The Battalion
LIFESTYLES
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Thursday, August 2,1990
Lifestyles Editor
Todd Stone 845-33
Summer movie season makes solid comeback
New films ‘PresumedInnocent, ’ ‘Freshman ’ strengthen mediocre season
Brando parodies past success with funny, original ‘Freshman’
By John Righter
Th
here are very few
actors capable of isolating
themselves for 10 years on a Taitian
island, and then out of the blue walk
stone cold into a lead role and reel
off an Oscar-deserving performance.
In fact, Marlon Brando might be
the only one.
Brando must be honing his acting
skills by spieling some lengthy
soliloquys at the dinner table, ’cause
the only thing the two-time Oscar
winner has lost during his isolation
has been the control of his waistline.
Brando is still undoubtedly one of
the greats, and his latest
performance for “The Freshman,”
his first starring role since “The
Formula” in 1980, is once again both
baffling and outstanding.
“The Freshman” offers another
intriguing character for the .
enigmatic Brando, an actor
accustomed to causing confusion in
eclectic and controversial films such
as “Last Tango In Paris,”
“Apocalypse Now,” “Superman”
and “One-Eyed Jacks.”
In “The Freshman,” Brando plays
the powerful, but fatherly. Carmine
Sabatini, a “Godfather” parody who
becomes a mentor to Clark Kellog
(Matthew Broderick), a young film
student who has come upon hard
luck since his transfer to New York
from Vermont.
Kellog is introduced to Sabatini
by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), a
small-time hustler who cons Kellog
out of all his belongings, and then
when caught by his possessionless
victim, offers to get him a job \^ith
his Uncle Carmine.
After having been indoctrinated to
the perils of big-city life in a mere 20
minutes, with no expectation of
assistance from an unsympathetic
Battalion File Photo
Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby and Marlon Brando (left to right) star in the comedy “The Freshman.
faculty advisor and an equally
callous environmental-extremist
stepdad, Kellog hesitatingly accepts
Sabatini’s offer to deliver a package
for the exorbitant wage of $500.
Kellog, a college student who we
are led to believe is quite bright,
somehow has difficulty realizing
what he has gotten himself into with
Sabatini and his new job.
Before he can yell “Godfather II,”
Kellog delivers a Komodo Dragon,
is chased by the Wildlife and
Fisheries Department for illegaling
transporting the endangered reptile,
is involuntarily engaged to
Sabatini’s lovely daughter, Tina
(Penelope Ann Miller), and becomes
a “permanent” member of the
Sabatini family.
Speculating over his dire straits,
Kellog figures during one of his
many asides, “There’s a kind of
freedom in being completely
screwed, because you know things
can’t get any worse.”
Unfortunately, before Kellog
finally resolves his life, things get
even more unusual and complicated.
It’s uncertain how writer and
director Andrew Bergman was able
to coerce Brando into portraying the
tongue-in-cheek Sabatini in wake
his rare film appearances. Theon!
surety with Brando is that you car
possibly guess what the manwiUii
After a string of graphically-
intense roles. Carmine Sabatiniis
surprisingly warm and funny
character. With Sabatini, Brando
not only the most captivating fp
on screen, but also, somewhat
surprisingly, the funniest.
The parodic parallels between
Don Corleone and Carmine Sate:
are wry and witty, and Brando
combines old- and new-fashioned
Italian stereotypes, as well as mat
and female caricatures into the
persona of Sabatini — an emote
man not averse to tears, cheek
twisting or male lip kisses.
On the other hand, Sabatini also
threatens stock brokers, rips off
priceless pieces of art (try theMoi
Lisa) and still hails Mussolini (In
one scene Kellog asks Sabatini if:
framed picture on the wall isinde: 1
Mussolini, to which the kingpin
replies, “Well, it ain’t Tony
Bennet.”).
An equally bizarre casting role
goes to Bert Parks as himself
emceeing the entertainment at the
opulent gourmet-club feast (the
destination of the Komodo dragor.
Parks is even more of a parody,
performing hilarious tongue-in-
cheek versions of “Tequilla”
(complete with sombrero and
moraccas), “Maggies Farm"and
“There She Is, Miss America,”to
the prestigious gathering.
“The Freshman” really shines
through Bergman’s off-beat cast:;
and character exchanges. Bergmat
inserts plenty of quirks and little
loops to keen his film fun.
Still, for Brando’s performance
and Bergman’s honest attemptata
superior and original comedy, “1‘
Freshman” is definitely worths
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'Young Guns IF matches quality of original
By Todd Stone
“Young Guns II” has all the ac
tion, characters and style of the first
film.
Being as good as the original is
just dandy for most sequels, espe
cially if you thought the first film
was entertaining. Unfortunately, I
think the original “Young Guns” was
an average film, and the sequel, just
the same.
Emilio Estevez returns as Billy
The Kid, and it doesn’t take long for
him to re-unite with some of his re
negade pals from the first film.
Doc, played by Kiefer Sutherland,
married and became a school tea
cher before he was captured by a
lynch squad. Thrown in a prison
hole, he finds another first film pal,
the stoic mexican-indian Chavez
(Lou Diamond Phillips).
Billy conveniently happens along
to rescue them, and the gang is to
gether again with a few newcomers.
So what happens?
Well, it seems the New Mexico
governor promised to give Billy a
full pardon in exchange for testify
ing against members of the “Lincoln
County Cattle War,” in which Billy
and the gang participated during
the first film.
Of course, the governor lied, so
Billy and the boys are forced to flee
across New Mexico with ex-Billy
gang member Pat Garrett (William
Peterson) and a New Mexico posse
chasing after them.
