CATHOLIC COUBCB DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER. N.Y. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2,1995 BMSE9 REVIEWS Journal reveals young Merton Run to the Mountain: A Harbor, with Merton having Story of a Vocation, edited by received a l'-A notice from the Trappist Brother Patrick Hart; draft board. Harper San Francisco, New Ironically about to be draft­ York (1995); 478 pp., $27.50. ed, this eloquent poet, choosing the austere Trappist life, By Frank Allen became one of the century's Catholic News Service great advocates of peace. Novelist, poet, Trappist "There's a huge gap between monk — Thomas Merton is a the monastery and the world," man of contradictions. BOOK Merton says after his first visit Despite voluminous writings, REVIEW to Gethsemani at Easter 1941. it is difficult to know how to The 460 pages of this pre- categorize diis pilgrim of the monastic journal, against a spirit. backdrop of political turmoil and When Merton died in 1968 in impending world war, is as precise as a Bangkok, Thailand, he left behind over guidebook and "Lebensgefuhl" (full of 800,000 words of unpublished journals life), as Merton refers to it It combines New Line Cinema and letters.. Under the stipulation of his the texture of a Thomas Wolfe novel and Gaby Hoffmann, (left to right) Christina Ricci,, and Ashleigh Aston trust, 25 years had to elapse before his mystical desire of a prophet to find Moore star in 'Now and Then.' journals could be published. "some perfect city." The first of these journals, Run to the One day he's analyzing Dylan Thomas, Mountain: A Story of a Vocation, edited the next the Feast of the Holy Family. To and introduced by Brother Patrick Hart, this inveterate reader, maker of lists and Films offer faulty fare Merton's last secretary and general edi­ lover of words, Walt Whitman and Emily tor of the journals, covers three years, Dickinson combined, rebel and man of (CNS) - The following 'Now and Then' 1939-1941, just before Merton entered a the cloister, everything has sacredness. are capsule reviews of movies recently monastery where he was to spend the The inner dialogue between intellectu­ reviewed by the U.S. Catholic Four friends from childhood (Rita rest of his life. al assertiveness and moral self-surrender, Conference Office for Film and Wilson, , Rosie O'Donnell It is the first of seven volumes of jour­ the need to embrace the world versus the Broadcasting. and Melanie Griffith) recall how they nals that are to be published in chrono­ need to seek grace, is idealistic and helped each other face problems when logical order with very litde editing. deeply felt. 'Copycat' they were 12 in 1970 suburbia. Director Thomas Merton (19154968), born in One enjoys the company of this world­ Twisted thriller in which a San Lesli Linka Glatter casts a glow over mem­ France, converted to Catholicism, earned ly humanitarian who sought to heal con­ Francisco homicide detective (Holly ories of the cusp of adolescence, but with a master's in English at Columbia flict between the secular and the spiritu­ Hunter) tries to nab a serial killer with scant story and character development, University, taught at St. Bonaventure al. the reluctant aid of an expert criminal the result is a sweet but shallow salute to University in Olean, N.Y., then entered "I am beginning to know," says Merton psychologist (Sigourney Weaver) still supportive friendships. Fleeting nudity the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of in 1941, "more surely now that there is traumatized by an encounter with a and some sexual references. The U.S. Gethsemani in Kentucky. nothing for me but to pray and do patient. Directed by Jon Amiel, the plot Catholic Conference classification is A-in From the isolation of a monastery and penance and belong to Christ in poverty, has interest until disintegrating into a — adults. The Motion Picture Association later as a hermit, he became a leading in my whole life and without compro­ horror show. Excessive violence and of America rating is PG-13 — parents are social voice in the '60s for ecumenical mise." gore, brief nudity and much rough lan­ strongly cautioned that some material may and liturgical revival, interracial justice This journal may not make a case for guage. The U.S. Catholic Conference be inappropriate for children under 13. and peace. those who wish to make a saint of classification is O — morally offensive. His 1948 autobiography, Seven Storey Merton, but it does reveal a man for The Motion Picture Association of "Three Wishes' (Savoy) Mountain, depicting how he found spiri­ whom life was a gift to be cherished. America rating is R — restricted. Fable-like drama about a boy (Joseph tual calm in the midst of Cold War and "Perhaps his best writing" is contained Mazzello) in 1955 suburbia who hopes nuclear anxiety, became a best seller. In in his journal, asserts Brother Hart, •Mallrats' his widowed mom (Mary Elizabeth 1959, Vie Secular fournal, revised selec­ "where he was expressing what was deep­ Sophomoric saga of two youths Mastrantonio) will marry the kind-heart­ tions from his journals, gave an overview est in his heart." (Jeremy London and Jason Lee) running ed drifter (Patrick Swayze) who has come of his movement1 toward a contemplative When all die journals are published, it is amok in a mall after being rejected by into their lives. Director Martha Coolidge life. likely that diey will take place with the their girlfriends (Claire Forlani and spins a well-observed story of decent peo­ Studying in New York (the journal famous journals of Henry David Thoreau, Shannen Doherty). Writer-director Kevin ple coping with life's problems, but the . begins on May 2, 1939), living in G.M. Hopkins, Edmund Wilson, and per­ Smith plumbs the gutter for laughs but story is weakened by a subplot in which a Greenwich Village, Merton was trying to haps be seen as an American version of St. finds only mindless tedium. Sexual situa­ brother comes to believe he has magical get novels published. (This first (part is Augustine's Confessions. tions, nudity, drug abuse and constant powers. Fleeting nudity and a crude sometimes called "The Perry Street • • • gross language. The U.S. Catholic expression. The U.S. Catholic Journal.") Alien, a longtime English professor, is now Conference classification is O — morally Conference classification is A-II — adults After a trip to Cuba and work as a staff a college administrator. offensive. The Motion Picture and adolescents. The Motion Picture volunteer at the Friendship House in Run to the Mountain: A Story of a Association of America rating is R — Association of America raring is PG - Harlem, the narrative, dramatically breaks Vocation may be purchased at your bookstore restricted. parental guidance suggested. off on Dec. 5, 1941, two days before Pearl or ordered prepaid from HarperCollins

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