The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 31

Ott Charlotte Obserrer Thursday August 18 1988 Get Down Get Funky With Phyllis Schlafly Robert Bork -796 04 4 1()SSO AP A station wagon complete with ele- makes its way down the crazy streets phant trunk and George Bush face of New Orleans earlier this week rolin Miami Herald humor columnist Dave Barry is writing his observations from the Republican convention in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS Phyllis Schlafly held a real nice party during the Republican convention Phyllis as you are no doubt aware is an ardent believer in returning America to traditional family val- ues under which the husband's role is to act as breadwinner and the wife's role is to fly around the A country lobbying for the Strategic Defense Initiative This is what Phyllis does Dave through an organiza- Barry tion she heads called the Eagle Forum sominummonasate which held a "Good Times Party" at the New Orleans Museum of Art The press release said the party would be "a celebration of the food fun and spirit of New Orleans" and this was certainly the case Whenever New Orleans people want to get funky I'm sure they gather at the New Orleans Museum of Art and hold functions exactly like this where everybody stands around listening to noted conservatives give speeches while Phyllis stands next to them smiling this amazing relentless smile she has which is FmJfivfing very difficult to describe except to say that it is the absolute last expression you would ever want to see on the face of a person standing over you holding a scalPel Adding to the visual impact was the fact that the podium was situated between anatomically correct statues of naked people The most popular speaker was Judge Robert Bork who became famous back during the days when President Invalid was nominating people in bulk for the US Supreme Court Remember Bork? This is not the one who admitted that he used to smoke marijuana This is the one who looks like Captain Kangaroo with some kind of radiation problem in his beard He is apparently some kind of conservative rock star now and the crowd really went wild for him at points coming very close to stomping its wing-tipped shoes As Phyllis put it summing up the spirit of the occasion with an expression you hear roughly 300 times a day here: "Laissez les bon temps rouler" (literally "What a bunch of This is an expression that comes from the Cajuns a group of people who came here 200 years ago from Canada and decided to stay when they couldn't remember where they had parked After the Good Times Party I felt desperately in need of a sleaze fix so I hooked up with trained journalist Bill Osinski winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Always Finding the Absolute Best Dive Page 6C who took me to Nick Castrogiovanni's Original Big Train Bar This makes Bourbon Street look like Disney World I would describe the interior decor theme as "abandoned federal housing" The decorating was done by the bartenders who are also a band and who go by their stage names Perry Scope and Edgar Allen "We cleaned the bar once" said Allen "It doesn't stick as much" "You want to see the -'''7-T''' 71 light show?" asked fiili" i Scope turning on a 3 green ceiling light that 1 I spun around in the i 4 1 gloom sporadically 111- ti luminating the wall l' 1 dirt "The Hard Rock Cafe spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to get an effect like this" Scope observed Phyllis They have developed all kinds of specialized drinks at Nick's Bar including one called "My Date is a Moose" They also have a drink that they serve you in a small customized plastic foam commode I had a drink that was red on the bottom and blue on the top called "A Wild Night at the Capri Motel" All in all it was very pleasant and I'm sure that next time around if the art museum is unavailable Phyllis will want to hold the Eagle Forum's party at Nick's Movie: The Last Temptation of Christ Rating: Excellent Fair Very Good Poor -Good Willem Defoe "The Last Temptation Of Christ" (1988) Movie May Not Be Gospel Truth But It Is Well-Made Dramatic NEW YORK In "The Last Temptation of Christ" director Martin Scorsese wrestles with the questions of Jesus' identity the way Jacob wrestled with the angel in the Old Testament: seriously doggedly full of an unshakable faith Whether you find the movie blasphemous depends on