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Review
Memoirs of an Invisible Man'
shows off convincing special effects
By Kevin Robinson
The Battalion
"Memoirs of an Invisible Man"
Starring: Chevy Chase, Darryl Hannah, Michael McKean,
Sam Neill
Directed by John Carpenter
Now playing at Cinema 3
Rated PG-13
In "Memoirs of an Invisible Man," Chevy Chase plays a
lazy and cocky con-man who seems to glide through life on a
wave of one-liners and sarcasm. Even though the odds are
always against him, Chase comes through in the end,
with only the help of a deadpan approach and a smile.
If this sounds familiar at all, it's because this is the
character that Chevy Chase has been playing for the past
ten years. Like stars Jack Nicholson and Eddie
Murphy, Chevy Chase doesn't really act in his
movies, he just plays himself and lets the plot go
around him.
This tradition continues in "Memoirs."
"Memoirs" isn't a bad film. If you like Chevy
Chase it doesn't matter whether he's invisible, head
of a vacationing family, or an investigative
reporter named Fletch, he's still himself and
"Memoirs" is a Chevy Chase movie.
This time around. Chase plays businessman Nick
Holloway. Holloway is sent out to cover a meeting at
an experimental scientific facility. Typically, he's
hungover, and sneaks off to catch a nap somewhere
else in the building.
While asleep, a malfunction occurs in one of the
building's labs, leaving the building's molecules
"displaced." When Holloway wakes up, he finds the
building surrounded by armed guards, and he finds
himself invisible.
Sam Neill plays Jenkins, a C.I.A. agent who makes
Hannibal Lector look like a nice guy. Jenkins wants
to recruit Holloway for his own private intelligence force,
one that can be hired out to the highest bidder. He gives
Holloway a choice: he can join or he can be killed.
Holloway escapes, but discovers that he isn't safe at
home. He decides to hide at a friend's (Michael McKean)
beach house to hide from Jenkins and his fascist operatives.
Unfortunately, the owner of the house now takes the
opportunity to show up for the weekend with several
friends, including Alice Monroe (Darryl Hannah) a woman
that Holloway had been seeing shortly before his accident.
In no time at all, Holloway has revealed his invisible state
to Alice and begins working on a plan to find a cure. All the
while, Jenkins and his goons are hot on Holloway's tail.
"Memoirs" isn't exactly a straight comedy. It's more of a
romance- adventure story with some funny scenes thrown in.
Chase probably hasn't seen this much action since "Fletch,"
and the movie occasionally gets pretty dark. However, as
soon as situations look bleak. Chase trips over a chair and
gets the film back on track.
The real attraction of "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" is
the high-tech effects. An invisible man picture hasn't
been made in some time. In this era of "Terminator 2"
computer effects, it seems that there's nothing that
can't be convincingly put on the screen. "Memoirs"
uses this to its advantage. For the first time in cinema
history, the audience can actually see (or not) how
things would appear if there really were an
invisible being. Whether it's watching smoke
go down into Chase's lungs as he puffs on a
cigarette or seeing Chase eat (a disgusting
sight), the effects are impressive.
A sad aspect to the picture is the
direction of John Carpenter. After releasing
"Halloween" in 1979, Carpenter was
considered one of the up and coming young
Hollywood directors. After "The Fog,"
"Escape From New York," and "The Thing,"
Carpenter was known for a distinctive style
that made him one of the best horror directors
around. Unfortunately, through most of the
mid to late eighties. Carpenter went into a
decline. With "Memoirs," Carpenter has hit
bottom. The direction of the picture is
competent enough, but any trace of Carpenter's
former touch is lacking.
It's a tragedy that "Memoirs" could
have been directed by anyone.
Fans of Chevy Chase or his style of humor will want to
check out "Memoirs of an Invisible Man." It's easily one of
his better movies. Being invisible only gives Chase the
excuse to go into the "klutz routine" that he perfected 15
years ago, but clumbsiness is something Chase does best.
"Memoirs" succeeds in its own way. It's not a spectacular
picture, and it doesn't try to be. WTiat it delivers is a simple
little adventure story starring Chevy Chase as himself.
Too many players k Review
confuse 'Devils' plot |
By Timm Doolen
The Battalion
You'll have a devil of a time trying
to figure out "The Devils," the latest
production by the Aggie Players in
their strongest year.
This epic, three-and-a-half hour
production directed by Robert Wenck
is a bit different than the traditional
play (if there is such a thing) to say the
least. The drama concerns beliefs and
customs of various townspeople in 17th
century France.
Early on, many of the dozens of
characters are introduced. The main
character is Father Urbain Grandier
(Oscar Giner), the priest of the town of
Loudon, and also a fairly promiscuous
soul.
During the day he prays to God and
in the afternoon and at night he gives in
to sins of the flesh. The local surgeon
and chemist, Mannoury (Clay Loveless)
and Adam (R. Sean Dunham) track his
womanizing exploits in an attempt to
expose him.
Meanwhile, Sister Jeanne (Stephany
Tramel) of the local nunnery has had a
vision that Father Grandier should be
the spiritual adviser to the convent, but
Grandier refuses the offer.
