;~~~~ TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1985 The Tech PAGE 1 1 _~ artsfilm SIlverado and Pale Rider resurrect the Western- Silverado, written by Lawrence Kasden ic, fun, and unpretentious movie I hate to Ooldblum. Kline, despite a fairly large up when Eastwood arrives to save the day. and Mark Kasden; produced and directed say anything bad about it, but I have to part, comes across as Robin Williams on Eastwood wears a white collar, so the by Lawrence Kasden; opening soon at a say it isn't as successful as it could have Quaaludes. Glover runs around with one miners call him "preacher," even though theater near you. Pale Rider, written by been. Happily though, its failings are a re- emotion all the time. The only players to he never does any preaching. Instead he Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack; pro- sult of trying too hard, of packing too emerge with any depth and vitality are leads by example and inspires with ac- duced and directed by Clint Eastwood. much into one movie. In these days of Glenn and Costner. tions, bringing the miners together to Playing at the Sack Cheri. slick films with simplistic plots, it's nice to Silverado is at its best when it remains stand up to the company. Experts tell us that close to 30 percent see a movie with too much in it rather an adventure story. It is at its worst when Unfortunately, Eastwood's mere pres- of American fiction films have been West- than too little. it tries to go deeper into human relation- ence in Pale Rider is a double-edged erns. The Western is the biggest genre in Silverado is a fast-moving, high-adven- ships, which are done.l980s-style. There sword. On one hand he dominates so Hollywood's history, and many 20th cen- ture movie, a rollercoaster of a film. Its are hints of The Big Chill here, but merci- forcefully that his magnetism is a major tury people have spent much of their time rich, complex plot is overlaid with a sensa- fuslly, Silverado isn't Yuppies on the component of the film. But on the other in the neighborhood theater watching tionlal style that makes it the most exhila- Range. hand, his lean, tough, tight-lipped screen movies about men and women in the 19th rating movie so far this year. Silverado is closer to a, Western version persona contrasts with the otherwise fairly century frontier. It's completely attuned to its Western of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It blazes rich movie. The part was doubtlessly writ- But in the past 1S years the popularity roots, although it has style all its own. Sil- through its story - it blazes too fast, but ten with Eastwood in mind; terse dialogue of the Western has declined. In the past verado borrows from many Westerns of it blazes. And it never gets boring or self- is his hallmark. But in Pale Rider, the five years particularly, there have been neo the past, in terms of theme and accoutre- important. speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-gun philos- big Westerns (big at the box office, any- ments. It has all the elements of the classic As far as ambition and vitality go, Sil- ophy does not serve the protagonist well; way). The genre has been kept alive by Western: farmers, cattle, gun fights, and verado is the best film to hit the theaters in it keeps the movie from taking off and ex- smaller productions like The Gray Fox and the heros galloping to the rescue. The a long time. See it and try to keep up with panding on its promise. Some may argue Barbarosa (both pretty good, but neither town of Silverado acts as a focal point for its pace; it's worth the effort. that Eastwood's cult following is derived very popular), but in this era of box-office the playing out of the Western myth which from this very persona, and this is true. extravaganzas there have been no Westerns Silverado plays homage to, but doesn't Pale Rider is a Western with a capital But in the context of this one movie, his of significant popular stature. flaunt obtrusively. "W." It has all the classic elements of a identity is rather limiting. This summer promises to change things Unfortunately, Silverado. suffers from Western and one can't imagine it as any- Eastwood is surrounded by some excep- as Hollywood brings out two Westerns the same disease as last winter's The Cot- thing else. tionally good supporting acting, most no- likely to attract much attention. Pale Rid- ton Club: It's too Fast moving. The scenes Pale Rider is a Clint Eastwood movie all tably by Michael Moriarty as the miner er is likely to attract attention because are too short and they fly by so fast they the way. Eastwood dominates his first who befriends the traveling preacher and Clint Eastwood is in it, and Eastwood is, leave the viewer not just satiated, but over- Western in nine years, and one can't imag- brings him to the mining camp. Carrie along with Sylvester Stallone, the biggest whelmed. Not enough time is taken to ine it