how literally you interpret the Bible Though much of the film recalls the gospels Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader remind us in a preface that it's based not on scripture but on the 1950s novel A by Greek author Nikos Kazantza- is Like the book which it follows faithfully with one major excep- tion it's repetitive bloody in ap- propriate spots and too long (two hours and 40 minutes including credits) Movies More significantly it's thought provoking dramatic convincing well-made on a pinch-penny bud- Lawrence get of $65 million and finally Toppman uplifting The Christ of Scorsese I I Schrader and Kazantzakis will be unfamiliar to some of us but there's no doubt he succeeds in his mission to redeem the world from sin He differs from the Jesus we know in his uncertainty Already called by God before the picture begins we see him trying to avoid his fate at the start Jesus (Willem Dafoe) visits the brothel of Mary Magdalene whom he loved as a child but can not bring himself to sleep with her He refuses to join guerrillas led by Judas (Harvey Keitel) who wants to liberate Palestine from the Romans Jesus even builds crosses for crucifixions hoping to disgust the Lord into choosing someone else (At this point Jesus knows only that the Lord has summoned him perhaps to be a prophet through a huge bird that digs talons into his skull After purifying himself in the desert Jesus realizes his responsibility He becomes a vessel of God opening his mouth and pouring out unexpected messages: one of love in the Sermon on the Mount one of fire in the temple crawling with money changers one of divine harmony at the Last Supper The controversy flaring up around the picture has been caused by the crucifixion scene In it a guardian angel appears to Jesus as a little girl as he endures the crowd's mockery She tells him God has released him from duty that he has suffered enough and will now be allowed a normal life Jesus comes down from the cross and marches to a green valley marries Mary Magdalene (Barbara Her-See IT MAY Page 8C Willem Defoe plays Jesus in the controversial Martin Scorsese film Will "The Last Temptation of Christ" play in Charlotte? "We have no idea yet" says Lori Moore Atlanta publicist for Universal Pictures But prospects seem dim "Last Temptation" already has generated epic controversy An early draft of the screenplay obtained by religious leaders without Universal's consent prompted many to call the movie blasphemous and urge their constituents to protest the film Responding to the intense controversy Universal moved up its release date from Sept 23 to last Friday "Last Temptation" opened to large crowds in nine cities Los Angeles Chicago Washington San Francisco Seattle Minneapolis New York Toronto and Montreal Some 25000 demonstrators voiced their opposition at Universal Studios in Los Angeles last Max Von Sydow "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965) week Warren Beatty James Brooks and Peter Bogdanovich called a news conference to support director Martin Scorsese Since its opening film critics have offered mixed opinions some calling it overwrought and overlong others praising it as impressive and ambitious The protests will likely cause most theater chains in the Charlotte area to forgo showing the film here Charlotte-based Multi-Cinema Ltd will definitely not show it says advertising director Robert Schrader "It was a business judgment" Schrader says "It's just not worth the trouble We've been flooded with so many letters 30 or 40 a day that we don't even open them anymore" Representatives for the five other chains with screens in Charlotte are reluctant to discuss "Last Temptation" but the word is mostly negative: By TOM O'BRIEN Special To The Washington Post "The Last Temptation of Christ" is not the first film treatment of the life of Jesus But for good reasons in film history it deserves its immediate reputation as the most notorious The movie is the first Hollywood production to break long-standing taboos regarding the portrayal of Christ Tasteful or offensive it certainly maps out new ground in portraying Christ's human nature including sexual temptation For all its novelty however the film's humanization of Christ's image climaxes a gradual trend away from reverential treatment of Jesus and other religious figures Traditionally filmmakers have fashioned screen images of Christ in a worshipful even distant manner Like most religious teaching in the first half of this century earlier films stressed the divinity of Christ not his Universal City Studios "Consolidated Theatres will not exhibit 'The Last Temptation of Christ' company president Herman Stone said in a statement after previewing the film at a Universal trade screening in Charlotte Monday A Toronto spokeswoman for PlittCineplex Odeon (a subsidiary of Universal) declined to comment David Poland division manager for General Cinema released a statement saying "Our company screened it last week and after viewing the movie decided not to show it" No executives were available at Eastern Federal but an employee answering calls said "I've been instructed to say we doubt it's going to be shown around here" Carmike Cinemas announced earlier it would not show "Last Temptation" Lew Powell On-Screen Christ Evolves Through The Years human nature In the past two decades however filmmakers have begun to depict the story in a more straightforward or to some Christian believers an offensively frank manner To them "The Last Temptation" seems the last straw The 1926 silent "Ben Hur" shows how much things have changed Producer Abraham Erlanger a Ziegfeld partner in the Classic Cinematograph Corp laid down a rule that the figure of Christ should never be shown directly but only through crowds or in partial shots or his hands In more than three decades of subsequent biblical epics from "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1935) to "Quo Vadis?" (1951) "The Robe" (1953) and "Ben Hur" (1959) Christ received the same kind of See ON-SCREEN Next Page 0 titaAJLA- 1 1 0 4 0 0 40 Crlotte Obserrer 't 411 0 ha c) Thursday August 18 1988 Page 6C Get Down Get Funky With Phyllis Schlafly' Robert Bork :::7 7:: 7 Miami Herald humor columnist Dave very difficult to describe except to say that who took me to Nick Castrogiovanni 5' Barry is writing his observations from the it is the absolute last expression you Original Big Train Bar r- I P4 1 A ever want to see on the face of a Republican convention in New Orleans would This makes Bourbon Street look like person standing over you holding a scat- Disney World I would describe the inte- P4 4 NEW ORLEANS Phyllis Schlafly pei nor decor theme as "abandoned federal ick held a real nice party during the Republi- Adding to the visual impact was the housing The decorating was done by the i-3 ardent believer in re- I i I i fact that the podium was situated between bartenders who are also a band and who can convention 71 no doubt aware is an K'''': Robert Bork who became famous back "We cleaned the bar once" said Allen during the days when President Invalid "It doesn't stick as much" li: Phyllis as you are anatomically correct statues of naked peo- go by their stage names Perry Scope and 1 i ple Edgar Allen 1 41: 7" I The most popular speaker was Judge I 42 '4414IN turning America to A st 11 traditional family val- was nominating people in bulk for the "You want to see the t' i 046'44 '0 I ii: i4''': 4A 't ues under which the US Supreme Court light show?" asked '4 14' 44 1 L- 7 i s' -'1 husband's role is to r44 '''o--a44 i 1 Scope turning on a 4 y'-- green ceiling light that 4 ::5 and the wife's role is -1 who admitted that he used to smoke 1 ''f 'si 'r'''''S i l't to fly around the 4' LN i i 1 marijuana This is the one who looks like V1 i spun around in the 4 A gloom sporadically il- 96 country lobbying for Captain Kangaroo with some kind of i -4 k4 I' POSSO 141: act as breadwinner s' Remember Bork? This is not the one 4 Jr IT I II uminating wa I 4 the Strategic Defense radiation problem in his beard He is 1-: cr S'oni Initiative This is rock star now and the crowd really went what Phyllis does Dave apparently some kind of conservative PP The Hard Rock L-4: through an organiza- Barry wild for him at points coming very close 011C14 tion she heads called 1 -et i lawamosawansimma to stomping its wing-tipped shoes Cafe spends hundreds of thousands of dollars the Eagle Forum '8-' to get an effect like 4 798 orrpm ---1----121 which held a "Good New Orleans Mu- As Phyllis put itsumming up the spi 'rit Phyllis this" Scope observed Times Party" at the he occasion with an expression you They have devel- '1'''' 'X' 1 6X it' I 1 f---- A I scum of Art f--rt 4- 41444 hear roughly 300 times a day here: "Lais- oped all kinds of specialized