Unfortunately, that’s about it for
plot, so the narrative painfully and
tediously ho-hums along. There is
some good action scenes here-and-
there, but not enough to make up
for the simple story.
Like the first film, the humor is
the best element, especially from Es
tevez as the Kid. He seems to be the
only one enjoying this movie. Este
vez is convincing as the charasmatic
killer and borderline psycho Billy,
but he’s the only interesting per
former on screen.
Sutherland is a fine actor, but
screenwriter John Fusco gave him
little to do other than being a martyr
as Doc. Phillips has the intense
screen presence but little to say as
Chavez. Christian Slater and Alan
Ruck’s performances as new gang
members were wasted.
Probably the most confusing char
acter was Pat Garrett. Peterson was
fine in this role, but it seemed the
filmmakers couldn’t decide if Gar
net
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Taut 4 Presumed Innocent ^
blends drama, suspense
By Don Atkinson Jr.
Did he kill her or didn’t he?
That question will haunt you
throughout “Presumed Inno
cent,” the new suspense-thriller
starring Harrison Ford, until the
last moments of the film.
Ford stars as Rusty Sabich, a
prosecuter in the district attor
ney’s office who has had an affair
with a co-worker, Carolyn Polhe-
mus (Greta Scacchi). When she is
brutally raped and murdered, all
the evidence points to Rusty.
Needing a good lawyer, he
hires Sandy Stern, played by Raul
Julia (“Kiss Of The Spiderwo-
man” and “The Morning After”).
Stern is considered to be one of
the best lawyers around, and he is
Rusty’s only hope to be cleared of
the charges against him.
“Presumed Innocent,” based
on Scott Turow’s 1987 best-sell
ing novel, is a relentless film.
From the beginning of the film
when Rusty receives a letter read
ing, “Stop it. I know it’s you,” un
til the end when the identity of
the killer is finally revealed, “Pre
sumed Innocent” never lets up on
the suspense.
Director Alan J. Pakula (“All
The President’s Men” and “So
phie’s Choice”) maintains an even
Presumed Innocent
Starring Harrison Ford U1
and Raul Julia
Directed By Alan J. Pakula
Rated R
Billy The Kid’s gang is back for more shoot-’em-up action in
Battalion File Photo
‘Young Guns II.”
rett should be a ruthless hunter or a
flake.
In one scene he may be intimidat
ing, but in the next Garrett seems
like an insecure ego-maniac. I don’t
mind my villians having big egos, but
they need to be sure of themselves
before they go out and kill people.
Director Geoff Murphy has some
slick moments in this film with pan
oramic shots of limestone canyons,
plateaus and buttes, but it seems the
simple narrative was too cumber
some to be compelling.
It’s a shame. Both “Young Guns”
films had the potential of being quite
good. But the actors are forced to
play generic western characters (ex
cept for Estevez). They do it with in
tensity and zest, but it’s not enough.
I admit every good western has
stereotypes, but it seems that to be
interesting nowadays, there needs to
be something more.
In case you’re a Bon Jovi fan, his
music was barely noticeable through
most of the film. What music I did
identify as being Jovi’s was rather
tame at best.
With more characterization, this
film could easily have been more in
triguing. But if you like the stars,
maybe seeing them in a western
might be somewhat fun.
I suppose if you have two hours to
kill, “Young Guns II” will probably
handle the job. But take my advice:
wait for the film to reach dollar-pric-
ing. You won’t have to wait long.
I he film offers no easy
resolutions, no quick
explanations. The viewer is
required to participate in
the proceedings as much
as the characters.Viewers
used to loud, car-chase-
filled-cop movies will most
likely be bored with
“Presumed Innocent.”
chase-filled-cop movies will mosi
likely be bored with “Presumed
Innocent.” The action is subtle
with most dialogue delivered in
hushed tones. The film offers
easy resolutions, no quick expla
nations. The viewer is requiredto
participate in the proceedings as a
much as the characters. . tar jy
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Ford plays Rusty as a multi-lay I jng a (
ered character, obsessed one mo Hoke’s
ment and ruthlessly professional dent,
the next. Bonnie Bedelia (Brucf
Willis’ wife in “Die Hard” and
For example, the letter Rusty
receives at the beginning of the
film is never explained later. If
you hadn’t been paying attention
to an earlier line of dialogue, you
would have no idea how or why
the letter figures into the plot.
Also, “Presumed Innocent
leaves you very disturbed at thf
end. The film requires you to
think about the plot resolution
and draw your own conclusions,
Although “Presumed Inno
cent” will probably not have peo
pie standing in long lines toseeit
the film is one of the best avail
able at the movie theaters ri
now.
The film features a strong cast
with good dialogue and excellent
direction.
“Die Hard 2”) turns in a strong [) a i S y j
I) Dor.
performance as Rusty’s wife, Bar
bara, who not only must deal with
her husbands infidelity, but with
the possibility that he could beajj
murderer.
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pace throughout the film. The ac
tion is never rushed or slowed
needlessly.
Adding to the moody atmo
sphere of “Presumed Innocent” is
an excellent musical score by
John Williams (“The Accidental
Tourist” and “Jaws”).
Without a doubt, “Presumed
Innocent” is a very deep film, de
manding intense concentration
and attention to every detail.
Viewers used to loud, car-
JHokc a
Iferent
The two strongest perforjnal an
mances in “Presumed Innocent ■ friends
are undoubtably those of Julia as | by over
Stern and Paul Winfield as the Ify 0
judge presiding over Rusty's
murder trial. Both actors bring a
touch of humor to the film that is
absent elsewhere.
“Presumed Innocent” will
make you writhe in quiet sus
pense. If you’re a fan of these
types of films, then “Presumed
Innocent” is not to be passed up.
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