'Hard to Hold' Is Even Harder to Watch by JONATHAN ALBURGER Pected,” I Asserted, Adding, “ What Did You Want Him to Stick to General Hospital
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2 A Thursday, A p ril 12,1984 Daily Nexus 'Hard To Hold' is Even Harder to Watch By JONATHAN ALBURGER pected,” I asserted, adding, “ What did you want him to Stick to General Hospital. Resident heartthrob Dr. Noah do? ” “ Act,” she replied. Drake has been stricken with the old I-could-be-a-star virus I couldn’t have put it better myself. For what seems the and is currently in need of some intensive care. The length of Barry Lyndon and Cleopatra combined, Hard to disease? Hard to Hold. Hold plods awkwardly through one bad scene after another, What is obviously aimed at the giggling pubescent imparting as much artful pizazz as a fart in the wind. And mentality, Rick Springfield’s beefcake brainlessness didn’t contrary to what Rex Reed thinks, Springfield is not simply even stir the young audience at last week’s opening of the fabulous in his wide-screen debut. movie. As a matter of fact, the audience looked rather What Ricky does best — and most — is expose his rear annoyed at being short-changed. We all tried so hard to like end, which he clearly thinks is his best asset. Okay, it’s Rick and his self-glorifying gushiness, but by the time the humorous to see him trapped outside of his dressing room, end credits rolled, the group’s silent reaction and zombie running away from a bevy of adulating fans with only his like exit from the theater told all. We were embarrassed. wet towel around his waist. Of course, he’s photographed Hard to Hold is the bright and original story of a from the side of the slit of towel. Is this Playgirl equality? fabulously wealthy and incredibly famous rock star who By the eighth shot of his butt and the tenth reference to it, meets, woos and devastates a Miss Nobody. But with time we’re pretty sick and tired of the whole mess. But it is in — and an endless string of ingenuously delivered bad lines line to review Springfield’s body, since he’s presenting it as — they grow to overcome their differences and blossom into an integral element of the plot and there’s little else so bad more than passionate lovers. Gloop, gloop, glump. as to be funny. Springfield is too made-up and posed to be a My 12-year old companion and authority on over lasting screen idol; his body is too thin and sunken in. mediasized celebrities said she was disturbed by all the Fortunately, he does have intense eyes which he uses well; kissing — “ that’s all they did was kiss!” “ That’s ex- but, as Faye Dunaway discovered in The Wicked Lady, flashing the big, brown ones do not make a movie magical. Maybe they could have a stand-in for him during those difficult nude scenes. Rick’s Jamie Roberts is no working class dog. Despite that, the film tells us that the life of rock stars is not all “ tits and champagne.” Oh, I am so sorry. Sceenwriter Tom Hedley should be executed and director Larry Peerce ought to be tortured in return for subjecting the poor audience to Ricky’s cutesy-puppy indulgences; I have never in my life Rick Springfield tries to strut his stuff. seen a more insincere — but on-cue — smile. His songs — thank God — are utterly forgettable. who’s always gonna kick Rick’s ass. She’s a chick who Leading lady Janet Eilber, as the love interest and makes no excuses or concessions. Yeah. professional therapist for disturbed children, is really Hard to Hold even mangles the potential for exploiting annoying. She whines and moans shamelessly, then pouts the charm of the San Francisco locations. Instead, of when the whine stops flowing. The film ’s only buoyance is course, we get obscure alleys and concrete slabs. Even supplied by Patti Hansen as the cliche hard-ass lady rocker Monday’s Oscar broadcast was exciting by comparison. A Post-Awards View Of The Dresser' By KATHERINE ZIMBERT Hollywood politics figure (Courtenay). Like the Sir needs Norman to fuss into it too. If not, Why didn’t London around him, Sir is and fidget over him, Norman If the Academy Awards Eric Roberts get at least a starting to decay from the needs Sir because Norman’s gave any true indication of nomination for his per wear and tear of many years identity is wrapped up in the S in c e tQ&i" who was the “ best” in formance in Star 80? Why of internal, creative war theater and his special motion pictures this year, haven’t Bob Fosse’s movies fare. He vascillates from relationship to Sir. They are Albert Finney and Tom been given Oscar’s being a raging, pompous, both eccentric, self- WHERE’S THE PORK? Courtenay would have tied recognition? Why was demanding autocrat to a centered, and neurotic, but for Best Actor. Un Barbra Streisand com weeping, crazed, self-pitying so is the rest of the company, fortunately, nominations pletely ignored? old man, to the fearless and to the war-worn 229 W. Montadlo St. 963-9326 and awards are based on Enough griping. The leader of his aged company. populace of London, they are heroes — pursuing artistic OPEN DAILY 11 A JR. -11 PAL, SUN. ’TIL 10’ more than who is the best; Dresser, adapted from Norman, who dresses Sir Ronald Harwood’s play of both physically and greatness while their city the same name, is an actor’s emotionally, running lines, crumbles around them. movie, and the per and telling stories, Finney and Courtenay formances by Finney and desperately tries to protect capture the hero-actor ADVENTUROUS ATTRACTIONS & KTYD Courtenay are equally Sir from those who think he’s quality beautifully, Finney riveting. too weak to make the per being the showman, Cour ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE The Dresser (directed by formance. tenay being the crutch Peter Yates) takes place in While there have been a behind the curtain. As Sir, London during World War II. few new settings inserted to Finney exhausts his actor’s Finney plays Sir, an aging prevent the film version pallette as much as Sir does Shakespearean actor, who is from being static, the most playing Lear. His transitions gently, comically, and dynamic scenes are between from weak and whimpering sometimes harshly coaxed Courtenay and Finney in the to authoritarian and through his 227th per dressing room. Sir and booming come one on top of formance of King Lear by Norman are mutually the other, and Finney has a his faithful dresser, Norman dependent on each other — (Please turn to pg.5A, col.l) Arts & Entertainment Editor: Hugh Haggerty Assistant: Katherine D. Zimbert Seconds from campi» - rijht on Ihn beach BERUN Cceat feed, drinks, end entertainment! 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