Ouachita Baptist University Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita
Honors Theses Carl Goodson Honors Program
5-1971
Reviews and Criticisms
Bernie Hargis
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Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons
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A word of explanation:
For my Special Studies Project this semester, I wrote a selection of motion picture reviews for various editions of Ouachita's Signal. This required me to see at least two films each week and to write the subsequent criticisms. Invariabl¥ I had to go out of town to see the necessary films. Since I shared the job of columnist with Joe Kirby, I wrote a review only every other week, for a total of seven articles. This project will be worth one hour's credit in drama. ...
an unknown young director, one has to Robert Altman, it was obviously else's concept the work of a genius. Rarely, if actually ever, had such an imaginative, symbolic me<~ll j11<4Jl8~tle outrageous style been used in a fully clear ...... v ~• J&.. v•u film. ginning, never ,fa it ------..., ~er, it had problems. forced down one's throat. Though the movie was made up "Brewster" makes a strong, of uncommonly brilliant pieces, serious, almost religious state- the overall effect somehow ment on life that is ingeniously seemed incomplete. It was as heightened by its wildly ironic th•ugh Altmqn had become· comedy. , .. J. ~ deeply inspired and rushed out to Altman has assedlbled a uni make the film, only to run short formly excellent cllWQ carry on of ideas needed to tie the project his madneSs. sanyt fCellerman, together. The result was that he. Who scored as Hotllps HooUh"'in created three-fouttbs of a gteat · in "MASH," is · elegantly movie. mysterious as Loullte, and "the Altman's second film, "Brew understated role of Brew.ster is ster McCloud," however, is a handled well by Bud Cort. totally complete work of comic Playing against th.- ~wo subtle art. Though there are occasional characters, the rilftlining per fiaYDJ and nwmces, nothing can formers are o_utlandisbly cari stop the fabulous imagination catured, making for a near-per aft uniquely beautiful direc fect t!Ontrast. style that have fully It ms feelings are harder to ed in this picture. It readt through movies today than bE! rnes astonisl'dngly apparent ever when a that Altman is n t: nly the film more than one most gifted dir s a tn emotion, it must be very special. • films today, posslbfy the "Brewster McCloud" is special . most origin~l the field of It's the funniest sad movie I've comedy. seen this J4N1r. The plot is wondetiti~W out rageous without beinj:~ iflly or trite. Brewster is a nai¥ young During the entire man who lives 'iinder the Astrodome and wants'to fly-and first semester , each of I mean literally, with wings, my reviews was negative. feathers, the whole bit. He has a However , by the time I guardian-angel friend named started writing for the Louise who's been this route be second half of the year , fore and promises to help him as I had seen some good films. long as he doesn't yield to earthly Therefore , this is my temptations. Together they spend each day preparing for the first favorable article. big flight and placidly murdering · r,Ti th this review , I dis everyone who gets in their way covered it was much eas with the help of a pet raven who ier to criticize than to r~er unceremoniously relieves praise. Still, I was himself in each victim's eye. thankful to see something . The movie churns along at a decent for a change. I ltghtning pace poking fun at 11 prtlctically everything and saw TTBrewster ~1cCloud at making even the most common the Capitol Theater in ' situations hysterically funny. Little Rock. Jlt~n suddenly, a .gJfl enters Br~wster's life, and b, falls for )ler and from Louise's graces in one fatal stroke. From here out, he must fend for himself, in· i.to~t and alone. • lt'e obvious that the-aYU)bolisn:l m1tds movie is about al! thick as coleli oatmeal. Uaually thil is troUblesome--probab because ',
Actor leaves a 1ence•
Director creates moving ftfm
ity and futlllt.J of bla llllbltllt brother's finance. Even background but cannot fuDy smallest walk-on parts are man from a leave It, be gives a staggering with talented perfonnera !kln•nnr•d gets portrayal that should leave the usually m8J181e to ele.v.ate heritage, audience limp. film in some minor but .enr·lobllluL leaves bome-.to tbe..common As ..his Texas girlfriend, Ray way. life, then returns brieflY to say etta, Karen Black somehow "good-~ to his.dying father. matches lilm each step of the That's It-the complete plot ez. way breathing more life framework of director Bob into this film. Rafelson's fllin, ·"Five Easy Playing who Pieces." However, froDL this loves Tammy skeletal frame, be and screen VOOWY . OMO~OJ and writer, Adrien Joyce, have uu-tlbrt!llk~g. H:er performance ....., ... L ..u a utiful, moving are such a contrast to pi that Is ClQ1te prob sees and conseqlllenltl~ :Dlicholson's that together they f the year. with. This Is a particular triumph form one of the finest acting \Ralfelsc)n fiiJllbj.tl an unc;anny of "Five Pieces." partnerships in many years. C8lll!Uril18 the role ol SA,rer:Bl smaller supporting ...... flJi'~ thl.•a are, also, portrayed ex bow to cellEtntly. Lois Smith Is especial as to reach just the right peak_ gan so strlmllilv ly touching as Robert's homely or emotion at the right time. His As the 1011111 man wbo but talented sister, and Susan camera can almost always be realizes the occulonal artlf1c:lal. Anspach is coolly refined as hls
This review wes pretty hard for me to writ~ , because I thought it was just about the best film of the year , and I wanted to prai se it without sounding too cliched , which turned out to be a hard thing to do. I saw "Five Easy Pieces" at the Arkansas Theater in Little Rock.
