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6The Daily Tar HeelWednesday, February 29, 1984 'Footloose' an unrealistic, high-energy musical By IVY BILLIARD Staff Writer Movie musicals just aren't what they used to be. Time was, characters burst into song whenever the mood struck or when words just weren't good enough. Nowadays they don't even call them musicals, because it's just not good box office. Take, for example, the new Paramount release Flashfoot er, Footloose. Review In the tradition of other Paramount releases, such as Saturday Night Fever and last year's phenomenally popular Flashdance, the characters in the new musical don't get to sing. But they do get to dance up a storm, with the music entering the story through radio and other realistic sources. The target of Footloose and its predecessors is the teenage audience that has been captivated by the charms of MTV and the music video. It is no surprise, then, that Footloose succeeds with a mixture of high-energy musical numbers within a vague ly realistic plot, as its quick climb to the top of the box office charts after only one week in release illustrated. The basics of Footloose come from the tradition of "youthful rebellion" movies that is even older than the "imical tnAUi Kn for 1984 this rebellion is remark ably clean-cut and nostalgic of the old "let's put on a show" movies. The film takes place in a small Midwestern town where dancing has been outlawed for the last five years due to the one-man campaign of a fundamentalist preacher, Rev. Shaw Moore (John Lithgow). His daughter, Ariel (Lori Singer), is a daredevil, a rebellious girl determined to escape her father's authority. Then comes Ren MacCormack (Kevin Bacon), the new kid in town, fresh from the big city with rhythm in, his step and a chip on his shoulder that bring good and bad results. ; . Ren's attitude draws attention from the townspeople, who heartily disapprove of his ways (bad), and from Ariel, who decides it's time to dump her redneck boyfriend Chuck (Jim Young) and go after Ren (good). What works in Footloose are the performances and the infectious spirit of the soundtrack. Bacon, whose performance in Diner as an alcoholic preppy showed real acting talent, is lean and sizzling in this film. By doing all of his own dancing except for a few of the more difficult gymnastic stunts, he shows talent as a fine dancer as well. Paired with Singer, he of fers a sweetness and sexiness that's hard to resist. Singer herself is a lovely actress who gives a mixed but oddly winning performance. Lithgow is as excellent as always. He manages to give his antagonistic character a vulnerable side, making his actions more sympathetic to the audience. Christopher Penn, as Ren's pal Wiilard, is a true scene stealer, especially in his gee-whiz manner and his clumsi ly heroic attempts to learn to dance. "But best of all in Footloose is the music, especially the title track by Kenny Loggins and a Deniece Williams song, Let 's Hear It for the Boy. When these numbers cut loose, the movie soars. What's wrong with Footloose is that there is not enough of this energy to sustain the plot through its slow-moving scenes and contradictory storyline. Dean Pitchford's screenplay touches on so many issues (book burning, New Right ethics, drug enforce ment, parental abandonment, etc.) that it slows down what should be a lively, bouncy, just plain fun movie. Director Herbert Ross gets the visual style of the film down wonderfully, but it's still the little things that are hard to swallow. Why is the Reverend so strict oh everyone except his wild daughter? When the kids finally get to dance, why do they make moves that would put Michael Jackson to shame? As an example of the new style of musicals, Footloose is lacking enough to create a certain nostalgia for the old brand and spirited enough to point out the possibilities of the new. Jason and the Scorchers' tour to stop