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Superior Chet By Robert O'Connor Peter Bogdanovich's "Mask" displays a Cher more assured of her acting superiority ? and rightfully so. "Mask," released nationally last week, is an excellent film with Cher giving her best performance to date. The story is powerful and without a multitude of useless sensitivi ty. "Mask" handles a difficult subject well. The Anna Hamilton Phelan script, based on a true story, centers around the horribly disfigured Rocky Dennis and his supportive but drug-addicted mother. Eric Stolz and Cher tackle the principle roles with a refreshing vitality that should not be overlooked when the 1985 Academy Awards are decided upon. ROCKY AND his mother Rusty live in a strange environment. Rocky, considered a freak because of an enlarged head and facial deformities, is nevertheless a happy and welladjusted 16-year-old. It is Rusty who has the R33 PREGNANCY C ^ PRIMER ^ ah Ik^v KsS^I!?9^^B<BflHn?iflEK*9H^BK! ftHERJNBEGI ' displays cot problems, complete with a drug problem and membership in a group of bikers. The strange revelation of "Mask" is that Rocky must help his mother cope with her life, while his is a mockery of reality. Bogdanovich, who tried to have his name removed from "Mask" because of creative conflicts over the score, takes us through ivutKy s iusi anu nappiesi year, i-ie is almost turned away from the local junior high school but finishes at the top of his class, and he finds love in a relationship with a blind girl (Laura Dern). However, the audience rarely finds compassion for the comfortable Rocky, who sees life in a rare and down-to-earth fashion. cner s Kusty is me main preoccupauon. 1 ne great passion in her life is love for her son, becoming stronger than her need for drugs and the man in her life (the miscast Sam Elliott). "Mask" is two hours of entering into the &]void |BJ :ohol, drugs, infection. i Butthat'3 no problem ;; ; They tte the worst police i v mlhe Universe. L ?k / yj^PBIwfc?S3B4PBWgWW^ i MBts- -_r rf * ; ?. f JV-:fMHKi BEmt BBS Jr And he tvtc Tv/r n v>rxj oqju ht ; 1VJuCjlLXV?X X 111 ZjLJL i itinuing brilliai life of the Dennis family and becoming emotionally involved. Rocky and Rusty are likeable charactcrs with monumental problems. Deformity and drug abuse seem an r\HH noir Vtnt Drtnrlan/MH/?K KanHInc St u/StK a VMM pull f UUI JUV^UnilVTlVII UUIiVilVJ II "IUI u beautiful reality. ERIC STOLZ is incredible in his first major role as Rocky. Pounds of makeup and a difficult role seem to weigh easily on Stolz's capable shoulders. Rocky is a character that seems to be too perfect and accepting of his condition, but Stolz allows us to see the pain i : r r? i... uiiu juy ui i\ut*y. Stolz is given a strange role to begin with, and his performance is intelligent without playing on the audience's sympathies. However, it is Cher who triumphs in her third film role. The bitterness from "Come Back To The Five and Dime. Jimmv Dean. Jimmy Dean" and the hard edge from "Silkwood" are combined with a new fragiliicsi oost Be]are your aboi ake of yoursel nutritious food. > . :v WhK '' mmmwSiBf' ^BT.< <, j$BE'*H11,>"/ -> '- - , ,---'- , v. ' it therep "-'\t; gg||||| -\ H?j . ] ^ IMt/iiKt WtAK YUl nee in 'Mask' * ty and desperation. Cher, who will most probably be neglected at next year's Oscars, deserves acclaim for her natural, superior presence. Sam Elliott is badly miscast as the biker of Cher's dreams. Elliott seems too preoccupied with looking masculine to be believable. However, Laura Dern from "Teachers" is not bad as the love interest. There arc many flaws within "Mask," innluHi'nn *lin ,tnr?ilicfin Kitr*r plan that Clir~ fek 1 viuuiug ifiv UII1 vuiiJiiv vinva vium ?iih? -* rounds Rocky and Rusty. Also, Cher's character is unemployed but always snorting cocaine or taking pills. Her source of money is never revealed. BOGDANOVICH ANGRY over the replacement of Bruce Springsteen songs with Bob Seger tunes, should be proud of a complete film. His direction is some of the best in his career. iviaaft uivip nit ldtaui; ui piciciniuii if present a film that seems cut from reality, contact your local chapter.^ dD March of Dimes ^1 P VMy MBtiVlH CXHC1S HX)NC)AtK>NaHHB f and your unborn baby. \ | Watch for j I :*?* &! I I Bloom County I V 1 ^ a If r ! :l t h >43 I 1 | in The Gamecock. | * mm mL tm E9 i! :^AV^<>^</. I: S i j< > !i m : i' s/ s / n y.i' I mwmwm nn c Iau.o W \> Iv" , 'l'C$L .! m a &fM'- 1 1 ? . -i . WKvJ ; IF TkJW a | 1VI , JU