Thi"ties comedy bDeJC~!-- UrpriSe package: owl pfus pussycat
by Bernie Hargis and the handsome straight man a chance on Barbara Streisand However, it is togeth~lt~ SIGNAL columnist has been transformed into a and George Segal, but it paid off come off best. Remember those wild, wacky, wormy little book clerk with a re- handsomely. Though Streisand riotously funny as in comedies of the colllpletely devoured the leading ~th1rtttMY "You know, the ones with men lJt each of her three previous old stars tike Carol "... she pretends to films, here she vlays right along 'Unnba~cSl Cary Grant, Jimmy with sharing punch lines Arthur? be the· sun rising Umelight gener don't, you must be who untU this forty and without a over the bed atrlctly ~ a ·~liliw~~~\·~·- ]'U.""::tn ;·necawse this uniquely U~'.Uos Into the of years past lheJ"JJallina quietlf on sine' WiQ{(UD Loy, and Asta· cord~ of growling dogs t9 keep their last "Thin away Intruders. Still, all the old Ginger Rogers ingredients are generally Intact and the style ls the same. gn1~ing shoes to go The success of thirties com edies usually depended on three people-the screenwriter and the male and female leads. Here, "... allows nls too, lies the strength of "The Owl and the Pussycat." characters and their situations to supply . There are a few deviations In writing for this film, Buck Henry has adapted the Broad from the old form. The dizzy most of the society girl with a couple of zil- way play to fit the old comedy style, bucking the currently popular trends set by writers like laughs ... " '-" ... purple lounging Neil Simon. Henry doesn't depend entirely on dialogue for .. """ j pajamas with pink his humor, but allows his himself a few ·times for some characters situations to beautiful solo shots. Segal is ha hilarioqaly charming when he mbnics a- television announcer out by Moss using an aquarium as the set, lion dollars has been replaotd bJ' Hart or Ring Lardner. and Streisand is both whimBlcal a goofy hooker who wears purple and begulllng when she pretends loun&inl Mtamls with pink As far as tbe ~rOJ:Blel"S to be the sun rising over the bed handl1llanotlramed Gil eadl cap," director Herbert 11UIIID .MJ,..,.. J.
In this critique, I tried to show the film to be entertaining without going over-board. It was a good , enjoyable picture , but was not an extremely important movie or one to be raved over. I ._ saw "The Owl and the Pussycat" at the Capitol Theater in Little Rock.
boxoffice meets $$$ Is it true love?
