The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 25

The Atlanta journal The Atlanta Constitution Monday, May 3, 1993 FILMS TheArts Actor's new kick: family values I Chuck Norris is glad his new movie, is for all agef :1 ma i. smoothly holds onto No. I. The Atlanta group "Silk" remains atop Billboard's hot pop single chart with "Freak Me." Closing in is Janet Jackson's newest single, "That's the Way Love Goes," zooming from No. 14 to No.

2 on the singles chart. That's the highest position a single has achieved in its second week on the charts since "Let It Be" by the Beatles moved from No. 6 to No. 2 the week of March 28, 1970. If it displaces "Freak Me" by Silk, it will be her sixth No.

1 single. 'Meanwhile, longtime rockers Aerosmith take the top pop album title with "Get a Grip" the group's highest-debuting album and highest-charting album ever. Other chart toppers: Hot single: "That's the Way Love Goes," Janet Jackson. Top album: "The Chronic," Dr. Dre.

Hot country singletrack: "Alibis," Tracy Lawrence. Top Country album: "Some Gave All," Billy Ray Cyrus. Top video rental: "Under Siege." Top video sales: "Pinocchio." Top music video sales: "Cereal Killer," Green Jelly. ii i v. i M.

1 i i I if 'yy. ly if i i 1 i -x'y i LOUIE FAVORITEStaff, Actor Chuck Norris plays himself in the family-oriented "Sidekicks." By Steve Murray STAFF WRITER As soft-spoken Chuck Norris chats about his new family film "Sidekicks," Mr. Kick-butt comes across as Mr. Laidback. "There are very few PG movies today that you can take your child to and enjoy," he says.

"You sit there suffering for an hour and a half. 'Aladdin' is an exception." Take two other Disney films he saw with his brother's kids. "In 'A Far Off the family gets killed," he says. "And this is PG? Then we take them to see 'Huck and it's scaring the daylights out of them." This may sound funny, coming from the karate star whose rib-cracking exploits have made him a household name. And frankly it's a little weird when Mr.

Norris's assistant whisking in and out of the Buckhead hotel suite asks if she can touch up his makeup. Not the image you expect. The assistant is getting persuasive, too: "You're going to look at it a long time, this picture," she says, referring to the shots being taken by a newspaper photographer. He considers then (whew!) says, "Nah." Thus is spared the image of Our Hero a one-man film franchiser who launched a zillion teens out of theater seats and into do-' jos. In fact, that's the premise of his new film: "Sidekicks" shows how a sickly schoolboy gains confidence by emulating Mr.

Norris (who plays himself in the film). Alas, inspirational family films weren't high on Hollywood's list five years ago, when Mr. Norris sought funding. Only recently thanks to box-office knockouts like the "Home Alone" movies and Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" have PG and PG-13 films become hot projects. Now 53, Mr.

Norris was ahead of the curve. "Hollywood said, 'Nah, Chuck, you've gotta do these R-rated kick-butt films, that's what people want to And I said, 'Well, maybe, maybe not' Eventually, his film was bankrolled by a businessman in Houston, where Mr. Norris's Kick Drugs Foundation is located. He hopes to open chapters of his nonprofit program, which uses martial arts training to build self-esteem in inner city kids. Dressed in a burgundy shirt, black-booted legs crossed, Mr.

Norris relaxes on the sofa and tells a "kind of funny story" about the time his son Eric was hanging out with his best friend Brandon on a California pier when they were both 14. "They were fishing next to this man, and they started talking to him about martial arts and movies. And Eric said, 'Well you know, my dad is Chuck "The guy looks at Eric and said, 'Yeah, sure And Brandon said, 'Well my dad is novel. To accommodate Ms. lang, the release date has been changed from summer to fall' "k.d.

lang is the ultimate contemporary cowgirl," a studio official said; "her work on the soundtrack will make it well worth the wait." The film features Uma Thurman, Ro-seanne Arnold, Lorraine Bracco, Sean Young, Crispin Glover, Ken Kesey, Carol Kane, Keanu Reeves, Angie Dickinson, Heather Graham, Buck Henry, John Hurt and Rain Phoenix. Close may join newspaper movie Glenn Close is in final negotiations to join Michael Keaton in "The Paper" for Universal Pictures. The character Ms. Close portrays in the Ron Howard-directed project was originally written as a man, Mr. Keaton's cost-conscious boss.

Mr. Keaton plays the city editor of a thinly veiled likeness of the New York Post. He solves a gangland-style murder by stealing information off the desk of a New York Times editor whom he interviews for a job. Robert DuvalPs name is among' those mentioned for the role of Mr. Keaton's kindly boss, Bernie.

