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GGIELIFE
Page 5 » Friday, January 22, 1999
I
atch
WThe Thin Red Line
Jtarring: Sean Penn and Nick
Nolte
pirected by Terrance Malick
Playing at Hollywood 16
l/ie Thin Red Line does not
end with a climactic battle. It
does not have a point-of-view
lahacter or protagonist. It does
^Biave a compelling, linear plot.
Jhis is why The Thin Red Line
ftrillnniss most audiences.
^ftfter a 20 - year, Garbo-esque
die, Malick’s return to filmmak-
igts among the most well-pho-
)g»aphed, yet elusive films of the
Bp
~H'he movie is loosely based on
init'S Jones’ novel From Here to
ttetinity and is the story of Charlie
Jornpany during the battle of
ktadalcanal during World War II.
J'hink of The Thin Red Line not
i a movie but as a visual poem,
re :inematography is breathtak-
Gg’ but the film, like Malick’s last
|hovie, 1978’s Days of Heaven, is
^)tionally distant.
[he Thin Red Line is a combina-
lon of several different voice-overs
the film together. At times
mm
^ ' Prtoto,Courtesy or TwENTierHCeNTUurPoK
Sean Penn stars as Sgt. Welsh in the war drama The Thin Red Line.
Malick creates a remarkable pic
ture, similar to the power and mad
ness of Apocalypse Now, but Line
often feels disjointed and jumpy.
Even though the film is nearly
three hours long, it could have
benefitted from either a lengthen
ing (some characters are needlessly
thrown into the mix, especially
George Clooney’s ridiculous and
gratuitous appearance near the end
of the movie) or a drastic shorten
ing. Far too often the film recites
philosophical voice-over after
voice-over that become stale. Con
sequently, The Thin Red Line feels
too arty and pretentious.
This film will undoubtedly be
compared to Saving Private Ryan,
but the two are completely differ
ent.
Spielberg’s film, although
cliched, pushes audiences’ buttons
and gets them involved, whereas
Malick’s pushes viewers away.
Despite the weakness of Line, it
doesn’t bow to the almighty emo
tion and moves in unexpected di
rections that make it superior to
/?yan. (Grade: B + )
— Jeff Schmidt
;kle with
onsidersiti:
mmies”coi:
rofessional
vn personal:
Varsity Blues
Starring James Van Der Beek
and Jon Voight
Directed by Brian Robbins
Playing at Hollywood 16
some time , , , ,
e some fun be backup quarterback who comes in to re-
ebrate Hallo* *' eve ' n j ure( i star quarterback has become
don’t even
a cliche in Hollywood. Although Varsity Blues
s directed with the subtlety and pacing of a TV
s a lot ofpecljjHPHercial (it’s an MTV production), the movie is
‘Stling is pn: mfdly entertaining.
Ht is the story of Mox (Van Der Beek), an intel-
ectual who would rather read Vonnegut than his
Maybook. When the team’s Florida State-commit-
-:ed quarterback (Paul Walker) is hurt during a
Hne, Mox takes over and becomes the hero of his
small West Texas town.
lT^«* West Canaan is the type of town many Texans
J I o will be familiar with: life revolves around football
LL
and the head coach, Kilmer (Voight), is a town
demagogue. Even the team’s hats say Kilmer’s Coy
otes. Kilmer is obsessed with winning his 23rd dis
trict title and when his team blows a game, he
spouts, “You cost me my perfect season!”
Mox is laid back, and this creates conflict be
tween him and his high-strung coach, resulting in a
reverse Latrell Sprewell (coach chokes player) and
obligatory last-second win.
Van Der Beek clearly picked this part to distance
himself from the lovesick Dawson on “Dawson’s
Creek. ” Mox is not exactly a nice guy; he gets drunk
and goes to strip clubs. Van Der Beek is playing with
his dark side, perhaps in an attempt to land more
roles. Van Der Beek’s performance has been compared
to that of Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves.
Do not expect Varsity Blues to win any awards.
Let it be what it wants to be, entertainment, and it
will be worth the ride. (Grade: C +)
— Jeff Schmidt
Opera’s amore!
|j|k Nothing says romance more than an Italian opera.
Join MSC OPAS and the prestigious New York City
Opera National Company as they combine forces
to present one of the most beloved and classic
operas of all time, Madama Butterfly.
Bring some tissue!
NYC Opera National Company
Madama Butterfly
January 26 & 27 at 8 PM
Rudder Auditorium
For tickets,
call 845-1234.
Idillio Dolce
Touching Romance
La Storia Irresistibile
Irresistible Story
RM.
DUFt
\KEN.
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NTER
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