The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, April 7, 19887
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NEXT WEEK'S MOVIES (by
theater)-.
"The Dead" (PC)
James Joyce's "Dubliners" short
story is adapted faithfully and
wonderfully to the screen for John
Huston's final film. Set in the
changing Ireland of 1904, the story
explores the emotional relation
ships among a group gathered for
an annual Epiphany dinner party,
and the passion that inextricably
links the living with the dead, it
is abstract to the point of meriting
several viewings to capture every
thing the film puts across, but this
is not a criticism. Exemplary per
formances by all and masterful
direction by the late Huston make
"The Dead" a most beautiful film.
Starring Angelica Huston and
Donal McCann. 87 minutes, varsity:
2 and 7:30 p.m.
"Hope and dory" (PG-13)
Nominated for five Academy
Awards, including Best Picture and
Best Director, this is John Boor
man's hilarious autobiographical
film of his family's struggles
through world war ll in a blitzed
London. The story is largely seen
through the eyes of Boorman as
a 7-year-old boy, excellently por
trayed by Sebastian Rice-Edwards.
The war ensures that nothing will
ever be the same again for anyone,
least of all the Rowan family. At
one level this movie has an epic
feel, but Boorman captures all the
fears and hopes of the times in
an intimate style. The film takes
place on a set entirely constructed
on an airstrip in the English mid
lands that slowly gets destroyed
in the ensuing blitz. Sarah Miles
also stars. 118 minutes. Varsity: 4
and 9:30 p.m.
'Blues' takes lighthearted look at rites of passage
By SALLY PEARSALL
Staff Writer
it's 1945, and raw Army recruit
Eugene Jerome is headed to Biloxi,
Miss., to begin basic training. Over
the next few weeks, he will endure
brutal workouts in the sweltering
Southern sun, lose his virginity and
fall in love.
In the meantime, he's on a train
loaded with stereotypical charac
ters in a movie that was probably
more entertaining as a play.
This is "Biloxi Blues," of course
the second installment of
playwright Neil Simon's autobio
graphical trilogy. With few excep
tions, Simon's plays don't translate
well to the screen. His last few
movies-that-were-once-plays -including
"Chapter Two," "I Oughta
Be in Pictures" and "Brighton
Beach Memoirs" received mixed
reviews and didn't do well at the
box office.
But "Biloxi Blues" is an improve
ment on the dismal Simon-cinema
record, it's disappointing plot-wise,
but it's also a lighthearted comedy
with its own unusual charm.
The story is told through
"Au Revoir Les Enfants"
Louis Malle's moving, autobio
graphical story of the friendship
that developed between two
school boys in France during World
war ll. Varsity: 2:10, 4:20, 7:10 and
9:20 p.m.
For more information call the
Varsity at 967-8665.
"The unbearable Lightness
Of Being" (R)
A steamy, dramatic tale of love
and anguish during the 1968 inva
sion of Prague. Directed by Philip
Kaufman ("The Right stuff") and
starring Daniel Day-Lewis ("My
Beautiful Laundrette," "Room With
A View"). Carolina: 8:30 p.m. only.
Weekend matinees at 1:45 and 5
p.m.
"Johnny Be Good" (PG-13)
Former nerd Anthony Michael
Hall is a star high school quarter
back who is so good that he has
colleges desperate for his enroll
ment. Co-starring Robert Downey
Jr. Carolina: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
weekend matinees at 1:30, 3:30
and 5:30 p.m.
For more information call Carol
ina theater at 942-3061.
"The Last Emperor" (PG-13)
Fascinating, epic true story of
last emperor Pu Yi, who was
crowned ruler of China at the age
of 3 and died in 1967 as a humble
gardener in the Federal Republic
Sumptuous location shooting and
much color and imagery charac
terize Bernardo Bertolucci's
slightly distanced direction. John
Lone is stunning in the lead role.
Also stars Peter OToole. Nomi
nated for nine Academy Awards
and could well scoop the lot. 165
minutes. Plaza: 8:30 p.m. only.
"Bright Lights, Big City" (R)
Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Suther
land star in this screen version of
sophisticated and naive. He wants
to win the Pulitzer prize someday,
but right now he's bewildered by
the rigors of basic training and the
peculiarities of his fellow recruits,
"it was hard to believe that these
people had mothers and fathers
who were worried about them,"
he notes.
it's also hard to believe that
some of these guys are realistic
characters rather than stereo
types. Polish soldier Joseph
wykowski (Matt Mulhern) is (of
course) a big, dumb slob. And the
Jewish recruit, Arnold Epstein, is (of
course) a wimpy, unathletic prig.
As Epstein, Corey Parker keeps up
a continual pout - he looks like
he's got an upset stomach, it's
probably due to a chronic case of
overacting.