in Raleigh By J. BONASIA Staff Writer After three years, Jason and the Scorchers are finally starting to pick up some momentum. Carolina music enthusiasts will be able to see Jason's much-healed, rhinestone studded live act tonight at the Bear's Den in Raleigh. Back in 1981, guitarist Warner Hodges, bass player Jeff Johnson and drummer Perry Baggs joined up with frontman Jason Ringenberg. By year's end Jason and the Nashville Scorchers was formally begun. The group released its first EP, Reckless Country Soul, in February, 1982, but nobody paid much attention. It bombed badly. Then, in 1983, Nashville's Praxis Records released Fervor ; a mini-album that received popular critical acclaim but still failed to generate sales. All of which leads up to 1984. Enter EMI-America and; with it, momentum. ' In January the band was signed by the powerful New York-based label. EMI promptly set about plotting a course to create a scorching success. Their first move was to drop the "Nashville" from their name. EMI of ficials thought this change would stress the group's rock 'n' roll image while play ing down its country and western aspects. So much for loyalty to one's hometown. Next, ZZ Top producer Terry Manning got behind the boards to remix Fervor. A cover of Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie" was included, and the record was re-released. Finally, EMI has provided the pro motional support that a small label like Praxis couldn't afford. And all of it seems to be paying off. - 1 .. Now the Scorchers are headlining a na tional tour of major cities to promote the "new" Fervor. r There has been mention of a hard rocking version of John Denver's "Coun try Roads" in the band's repertoire, and one EMI spokesperson described a typical Scorchers show as very wild and "very ... uh, different." Students who take a break from midterms tonight and head over to Raleigh will see for themselves. r ,4 .atkfe. y ' & - -"saw -vm 1 1 , i - - hi 4t I- i I J- ' i 4 I s 14. '-V-f'H.--' i -: . . ; J try '-r Crowing " 'lliVW ii 8S a t'i i,"-. '"" ' l Artist Moonelis collaborates with students. By ARLAINE ROCKEY Staff Writer Students were treated to two days with, visiting ceramics artist Judy Moonelis Wednesday and Thursday. The event was sponsored by the Gallery Committee of the Carolina Union. With the aid of slides, Moonelis spoke about the development of her expressive form of sculpture. Even as a young child she showed an interest in art. Her parents supported her in terest by taking her to art museums. For Moonelis, art seemed the natural thing to do. Moonelis studied painting in high school and began majoring in painting at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. In her second year, however, Moonelis took a ceramics course taught by Rudy Staffel. In 1972, when she began to study ceramics, the basic curriculum revolved around vessels. With vessels, Moonelis moved into figurative work in clay. In 1975, Moonelis graduated from the Tyler School. She received her master's degree from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred . University. Moonelis now lives in New York Ci ty, where she has a studio. She has compiled an impressive list of exhibi tions and experience for a young artist."-' Moonelis was excited by the strong turnout in Chapel Hill. About 50 peo ple attended the sjide presentation and the demonstration. Several others in volved themselves in a collaborative project with Moonelis. "I received a wonderful, positive response from people," Moonelis said. . For the collaborative project, Moonelis and her collaborators created a large ceramic collage, about four feet long and two feet high, of several faces similar to her work now on display in the glasscases in the ; Carolina Union lobby. Moonelis thought it refreshing to have a group not only containing graduate art" students and die-hard ceramics buffs, but also many novices. Moonelis' pieces are