Newspaper Page Text
The Red and Black / Finals • Monday, March 19, 1990 • 13
‘Joe’: a strange concoction
Tom Hanks: As Joe. Hanks experiences an epiphany
when his run-of-the-mill lifestyle is drastically changed
By ANDREW LAWLER
Entertainment Writer
“Joe Versus the Volcano” is
strange, clever, and confusing, but
quite entertaining.
Joe (Tom Hanks) works as an
advertising librarian in a medical
supply factory that specializes in
rectal probes. If that isn’t bad
enough, he’s always sick. Fortuna
tely, a doctor has informed him
that all his symptoms are psycho
somatic. The bad news is that he’s
got six months to live. Joe is told he
has a “brain cloud," there are no
symptoms, you just die.
Joe quits his job, and the next
day is given an intriguing proposal
by tycoon Graynamore (Lloyd
Bridges). The tycoon needs the
mineral rights to an island but the
island’s natives will not give it up.
Graynamore will give Joe a month
of luxury and a South Seas cruise if
Joe will do him one favor. The resi
dents of Wampani Wu (Island with
Big Volcano) need to appease their
volcano god with a human sacri
fice. All Joe has to do is jump into
the volcano.
This may very well be the oddest
movie since “Brazil." On one hand
this film is an oddball, light
hearted comedy, while at the same
time it is an almost psychedelic
story about suicide and hallucina
tion. Writer/Director John Patrick
Shanley (“Moonstruck”) had
crafted a film that tries to say a
whole lot in less than two hours.
He doesn’t entirely succeed. He
seems to be saying moving things
about the value of life, heroic ges
tures and self-discovery. One ex
tremely touching scene has a
shipwrecked Joe (now floating on
steamer trucks), after seeing a
huge full moon rise, thanking God
for his life. However, most of the
scenes lack this kind of thematic
clarity. The climax of the film is
quite ambiguous and for the first
time in a long time, had me won
dering “What is he saying?” And I
don’t mean he was being deep, he
was being confusing!
What this film does offer, and in
quantity, are wonderful perfor
mances. Hanks is terrific as Joe.
He changes throughout the film,
from an almost comically down
trodden man to one of real heroic
quality. His comic timing has
rarely been better.
Meg Ryan is wonderful as well
in three different performances.
She plays each (a mousy secretary,
an uptight California rich-girl art
iste and her beautiful, intelligent
sister) with incredible energy and
distinction. Each character stands
on their own as a fascinating, and
often hilarious person.
Ossie Davis (“Do the Right
Thing”) gives a wonderfully mea
sured performance as well as
Hanks’ New York chauffeur. Davis
lends this quirky film much needed
balance and stability.
If you’re in the mood for some
thing different and want to see a
big moon, check it out.
Art faculty to display
own works
By INGRID REEVES
Entertainment Writer
Faculty members of the Uni
versity’s Department of Art will
demonstrate their exceptional ar
tistic abilities in The 1990 Fac
ulty Exhibition” at the Georgia
Museum of Art March 17 through
May 6.
About 55 faculty members will
exhibit their works in the show.
The exhibition will consist of
drawings, paintings, sculptures,
ceramics, fabric designs, photog
raphy and prints.
Thomas Hammond, professor
of art, will display two etchings.
Hammond said one of his draw
ings is entitled “National Geo
graphic Collection” and the other
drawing illustrates caricatures of
monsters that are symbolic of the
kudzu often seen along high
ways.
“My pieces portray an element
of humor," he said.
Horace Farlowe, professor of
art, will display a stone carving
entitled “Brancusi’s Window
No.3.” The work is done on Ten
nessee marble. Farlowe said
Brancusi, a famous stone carver,
is an inspiration for all sculptors.
Brancusi created a lot of his work
using the image of an egg, Far
lowe added.
“My piece is an homage to
Brancusi," he said.
Arthur Rosenbaum, professor
of drawing and painting, will dis
play a large painting which
stands 88 inches high. He calls
the work “Circles." The piece was
inspired by the largest circle
dance, which took place at the
North Georgia Folk Festival in
1988.
Rosenbaum also said one char
acter in the painting was
in exhibit
inspired by Howard Finster, who
is known for his Bicycle Tower.
He said the work portrays all the
pathways that people could take
in their lives.
Andy Nasisse, professor of art,
will display a ceramic sculpture.
The figurative piece was inspired
by landscapes.
Matthew Fine, a graduate art
student, said it has been a while
since he’s seen a faculty show.
Tm glad to see that the faculty
is having a show,” he said. “It
helps to see the faculty’s work,
because they serve as our role
models.”
Faculty members of the De
partment of Art are recipients of
numerous awards of accomplish
ment, and many are creators of
works that have become interna
tionally known.
They have also held offices in
regional and national profes
sional art organizations. Agen
cies such as the National
Endowment for the Arts, the Na
tional Endowment for the Hu
manities and the Guggenheim
Foundation have awarded these
faculty members distinguished
grants.
These successful artists have
published over 30 books and have
displayed their works in over 220
exhibitions. Many of their works
have also been reviewed in nu
merous articles.
A reception hosted by the
Friends of the Museum will be
given in honor of the artists on
April 6 at 6 p.m.
The Georgia Museum is lo
cated on North campus. Hours
are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5
.m., Sunday. Admission is free,
or more information, call 542-
3255.
FEELING CRAMPED?
Efficiency 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments Available
• 2 Pools • Laundry • On Bus Line
PRE-LEASE NOW FOR SPRING QUARTER
Watch for Details about
142 BAXTER DR.
549-4884
Office Hours:
M-F 9-5, Sat. 10-5 Sun. 1-5
SHOE
jr t
^ BLOWOUT!
40 - 70% off
All discontinued styles. b,
' r o
ALL SHORTS & T-SHIRTS
20-30% Off
Great selections from Nike, Adidas,
La Cog Sportit, Russell, Vuarnet and more.
354
a
■Bssaftmaflfl snaasina fismsr