Valentine’s movies: Meg Ryan does not rule the day
By Jack Clifford
Oregon Daily Emerald
Romeo and Juliet. Bonnie and
Clyde. Therese and Isabelle. Ben
ny and Joon.
Turner and Hooch?
OK, so not all of Hollywood’s
couplings are thrilling or roman
tic. In fact, the last one, pairing a
big, hairy dog and Tom Hanks, is
n’t even legal.
Nevertheless, there are quite a
few flicks on your local video
store shelves that can lend a sense
of unity to your Valentine’s Day
plans. Be forewarned, however,
the following recommendations,
in no particular order, take a
somewhat offbeat look at relation
ships — Meg Ryan fans should
look elsewhere.
“Harold and Maude’’ (1971) —
Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon star in
this cult classic about a 20-year
old sexually repressed, always de
pressed young man (Cort), who
falls in love with a life-loving, vi
brant 79-year-old (Gordon).
Harold pretends to kill himself
on a regular basis — gleefully tor
turing his controlling mother in
the process — until he meets
Maude, who spends her free time
posing in the nude for an artist
friend and stealing strangers’ cars.
Their taboo relationship flus
ters society’s morals police — a
priest, a military captain and a
psychologist — but the couple
revels in a newfound appreciation
for life. Enjoy the fun, but set
aside a hanky or two for the end
ing.
‘Raising Arizona” (1987) —
When H.I. McDonough (Nicolas
Cage) and Edwina (Holly Hunter)
meet for the first time in a prison
check-in room, well, you just
know these two lovebirds are
meant for one another.
This movie is to love what
Fabio is to romance;
you’ve never seen such
over-the-top sentiments
played for this many
laughs. (Fabio is kidding
with his attempts at sex
appeal, isn’t he?)
The Coen brothers
throw every directing
and camera trick they
know into “Raising Ari
zona,” but it’s Cage and
Hunter who deserve
plaudits for their roles as
newlyweds searching
for a baby, any baby.
One of the Arizona quin
tuplets does just fine un
til his parents discover
the little one missing.
If you’re thinking
about getting married,
watch this flick first to
see exactly what you
and your future partner
might be getting into.
“True Romance”
(1993) — Quentin
Tarantino wrote the
script for this Tony Scott
film, so expect a lot of
red, as in blood. Don’t
let that scare you off,
however, because this
movie is very well-done,
AlUnhUl DtlUNU DtLItK
Courtesy 20th Century Fox Films
Romance really isn’t all just sunshine and living the good life.
witn some solid acting trom a col
orful bunch.
Christian Slater and Patricia Ar
quette star as the lovestruck pair,
on the lam from Arquette’s past —
she plays a prostitute named Al
abama — following a messy con
frontation with her pimp. Slater is
Clarence, a geeky comic-book
store employee, who falls for Al
abama after one date that includes
a triple-header of bad kung-fu
flicks. ‘ ' >--*a**,
Christopher Walken plays the
pimp’s boss chasing the two; Den
nis Hopper is cast as Clarence’s
out-to-lunch father; Val Kilmer is
the ghost of Elvis; and Brad Pitt
shows up as a stoner.
Yes, love rules in the end, de
spite the cornucopia of carnage
along the way.
“Badlands” (1974) — Terrence
Malick has directed just three
movies in his lifetime: “Thin Red
Line,” last year’s surprise chal
lenge to “Saving Private Ryan” for
best movie of the year; “Days of
Heaven.” which stars a very
young Richard Gere; and “Bad
lands,” a simple, yet powerful
piece of work starring Martin
Sheen and Sissy Spacek,
both whom look about
15 years old in this
movie.
The story somewhat
follows Charlie Stark
weather’s infamous
1950s murder spree
across the Midwestern
plains, frut it is really
about how two people in
love will do just about
anything for the other.
Sheen plays a dim
witted philosopher type
and Spacek is excellent
as a young girl torn be
tween what’s right and
what’s comfortable. A
few scenes — a burning
house, a car chase and a
slow dance between the
renegade pair illuminat
ed by a car’s headlights
— are simply stunning.
Pay attention to the di
alogue in this movie be
cause that’s where you’ll
glean the most about
misguided romance.
“The Graduate”
(1967) — If you’ve never
seen this Dustin Hoff
man star-making effort;
rent it now. Hoffman is
recent college graduate Benjamin
Braddock and his sexual liaisons,
first with a married woman (Mrs.
Robinson) and then her daughter,
are sheer excellence.
“Ladyhawke” (1985) — The
mystic approach in movies is nor
mally a turn-off, but this Rutger
Hauer/Michelle Pfeiffer medieval
venture actually works. Matthew
Broderick also stars, although his
wisecracking character is mildly
annoying.
The plot here revolves around
an ill-fated pair — Hauer and
Pfeiffer — who are doomed to
never consummate their passion
for each other. He’s a wolf by
night when she is in human form,
and she’s a hawk by day when he
is a man.
They travel the countryside,
searching for a sorcerer who can
reverse the curse. A simple
movie, but if you’re in the mood
for a tale with a twist, this is the
one.
“Heathers” (1989) — Never
has teenage angst been so fun to
watch. Winona Ryder stars as one
of the Heathers, the name for a
high school clique, and Christian
Slater is her dopey boyfriend who
decides that the elite group needs
a little re-education.
So many classic lines and
scenes in this one, so just stay fo
cused on the movie, not your
movie-watching partner.
“Matador” (1986) — If you
want bizarre, then this Pedro
Almodovar movie is your pick for
the evening. The Spanish director
has made a living out of bringing
the strange and wacky to the
screen, and this black comedy is
out there.
The story focuses on a retired
bullfighter who still has a thirst
for the macabre, so he commences
to play “ole” with a few human
targets. Until he meets his match,
that is, in a love interest/femme
fatale.
It s always a treat to watch
Almodovar in action, with his
penchant for striking visuals and
zany dialogue, but “Matador” is
truly a piece of art. Some people
might be turned off by the movie’s
opening scene, but those who per
severe will not be disappointed.
Just remember as you watch
these alternatives to “Sleepless in
Seattle” and other such schlock,
love and romance isn’t always
synonymous with wine and roses.
008487
Open till 6pm Valentine’s Day
WilliaetleHtpeMorj
The Rep Info: 541.343.9903
h.t t p :/V w i 11 r e p. 0 u fv.es t. co m
The
Miracle
Worker
February 2 - 19, 2000
Soreng Theatre, Hult Center
Helen Keller’s dark, silent world is
unlocked in this compelling drama that
will leave you with tears of joy.
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