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Crying Game
Practicing safe-film criticism
The
by Eric Kesselring
Collegian Staff
There are a lot of things I will
not tell you about The Crying
Game. Despite its excellent
acting, I will not tell you about
the acting. I will not tell you
the end. I will not even do
more than warn you about one
of the most shocking images
you might ever see. Please do
not misunderstand me. When
reviewing movies, I usually
love to reveal everything. It is
You will have to see the details of this romance for
yourself. The Crying Game is like a good joke, you
will not apperciate it if you know the punchline.
difficult to explain the failures
and merits of a film without
stating what happens in the
movie. For The Crying Game,
I make an exception.
I will tell you that The
Crying Game cannot be
compared to any other movie.
It is thoroughly and refreshingly
different.
The movie is set in England
where the Irish Republican
Army seduces a black English
soldier so that they may kidnap
him. The soldier's life depends
on the release of some IRA
member. Jody (Forrest
Whittaker), the soldier, is going
to die. By displaying his
humanity, Jody endears himself
to one of his captors, Fergus
(Stephen Rea). This friendship
ends when Fergus is slated to
shoot Jody. In the chaos of
Jody's escape and death the IRA
group splits apart. Fergus flees
to find and take care of Jody's
girlfriend, Dil (Oscar Nominee
Jaye Davison). Then things get
interesting.
The attraction at Fergus and
Dil's meeting is electric. Dil's
intense sexuality captivates
Fergus. The resulting
relationship turns The Crying
Game into as open an
examination of love as has ever
assaulted any moviegoer.
You will have to see the
details of this romance for
yourself. The Crying Game is
like a good joke. You will not
appreciate it if you know the
punchline. For some reason I
figured out the punchline mid
joke. Instead of feeling
perceptive, I thank my caffeine
enhanced senses for effectively
Improvisational jazz quartet Third
Stream will be performing Saturday,
March 20, at Bruno's.
Since the ensemble began
performing in 1972, they have
shared bills with Herbie Hancock,
Stanley Turrentine, Chick Corea,
Spyro Gyro and Jeff Beck among
others.
The performance is free and starts
at 9 p.m.
Entertainme
spoiling The Crying Game for
me.
Though I did not fully enjoy
The Crying Game, I have come
to appreciate it. The fluttering
emotions of the movie reach
powerful levels of intensity.
Better yet, you get to see a
goldfish bowl being pitched out
the window. The Crying Game
even tosses in a bizarre bar
pickup performed via the
bartender: Dil (loud enough for
all to hear): "Tell him I'm
drinking Margaritas." Bartender
"She says she's drinking
Margaritas."
The Crying Game presents a
warped view of sudden love.
This love is a kind that could
never exist unless the conditions
are spontaneous and odd enough.
Such a twisted version of one of
love's realities can appeal to
both men and women alike.
The Crying Game is much
like love itself. The small talk
is anything but small. The
Crying Game is emotional and
strange. You may or may not
enjoy it. Like love, you should
try it.
Falling
L.A. blows uP
by Sarah MekWrre
coaxsee
Falling Dawn is a fast pactxl,
intensely emotional,
powerhouse movie. It blends
humor with extreme violence.
You feel odd laughing at a crazy
man with a gun, while at the
same time you're on the edge of
your seat with anticipation.
Falling Dawn is about a man
named Bill (Michael Douglas)
who loses his mental grip while
sitting in a L.A. traffic jam. He
is a man without a job, without
a family, and without hope.
This movie is about
decisions. It's about being
pushed to the breaking point by
society's corrupt systems and
violence in the big cities.
Bill walks into a Korean
grocery store to get some
change for the telephone. The
This movie is about decisions. It's
about being pushed to the breaking
point by society's corrupt systems
and violence in the big cities.
owner so graciously intorms
him he must buy something to
receive the change. Bill feels
like having a nice mid soda on a
hot day. The soda costs eight.
five cents, which doesn't allow
him enough change for the
phone, After exchanging a few
words with the owner about all
the outrageous prices. Bill
exclaims, "Um outriding up for
my rights as a consumer!" He
then trashes the store. Even
though it is wrong, you want to
cheer Bill on.
Through the whole movie
Bill is trying to get home. It's
a long journey since he left his
car on the freeway during the
traffic jam. He's trying to get
to his wife's house (ex-wlfess
house). But she's already seen
his somewhat BAD temper,
which he tlisplayed earlier at the
store. She doesn't want him
and, what's acme, she's deathly
ifstu•S of him.
Dili lakes On lot of the
*leis that get oo eirenfolso i s
nerves. Ho tllhett on a Ni+agi. a
fast food eSlnblot,.::
Thursday, March 4, 1993
Down
real good
construction crews, wings, and
stores with outmemis prices.
If he didn't turn psycho you'd
almost like him.
His ex-wife ash him what
the heck he's doing. Re
responds, "I've past the point of
no return. Do you know when
that is? It's the point in the
journey when it's easier to go
all the way then to turn back."
A road construction worker
sits next to a hole in the street.
Bill asks what's wrong with the
street - he doesn't believe there
is anything that needs fixing.
His theory is that the city
government just wants to use
up funds so they can use the
allotted budget. So, with the
help of a stolen missile launcher
and a 10 year-old boy who
knows how to operate it from
watching T.V., Bill kindly
gives the city something to fix,
As Bill continues his day on
the offensive, police officer
Pendergast (balm Duval) twos
his moves. Pendergast, who is.
celebrating his last day on the
force, really doesn't need the
aggravation because he is
already in a fight of his own at
the office.
Falling Down lets the
audience look into the mind of a
man who has tumbled past the
point of no return. Michael
Douglas is amazing in this role.
His character is as intense as
many of the other roles he has
created. Yet, it is a totally
different, side of Douglas. You
want to watch him, you have to
watch him, you will watch himl
shots camera i ts;
Theand
draw the audience into Bill's
world, The screen is consomtly
filled with movement. Paint
own MVO and VelY
woo put together,
This movie is worth the
moncY to go and saesin the
Screen.' You leave with a
nnillo,!linS undorstandmic
""'"ul"llPuw.