Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Oct. 29, 1984, edition 1 / Page 3
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OCTOBER 29, 1904 THE.^TWIG PAae 3 ENTERTAINMENT "The Natural dy Davm Wood After seeing The Natural once again this weekend, I have an even greater appreciation for Robert Redfordasanactor and leading man. The NataMfS is an enjoyabie,weli- made flIftF about a smali-town baseball player, Roy Hobbs, who after a iengthy setback tries to reenter professional basebaii in his eeriy thirties. Robert Redtord’s acting as Hobbs is so authentic that one Is easily drawn into the part. Hc^ quietly endures the injustices and struggles one would naturally associate with a thirty-year-old man attempting to begin a career in professional baseball. But these things make us want him to succeed, and we live the part with the character even more. Roy Hobbs Is faced with many obstacle as he seeks to prove himself.Early In the movie Hobbs Is forced to prove his pitching expertise wtien he is chalier^ged by a current baseball star labeled "The Whanv Soon after, Hobbs suffers a huge setback [n his career and : A review reenters basebaii sixteen years later seeking to prove himself once again. During the course of the movie Redford Is involved with two sharply contrasted women set up as deliberate foils. One, his hometown sweetheart iris, played by Gleen Close, is the reflection of her feminine name- quiet, kind, and sincere. As the stereotyped gJrl next door. Iris waits for her man and remains faithful to the end. Memo, on the other hand, is appropriately stereotyped as an uptown city girl concerned with power and possessions far more than her relationship with Roy Hobbs. She Is selfish and scheming In an attempt to outwit her supposed lover. Roy Hobbs is an achiever. Because is willing to herolcaily sit back and endure injustice, his achievements are only that much greater.The odds are against his ajccess, and therefore we are compelled to cheer him on for his perserveFance. In all his glory, Roy Hobbs never becomes self-righteous. He remains devoted to the cause of baseball, rather than the monetary reward. He quickly earns the respect of his teem members, managers, and baseball fans, not only for his ability, but for his extreme success at a comeback they thought impossible. The fllmi uses definite lighting effects to envelope the audience. Soon after the movie begins the film cuts to the introduction of Hobbs and "The Whammer" and his company a superior edge. Then Hobbs is cast in bright light when he strikes "The Whammer” out at the camivai in front of an audience of people. In third situation the film alludes to power In relationship to darkness. Roy ap- proachesthe office of his teivn’s owner and finds him engulfed in darkness. After fighting this arrogant man for his rights, Hobbs exposes the owner with light, turning the table on the situation. Much of the film has a brown overtone, although frequently sharp contrasts of dark and light are used to show transltuations in plot or charact^izatlon. When the lighting effects are important, so are other effects used In the film. As a foreshadowing Roy Hobbs is briefly shown practicing baseball at the introduction of this film. This scene occurs once again at the end of the film as Hobbs practices baseball with his own-son. The in troductory scene quickly illustrates Hobb's exceeding love for the sport. Also, Roy makes a tiasebail bat bearing a lightning bolt aid the words “Wonder Boy”. The lightning bolt later becomes a symbol embroidered on the uniforms of all his fellow te»n mates- a symbol perhaps of the respect and admiration Hobbs so deservingly earned. And “Wonder Boy" is an early foreshadowing of his later success. Finally, Hobbs’ suc cess is vividly exhibited in one last scene. As Roy Hobbs steps up to bat, he skillfully and expertly hits the baseball directly into the lights, causing an explosion which brilliantly illuminates the entire sky. HoU» is cheered by all. The Natural is a classic movie that can by enjoyed by adults and children alike. HAPPY BIRTHDAY f JENNIFER JACKSON »' •' NOVEMBER 2, 1963 HAVE A SUPER BIRTHDAY, TWIN CYN
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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Oct. 29, 1984, edition 1
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