Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 67

4 Section 5 Chicago Tribune, Monday, May 13, 1985 Tempo Gage aside, 'Birdy' just doesn't fly By Gene Siskel Movie critic p1 tan Parker's "Birdy" is I far better as an antiwar I film than as a poetic trib-V ute to flieht. The war se- "Birdy" 'a Mini-review: Ai is more interesting Dkactad by Alan Partus acraanptay by Sandy Kroopl and Jack Bahr baaad on tha noval by WMHam Wharton; photographad by Mchaal Sara-atn; adMad by Garry Hambiing; produced by Alan Marshall; a Trt-Star nlim al tha Chaalnul Station Thaatac. Ratad A THE CAST Birdy Matthaw Modins Al Columbato Nicolas Caga Dr. Waaa John Harkina Mr. Columbato Sandy Baron Hannah Rourtia Karon Young RanaKH Bruno turby be affected by even such obvious shots as the wounded Birdy screaming in pain beneath the twisted metal of a destroyed helicopter.

Get it? Helicopters are known as "birds." The vast majority of "Birdy," however, is not set in Vietnam. Rather, it unfolds in the backyard of Birdy's Philadelphia house, which has a treehouse that Birdy uses as a training and lauching pad; and Birdy's bedroom, which he uses as an aviary to better get to know the birds that are his dear friends and soulmates. The goal of human flight has been a subject before in film, and its joy and pathos were better communicated by Robert Altaian in his underrated "Brewster McCloud" 1970. As Altman proved, a little human flight goes a long way in a movie. To be sure, every once in awhile, Parker does hit upon an image that takes us aback.

For example, when Birdy fingers a feather and we inspect it at close range, it truly seems a wondrous object. And our heart at the end of the film does go out to Al, who sel- quences toiich us quite deeply; the flying matenal comes across a precious, overworked conceit. The result is a film that touches us the least where and when it intends. The story of "Birdy," as adapted to film, is about two friends in "the early 1960s from working-class Philadelphia. There's Al ') Columbato Nicolas Cage, who much like his name is a confident hulk of a young man.

And then, there's his best buddy Birdy Matthew Modine from a shy, timid soul who finds it easier to communicate with birds than with people. Indeed, Birdy's goal is to become a bird, to fly like a bird. It's his way of coping with a too-hostile world, a world that both he and Al will encounter in all of its brutality in Vietnam. Director Parker "Midnight Ex-press," "Fame" intercuts battle i Nicolas Cage bandaged and Matthew Modine star in "Birdy." a story of friendship. footage of Birdy and Al being wounded in Vietnam with the story of how Birdy and Al became friends, went to war and tried to recover from their Vietnam wounds.

The incessant intercutting adds little to the story. Yes, it's rude, and yes, Parker probably thought it would be a better way to drive home the ultimate rudeness of war. But there's no need for overkill. Vietnam battle footage carries a special weight all its own these days, and long after we've given up on the flying aspect of this movie, it's remarkable to see how much we can still IT'S THE STREET SENSATION THAT'S SWEEPIN' THE NATIONI we realize that Al's a very decent guy, and what happens to him in Vietnam shouldn't happen to anyone. And Al, bless him, doesn't employ a birdlike defense like Birdy.

And even though Cage is given one painfully obvious, Talent of Joffrey troupe soars in new 'Jamboree' I a By Richard Christiansen Entertainment editor The event of the moment in the Civic Opera House this weekend was the local premiere of Gerald Ar-pino's exuberant "Jamboree," but 3 wm UNITED ARTISTS CARNEGIE LINCOLN VILLAGE BREMEN DEERBROOK Downtown Chicago Chicago Tinley Parte oeerfield CENTURY EVERGREEN GOLF GLEN HARLEM-CERMAK Hoffman estates evergreen Park Nlles North Riverside HILLSIDE SO. LINCOLN Mall NORRIDCE OGDEN6 RIDGE PLAZA Hillside Matteson RIVER OAKS ST. CHARLES Calumet city St. Charles Drtveins: BEL-AIR DOUBLE Cicero Chicago Nomoge naperviiie Griffith, in Stratford SO. TOWN N' country Bioomlngdaie Arlington Heights 53 HALSTEDTWIN Palatine Rlvertlale Mernilvllle, IN heartfelt speech after another to deliver to Birdy in the hospital, we still are moved by Al's predicament.

Oddly enough in "Birdy," it's the more plain character who catches our eye and our heart. fringe flying on their cowboy costumes with a fancy heel-clicking "Split Rail" duet. Palmer, the company's lightning-fast Australian, soars and splits and takes his life in his hands in a dazzlingly airborne solo. And the whole company links arms to kick-step through the "Cotton-Eyed Joe." Chameleon that he is, Arpino has absorbed the various folk and popular dance influences of the Southwest, fused them with ballet technique and turned the result into a grand, beaming show. His only slip comes in the overly dramatic passion play, with peasant women fluttering about while the athletic Luis Perez shivers and shakes in front of a live Madonna.