From our news services indecent Proposal' rakes in mslons Audiences again made "Indecent Proposal" the nation's top movie over the weekend, spending $7 million at the box office, according to industry estimates Sunday. Lambasted as everything from sexist to laughingly implausible, the Robert Red-ford-Demi Moore film has grossed almost $70 million in four weeks of release. Final weekend box office figures are released today. Clumped behind "Indecent Proposal" were three films, "Sidekicks," "Indian Summer" and "Benny Joon." The three films brought in between $3.7 million and $3.1 million. The remaining films: "The Sandlot," $2.5 million; "Splitting Heirs," "Who's the Man," "Three of Hearts" and "The Dark Half," about $1 .9 million each; and "Cop and a Half," with $1.5 million.

'Even Cowgirls' gets a songwriter Singersongwriter k.d. lang will do the soundtrack for Gus Van Sant's "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," the adaptation of Tom Robbins's widow, having to lose two people. It's beeif real hard on her." (In an odd stroke of timing, the Universal film "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," opens nationally on Friday.) For action fans who fear that "Side kicks" signals a softening of Mr. Norris, fear not. In "Hellhound," due in late summer; he plays a Chicago cop fighting a satanist in Israel.

"It's a typical R-rated, Chuck Norris ye- hide," he says with a smile. His CBS series "Walker, Texas Ranger" is set to shoot new episodes in August. (It's been on hiatus since its financing from Italy dried up due to a gov-. ernment crisis.) Frankly, Mr. Norris says he could use the break.

"It was a blessing in disguise." When he's in training, Mr. Norris works but six days a week, from 7 to 10 every morning. Three days are devoted to weights and cardiovascular, three days to karate and ju- Bruce And the guy said, 'Come on, kids, give me a Mr. Norris laughs. "They tried their level best to convince him, and I guess they never did." He turns stoic when it comes to Brandon Lee's death last month on the North Carolina set of the film "The Crow." The 28-year-old whose father co-starred with Mr.

Norris in "Return of the Dragon" in 1972 was killed by a prop gun that was meant to shoot only blanks. "I still can't figure out how it happened," Mr. Norris says. "On the set of an action film, safety is a priority. Before the prop man puts a gun in your hand he shows you the empty chamber, the empty clip." (Actors usually "cheat" with guns, never aiming them directly at other actors.) "You know, I guess everyone's predestined," he says.

"It's just sad. It's that old saying, 'The good die Bruce Lee was himself only 32 when he died of an apparent brain hemorrhage, a sudden end that fostered a sense of mystery only deepened by his son's death. "I don't know if it's a mystery, or just the way life is," Mr. Norris says. "The sad part is Linda Mr.

Lee's mother and Bruce Lee's 1 jitsu. He also spends a lot of time at the movies. "I hate boring movies," he says. "I hate" depressing films God knows, it's depress ing enough out in this society without going to a movie and leaving depressed even if it's great acting. I want to laugh or I want a good action film.

If it doesn't do that for me, I've wasted my money." Cults: Age, social status no protection from sales pitch i Telltale signs for parents frightened into staying by threats from the group. Situational factors: People going through a particularly stressful time (for example, the death of a loved one, divorce, unemployment, moving, going away to college, severe illness, prison, military service, debilitation due to aging or disease), may be more vulnerable to the promises of happiness and relief from suffering offered by cults. Those experiencing such troubled transitions may feel their way of operating in the world isn't working and are therefore open to recruiters selling "happiness." Personal background: Certain cults concentrate on recruiting poor andor homeless people, promising to fulfill their material and spiritual needs while simultaneously stealing their welfare checks, foster-care payments and Social Security benefits, and forcing them to work without pay for the cults. Many cults, however, do their major recruiting at colleges. Some cults have registered as student organizations and are authorized to use meeting rooms, offices and sometimes even campus housing.

College students living on campus are especially likely to be approached by cult recruiters. Continued from CI J. people living alone, many of whose friends have died or moved away, may welcome the apparent warmth, interest and companionship offered by cult recruiters. Likewise, the disabled and infirm may gratefully open their doors to recruiters who offer to clean their houses, cook their meals, do their grocery shopping and chat for hours over a cup of tea. Many cults have taken advantage of elderly members, who have relatively few commitments or responsibilities and plenty of time to donate to the grbup.

In addition, the elderly are targeted for their Social Se-ctjrity checks, their material assets and their wills. I In recent years, cults have allotted much time and energy to recruitment campaigns in such retirement areas as Florida, Ari-' zfna and California. Unfortunately, they have been quite successful many elderly have been buying the cults' promises and signing over their possessions. Without friends or relatives to help them, they face little chance of escaping from the cult environment Moreover, those who attempt to leave may be Here are some changes in your son's or daughter's behaviors that might suggest cult involvement: Secretive behavior. "My son insists on speaking privately with his friends.