figurative sculptures done on slabs of clay with a bright and often alarming use of col or. The word "style" for Moonelis, however, focuses on technique; she is 1 more concerned with expression. Moonelis work has been called "aggressive," and she agrees that it is. Her figures express the biting realistic dichotomy present in humanity. On one plane of a sculpture, the figure's expression is calm and nonchalant "the side we tend to hold up to the world," Moonelis calls it. The flip side of a piece of sculpture expresses "the inner, negative feelings that people don't like to deal with ... the anger, the fear that we as a society tend to keep down ... I force people to look at it," Moonelis said. Viewing her work forces a person to face this tension, which Moonelis feels is in all of society from the personal to the political. "Change is prevalent in art," said Moonelis, who began her figurative work in vessels then moved to the abstract, Moonelis said she is now "finding (her) way back to the figure; (her art) is becoming more focused." Moonelis' philosophy on art is clear. "You challenge yourself all the time," she said. ELLIOT ROAD at E. FRANKLIN 967-4737 11 M7M II I -..fill in MMMS S. $2.00 TIL 6:00 PM EVERYDAY! 3:00 5:10 7:20 9:30 Tom Selleck Lassifer (R) 3:10 5:10 7:10 9:10 Dudley Moore Nastassja Kinski Unfaithfully Yours (pg Support the March of Dimes BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION - 2:15 4:45 7:15 9:45 William Hurt AREA EXCLUSIVE! Gorky Park r THEATRFS W FftUUlW ITKtil CAROLINA CLASS C TREASUREOF o.on - enc SIERRA MADRE JW BLAME IT ON RIO 7:20 9:20 BROADWAY DANNY ROSE 3 5 7 9 Fri. 32: VERTIGO! f A ., . MUST END l LAST 2 DAYS! i I rive iwMjun V OSCAR I iSw, NOMINATIONS 'JJI If . 2-20.4:40 rjYi ctrfpp innrrRfKFi i rmn M Ilk Wll Ikkl Wl IWWaaBBb 1 ,M ISILKWOOD Obenina Fridav Hjtchcock'-VERT4GO and THE Csmtt-.,, NEVER CRY WOL ENDS THURS. A TRUE STORY m. 3:W) 5:00 7:10 9:10 TH E Daily Crossword by Ruth N. Schultz ACROSS 1 Elec. units 5 Edgar the . painter 10 avis 14 Perfectly 15 Uneven 1S Time periods 17 Lohengrin's bride '18 Very close, as a race 20 Adorn 22 Think 23 Carte 24 Social groups 25 Big bird 27 "Do others..." 29 Fixed fruit in a way 33 Gatos 34 Fish feature 36 Giggle 37 Ballot 39 Chopin opus, e.g. 41 Secluded valley 42 Actress . Papas 44 "South Pacific" hero 46 Vowel group 47; Catered 49 Dickens' ; 'Little Yesterday's Puzzle Solved: NlElWlTrWlCIRIAIPffS H AM fttftj t r r m Tj 2Eirr w h tt F f u rrMirr zi cThIA 1TN TB rXITK CAT rXlTT RJl 0 TTTFFFinr JTTTTTh TTTTYCrTRT HG R E E NfTlH U M 8 Ut o m m yLmIeItIe 22984 50 Refrain 12 Move fast syllable 13 Inquire 51 Racemose 19 Credit's plants partner 53 Straight 21 Blame rod 24 Pillars 55 Extol 25 Presley 57 Catalonlan 26 Marianne 60 Shores the poet 62 Yearning 28 London 63 Seed coat gallery 64 Way 30 Attention- 65 Principal grabbing 66 Expansive 31 Certain 67 Traditional fisherman tales 32 Festival 68 Trees ol Apollo 35 Miss Adams DOWN 38 Highly 1 Feathered desirable crown of 40 Ovals Osiris 43 Out of this 2 Beauty mark world 3 Make the 45 End of a grade palindrome 4 Aver 48 Render 5 Excoriate defenseless 6 Green 52 Lure island 54 "What's 7 Pol. party In?" 8 Ancient 55 Eif Mariner's 56 Foray cry ' 57 Genesis 9 Take action name on a bill 58 Space 10 Sampled filler again 59 Cacklers 11 In 60 Proverb (bored) 61 Lean-to 1 12 3 4 I5.I6 7 18 19 I 1 10 111 112 113 77 - g . il ., - 'ST" : " -pp 7f- - 28- - 29 - irTsriar" W " IT" " If mmmm 35 " " 37"" " 38 39"" "" " . , A(T mmmm 41 "" TT" " " " If" TT" "" "" 45""" """" 46" "T" " 7T "" " " 48 mmmm "Tm """" "" mmm 1 50 "" ' Tt "T 52" " m"mm' 53 "" 54T" "" ' 55151" "" "" "T" """"" ' ' S7 " " """" 581 li" is" ; IT" """""61 : is " 17- &5 " - 66 ! pT" "" "" " """ j68, 1984 Tribune Company Syndicate, Inc. All Rights Reserved ' 22984
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 29, 1984, edition 1
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