without him. The film reminds one Snodgress plays a tough mountain woman box-office draw in movies today. Some build tension or to develop many of the of how good Eastwood can be in Westerns at the camp who seeks to become people, myself included, will always go to characters. For the sake of telling a really and of how distinctive Westerns can be Eastwood's love interest. Eastwood's movies, no matter what they good story one wishes the film had been with Eastwood. Pale Rider is very neat; the rhythm and are about. simpler or longer. Eastwood plays his familiar Man-With- texture are well defined and controlled. Silverado is likely to attract attention The story has four heros, all of whom No-Name character who rides into town This is probably the first movie in which because it was written and directed by are outlaws, but not really bad guys. Scott dressed in black and needing a shave. Eastwood did a better job directing than Lawrence Kasden, a filmmaker with a Glenn and Kevin Costner are brothers on Some Biblical allusions ae made to equate acting. One gets a feel for the California good track record. Silverado also has an their way to California who stop off to vis- him with either Death or an Avenging An- mountains where the action takes place. all-star cast, although nobody of the mag- it their sister in the generic Western town gel, it is unclear which. He then sets out to The story is consistantly engaging and nitude of Eastwood. Kasden was the guy of Silverado. Kevin Kline plays the ex-con- save the good townspeople from the bad holds one's attention all the way through. who made Body Heat, a throw-back to the vict drifter they meet along the way and guys. It's pretty simple, but at least it's not ob- films noirs of the 1940s. He was expected take to Silverado. Danany Glover is the The town in question is a small settle- sessed with itself. Pale Rider understands to recreate in Silverado the Westerns of the Easterner on his way to Silverado to help ment of gold miners who have hit bad that it shouldn't try to be the definitive 1940s and 1950s. his family farm land on the outskirts of times. They're flat broke, and the evil cap- American Western, if there could be such It's extremely doubtful the Western will the town. The four become friends and italist owner of a large nearby mining a thing. again become a Hollywood staple, but if team up to fight the nasty cattle baron and company wants to drive them off their Pale Rider is worth seeing, even for peo- Pale Rider and Silverado are successful, the corrupt town sheriff lands. The mining baron will resort to ple who aren't Clint Eastwood fanatics. we could see more of their type in the next The film's rapid procession leads to anything to accomplish his purposes, even One hopes Eastwood will continue to couple of years. truncating of characters and little use of if it means sending his henchmen in to bul- make Westerns; he's one of the few stats fairly famous and talented actors like ly the independent miners. The poor min- who can single-handedly carry a movie, Silverado is such an ambitious, dynam- John Cleese, Rosanna Arquette and Jeff ers are in low spirits and are ready to give both inside the film and at the box-ofice. Dan Crean The Emerald Forest explores the tropicaljungle The Emerald Forest, Written by Rospo The story, which the flim claims is based , style and texture not often seen in main- John Boorman; I wonder how he got the Pallenberg; produced and directed by on real events, is about an American engi- stream movies, and it's one which can be part) plays Boothe's grown-up son. He's John Boorman. Playing at Sack Beacon neer (Powers Boothe) who brings his Brit- pretty irritating unless you're caught up in pretty good, at least when it comes to act- Hill, Sack Copley Place, and the Harvard ish wife and two children to South Amer- the story. ing and speaking the Indian language at Square Theatre. ica where he is working on the This picture is also unique in that, de- the same time. The EmeraldForest is the kind of movie construction of a dam on the Amazon. On spite being a British production, it is es- But this isn't an actors' movie. It's a you'll probably either like a lot or not like an excursion to the jungle, Boothe's young sentially a foreign-language film. Most of writer's and director's movie. Screenwriter at all. Different people have different reac- son is kidnapped by a primitive Indian the conversation is in the Indian language Rospo Pallenberg and director John Boor- tions to any movie, but with The Emerald tribe which lives-deep in the rain forest. or Spanish. We are aided by easy-to-read man have a message for the audience: Forest there's likely to be a wider range of The scene suddenly shifts to ten years subtitles. Modern civilization is encroaching on the opinion than usual, depending on how later, and Boothe is still searching for his Powers Boothe is known mainly for his last