by Bernie Hargis magazines. However, through all seems odd, since Erich SIGNAL coiiDIIDist this Hiller does create a beautiful · converted his screenplay What can you say about a mood for his two main charac- . novel which has been the vie called "Love Story?" That ters. When they are on screen to bestseller since the~ people everywhere are lined up gether, all else falls into the· it is here the film f8U.s .tlme for blocks waiting to see it; that background, leaving only a time. For one thing, be Ia so 'UrDJD;~. to be the.biggest box quietly played duet. At such · completely unQl'IIJnal. _.ow mine since "Sound of times as these, 88 in the long, many times bave tou heard the Music; that it is ''the" movie of silence scene in which the boy· old story of the girl from the they~. takes his young wife to the . wrong side of the tracks tnati'Y Yes, "Love Story" is all this hospital, knowing it will be their ing out of her clalis? Or the one and mo11J. It is one of the most last walk together, the movie is· about the beaqtiful heroine dying cliched, sentimental fairy tales almost worthy of its success. and leaving young lover to hlt the silVer screen since the alone? Or th about the kid invention of sound. "... thing that makes who felt he h 'to compete with Hctw C8Jl this be? How can a his father? viously Segal film wltb such mammoth flaws me tolerate heard them use he uses )Je sq widely accepted · by the them here to fo bis entJre plot American public? It's simple. 'L ove Story '... " which comes like a prlied ~•Love st(rit• 1$ the long-awaited combination of "Kitty Foyle," to 1111 age that should "Dark Victory," and "House of -.,D!mtl' ·JlaVi8']M.!iltll left in the first The main performers are good, Strang~s." Still, his storyline Is - >'I"'J'- of most film. but they do nothing especially not the weakest PQint, bis step back !auditory. I think the fitting term dialogue is. Never in the space of· · · ~-~~~Of JdaiiDOrous movie is that they are "appropriately a mere ninety minutes have aΠ ·'" ~~plker41ilief story- attractive." Ryan O'Neal, 88 heard so many graoners passed • musical Oliver, plays a slightly more around between grown men .._. all the likeable version of his old Peyton women. It's ba enough tliat So, for Place Rodney Harrington; and every other word II "freppy'' Cll' patiently Ali MacGraw, 88 Jennie, handles "Yale-ee," but when llttte I am glad her role Uke a true movie queen, snatches of ph sopby, iike though her acting was better in "Love is never ·liaving to 881 "Good-bye, Columbus." Both of you're sorry," start slipping. Qa. these are badly out-classed by take me out. John Marley's perfonnance in a "Love Story" supporting role; but remember, good, freqlllentlly jlfld, in this movie, you look for stars, how neither riOt ..-a; Actually. I ___ ,.. ,...,... _...... ,. ..,. , . 71 T'" .,. ~e tbiDg', however, that 1hat would. ..._me~tolarate"l.ove .cee tbe faces. ef settblpandacton alf ltafr.' ~ of Uke It Is the leaving tbe theatre t1Je7 JJP.t ~ oat fJf fallldon ~1t 'WU wrlttea. I Jmow tbls Sl.and.
This review was a big challenge. It was everybody's favorite movie , and I knew I would be literally hated if I critici.zed it. Luckily, there were some things I liked about it, even though I did have to point out.a number of tremen dous ' flaws. I saw "Love Story" at the Cinema 150 in Little Rock. I ' run The c1rcus• • 1s• com1ng•
by Bernie Hargis However, the show will go on, still, it's a notch above most SIGNAL columnist tmforttmately, and one of five other films and makes for In Guess what. A circus is coming nominees will soon be initiated teresting viewing. However, to Hollywood, and it's got the big into the ranks of the sometimes Scott refused his own "Best gest acts, the wildest freaks, and illustrious past winners. Now, I Actor" nomination, caJUns the the funniest clowns this side of P. wouldn't chance a guess at the Oscar ceremony a umeat · T. Barnum. And what's amazing new "Best Picture" for anything parade," and this could burt is that it's a one-man show even the movie's chances. written, directed, produced, and - I'm still convinced they're starred in by a solemn Uttle man flipping a coin, or something as "Love Story" is undoubtedly named Oscar. ridiculous, to get a winner - but the year"s most popular picture. Yes, every year about this I will discuss the movies and let Though it contains flaws that are time, the Aeademy Awards free you draw your own conclusion. utterly monumental, it bas al for-aU starts to shape up, and it's most a national surge of qp usually good for a barrel of "Five Easy Pieces" is the best opera fans behind it, which co laughs. It provides a rare of the crop. It garnered more make it tough to beat. Of co , chance for the unknowin& public critical acclaim than any other Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Niil to gUmpse filmdom's beautiful film of the year and has already are also ·big contenders In the people grovellng, sweating, and won a few less familiar awards, acting categories, and it could selling their souls for an eight including the New 'York Film just tum into a clean sweep. Critics' top prize. In addition, its poUJld, gold-plated statuette. Somehow, it seems just the type Still, ridiculous though Oscar co-stars, director, and screen film Oscar might smlle on. may be, be manages to throw writer are nominated in their around quite a bit of weight. As a various categories, and this "Airport" is the lut and least matter of fact, it is estimated should provide added strength. contender. Not only Is it tJii • that a wl.nnlng film usually adds "MASH," this year's only out worst film among the nomlneea, about a QlQlion dollars to its net and-out comedy contender, is it is one of the weaker efforts of groaa, and a top-voted actor's probably the most original pic the entire year. But, it sold Jots of ~ CD climb as much as a ture among the nominees. It was popcorn and somebOdy CIUil'tt~"-ndlllon over-night. well accepted by critics and nominated it, so maybe It's sot a So, the Academy Award Is audiences alike, and though its. chance. However, I think even obviously a powerful thing. But offspring "Brewster McCloud" the Academy bas more taste this Is really a shame, because was even better, it is an than to waste a perfeet1y 8ood the blat fUm rarely wins. Just imaginative film which deserves piece of metal on a film Uke this. look baek at some of the terrible recognition...... ,.'The Greatest Show on Well, if you're still intereeted, Eartb" beat '"IIJgb Noon " "An "PattOn" boasts the best per the awards will be given out next Amaican in Paril'' !A formance of the entire year, month in santa Slreetcar Named In thanks to Georse c. Scott, who is can catch the whole tbe Beat of the Nlabt'1 dowaed just about the best actor around T.V. Just remember, both "Bonnle and a,de" and these days. Unfortunately, it bas disappointed if your favorite "Tbe Graduate," and the list Uttle else to brq on - the script doesn't win. After all, it's only an .... goiug. is bad, the length oppressive - Oscar. Boy, what a loser .
