OCTOBER 27, 1992 PACIE7

Consenting Adults Candyman lacks Hitchcockian zip Not because of any lack of talent, is more guts than glory Gregory J. Cosden mind you, because all of the actors Retriever Staff Writer turn in fine performances—given Third, we have the antagonist. the considerable limits of the script. There are just too many similar- Recently, Hollywood has flooded Kevin Kline and Mary Elizabeth Gregg Scott Ginsberg the silver screen with a wave of Retriever Editorial Staff ities here to Jason Voorhees and Mastrantonio play the parts of the Freddy Kruger to actually rate the Hitchcockian thrillers. Last year dull Parkers, Richard and Pricilla. I kept telling myself that I'd character on his own merit. Like there was The Hand That Rocks They are the ultimate suburban never outgrow those slasher, Sir Freddy, the Candyman the Cradle and Silence of the yuppies. They have a good mar- horror-type movies. (played by Tony Todd) is graced Lambs. This year we've had Single riage, a beautiful and musically Perhaps I was wrong. with some decent one-liners to White Female, Unlawful Entry, and gifted daughter, a lovely house in You must believe that I went lighten this bore of a film. Let's now Consenting Adults. the suburbs—they even drive a into Candyman with an open be honest. Anyone who says that While some of them have been BMW for good measure. Only mind. After all, Clive Barker had "Your death will be a tale to successful (Lambs, Cradle), others problem is there's no zip in their brought us the Hellraiser series, frighten children, to make lovers have not. lives. and for Candyman, he even went cringe in their rapture," is out to Consenting Adults stands apart Enter the Otises, played by Kevin as far as to employ Philip Glass's make some kind of impression. from the crowd simply because it Spacey and Rebecca Miller. As musical mastery. Unfortunately, Mister Candyman is an adaptation of a Hitchcock Eddie and Kay (Katherine), this But if Clive and director Ber- doesn't have anything more to great— Vertigo. But that work was dynamic duo energized the lives of nard Rose were trying to win me offer Mrs. Lyle. sharper and more focused, Con- the humdrum Parkers. It doesn't over early on in the flick, a senting Adults is vague and hurt that there seems to be mutual resonant, almost monotone voice predictable. attraction between Richard and intoning "With my hook for a hand, I split you in your groin. "With my hook I came for you," was not going to do it. for a hand, I Helen Lyle, played by Virginia photo by JURGEN VOLLMER, courtesy* Hollywood Pictures Company. All Rights Reserved. Madsen, is a grad student writing split you in your The Parkers (Kevin Kline and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) and her thesis on urban legends. Her investigations lead her to the new neighbors Eddy and Kay Otis (Kevin Spacey and Rebecca Miller). groin. I came become tangled in a web of betrayal and deceit. housing projects of Chicago and tf the Candyman myth. for you. Oh, to hell with it.. . Kay and Eddie and Pricilla, either. gator (complete with a believable This is simply the story of some Kevin Spacey plays such a cha- southern accent), but his role is rismatic and glib Eddie Otis that minor enough that the movie still big guy with a hook for a hand Finally, we have sex—all that's and a bee hive for guts haunting you can almost see why his propo- drags. needed to draw fifteen-year-olds sals Richard to "swap wives" for some dumb blonde's dreams. to the theater. We have Madsen It doesnt help matters any that There so many parallels to the a night of unadulterated pleasure director Alan J. Pakula moves from nude in a tub, we have Madsen is plausible and persuasive. Almost, Nightmare on Elm Street and tied and prone in a mental ward, scene to scene with jolting effect. but not quite. Hellraiserseries that I was con- we have Madsen having sex with Either he or the film editor did not stantly experiencing deja vu. His Royal Beehive. But then again, Kevin Kline's spend enough time smoothing the Let's follow the formula, shall If you can make yourself believe Richard walks through the picture- transitional scenes. Sometimes it's we? • like he's zoned anyway, so it's not that all Candyman wants is for the just a sequence of wham-bam and First we have eerie music, lovely Mrs. Lyle to pass all too surprising when he does commit provided by new wave guru Glass. the adulterous deed. you figure out what just happened. eternity with him, these scenes The movie does end with an If there is but one saving grace From there, the movie wanders might just begin to make sense. amusing stint by Richard playing of this motion picture it is the old- Unfortunately, this approach did in a plot seemingly contrived from world score that Glass provides. not work for me. After witnessing the generic Hitchcock plot book. the role of "suburban commando" The audience is constantly bar- Madsen made up like an extra Richard finds out he's been framed as he tries to clear his name, but raged with heavy organs and from Alien Nation in the (predic- for murdering Kay, and Eddie is by now the interest has been lost primal chants. It's a shame that table) finale, I felt I could contain part of some kind of elaborate because of the incoherent plot. the action (and the storyline) do myself no longer. I practically million-dollar insurance scam. Screenwriter Matthew Chapman not live up to the same standards rolled into the aisle with laughter. But with the mesmerizing Eddie didnt take the time to focus the that Mr. Glass has set. Maybe I took this movie just out of the plot now, the movie rests script, so there are many holes in Next, we have the "startle the a little too seriously, looking for on the shoulders of Kevin Kline. audience approach." This consists it. so much from so little. With And like I said, he looks like he's So what we have here is a half- of ten