bastions of wilderness and ruining it. deeply the viewer gets into the story. lost son. The boy, however, has grown up portrayal of religious cult leader Jim They're using The Emerald Forest to The Emerald Forest is very weird, and -with the Indians and has "gone native (ai Jones. Boothe may not be a great actor, spoonfeed this message, no matter how ex- for the first 20 or 30 minutes it looks like la Tarzan). To give away more of the plot but he's very good at sweating. I've only plicitly they have to do it. that's all it's going to be. But then the would spoil it for you, but you can count seen him in two films, but I'm beginning But for entertainment, The Emerald magic of the story takes over, and you get on being surprised. to think Boothe is to sweating as Cher is Forest is one of the best movies of the caught up in this fascinating adventure A dreamy mysticism runs through The to chewing gum: distinct from and better summer, provided you fall under its spell. story of two cultures in conflict along the Emerald Forest the way water runs than anyone else. You may not Like it, but take a chance Amazon. through the rain forest. There's a visual Charley Boorman (who curiously has anyway. You could love it. the same last name as producer-irector Dan Crean Cocoon offers the same old summer escapism Cocoon, Screenplay by Tom Benedek; it may bedome one of the most popular. secret to everlasting youth on other plan- coon lacks the coherence and the satisfac- produced by Richard E Zanuck, David Cocoon is like Splash in many ways. ets. Some aliens have brought the magic tion of Splash. More of the Guttenberg/ Brown, and Lili Fini Zanuck; directed by Both have beautiful female aliens (Tahnee pool to a St. Petersburg, Florida house Welch relationship would have helped, Ron Howard. Playing at the Sack Cinema Welch here, Darryl Hannah in Splash). where they use it to help bring their co- too, as would have some better acting 57. Both have bumbling-but-likable guys coon-entrapped comrades out of a 10,000- from Welch . Religion is the opiate of the masses,- (Steve Guttenberg here, Tom Hanks in year-long hibernation. Cocoon also spins up some overt reli- Karl Marx once said, and more recently Splash). Both have a romance between the Three adventurous old men from the gious symbolism which isn't nearly as ef- others have been saying that movies are alien and the ordinary guy. Both involve a nearby retirement home start taking swims fective as it wants to be. Of course, Co- the opiate of the masses. Nowhere do we secret which society would go crazy over if in the magic pool without the aliens' coon isn't the first movie to associate find these two lines of thought better demn- it got its hands on it (a mermaid in Splash, knowledge, and discover that it makes meetings between aliens and Earthlings onstrated than in so-called "feel-good' a swimming pool of youth here). them feel young again. Not only do the with religion. IBut the best movies of this movies, like Cocoon, which besides offer- You doubtlessly remember from high mystical waters heal cancer and improve sort, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close ing slick, fast-paced entertainment, also school American history how the Spanish eyesight, they make you horny. Encounters of the Third 1Kind, project a Comfort us with messages- of cosmic one; explorer Ponce De Leon searched the New Well, one thing leads to an other, and religious aura. The religious attitude is un- ness with our fellow man and/or alien. World for the fabled 'Swimming pool of naturally the oldsters find that too much a stated but it's strongly implied. In Coccon, Cocoon is the biggest and most-hyped youth" which kept the Indians so young. good thing is bad. Even the wisdom of the the mystical allusions are explicit, but the of this summer's feel-good movies, which All he found were alligators in the Florida years has not prepared them for something feeling just isn't there as it is in Close En- don't differ too much from last summer's swamps. Of course hindsight is 20/20, and which can make them- feel young again. counters, and 2001. feel-good movies, except there are more of today we know that the Indians' youthful Even old eople can learn new tricks, we This isn't to say Cocoon is a bad movie. them. Ron (Opie) Howard directed Co- appearances was due to exercise and a see. It's fair summer escapism, although it coon. His last project, Splash, was one of proper diet, and that there is no swimming Howard's visual style has improved doesn't meet its lofty ambitions. There are the best pictures of 1984. Cocoon is not pool of youth, at least native to this plan- since Splash, and there are some good better movies around; Cocoon just fits one of the better movies of 1985, although et. But, as we learn in Cocoon, there is a characters here, but the story runs out of into the "OK" category. steam in.the final third of the film. Go_ Dan Cot