The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 24, 1981, Page page 6, Image 6
page 6 daily nebraskan tuesday, february 24, 1981 (G(SnlG(irSllDKRnDiG 3 Bronx movie attempts too much, achieves little By Pete Schmitz Fort Apache, The Bronx is a unique movie because it is hard to like, hate or feel indifferent about. The film's biggest problem is that it tries to be too many things: a social commen tary, a buddy film, an adventure story, a fifties romance, an '80s romance, a black comedy in the tradition of MA SH and a vehicle for Paul Newman, who has not had a hit in years. n n ; o i u J review Based on some experiences of former South Bronx police officers Tom Mulhearn and Pete Tessitore, and production's attempts at social realism are undermined by a contrived plot, far-fetched events and a trite character triad. As Patrolman Murphy, Newman is the worn-out, but hu mane inconoclast. He shows his bosses no respect, never uses a gun, leads citizens in shouting matches against his own depart ment and uses clown therapy as a way of getting criminals to surrender weapons. Ken Wahl plays Corelli, Newman's young, brash and dashing partner who still has a lot to learn. If anyone in this project is deserving of our sympathy it is Wahl. As Newman's buddy and partner, he must be a Robert Red ford to his colleague. And be cause of his Italian-American background, he must be a John Travolta for his audi ences. Given this double burden, Wahl does a respectable job even though he cannot rise above the constraints of his role(s). To round out this dynamic duo, we have Ed Asner who takes the part of Captain Connolly, the grumpy, by-the- . - V77 O pj m z. w - :. t , . hi hi m bw-. If MTlrCf- Paul Newman plays a veteran New York mander, Edward Asner, in Fort Apach book bureaucrat who tries to restore order and discipline in the 4 1st Precinct. Reads like a satire Believe me, the press package for his movie reads like a satire. Despite Captain Connolly's presence, Murphy and Corelli continue to control crime as they tell a pimp, who is beating up a prostitute, to "keep it off the streets." These men also find time for romance. Wahl dates an innocent Catholic girl (the '50s romance), and Newman falls in love with a smart cookie of a nurse who ends up dead from a heroin overdose (the '80s ro mance). Even though the two men have girlfriends, they still take enough time out Time-Life Productions police officer who clashes with his com- ', the Br o tvc. to participate in their mutual admiration society. But for all of the movie's faults it is not racist. Yes, it does show Hispanies, blacks and prostitutes doing many nasty tilings. But it also shows police officers and white citizens doing many mean things too. Every group portrayed is treated harshly, but fairly. Unlike other exploitative shows, the unendearing aspects of the characters are explained through mountains of garb age, pollution and despair. In Woman's Fstate, Juliet Mitchell told women that "the condition of our oppres sion conditions us." This is something every critic should remember before launching a diatribe on films which ap,tar racist, sexist or homophobic. Of course, there are writers and directors who exploit stereotypic imagery merely for the purpose of entertainment or titallation. Degrades minorities This vvas the case with Neil Simon's Seems Like Old Times, a movie that de grades blacks, Indians and Mexican-Americans by making them lazy and unapprecia tive of Goldie I lawn's efforts to "help" them. Just as bad for homosexuals vvas William Friedkan's Cruising With this movie out, Anita Bryant could stay at home. But Fort Apache, The Bronx, is not exploitative. Furthermore, it has its mom ents of intelligence and sensitivity. Director Daniel Pctrie (who did A Raisin In The Sun and Resurrection) and writer Heywood Gould, make it clear it is mainly the pour who are victimized by street crime. This factor puts their effort several notches above Death Wish (1974), a cheap piece of trash that became a tract of what James Monnacco calls "bourgeois vigilantism". Even though Petrie and Gould present a bleak sociological landscape that offsets some of the dubious individual portraits, their film will not call attention to the problem of urban anomie. This is most apparent as it ends with a strange mixture of tones. While the camera pans across the corpse of a prostitute wrapped up in a rug among a heap of garbage, we see Newman and Wahl in the background as they run after another criminal with all their boyish enthusiasm. Instead of instigating action for urban renewal, Fort Apache, The Bronx will most likely inspire a television series with a tired cop who cares, his young and impetuous partner and a dour supervisor. Fort Apache, The Bronx is now showing at the Plaza 4 Theater. If AW HflK A Meisner performs Sunday GRAND OPENING WEEK with FOOTLOOSE Tues. V Wed. Feb. 24th V 25th SPECIALS Tues. - 75 Cans fill Night Wed. - FREE BEER 7:30-830 Crazy Louie (winners of Expo '80 Battle of the Bands) Thurs., Fri. hi Sat. Feb. 26th - 28th Thurs. Ladies Night FREE wine 'til Nine for the Ladies Your Rock N Roll Playground I IFIRUM 826 'P' 1AI M n " J Randy Meisner, a Scottsbluff native, will appear at Pogo's Electric Cowboy in Omaha Saturday. ooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o EOT SHOWING: "Laura's Desires" 2nd Feature: "Little Girls' Blues" must be 18 - have I.D. a j. a a LL WWWU HiiTWMI o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o yooooo Randy Meisner. a found ing member of the l-aglcs and a Scottsbluff native, will be Pogo's Electric Cow boy in Omaha this Sunday. Meisner is promoting his second solo album One More Song on Epic Records. The title track was written especially for Meisner. which recounts his breakup with the Eagles. It features Glen Erey and Don Henley on harmony. Besides his solo work and hit song "Take it to the Limit" with the Eagles, Mcsiner also helped form Poco and Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band. i ickets for Meisncr's per formance are $7.50 in ad vance, S8.50 the c'ay of the show and are available at Pogo's, Homer's, and Peach es Records in Omaha. Seat ing at the bar is general ad mission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. douglas 3 5 30 7 30 9 30 5 20 7 25 9 30 5 25-7:35 9:45 ORDINARY PEOPLE (R) Nominated for 6 Academy Awards