OCR Text |
Show February 1 , 1 980 Signpost Page 9 'Kramer vs. Kramer' receiveswide acclaim By Mike Kerins Kramer vs. Kramer has to be one of the year's most popular and talked about films, and with good reason. It blends intense drama, light comedy, social consciousness, and tear-jerking emotions into superb entertainment. Dustin Hoffman is outstanding as the amibitious advertising executive who has little time for anything besides his career until his wife (Meryl Sfreep) can't bear it anymore and deserts him, leaving him to raise their young son Billy (Justin Henry). With all too common inept ness in the kitchen, Hoffman attempts to cook breakfast for his son Hilly, while trying to explain why Mommy isn't there and reassuring him that she will be back soon. It becomes more and more apparent to Hoffman how far out of touch he and his son have become when he takes him to school and has to ask "What grade are you in anyway?" The following scenes show father and son growing closer together alter some initial confrontations and sorrow over the mother's departure. The relationship grows into a very close and special love between a father and his son. Watching them taking walks in the park and cooking dinner together reminds you a little of "The Courtship of . Kddies Father," with out all the silly.-cuteness. - Hoffman turns the same ambition that moved him up through the ranks in advertising towards building a life with his son. This total commitment, while it builds a good relationship with his son, takes its toll on his work, and he is forced to hit the streets in search of a new job. Jane Alexander does a marvelous job as the divorced neighbor who be Friends first Streep then. Hoffman. Her portrayal lends remarkable insight and empathy into the insecurity and vulnerability that single n others feel while trying their best to bring up a family alone. Justin Henry as Billy Kramer, is one of the great finds in child actors in recent years. Director Robert Benton decided to go with an amateur to play the part of Billy rather than a professional child actor. The result is the most refreshingly, realistic portrayal of a seven year old in many years! In classic confrontation with one of his father's girlfriends, w ho happens to be in the nude, while they are both headed lor the bathroom, the unfazed Justin askes "Do you like fried chicken?" Meryl Streep's return marks the second phase of conflict, this time in court in a custody battle over Billy. As both sides square off in a brutal and intense court battle, Streep shows that she is not really a villain but a mother who genuinely loves her son and feels ashamed of having left him behind. Her testimony on the stand during the trial is a x)werful piece of acting and one of the most intense scenes in the film. The rest of the court scenes serve to show that in a custody battle nobody really wins, except for the attorneys. This film is great entertainment, but it is also valuable for its social statement. Divorce and custody battles are all too common these days and "Kramer vs. Kramer" lends insight and understanding into this tragic plight. It's sure to be nominated for a score of Oscars and it's one you owe it to yourself to see. GuessJiio,s Coming To Campus? C ffV.,-:,.--.l,. a. nv campus conducting interviews for sea- sonal employment. Please contact your part-time placement office for information' Disneyland. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. I 8 n 1 -v- Today Resident Hall Association will sponsor "Little Vegas" tonight benefiting the American Cancer Society. The Casino will feature Blackjack, Craps, a "jail," dance, movie, and non-alcoholic mixed drinks. The movie is "the Heroes." The casino opens at 8 p.m. and a $2 donation is asked. WSC Music Department presents Grant Harkness in Senior recital, Browning Center Little Theater, 8 p.m. Free. Intramural cross country snow shoe and snow carnival, Snow Basin. Intramural foosball co-rec, Union Building Games area, 3-5 p.m. i: Today and Tomorrow Union movie is "Superman" and will be in the Union Building Wildcat Theater. Shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Cost is $1.50 with student ID and $2 without. Annual high school debate tournament with 63 western high school forensic teams. Monday and Tuesday Workshops for potential WSC graduate students are still available today and tomorrow. Sponsored by the WSC Counseling Center, they deal with how, when and where to apply for graduate school. They also advise how to take tests and write application letters. Classes are free and last about one hour. Monday, WSC Social Science Room 227; Tuesday Education Building Room 338. Monday Sigma Xi lecture with Helen James, Science Center Room 122. Noon. Free. Tuesday Executive Lecture Series sponsored by School of Business and Economics will hear Ernest Mariani, president of Pyke Manufacturing, Union Building Wildcat Theatre, noon, free. Campus Crusade for Christ will feature Neil McCarthy, WSC head basketball coach, at Tuesday's meeting at 7 p.m. in room 338 at the Union Building. Percussion ensemble concert, presented by WSC Music Department, Val A. Browning Center for Performing Arts Little Theatre, 8 p.m. Free. College Activities Board features "Jack White billiards champion" in Union Building at noon. Free. Wednesday Ott Planetarium presents "Winter Skies," 7 p.m., tickets in j Science Room 203. j Carl Marti will speak at Brownj Bag Seminar sponsored by5 Instructional Development, noon, Library Room 78. Free. Wrestling, men's intramural, Wildcat gym south balcony, 3-5 p.m. Free. Thursday WSC Music Department presents Gary Heagren in a senior recital, Browning Center Little Theatre. Free. 8 p.m David Cox WSC Art Department, will present a slide show on contemporary Mexican ceramics. Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Browning Center Cellar Theater. Everyone invited. Free. Men's basketball WSC vs. U of Montana, Dee Events Center, 7:30 p.m. Intramural men's basketball, Dee Events Center, 5:15 p.m. giving pleasure a crime? lv mmmmM m w tx. A? Paramount Pictures Presents A Freddie Fields Production A Film by P&ul Schrader Richard Gere in "American Gigolo Lauren Hutton Executive Producer Freddie Fields Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Written and Directed by Paul Schrader A Paramount Picture! hw L MSTRICTID J rmni on ouu cumm COPYRIGHT C MCMLXXX BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 5368 South 1050 Wast 394-1768 Electric Cor Heaters MANN THEATRES (VJANN arv plaza 23RD H GRANT 392-1122 41 f I BOX 6:30 SHOW - 7:00 - CO-HIT - SHOWS: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 & 9:30 |