drinks at sez les bon temps rouler" (literally "What Nick's Bar including one called "My Date The press release said the party would a bunch of This is an expres- is a Moose" They also have a drink that I '1'' -404-Y 1- 4 be "a celebration of the food fun and sion that comes from the Cajuns a group they serve you in a small customized Pd J1 spirit of New Orleans years and this was of people who came here 200 yea ago lastic foam commode I had a drink that certainly the case Whenever New Orleans from Canada and decided to stay when was red on the bottom and blue on the i I 7 itt'4 i people want to get funky I'm sure they they couldn't remember where they had top called "A Wild Night at the Capri gather at the New Orleans Museum of Art parked Motel" and hold functions exactly like this where After the Good Times Party I felt AP everybody stands around listening to desperately in need of a sleaze fix so I All in all it was very pleasant and rm noted conservatives give speeches while hooked up with trained journalist Bill sure that next time around if the a rt A station wagon complete with ele- makes its way down the crazy streets Prize Phyllis stands next to them smiling this Osinski winner of the Pulitzer i for museum unavailable Phyllis will want phant trunk and George Bush face of New Orleans earlier this week amazing relentless smile she has which is Always Finding the Absolute Best Dive to hold the Eagle Forum's party at Nick's 'The Last Temptation Of Christ) i 11 A Movie: The Last Temptation of Christ Rating: Excellent Fair Very Good Poor -Good Movie May Not Be s' 1 ll': 1 Gospel Truth But It Is of- 4: 4:: 11 14:4 r-t e'''-'': Well-Made Dramatic Isi4 44' et fl-V 1 1' :1 '71'i 1 i' Nov NEW YORK In "The Last Temptation of 'd 1 tt 401a 1 Christ" director Martin Scorsese wrestles with the 41684 1 1': 1 1 'A If'': :114 questions of Jesus' identity the way Jacob wrestled -0' fl fk N' 11 with the angel in the Old Testament seriously 421e It -f ifi14 doggedly full of an unshakable faith 4 Whether you find the movie blasphemous depends loit'iv to-t 4 i i 4- A4 47 1i Irl on how literally you interpret the Bible Though much -mkt -4 i 4 othe film recalls the gospels Scorsese and screen- '5 1 0 writer Paul Schrader remind us in '2- 2" 1 :4 i -t I i 1 4-- 1 a preface that if based not on I 1J scripture but on the 1950s novel 7:: 44::1 4:::: ill (- by Greek author Nikos Kazantza-i 1 a clit)t 4-: A 5 4 kis tti xc Ott Like the book which it follows 1 -t't 1 '''''41tPx i i' s' faithfully with one major excep- "i--- i e- f- 4- --'3'N i 1- tk :::::::4:: t-: ::1: vv 'k tion its repetitive bloody in ap- yi 7: 4" A 1:: 1'' tr propriate spots and too long (two 41 1 At A hours and 40 minutes including --''-z-'f 2 tt credits) Movies More significantly if thought I 1 4 provoking dramatic convincing 1 i4c-: li well made on a pinch penny bud- A -t''- Lawrence get of $65 million and finally -i-i: I 1 4: Toppman uplifting The Christ of Scorsese i t' '-i-i: 1 1-kir unfamiliar to some of but ti I a Schrader and Kazantzakis will be -0 7 theres no doubt he succeeds in his mission to redeem 4: ft the world from sin -f''' I i He differs from the Jesus we know in his uncer- i A t-i-- 4 -L 4 'i 4 A ti tainty Already called by God before the picture begins we see him trying to avoid his fate at the start Universal City Studios Jesus (Willem Dafoe) visits the brothel of Mary Willem Defoe plays Jesus in the controversial Martin Scorsese film Magdalene whom he loved as a child but can not bring himself to sleep with her He refuses to join IT guerrillas led by Judas (Harvey Keitel) who wants to liberate Palestine from the Romans Jesus even builds heaters Doubt Show Will Go On In Charlotte crosses for crucifixions hoping to disgust the Lord into choosing someone else (At this point Jesus Will "The Last Temptation of Christ" play in week Warren Beatty James Brooks and Peter "Consolidated Theatres will not exhibit knows only that the Lord has summoned him Charlotte? Bogdanovich called a news conference to support 'The Last Temptation of Christ' company perhaps to be a prophet through a huge bird that "We have no idea yet" says Lori Moore director Martin Scorsese Since its opening film president Herman Stone said in a statement after digs talons into his skull Atlanta publicist for Universal Pictures But critics have offered mixed opinions some calling previewing the film at a