Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / June 4, 1987, edition 1 / Page 8
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8The Tar Heel Thursday. June 4, 1987 Arts Featy res ' Gar dens hits close "Gardens of Stone," as the title suggests, opens with a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery in 1968. Yet, "Gardens" is not the typical Vietnam horror film. Surprisingly, its message is pro-army, but antiwar. "Gardens," which stars James Caan in his coming-of-age role as career Sergeant Clell Hazard, is the story of the other side of the Vietnam war the war at home. After serving two tours in Viet nam, Hazard is assigned to train a group of elite recruits at Fort Myer, Va. Although these recruits are the cream of the crop, most of them will not perform in a life and death situation. These recruits are the Old Guard, "toy soldiers," as Hazard says, who perform cere monially and bury the war heroes at Arlington. Pvt. First Class Jackie Willow, played by D. B. Sweeney, is an idealistic, outspoken young recruit who feels useless at Fort Myer and wants to go to the front. Hazard conveniently served in a platoon in Korea with Willow's father, so Hazard takes an interest in the young Willow. However, their attitudes clash. Present this Coupon When Ordering t Don't Sweat It! Sera Tec can Cool the Heat of Summer Debts . CALL 942-0251 Earn 80 to Si 20 a month donating plasma no U SERA - k -J 109V EAST FRAXKIJX ST., CHAPEL HILL of Stone ' to home ; Joanne Gordon t - Cinema Willow insists on fulfilling his patriotic duty while Hazard, a tough man of experience, knows that the war "can't be won." Despite their differences, they develop a paternal relationship. At the same time, Hazard falls in love with female reporter Samantha Davies (Anjelica Hus ton), who is an antiwar activist. Again, conflicts arise, but they only strengthen the element of romance in "Gardens." With these two relationships, the war on the home front becomes a personal war as Hazard battles his life-long dedication to the Army and the Army's actions. The power of the movie lies in the sensitivity of the problems of the war at a personal level. Although there are clips from Vietnam clips of wounded soldiers, body bags and fighting, the movie focuses on the emo tional effects on civilian-soldier, soldier-soldier and wife-husband relationships through the personal TEC BIOLOGICAIS Sgt. Clell Hazard (James Caan) and Samantha Davis (Angelica to one another despite their ideological differences about the lives of Hazard and Willow. Between the summer of 1968 and the cold harsh winter of 1969, like many of the young soldiers, Willow moves up the ranks, marries an old sweetheart, is assigned to the front and returns home to be buried at Arlington. His funeral opens and closes the film. Although the movie seems to jump from scene to scene, the fast pace of the movie is effective because it correlates with the fast pace of the war. Under Francis Ford Coppola's excellent direc o) 929-7096 7-VLammuirtj auuincnumcs ' 1 32 Marlowe Court on Hwy 54 ByPass 2 BR-2V Baths 1 030 Sq. Ft. Some units for sale y7 i ' ;Ura;-H mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaanmmmm'VwmtxmmM Featuring: 26 Nautilus machines, Wolff tanning beds, sauna, whirlpool, life cycle, aerobic classes, free weights Chapel Hill Nautilus Chapel Hill Blvd. Straw Valley 968-3027 PITNESS 1 I s s I ' i K iw' "fT 4 Will I rW I I 111 tO Ah ov fi Air --sla nn W lffm LU : ; , 1 tion, the movie takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. After a five-year box office break, Caan shines in his role as a compassionate, yet stern army sergeant. The untraditional role contrasts his image from other films as the sportive, macho younger man. Caan played a ghost in the 1982 film, "Kiss Me Good-, bye," a sports star in "Rollerball' and the Mafia chief in Coppola's "The Godfather." Caan handles the emotional script with flair. He portrays both the strict, disciplined sergeant and Student Summer Shops-Op Special 6 weeks $49 3 months $78 6 months $130 Durham Nautilus HFrrtririflFlCt Hillsborough Rd. CJw vJhiU LrJw (next to Best Products) CENTER. INC. 3S3-0330 Huston) find themselves drawn war in "Gardens of Stone" the drunken, foul-mouthed sold ier. On the softer side, he is the romantic gentleman and the griev ing father. Complementing Caan and Sweeney, James Earl Jones plays Goodie, the master-sergeant who keeps Hazard in line. Goodie is a big-hearted "bear" who provides a comical element in the movie. Comical relief is a necessity in a movie with such a powerful, and serious tone. Huston and Mary Stuart Mas terson, who plays Willow's teenage bride, provide the love interest in "Gardens," yet from a different perspective. Huston's character plays a major role in the antiwar conflicts. As an activist, Huston strongly opposes the war and contrasts the typical female role in a war movie. On the other hand, Masterson is the civilian wife who is not as weak as expected. Because "Gardens" combines outstanding acting with a powerful script under Coppola's direction, the movie is an emotional, poetic drama of the Vietnam war. Avoid the lottery blues. Apply now! All apartments on the bus line to UNC. Fantastic Social Program Call today for full information 967-2231 or 967-2234 In North Carolina call toll-free I -800-672-J 678 Nationwide, call toll-free 1-800-334 1656 "Equal Houang Opportunity"
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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June 4, 1987, edition 1
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