In this article I got a chance to speak my mind about the Oscar , an utterly ridiculous award that ranks as one of my greAtest peeves . Also, I did five "capsule" reviews on th·e nominated films. • In 'Little Big Man' Tall tale entertains
by Bernie Hargis the Indian wars. The entire film number of human beings." as head of a .. IQ~ked _ DliCQdlilt SIGNAL colUIIUIIst · see-saws between his life among 1 There are some other ex~llent show, and Ev~ today has a lot of his own race and his adopted features in the movie. The cine ·Bighorn grlpesabo)Jtmovies, but one that people, the "savages" who ' matography is superlative, the disappointment. tbtile an seems loolJOp up more often than ·humbly refer to themselves script thoroughly entertaining, infrequent flaws In an othwwlae most is ·that there aren't any merely as human beings. In and the make-up jobs as good as fine work. good "storfes" any more. Where- action-packed detail, the story anything I'.ve seen. have all the juicy plotlines and 1Dlwinds revealing the best and But urse, it has its share of One must not get the idea action seq11ences gone? worst of both worlds. pr , too. With a picture as however, that this fUm Ja merely Well, a good deal of them have · In the title role of Jack Crabbe, ep sodic as this one, it's almost a a good action picture. for when gone into Arthur Penn's amazing Dustin Hoffman adds~· another certainty some scenes .won't be the dust finally settl•, it's ob new flbn, "The l,..ittle Big Man," tremendous performance to his 118 good as others, and un vious some meaningful, On· a campfire yarp that's .been yolDlg career which already fortunately this is~ case. Faye portant things have been lild stretched into such a tall tale, boasts "The Graduate' ~ "and Dunawa1's Mrs. Pendrake and said well. 'lb1s til the even the widest screen has "MidnightC(nltitoy." In tidal film, ces seem a bit disjointed, ultimate success of 11'lbe :tAtte trouble containing it. ·the versatility of · IIJ.le- those by Martin Balsam Big Man." It's not at all surprising that is absolutely unlfelievable. One Arthur Penn directed this movie. minute he is an idealistic yolDlg As a matter of eact, I can't lrave, the next a staggering imagine anyone elSe. even trying drunkard, still the next a trigger This was an easy picture to. Penn, who has been a~ happy gunslinger. Always, ,his energy is boundless and his bag of acting tricks seemingly bot to review , because it was a "... the best and tomless. However, the film is not his good film and one I knew worst of both alone. He is forced to share it from the beginning with adef just about e v~ryone should Dan George, an actual Indian worlds ... " chief who, in one of the greatest jobs of casting in film history, like. I saw HThe Little Big gives a dignified, toucblng por claimed something of a cine trayal that is an Instant classlc. l\1an" at the Capitol Theater matic genius since he made Though it first appears h~ wm be "Bonnie and Clyde," is an artist just another "white-man-speak· in Little Rock- with an uncanny knack for with-forked-tongue" redsldn of . pushing a fUm to the Umlts with the cigar store varlet)', it aoon out ever going quite too far. becomes obvious he is playing "Little Big Man" is no exception. the Indian as he should have al It strains everything from ways been played. He is helped credibility to good taste, yet along considerably by some of somehow comes out on top in the best lines any actor could almost all categories. hope for thanks to screenwriter The plot is a cracker-barrel fuD Calder Willingham, who of episodes told in fiashback by provides us with such gems as 121-year-old Jack Crabbe, a the old chief sadly making the white man raised by a tribe of statement, "There will alwa Cheyennes during the height of white men, but there is a Umited • te varied
• On my last review, I wrote on three films I felt I should discuss---two good, one bad. I found the short er reviews con siderabl¥ easier to write. I saw "Husbands" and '' Catch-22 11 at the Capitol Theater in Little Rock , and tfTtJUSA 11 at the Saenger in Pi ne Bluff.
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1SOUI 8Ql • '110 01:18-l