The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 24, 1980, Page Page 7, Image 9
Entertainr
Film 'brc
By David Baker
Film Critic
As we all know by now, 1980 is not going to
be remembered as one of Hollywood's
better years. The great film of 1980 is yet to
emerge, and of those films released so far
this year, only a handful ("Fame," "The
Empire Strikes Back," "Dressed to Kill"
and "Ordinary People") have been tinged
with greatness. I'm happy to report,
however, that with "It's My Turn," a new
addition to the category has arrived.
In what is only her second feature film,
director Claudia Weill has picked up where
Woody Allen left off in "Annie Hall" and
"Manhattan," creating what is
unquestionably the breeziest, wittiest
romance of the year. Indeed, "It's My
Turn" is doubly welcome in the light that
Allen's latest, "Stardust Memories," turned
out to be little more than a poison pen-letter
to Woody's legion of fans.
"It's My Turn" tells the story of Kate
Gunzinger (Jill Clayburgh), a mathematics
professor who, as the film opens, thinks her
life is beautiful. She's secure in her job
(though she's weighing another offer), she
loves living in Chicago and her live-in
relationship with a divorced real estate man
(Charles Grodin) is running smoothly.
When she flies to New York to attend her
father's wedding, however, Kate meets
former-professional baseball star Ben
Lewin (Michael Douglas) and falls headover-heels
in love with him. In a matter of
hours, Kate's "perfect" life is reduced to a
shambles.
On the surface, this doesn't sound like the
best possible scenario from which to elicit
laughter, but there's a brilliant script by
Eleanor Bergstein at work here, full of
Claudia We
By David Baker t^an twQ yeaR
FMm Critic to ?ac|
One of the most talked- Weill close to a
about success stuiies of the the $500,000
past decade is the one complete it.
concerning motion picture additional m
director Claudia Weill. In said, came
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Memoir" was nominated for "I've never bet
the Academy Award as Best my Master C
Feature-length Documen- after 'Girl
tary, and she is well charged so n
respected for the short films Rent-a-Cars on
she created for "Sesame "My credit r
Street' and for New York wrecked foreve
Public Television. For the p
Bored with making months, Weill,
documentaries, Weill began Charge, has be
looking for a feature to in the creation <
direct. Unfortunately, no one "It's My Tur
was willing to take a chance romance
on a director who had not mathematics I
proved herself capable of falls in lov
making a feature. Un- professional ath
daunted, Weill applied to the The title of th
American Film Institute and enough, doesn'
received a $10,000 grant within the picti
which became the genesis from the lyric
for her film "Girl Friends," written by Mic
one of the most critically and Carole Bay
acclaimed films of 1978. inclusion in tli
"Girl Friends" took more original title, 4
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Claudia Weill, director of It's My Ti
severance. She has not yet made plans h
?cziest, u
snappy lines the likes of which we haven't
heard in ages. The script also puts Kate and
Ben into several hilarious situations that are
all the funnier because of their believability.
Chief among these is a wonderful scene
that takes place in the gameroom of Kate's
hotel. After bragging to Ben about her
prowess at ping-pong, electronic games and
the lifte, Kate becomes exasperated when
Ben beats the hell out of her at every one of
hem.
In addition to her expert staging of this
and virtually every other scene, Weill
should be commended for her truly extraordinary
work with her cast. Clayburgh
is certain to receive her third straight Best
Actress Oscar nomination and, given the
lack of competition, she deserves to win this
IT ?- -
vmic. ncis ir> tin eccentric, inventive performance
equal to any portrayal she
previously has brought to the screen.
The revelation of the film, however, is
Douglas. Before seeing this film, I never
would have thought Douglas capable of such
a light-hearted, laid-back and altogether
winning performance. The selfconsciousness
that has plagued much of his
previous work has vanished and, come
February, he should be there alongside
Clayburgh when the nominations are announced.
One final comment concerns Clayburgh's
walk. It's obvious the lady is not used to
walking in high heels and it's mnst
humorous to watch her hobble along as if
she was born on pegs. Whether or not this
was planned (Weill said it was not), it adds
yet another layer of humanity to the already
true-to-life goings-on.