"Jamboree," scheduled to be repeated Tuesday and Thursday nights, is another Arpino rouser, not a classic but a hit. Also scheduled for repeat performances those nights is "Secret Places," Arpino's romantic pas de deux set to the second movement: the "Elvira Madigan" theme of Mozart's piano concerto No. 21. On Friday night, the well-matched lovers were Pawn Cac-camo and Edgerton whose work has been' consistently strong and graceful in his many appearan- ces. Not to be repeated, alas, is "Ket-tentanz," the Viennese charmer and quintessential Arpino-romantic ballet, which was danced to a fare-thee-well on Friday by its dozen dancers.

wins violin contest Chiang, 14, won the junior ry, which Wang had won in the first year of the contest. The competition is judged by an; international panel of nine profes-, sional musicians chaired by Menuc hin, one of the world's leading violinists. Reuters Htmore big laughs than any film THIS YEAR." AT IhC MOVifcS toe't ft 3ere tutu displaying those qualities as usual and in abundance. In addition, as they work their way into the Chicago engagement, they appear to be at their peak in technique and personality. Dancing through a joyous all-Arpino program of four dances Friday night, they moved impressively as a handsomely meshed ensemble, and they came up with one exciting feat after another in their individual segments.

"Jamboree," commissioned from Arpino by the City of San Antonio and premiered there last year, gives them plenty of chances to show their stuff. Billed by Arpino as "an entertainment," it is precisely that not a great ballet, but a flashy piece of showmanship that gave the San Antonians exactly what they wanted for their money and provides the rest of the world with a happy few minutes to boot. With Edward Morgan leading the festivities as a high-kicking, fast-twirling master of ceremonies, Arpino brings on his young virtuosos and lets them loose to a brassy commissioned score for orchestra, harmonica, banjo and taped recordings by Teo Marcus. Charlene Gehm and Philip Jerry rapturously swirl and embrace in a "Prairie Psalm." Jodie Gates and Glenn Edgerton glide through a quicksilver tango. Eric Dirk and Mark Goldweber, the company's two small super-spinners, bound and kick across the stage, barely touching ground.

David Palmer and Tom Mossbrucker set the Chinese youngster Folkestone, England Fifteen-year-old Wang Xiao-Dong from China outshone 42 players from 16 countries to win the second international Yehudi Menuhin violin competition. Wang took the first prize of $4,525 at the biennial event in this southern English town. Another Chinese boy, Guo AlSttT BROOKS JULIE HAGERtY America McClURS COURT Noun NOMIOGt Nonidge DENS NormDrook CHICAGO RIDGE Cnicago Ridge CHCAiGLaNID TIHEAYKE 1(" I I You Haven't Really seen us TonlteetePM -t II You've Only Seen Us Once! 1 1 I TSm i 5 8PM I The Holiest Ticket In PMl Mogailne I TATC I Now Throuoh May 31 Onlyll You Can VHI Reserve Your Tickets lor July I thru Labor Day At Special Discounted Price ol Only SIO.0O Llmlled Emiagement I Box-office 7B6-9I20 (Malor Credit Cords) Tlckelron uuniini ciwovtmeni Mayfoir ThealreBlackslone Hotel434 s. Michigan Mon-Sat Eves JPM; Sat Mats 2PM: $40, $35, $2 PwhhhbbhBk Wed Mais 2PM: $35, $30, $17.50. yBBaaasy I Tickets al Box Office Tlckelron Outlets I Telecharge Group Sales: 1-800-233-3123 ftrY DEADLINE I 1 For info, call (312) 977-1700.

11? MMoHM Shrt W' juLl'tf RZAPZKI 'IM MM An American Classic. Only 7 performances left) RobertJoffrey, Artistic Director Gerald Arpino, Associate Director Tomorrow at 8 Wednesdey al 8 Thursday at 8 Hexameron (P) Les Patineurs Hexameron (P) Secret Places (R) Illuminations Secret Places (P.) I I A joat Night Monotones II Night iff Aj Jamboree (P) A Wedding Jamboree (P) II (P) Premiere (R) Revival 1 Tickets: Box office, Ticketmaster, I I or call 559-1212. lit I Civic Opera House II LC Wacker Drive at Madison I i The Jolfrey Ballet's National Tour 'aair is sponsored by Philip Morris Inc. A Jai COlf Mill EVANSTON 0AKBR00K Miles t.d;ision 0atiioo' MALL W00DMEID 0RLAN0 SQUARE OdanoPa-k Cneck individual tneat'e ads tot snc. 'imes flessly tries to nurse Birdy back to health after he has fallen mute into a hellish hospital that could have existed in the middle of Parker's horror show film "Midnight Express." Thanks to Cage's performance, the big news as the Joff.ey Ballet marks the half-way point in its two-week run here continues to be the superb Joffrey dancers.

It is customary to note the miling beauty and youthful vigor of the Joffrey troupe, and they are a nn NORTHWEST TOT ADULT THEATER THROAT 12-YEARS AFTER 9:00 12:20 3:45 7:00 10:30 EXCntNG FEATURE An Exoeianl Envakning Story MAN-AND-WOMENS- SEARCH-FOR-FULFILLMENT "WILD-VALLAS'-HONEY" 10:30 2:00 5:20 8:45 IN PERSON MAY 24th DE-AHNA a HER 2 BOAS ALSO STARRING IN "JACK a JLL FT. VHS-BETA(200litlas) t1.W knral Taat (Vanassa DalRnl $29.95 i ISato'a (Ultra Flesh) $34,951 AN Tha Action $34,951 kDavNInMlaaJonM lOaap Throat (ThtClasw) i Couraan Open T1 DOORS OPEN 6:45 283-1582 "AMADEUS" 7:15 PM ONLY lAftlu MIL. AT KID. AT 3:30 LUUAI1 XAT8 EYE" (R) XOMFAMY OF W0LVE8" MILFORD 545-5922 $1.50 "RETURN OF THE JEDI" 7O0 9:15 "ROMANCINQ THE STONE" SOUTH GOTCHA nC TA Dl" 1:15. 3.

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