seconds of dead silence, Halloween right around the zoned most of the time. hearted attempt at some quality followed by one loud crack, aimed corner, sending everyone on the photo by JURGEN VOLLMER, courtesy* Hollywood Pictures Company. All Rights Reserved. Forest Whitacker, who was so Hitchcock. On a scale of four stars, at startling the audience into some quest for cheap thrills, the film Can seductive Kay Otis (Rebecca Miller) tempt new neighbor Richard good in Good Morning Vietnam, artificial fear. Even with a young may find its niche. Still, I fear that does play an interesting role as the I'd have to give this one a half- Parker (Kevin Kline) to risk everthing he has for passion? sample audience who are willing both the hard-core horror fan and insurance company private investi- hearted two. to jump at the drop of a pin, the the suspense fan will come away whole routine becomes very old, feeling, as I did, empty and unfulfilled. very quickly. Movie takes a spiritual look at fishing of which invariably take place on bulk of the movie centers around beautiful, they are strangely Big labels snag Peggy Fossler a riverbank and involve fly-fishing. Norman's homecoming and his muted—filtered. There is very little Retriever Staff Writer His father (Picket Fences' Tom struggle to understand his much- violent passion in the film except Skerritt) is a Presbyterian minister changed brother. for the passion within Paul. And alternative music A River Runs Through It, who does not draw a line between Paul has become a reckless the most violent scenes are des- Robert Redford's latest directorial fly-fishing and religious experience drinker and gambler in Norman's cribed verbally after the fact. The Void Dweller (Columbia) - venture, is a witty, graceful testa- and instills his love for the sport absence. But when Norman fishes Norman does have a poetic reve- ment to good old fashioned family in Norman and his younger with him again, witnessing his lation, but even that is calm and Rob Thornton This is the latest attempt by a major Retriever Staff Writer label to pick up on a hot new trend values. Based on Norman brother Paul (played by Thelma unique style, he realizes that Paul quiet. and go with it. Maclean's autobiographical and Louise's Brad Pitt, a dead has also become an artist. Norman But despite this irritation, the Once upon a time, a bunch of Unfortunately, most major labels novella, the movie chronicles the ringer for a young Redford). still uses the technique his father movie is an enjoyable portrait of musicians and music fans looked at take forever to pick up a new trend, lives of Maclean and his family in The film's fishing scenes, set taught him. a kinder, gentler America. The the music industry and their cor- and when they finally pick up the the small-town wilderness of Mis- against gorgeous mountain lands- It is at this point that the movie cinematography alone is a reason tporate lackeys, the Top 40 radio trend, most major labels will try to soula, Montana during the early capes where man is dwarfed by becomes somewhat frustrating to to see it. Despite its stoicism, the part of this century. nature, are beautifully crafted. watch. Norman pursues his love Stations, and said "They're fascists, "commercialize" the artists work. movie is affecting. It's hard not to By the time the rest of the world Redford's affection for this story Fishing becomes symbolic of the interest Jessie (Emily Lloyd) with and they suck!" like the Maclean brothers. This is So they made up their own clubs, hears what the tame trendies have of revelation through fly-fishing is artistic spirit. But this spirit doesn't determination, yet he cannot seem their own bands, and their own put out, the trend has run out of evident in his narration. Norman last in Norman. He leaves Mon- to help his brother. We cannot tell definitely a movie you must see on labels, and they were happy. juice and the music sucks! Rap was (played as an adult by Craig tana to attend college at Dart- whether this is a result of his inbred the big screen. Video just wont do This happy gang had so much fun lucky; other genres like go-go have Sheffer) recalls his childhood and mouth for six years while Paul stoicism or his awe of Paul. The it justice. A River Runs Through that many magazine people started suffered from major label abuse. early manhood in small meaning- stays home, becoming a legendary movie has a disturbing tone of It is now playing exclusively at The to listen too, and learned that some This time around, Sony Enter- ful episodes, the most important fisherman newspaperman. The futility. And while the scenes are Senator theater in Towson. iof the bands that belonged to that tainment (in the Columbia guise) bappy gang were great. The mag- has taken on "techno," and after I 'azine people started to write about listened to T99 and Eon, I think From my limited experience with that the Huskers' should have never —Hit To Death is a drift-your- 'how cool these bands were. Fortu- that Columbia has masterminded the genre, T99 and Eon sound like signed on with Warner Brothers or mind-over-here psychedelic voyage McMurty's 'nately, the public wouldn't listen to one of the best major label/new 100 percent genuine techno, they might still be together today. for the Nineties. Think strange sha- them because they weren't part of genre invasion attempts ever. First, unadulterated by any major label But who knows? This may be la-la LSD-influenced-pop with the music industry. we need to talk about what "techno" meddling. Both T99 and Eon have wishful thinking, and we can look some weird noise distortion rock new album is received praise from hardcore at R.E.M.