At least there's an interesting
sergeant - Christopher walken,
who rarely raises his voice and
even drinks a little on the side. He's
certainly a refreshing change from
the typical Louis Gossett-esque
sergeants one usually sees in Army
films.
The setting is quite realistic,
jay Mdnerny's novel of corruption
in yuppiedom. Plaza 3, 5:05, 7:15,
9:30 p.m.
"The Fox and the Hound" (G)
An animated Disney classic.
Plaza 2:45, 4:45 and 6:45 p.m.
"A New Life" (PG-13)
Alan Alda writes, directs and
stars in this comedy about adult
relationships. Plaza 2:40, 4:50, 7 and
9 p.m.
For more information call the
Plaza at 967-4737.
"D.O.A." (R)
It's a great idea a man gets
poisoned by a slow-working toxin
and has under 36 hours to find out
who was responsible for his own
murder. But it doesn't quite work,
and even though Dennis Quaid is
great as the doomed English
professor, a script full of cliches
and a lousy anticlimax ensure that
the best thing about this remake
is the direction from the creators
of Max Headroom. Ram: 7-.10 and
9:15 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
matinees at 2:10 and 4:15.
"The Seventh Sign" (R)
A prophecy is discovered about
an unborn child and the destiny
of the world. Starring Demi Moore
and Michael Biehn. Ram: 7 and 9
p.m., Saturday and Sunday mati
nees at 2 and 4 p.m.
"Biloxi Blues" (PG-13)
See review above. Ram: 7.05 and
9:10 pm, Saturday and Sunday
matinees at 2:05 and 4:10.
Starting Friday: "Beetlejuice"
(PG-13)
Michael Keaton stars as a bizarre
ghost in this comedy about a
couple of humans who invade a
ghosts' house, making it unlivable
for even the dead.
For more information call the
Ram at 967-8284.
"Biloxi." Surprisingly, Broderick &
co. say it right: "Biluksi" as opposed
to the incorrect "Bilochsi." These
actors know their stuff.
"Biloxi Blues" is very much a
rites-of-passage film. Eugene and
his buddies visit Rowena, a local
hooker, so Eugene can lose his
virginity; later on that night, he
meets the girl of his dreams, Daisy
Hannigan (Penelope Ann Miller,
who also played the part on
Broadway). Eugene's meeting with
Daisy is supposed to be sweet and
innocent, but it turns sordid when
he has to explain to her why he's
wearing Rowena's perfume.
And despite the movie ads' claim
"the Army made Eugene a man,
but Daisy gave him basic training"
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Andre the Giant, Mandy Patinkin and Wallace Shawn star in "The
Princess Bride," which will be shown Friday at the Union
Union Movies: (Check Union
film schedule for complete
listings.)
Thursday - Science Fiction
Night
"King Kong" The 1933 original
version, with Fay Wray as the ape's
leading lady. 7 p.m.
"20.000 Leagues under the
sea" (1954) 9 p.m.
Friday
"The Princess Bride" Rob
Reiner's film version of William
Goldman's engaging comic tale of
adventure and true love. A host
of hilarious performances by
Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn,
Andre the Giant, Peter Falk and
memorable cameos by Billy Crystal
and Carol Kane make it one of the
that one scene is the last we
see of her, except for two shots
of Eugene visiting her at school,
if anyone gave Eugene basic train
ing, it was Rowena, not Daisy.
Eugene learns a few other
things during basic training, includ
ing that he's got to get involved
in life if he wants to be a successful
writer. "You're a witness, standing
around watching what's happen
ing," Epstein scolds him after
Eugene takes a neutral stance
during a fight among his bunk
mates. "You have to get in the
middle of it you have to take
sides. Until you do, you'll never be
a writer."
Scenes like this are thought
provoking, but they don't flow
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$200'
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Buffet!
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year's most spirited movies. 7 and
9:30 p.m. Admission $1.50; tickets
available at the Union Desk.
"Life of Brian" (1979) The
Monty Python crew's zany inter
pretation of the Christ story.
Friday and Saturday midnight
movie.
Saturday
"Prick Up Your Ears" (1987) 7
and 9 p.m.
Sunday
"On the Beach" (1959) 7 and
9:30 p.m.
Tuesday
"The Last of Sheila" (1973) 7
and 9:30 p.m.
Listings compiled by Richard
Smith and Cathy Mchiugh. Only
reviewed movies have been rated.
together in "Biloxi Blues." The film
tries to explore too many themes
in one shot, and the result is a
disjointed plot. Mike Nichols' direc
tion is also unstructured; there are
a lot of long, dull stretches. The
couple in front of me distracted
themselves by French-kissing dur
ing the boring parts.
"Biloxi Blues" isn't exactly a
makeout movie, but it's good for
a laugh or two and it's an inter
esting look at an era of innocence.
Even if the play was probably
better, the movie version proves
that Neil Simon can still be enter
taining on the wide screen.
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