To get back at Grandier, the sisters
of the nunnery claim they have been
possessed by Satan in the physical form
of Grandier.
Political factions from inside the
town, from the Catholic church and
even from the throne all combine to
utilize the nuns' claims to bring about
Grandier's demise.
The intricacies of the story are far
too long and complex to explain in a
simple review, and to be quite honest, I
couldn't make heads or tails of what
was going on about half the time.
Performances vary from wonderful
(Giner as Grandier and John Flores as
Father Barre) to good (Tramel as Sister
Jeanne) to pretty bad (Ernesto
Maldonado as Father Minon, who
stumbled on some words, and Allen
Horton as Bishop De La Rochepozay,
who sounded like a robot).
Giner, a professor of theatre arts at
A&M, is only one of two non-students
in the production, and his performance
alone is well worth the price of
admission. The other non-student is
Scott Kelly, whom might be
remembered from last summer's
happy-go-lucky "Pump Boys and
Dinettes" production. He performs
here as admirably as in that musical.
Of the student actors, one wishes
the wonderful talents of John Flores
could have been better utilized. He is
by far the best dramatic actor of any
Aggie Player I have seen. His acting has
a natural rhythm to it that makes you
forget he's either a student or an actor.
Other students put in worthwhile
performances, but unfortunately, none
was allowed to shine because of the
large number of small roles. Many
students had parts in the play, but it
was tough for any actor to build a
meaningful rapport with the audience.
The choreography of many of the
ensemble scenes is wonderful, almost
surrealistic. More than two dozen
players move individually as if
controlled by a single mind, a visual
experience seldom seen on stage.
I admit I didn't get a lot of the
deeper meaning of the play and I fault
my own ignorance as much the author,
John Whiting. For example, I have no
idea why one of the characters looked
like a punk rocker, while the rest were
in period costumes.
The production is worthwhile to see
for the performances, remarkable set,
staging, and costumes. But it seems
unlikely that people will fair too much
better than me in tying to figure out
what everything meant.
The play runs Wednesday through
Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for
students and $6 for non-students. Call
the Aggie Players at 845-2621 for more
information.
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
"Women In Medicine"
Guest Speaker: Barbara Waller, MD
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
UT Southwestern Medical School
Date: 'Tuesday, March 3, 1992
Time & Place: 7:00 PM in 601 Rudder
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Tension Headache?
Individuals with moderate tosevereTension Headaches wanted
to participate in a 4-hour headache relief research study with
an investigational medication in tablet form. Flexible hours.
$75 incentive for individuals who are chosen and complete
the study. Daily, till 6:30 776-0400.
High Blood Pressure Study
Individuals either on or off high blood pressure medication
needed to participate in a high blood pressure research study
involving an investigational oral medication and an investiga
tional intravenous medication. $600 incentive paid to those
chosen to participate upon completion of the research study.
SKIN INFECTION STUDY
Individuals age 13 and older wanted to participate in a
research study for bacterial skin infections such as: abscess,
infected burns, boils, infected hair follicles, impetigo, and
others. Investigational oral antibiotic in capsule form.
$100 incentive for those chosen who complete the study.
Asthma Study
WANTED: Individuals, age 12 and older, with mild to moderate
asthma to participate in a clinical research study for 15 weeks
with an investigational medication in capsule and inhaler form.
$400 - $500 incentive for those completing the study.
Asthma Study
WANTED: Individuals, age 12-65, with mild to moderate
asthma to participate in a clinical research study for 6 weeks
with an investigational medication in inhaler form. Individuals
must be using inhaled steroids and bronchodilators daily to
qualify. $400 incentive paid to those completing the study.
For more information call:
BIOPHARMA, INC.
776-0400
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PLIGHT OF THE UNION
(an alternative to George Herbert Walker Bush s
state of the Union Address)
Come discuss and debate with a panel of
scholars:
America’s • Racist Milieu • Environment Policy
• Breakdown of Democracy
• Economics of the Poor
• Lack of Government Accountability
and anything else you wish to consider
The Panel:
Dr. Arthur DiQuattro
(Political Science)
Dr. Larry Yarak
(History)
Dr. Albert Broussard
(History)
Dr. Danny Yeager
(Chemistry)
Mr. Greg Moses
(Philosophy)
Wed., March 4 7:30 p.m. 226 MSC
Refreshments will be served
Sponsored by Student Coalition Against Apartheid & Racism
MSC OPAS Audience Development
presents...
Appreciating Your
Night at the Opera
Tuesday, March 3
301 Rudder 8:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Intriguing facts about:
• opera production
• opera performance
• the music and history of Tosca
Two pairs of tickets to Tosca will be
given away to students in attendance!
K
/» w&k
An exciting event
you won't want to miss
March 2-6, 1992
at
GOOD EATS
Eastern Europe:
What
Should
the US.
Do?
Dr. Svetozar Pejovich
Rex B. Grey Professor of Economics
Texas A&M University
Wednesday, March 4, 1992
gg' 7:00 P.M.
npfcy- 308 Rudder
Free Admission
[ - Presented by the MSC Wiley Lecture Series