If you see only one movie this month, "It's
My Turn" is the one to see.
ill: a succes
? to produce, Circle," wac changed, Weill
t that it took said, because it was too
year to raise literary, too abstract,
needed to "Also," she pointed out,
Most of the "there have been a lot of
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from other 'circle* in their titles and I
loans, debts, didn't want it confused with
I credit cards. any of them. Then there's
in able to get the Russian book."
Charge back Weill acknowledged that
Friends.' I one of the most striking
lany Budget differences between "It's
it," she said. My Turn" and "Girl
ating's been Friends" is the glossier look
r." of the new film, a look which
ast several has very little to do with the
sans Master money involved in the
en immersed making of each film. ("It's
?f a new film, My Turn" was budgeted at
n," a witty $7 million, 14 times the cost
about a of "Girl Friends.")
teacher who "This was the appropriate
re with a style for this film, that was
ilete. the appropriate style for that
ie film, oddly film," Weill explained. "The
t come from look of 'Girl Friends' was
ire itself, but gritty, but it was right
: to a song, because it was a story about
:hael Masser a girl, just out of college,
er Sager, for trying to make do, living on
ie film. The nothing. And the look kind of
The Perfect reflected the texture and
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urn,' is a success through her own dei
tr a new movie.
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Jill Clay burgh and Michi
Turn.'
i
s story
feeling of her life.
" 'It's My Turn' is a film
that, in a sense, is a little
more sophisticated. It's
about someone in her 30s,
who's a little more together
and who makes a lot more
money. It's a different
ambiance for a film. And I
think the glossy look is appropriate
to the milieu, to
me people the movie is
about.
"If I were to make ]
'Cannery Row,' it certainly ,
wouldn't look like 'It's My <
Turn.' The subject matter of I
a film dictates the look of it."
The thing about "It's My
Turn" that perhaps made
the deepest impression on
Weill is the amount of
pressure involved when
making a film for a
Hollywood studio. "It's not
necessarily easier to make a
film if there's a lot of
money," she said, "because
you don't see the money. But
you feel the pressure of the
money.
See page 8
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Spotlights
Pilohus Theater
The Pilobus Dance Theater will present two 11:00 miniconcerts
for children Oct. 28 and 29. The young Dance
Theater consists of six athletes and performs its own style
of dance, which is sometimes 'acrobatic, sometimes
sculpture, sometimes humor. The price is $3.00 per child.
There will also be an 8:00 adult performance on Oct. 29.
All performances will be held at the Township. Ticket
prices for the adult performance are $5, $7 and $9. Tickets
are on sale at the Kitani Foundation office at 2711 Middleburg
Dr. in the Kittrell building, suite 203. They will also
ue on saie ai tne Township on Oct. 25.
Nickelodeon films
Milos Forman's "The Fireman's Ball" will play at the
Nickelodeon Oct. 24 and 25 at 7 and 9 p.m. The film (funded
by a grant from the S.C. Arts Commission) is about a
disastrous ball given by the fireman of a small Czeck
village in honor of their aged firechief.
"Repulsion," Roman Polanski's chilling story of
misnpn<ip anH cpynnl rpnrocciAn chnmc fWif oc n t\
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p.m. It is the story of a young woman (Catherine Deneuve)
who is revolted, yet fascinated by men.
A double feature is offered Oct. 27 and 28 by Tennessee
Williams. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" concerns a young man's
(Paul Newman) frustration with sex and greed. The second
feature is "A Streetcar Named Desire," starring Marlon
Brando and VivianLeigh. It is the story of a faded southern
flower who is stripped of pretension by the brutish Stanley
Kowalski. These films, sponsored by the S.C. Committee
for the Humanities, will be introduced by Dr. John MacNicholas
with a brief discussion following.
"The Spider Strategem," based on a short story by Jorge
Luis Borges, piays Oct. 29 and 30 at 7 and 9 p.m. It is a
political whodunit and stars Alida Valli and Giulio Brogi.
Robert Altman's "Nashville," will show Oct. 31 and Nov.
i at / ana iu p.m. i\asnville is used as a metaphor for
American life.
Deadline for tickets
Today is the deadline for reserving discount season
ickets for the USC Cultural Series. The series is scheduled
o begin Nov. 7 with jazz trumpeteer Maynard Ferguson.
Tickets are $18 per reserved seat for USC faculty and
;taff, $12.50 for USC students and *9.4 for r*..hi;?
? T-? - v.?v/ n
Call 7130 for reservations. i
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