4OmnibusThursday, November 3, 1988
'Fatal Attraction5
By RICHARD SMITH
Staff Writer
Writer James Dearden was in
such a rush with "Fatal Attraction'
that it's almost impossible to
recognize Pascali's island as his
work, in the former semi-gothic
over-rated nightmare, scenes
blasted into each other with an
unprecedented degree of false
logic, and we missed out on all the
good bits, the interesting linkage
that explains motive, action and
decision - the bits that are the
hardest to direct, and hardest to
write.
But Dearden's "Pascali's island,"
is the opposite. This mystery
drama unfolds like a perfectly
wrapped present. Each idea is
slowly opened and relished, and
you think you're going to be in for
a great treat. Which, in many
ways, you are.
The film is set in 1908 on the
small Creek island of Nisi. And thus
the island Is a contrast in itself: its
pure, bleached, marbled beauty is
peopled with international expa
triates who each seem to have
their own conspiratorial plans to
make the most of a long-time-declining
Ottoman Empire pro
fiteers, gun-runners, the idle rich,
are all attracted by Nisi's exquisite
locale.
Basil Pascali (Ben Kingsley) is the
story's main focus. For 20 years he
has been a loyal spy for the
Ottoman Sultan on the island full
of resentful Creeks. He is the
perfect spy; there is nothing that
occurs on Nisi that he does not
know about. Not that he is
respected for it. His reports to the
Sultan, 20 years of them, have
remained unanswered and
unacted upon, and the island's
inhabitants know him enough not
to confide in him. From the very
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beginning, Pascali is a lonely, tragic
figure.
As an informant, Pascali is nat
urally intrigued by the presence on
the island of the elegant, myste
rious Lydia (Helen Mirren). And of
course he notices when the tall,
blond Englishman, Anthony
Bowles (Charles Dance), arrives on
the island apparently as an
archaeologist Pascali is attracted
to them both, not just because of
the enigma they present him, but
because they are beautiful people,
in this exquisite setting, they could
be works of art in themselves.
And it is a work of art that
eventually ensnares them all.
Bowles's scheme to con the island's
governor a plan that Pascali has
somewhat unwittingly fallen into
goes awry when the land which
he has only purported to hold
important archaeological finds,
suddenly turns up trumps with
the discovery of an ancient bronze
statue. The triangle of beauty is
finally set up-. Bowles lusts for the
statue, Lydia has fallen in love with
Bowles, and Pascali remains trans
fixed by them both, until . .
Dearden gives this classical mys
tery the classic treatment. If there
is a problem with "Pascali's island,"
it's one of stake. With such an
intelligently drawn and gloriously
slow build-up we are led to expect
a bigger ending, a climax of
greater consequence than the
small lives of the film's main
characters.
General College
Here's the update on UNCs one
and only super soap: General
College" on STV. This is by no
means a sqeaky clean group,- its
members continually wallow in
their suds.
Mary Catherine is finally out of
the hospital after her miscar
riage. Her loving husband Bren
dan says so sympathetically,
"Gee, guess we dont need to set
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Ben Kingsley stars as a spy for
The film's greatest strength lies
in its stunning performances by
the three leads. Ben Kingsley, best
known and highly respected for his
Oscar-winning role in "Gandhi," is
among the greatest of today's
actors, in his hands, Basil Pascali is
a multi-dimensional character
whose fascination with the island's
newcomers and defiant and des
up the nursery.'
Good
observation.
What does Brendan care any
way? He's been hooked and is
getting reeled in by his glitzy,
slutty neighbor. She's lonely for
a man and Brendan's bedroom
eyes are saying "YES, YES, YES"
Meanwhile, sex is also on Kyle's
mind. The young freshman jock
has been deprived for four days.
What a pity! He asks his room
mate Ken to let him borrow the
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the Ottoman Sultan in James Dearden's new film, "Pascali's Island."
perate loyalty to the Sultan in
Constantinople holds the entire
movie together.
Charles Dance ("Jewel In The
Crown," "White Mischief) gives
one of his better performances.
Bowles is a more subdued, below-the-surf
ace character, which suits
the Englishman well. Helen Mirren
is seductive and charming enough
room at least until 11:30 p.m.
Quickie huh?
Back in the swing is Meg Philips,
a rape victim. She's turned in her
gray sweats for some real
clothes, and she looks great With
a new lease on life she has put
the rape out of mind.
The beloved interracial couple,
Courtney and Jason both suffer
abuse for their relationship.
Courtney's sorority sisters accuse
her of dating a "cracker." Jason
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to make her demise the crudest
of them all.
"Pascali's island" is a beautiful
film about beauty and the rot it
attracts. Its the sort of film they
dont make much anymore, and
good enough to forgive (but not
forget how could we forget?)
Dearden for his dreadful "Fatal
Attraction."
really gets the bad end of the
deal when he is attacked by his
true blue Tri Psi brothers dressed
as the Klan. Jason shows up at
Courtney's door with blood ooz
ing from his face, and she rushes
to call an ambulance.
Tripp, the blue-blood frat boy,
tries to charm Alexia with an
exquisite dinner. Tripp, who is
going to be president of his frat,
asks Alexia to be his "first lady"
for the occasion. But does she
really want to go?
There's only one way to find
out. Watch "General College"
Monday through Thursday at 11
p.m. on Carolina Cable 11.
Compiled by staff writer Anne
ReneeRice. TRY 302-A-East Main St.
Carrboro
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