Universal trade screen- After purifying himself in the desert Jesus realizes prospects seem dim it overwrought and overlong others praising it as ing in Charlotte Monday his responsibility He becomes a vessel of God Last Temptation already has generated epic impressive and ambitious A Toronto spokeswoman for PlittCineplex opening his mouth and pouring out unexpected mes- The protests will likely cause most theater Odeon (a subsidiary of Universal) declined to sages: one of love in the Sermon on the Mount one of controversy An early dra ft of the screenplay chains in the Charlotte area to forgo showing the comment obtained by religious leaders without timer- film here fire in the temple crawling with money changers one David Poland division manager for Gen- sal consent prompted many to can the movie Charlotte-based Multi-Cinema Ltd will defi- eral Cinema released a statement saying "Our of divine harmony at the Last Supper so many letters 30 or 40 a day with says The controversy flaring up around the picture has blasphemous and urge their constituents to pro- nitel not show it advertising director screened after viewing been caused by the crucifixion scene In it a guardian test the film esponding to the intense contro- com an Robert Schrader the movie decided not to show a angel appears to Jesus as a little girl as he endures the Sept 23 to Friday ay bepters Universal moved up its release date from "It was a business judgment" Schrader says 1 Fc1 Temptation Lat crowd's mockery She tells him God has released him "It's just not worth the trouble We've been No executives were available at Eastern from duty that he has suffered enough and will now opened to large crowds in nine cities flooded Los A wi even open them anymore Federal but an employee answering calls said be allowed a normal life that we don Ch Angeles magi:) Washington mg on an Francisco "I've been instructed to say we doubt it's going to Seattle Minneapolis New York Toronto and Jesus comes down from the cross and marches to a Representatives for the five other chains with be shown around green valley marries Mary Magdalene (Barbara Her- Montreal Carmike Cinemas announced earlier it Some 25000 demonstrators voiced thei screens in Charlotte are reluctant to discuss op- Last Temptation" but the word is mostly would not show "Last Temptation" See IT MAY Page 8C position at Universal Studios in Los Angeles last negative: Lew Powell 7 1 On-Screen Christ Evolves Through The Years i 1 st: -11 -9 R' 4" t4 1 4 i i t' I i By TOM O'BRIEN human nature 0 li i Special To The Washington Post In the past two decades however filmmakers have 3 Ait fl '1 z040- I "The Last Temptation of Christ" is not the first film begun to depict the story in a more straightforward A li 'Ar "8 i treatment of the life of Jesus But for good reasons in or to some Christian believers an offensively frank 1- ::1 sf tf-- 0 1 1 4k: il 1410:6 61: i film history it deserves its immediate reputation as the manner To them The Last Temptation seems the last 1-' t' i 4 straw 1 I tkt- most notorious isK 'Aii4 0- -re The movie is the first Hollywood production to break The 1926 silent "Ben Hur" shows how much things -t IL: ii4- i--e-14: st long-standing taboos regarding the portrayal of Christ have changed Producer Abraham Erlanger a Ziegfeld i4 ts a 1 Tasteful or offensive it certainly maps out new ground Partner in the Classic Cinematograph Corp laid down in portraying Christ's human nature including sexual rule that the figure of Christ should never be shown --t temptation directly but only through crowds or in partial shots or 4 o- his hands For all its novelty however the film's humanization Agd' tr ft 1 Christ's image climaxes a gradual trend away from i -i In more than three decades of subsequent biblical reverential treatment of Jesus and other religious figures epics from "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1935) to fashioned Traditionally filmmakers have screen images "Quo Vadis?" (1951) "The Robe" (1953) and "Ben Willem Defoe Jeffrey Hunter Max Von Sydow of Christ in a worshipful even distant manner Like Hur" (1959) Christ received the same kind of "The Last Temptation Of Christ" "King of Kings" "The Greatest Story Ever Told" most religious teaching in the first half of this century (1988) (1961) (1965) earlier films stressed the divinity of Christ not his See ON-SCREEN Next Page 1 4 4 4 i.