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Home , Eyes of Laura Mars, One More from the Road, That Smell

Retriever, September 18, 1978 9 · oo ~ wm~ w~======:~======Suspense fills the eyes of l.aura Mars

By Paul Strohl case with mysteries. Everytime I had the carries a heavy acting more sympathy for the other victims suspect, my villain would be killed--! Amidst the deluge of summer film load and comes across as unrealistic, but then for the heroine. This is a sign of suppose that's why its fun, but still with a good supporting case she still weak characterization, and Laura Mars releases an intriguing film has crept frustrating! looks pretty good. Brad Dourif (thd ,is definitely a weak character. Too bad. out--The Eyes of Laura Mars. Despite ·-The film uses many of the popular the redundant phrasing, ie, 'A Great ·chauffer) and Rene Auberjonois (hel methods: a curvaceous main manager) add the sympathetic touches is an atypical police Mystery Suspense Thriller,' used to character, scantily-clad fashion models, advertise it, the film tells a good story needed for audience empathy. They are detective who goes through many and does mystify the audience--a changes, and he handles them well. His whodunit of high calibre. love conquers all, and that is refreshing To complement the solid script, the for a police character. acting and directing is above average-­ reminscent of classics~ like Wait Until Visually the film flows weil, Director Dark or A Turn of the Screw. You will succeeds in portraying definitely be on the edge of your seat, the interior turmoil of the psychic world and not because of cheap Jaws-type of Laura Mars. We, the audience, are thrillers, but rear psychological sus­ the only ones who can judge what is pense. Of course, there are a few happening. Using mirror shots and questionable holes in the story, but the diffusion filters, Kershner draws us into tiny details are easy to forgive in light of the story by making us curious. Is she the overall high quality of the film. imagining all this, or is something really Faye Dunaway is a fashion photo­ happ9ning? Only the ending tells. ~apher (Laura Mars) whose unique The smooth production works well, photographic images cause a stir in the and although it lacks in individualistic New York art world. Unfortunately it touches, it shows that the suspense also causes someone to want to kill genre may finally make a comeback. her--of course we don't know who or Suspense has been overshadowed by why. It just happens. cheap (though expensive) thrills, like Tommy Lee Jones is a police detective Jaws, Star Wars, and soon Superman, or who is assigned to protect her. He tries by scripted comedy like Murder By to solve the mystery and falls in love with Death, Cheap Detective, and Animal Laura Mars instead. As the film well used and move the plot forward House. Although thrills and comedy progresses the list of suspects dwindles have their merits (?), suspense works as each possible suspect is mysteriously whenever Faye Dunaway gets lost in self-pity. especially well in films because the killed. And to make matters worse, director can direct or misdirect audience Laura discovers that she has psychic blood guts and gore, psychic· powers, · The audience should feel empathy for attention. Look at Hitchcock. Suspense powers and ·can predict the deaths. police action, and a little romance on the the victim of a _film, but Faye Dunaway utilizes the visual medium. Of course Complications arise. , side. All the angles are very slick and leaves you feeling ambivalent. I felt that there is no deep symbolism or heavy As usual the ending is a surprise and though the end result isn't mind-bogg:­ if the only way to solve the mystery was message. This film merely keeps you on is fairly satisfying. I came away feeling a ling, it is surprisingly good. Pure to kill her--fine. The · suspense is so the edge of your seat. If that's all you little ripped off, but that is usually the entertainment. strong that any relief is welcome. I felt want--Laura Mars is a film to see. Just a few more songs / from 's 1First ••• and last'

when you have just got in at 2 in the morn­ By BiU Tilghman Daughter," that tell you how to "get ry the song through. down" southern style. Both have a driving The in general consists of clean ing and want to decompress for a ·while In October of last year while on route to beat and are styled similar to "Searching" simple rock, some southern blues and before crashing or at anytime xou want to a concert in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and "T for Texas" off of their earlier rhythm that has made Lynyrd Skynyrd hear a little rock & roll. Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crashed killing album "." great. The album probably will not pro­ lead singer , guitarist The next song "White Dove" is a com­ duce any "#1 Hits" and it is definitely not The top cuts on the album are "White Steve Gaines and back-up vocaist Cassie plete turn around. It features Rickey Skynyrd's best effort, yet it is a fine album Dove," "Was I Right or Wrong," "Lend a Gaines (Steve Gaines' sister). This tragic Medlocke as lead vocalist and opens up and all the tunes are of high quality. It is a Helpin' Hand," "Comin' Home," and accident marked the end for Lynyrd with a solo by Gimmer Nichols on his ac­ good album to listen to on a Friday after­ "Things GOin' Oli." The only really bad Skynyrd. The surviving members decided coustic guitar. The song is mellow and noon (or Tuesday afternoon) while you are part of th~ album is that it is the ... Last they would never play together again soft, really creating the mood it was in­ preparing for a weekend of partying or of Lynyrd Skynyrd. under that name. tended to. This is one of the top cuts of the RecenUy however the group released a album. The other tune sung by Rickey new MCA labeled album, "Skynyrd's First Medlocke is "The Seasons." It too is and ... Last." The material on the album mellow but is leaning toward the blues. came from tapes Skynyrd started record­ This is not as good a piece as ''White ing back in '71; two years before the Dove" but is still quite pleasant to the ear. release of their first MCA album,Pro­ Ronnie Van Vant in his time has written nounced 'Leh-nerd Skin-nerd.' many songs dealing with problems around Feature writers According to David Marsh in an article us. These -are found on every album he did for Rollipg Stones back in June of Skynyard has ever put out. Songs such as this year Skynyard started recording the "Saturday Night Special," "The Needle album in their spare time while they were and the Spoon," "" found on still working the bar circuit in no~ previous dealt with the problems stop by Hillcrest today, Florida back in '71. It was to be used as of gun control, drug abuse, and alcohol ism. demo tape to help land a recording con­ Several such songs are found in this, their tract but because of damage to part of the latest album. The songs "Wino," "Lend a tape it was never used. So they continued Helpin' Hand," ·"Things Goin' On" all deal to work on the tape after they landed the with the such problems and our need to MCA recording contract and were plann­ work to correct them. All three are good Monday, 1pm ing to release it this year just for ~hat it clean rock with good lyrics and some great was. leads. What it is is an excellent sample of Probably the top cut of the album is Lynyrd Skynyrd's early work. It shows the "Comin' Home." In the style of "Sweet English influence on this southern group a Home Alabama" and "TueSday's Gone" it or call Larry x2224 little more than their latter works. It also typifies Lynyrd Skynyrd. The song is features Rickey Medlocke as a lead singer bright and the vocals demonstrate what a more than the later albums. The first side great singer Ronnie Van Zant was. The • opens up with a couple of rockin' songs, leads by really help car• "Down South Jukin" and "Preacher's