He refuses to tell me where he's going. He acts like he's doing something wrong. He withholds information and sometimes even lies to me." Change in vocabulary or speech patterns. "Our daughter used to be a great communicator so expressive, so articulate, so creative with words. Suddenly, it's as though a completely different person is talking to us.

Sometimes it seems as though she's speaking from a memorized script." Emotional changes. "Our warm, engaging son has done an about-face. He treats us as though we were distant acquaintances. Whereas before he was the first to open his arms for a hug, now he virtually recoils at any display of affection." Shift in friends and activities. "Our son suddenly lost interest in all his old buddies and started associating with a new group of friends.

They don't go out. Instead, they have very serious, exclusive meetings at one another's homes." Rejection of secular goals. "Our daughter has always been a bright student. It doesn't make sense to us that she dropped out of college in her junior year." Dubious financial activities. "Our son has always been good with money.

Suddenly it seems as though he's lost all sense of financial responsibility giving away more than he can afford to some religious organization we've never heard of before." Disturbing sexual attitudes. "In both high school and college our daughter was popular with men. But for several months now she hasn't been dating anyone." Abrupt marital decisions. "Our son has always been very selective in choosing his friends and girlfriends. And yet, after joining some spiritual commune, he married a woman he had known for only two weeks." Shifts In religious, philosophical or political views.

"We raised our son as a practicing, committed Jew. Now he meditates in front of a picture of an Indian guru, and reads book after book about Eastern religions." Extreme commitments. "Our daughter started selling health products about a month ago as a means of earning some extra money. Suddenly it seems as though it's become her whole life." Indications of psychological distress. "Our daughter used to be busy all the time.

Now she sleeps until noon. She talks about life being meaningless." From "Cults: What Parents Should Know" by Joan Carol Ross and Michael D. Langone. tact; repetition of short catch phrases, and suggesting that the subject relax, open up and trust People suffering from some type of psychological disordet and those taking drugs prescribed or otherwise also may; be prime targets. The majority of cultists are Irelatively normal persons madej vulnerable from stress andor cer( tain personality traits, among' iwhich are dependency needs, Un-assertiveness, gullibility, low tolerance for ambiguity, cultural dis--illusionment, naive idealism, un-discerning desire for spiritual meaning, susceptibility or attract tion to trance-like states, and ignorance of the ways in which groups can manipulate individuals.

It is important to recognize that no matter how healthy, educated or happy a person may be, everyone experiences some, degree of frustration, mood flue tuation and vulnerability. No one is immune to loneliness, emo- tional fatigue, grief, despair, idealism and naivete We must conclude, therefore, that there is no guaranteed immunity from de- structive cults. From the book "Cults: What Par-' ents Should Know" by Joan Carol Ross, and Michael D. Lanv gone, Ph.D. 1 988 American Family Foundation.

Published by or- rangement with Carol Publishing Croup. A Lyle Stuart Rook. Dist. by Los Angeles Times Syndicate. (To write Carol Publishing, Sates Department, 120 Enterprise J.

07094.) 1 High schools, too, have been targeted by cults. Some groups have run formal programs that were approved by uninformed school administrators. Other cults approach students before and after school or between classes. Certain cults encourage their members to become certified elementary school teachers so they might influence the youngsters during their formative years. Fortunately, many educators have become aware of cult dangers and are arranging cult education programs for their students.

Contrary to' popular belief, gree of closeness, the frequency and quality of communications and the type of power structure (e.g., authoritarian or democratic) among family members may detract from or contribute to a person's vulnerability to cults. However, cult members come from both solid "happy" families and broken, unstable homes. Psychological predispositions: Certain cult tactics are similar, if not identical to, techniques used by hypnotists. Some include a soothing, singsong tone of voice; close physical proximity and touch; prolonged eye con formal religious training has not proved to be, a fail-safe deterrent to cult recruitment, although religious background may influence the type of cult to which a person is vulnerable. Several cults have infiltrated and, on more than one occasion, taken over entire churches.

This process often begins with cult members becoming teachers in church religious schools, becoming active on church committees, and eventually rising to leadership positions within the congregation. Family dynamics: The de About the authors Michael D. Langone is executive director of research and for the American Family Foundation, a nonprofit tax-exempt research organization that studies cults. It was formed in 1 979. He is a psychologist who has worked with more than 1 25 cult members and their families.

He is editor of the scholarly "Cultic Studies Journal." Joan Carol Ross is a former member of the American Family Foundation staff and she has been a family counselor in cult awareness for a decade. Her son, Benjamin, was a member of the Divine Light Mission for six years. 1 tv incnurifrv 1 9 00 PM World Premiere Moviel 1 Ch. 0D Elizabeth Montgomery, I "Black Widow Murdere" la TV.