups, and pouring on the music, turning touching scenes into moments of sap This single error aside, it’s still refreshing to find u thoughtful and Intelligent sum mer film, where the main goal is to accomplish something, not to destroy cars, monsters or crazed criminals Score another run for the women. Bobcat slings ideological mud at Clay NASHVILLL, Tenn. (Al’j — Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait said his act may be as annoying as Andrew Dice Clay's, but at least ho believes in what he’s saying "It’s always annoying to me when someone hides behind a persona," Goldthwait said in an Interview published Monday in the Nashville Banner. "Dice is always 'Oh, it's just an act,' Well, so what, if Hitler had had a character ho would have boon OK? That drives me nuts." Goldthwait screams his punch lines in a shrill, hoarse voice that has become his signature He tries to work in socially relevant topics like sex ism and gay bashing Cloy has raised hackles with jokes that some havi! called sexist. racist or homophobic. His ap pearance in May 1990 on Saturday Nit’ll! Live caused cast member Nora Dunn and musical guest Sinead O'Cxmnor to refuse to ap|icnr (ioldlhwult said Clay goes only for the Jokes that will bring the biggest reaction from an audi ence. "Ho doesn't really have a program or an ideolo gy. I doubt." he said "I think if making fun of shoes could elicit that response, that’s what he'd be doing on stage because the response is much more Important than anything he has to say." Coldthwait has appeared in such movies us Po lk* Academy, Strutted and Shakes the Clown SUMMER’S HERE! Let J-Mar Biological* help with next year's »■ tuition. By donating plasma, you earn $30** lor your first two donations and help save a life at the same time. Call 683-9430 for more information. 1901 W. 8th Ave, Eugene courts viLAce Restaurant and Lcxjnge A* ChirMZ»