(Warner), Sonic Youth But the music industry were actually is. thrown in for variety's sake. I like .listening to these magazine people, techno freaks: T99 was called "the and Nirvana(DGC) to prove that rock done right |and the music industry could smell hardest techno there is," and Eon an alternative band could do well this album a lot, but it isnt really (fresh meat on the hoof. So the music was called "good, but for the trance on a major label. dark or depressing like their earlier work. lindustry started to investigate them, Other groups types." Trance techno is probably But the Flaming Lips and Throw- Ioannis Gatsiounis ibut they weren't sure. Would other another (meditative?) variant, but ing Muses may be suffering from If I had to do a "sounds like" Retriever Staff Writer ■people like them, or not? thought that dont ask me for specifics. I'd have the major labeksyndrome. By the gimmick, I would say that it's a After R.E.M's "Document" and to write another article. time these bands, signed on to cross between the poppy side of Good folk rock singer/songwri- "It's The End Of The World As We once the music Oh yes. What do I think about Warner Brothers, they have Janes' Addiction with the "orches- ters are no longer in abundance. 'Know It," the answer was a all this? It all sounds the same to changed into forms that might tra" and "LSD" period Beatles. This They are dropping off like dead flies Jresounding yes. Thus, the music me, except for "Fear: The Mind- surprise their original fans. was fun to listen to, and I expect amidst a world full of swatters. industry bought The Muses used to have three One main reason for this is the lindustry started to buy up the best killer" by Eon. It had a cool sample to listen to it in the future. It's not Ithe happy gang had to offer. The from the movie "Dune." But all this women songwriter/musicians in fact that we are now indulged in as emotional as the earlier work, lhappy gang may have been happy, them up, they is besides the point. their band, and now they are down the MTV generation — where |but most of them were poor. So here's to Columbia for their to one (Kristin Hersh) with David but it's good. bands are manufactured by record So the gang started to splinter would become intrepid voyage into the world of Narcizo. —The Muses have composed and companies in hopes of obtaining | into different little groups. Some techno. If Sony has set a trend, I think that the Flaming Lips may orchestrated a neat song. It's a pity overnight stardom — where musi- 'groups welcomed the money and "lackeys to the maybe we might have some decent have lost their old lead singer and that they have to play it for forty cians are more concerned with their Jthe music industry because now 99 music in Kemp Mill or Camelot one songwriter to this new band Mer- minutes. Kristin has an interesting image than the substance of their itheir music would get more airplay. corporate ogre. of these days. cury Rev (who's now on Columbia). chiming/abrasive guitar sound, and music. Unlike many of his mentors, [Other groups thought that once the The Flaming Lips: Hit To Death I'm not sure about this, but I dont they sound like they mean what James McMurtry isnt yearning for i music industry bought them up, In The Future Head and Throwing hear his cockeyed weirdo basso they're singing about. But it all commercial success. He seems Techno has many styles, but the content with just having the ability [they would become "lackeys to the Muses: Red Heaven (Warner Bros) profundo voice on this release. It's sounds the same. I like it, but^ou essentials can be summed up - These releases show us yet another just a guess, but I'm pretty sure that to express himself. The final result: (corporate ogre." have to like the first song one hell That's where we are today. The quickly: set the drum machine on pathway oft used by the music the Lips have changed their lineup. power through simplicity. i old independent music scene is hyperactive, push the bass drum industry to obtain alternative Now, the question that we must of a lot. The Muses need to have McMurtry is a young savior | being dominated by major labels sound to the limit, play a repetitive talent. answer is: Did the changes in the more variety. amongst this dying breed. "Candy- ;who have major money. Are the synthesizer melody in the back- They look around for some group band and the label crossover change So what's the verdict? Do major land" is the followup to his critically jVery Big Corporations a bane or ground, and add whatever weird or artist who has been putting out their music for the worse? labels corrupt independent bands? acclaimed debut album, Too Long i a boon to the lovers of cool pop sounds, samples and vocals that a "good product" for years, and I'm not sure. Both releases show I dont think that it's possible to In the Wasteland and, to much j music? sound good. then they offer them lots of money dramatic and different changes say for sure. These examples show surprise, it is remarkably better. [I think the answer is yes and no, Normally, I like live bands that if they sign on with the major label. from the Lips and the Muses' that each case is different. It Like his last album, "Candyland" J and the tale can be told by reviewing actually play music together, so I'm Naturally this technique rarely previous work. The Lips' music has is produced by John Mellencamp a little bit biased against techno. depends on whether you are a indie I four albums that were written by fails, but sometimes the process kills become poppier and closer to warrior or a corporate lackey, and and accompanied by his creditable Take those reservations away, mainstream alternative work, and band as well. Nevertheless, there are ) small-timers and sponsored by big- the patient. I have read that Bob somehow, I think the truth is I timers. though, and you have to hand it Mould, the ex-guitarist from the the Muses have been shorn of their T99: Children Of Chaos and Eon: to Columbia Records. defunct indie gods Husker Du, feels quirky beats and weird rhythms. somewhere in the middle. (see McMurty, page 8)