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PAGE 13 The Georgia 1 Bulletin, August 2, 1990'
Subtle Performances Sustain 'Presumed Innocent'
TWO-DAY FESTIVAL - The Barefoot Ballet will perform during the
High Museum’s Family Celebration of Black Arts” Aug. 4 and 5. The
festival will feature artists, dancers, musicians and story-tellers demon
strating Caribbean and African-American art and culture.
says fans of thrillers will appreciate the film’s
“subtle menace laced with wit.” (CNS photo from
Hollywood Pictures Co.)
overall production values, moody cinematography and
precise editing steadily build the suspense. Some graphic
shots of dead bodies. The U.S. Catholic Conference
classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is PG-13) - parents
are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappro
priate for children under 13.
1990 Humanitas Winners Include
'Wonder Years,' 'Thirtysomething'
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Episodes of
the ABC series "The Wonder Years" and
"thirtysomething" were among the win
ners of the 1990 Humanitas Prizes,
awarded July 11 in Los Angeles.
In all, six programs shared $70,000 in
prizes for programs affirming human
values. The prizes, awarded since 1974,
are sponsored by the Human Family
Educational and Cultural Institute, headed
by Paulist Father Ellwood Kieser.
Other winners included episodes of
CBS’ animated show "Dink, The Little
Dinosaur" and the syndicated program
"Raising Good Kids in Bad Times," in
stallments of the "ABC Afterschool Spe
cial" and the CBS miniseries "Common
Ground."
"The Wonder Years," which also won
in 1989, won a $10,000 prize for writer
Todd W. Langen in the 30-minute catego
ry for the episode "Square Dance," in
which Kevin succumbs to peer pressure
and snubs his assigned dance partner.
Repeat winners are not rare, Judy
Conway Greening, executive director of
the institute, told Catholic News Service
in a July 12 telephone interview. "Good
writing is good writing," she said, noting
that "Hill Street Blues" and "M.A.S.H"
were among past multiple award winners.
"thiriysomething" writer Joseph
Dougherty won $15,000 for "The Other
Shoe," an episode in which Nancy is so
absorbed in dealing with her ovarian
cancer, she is at risk of widening the
distance between her and her family.
The second part of "Common Ground,"
a miniseries based on a non-fiction ac
count of how three families faced Boston
public schools’ court-ordered busing in
the 1970s, won $25,000 in the 90 minutes
or more category for Edward Hume’s
screen adaptation.
Last year, the institute made no award
in this category - a first for the organiza
tion - citing a lack of quality entries.
Bruce Harmon’s screenplay for "A
Town’s Revenge," an "ABC Afterschool
Special," won $10,000 in the children’s
live action category. The story told of
how a teen-ager who, with his activist
great-aunt, promotes farming without
pesticides learns how to be faithful to
ideals not shared by others.
"Dink, The Little Dinosaur" learns how
to overcome his fears and help others
whose lives are threatened in the "Badge
of Courage" episode of the children’s
animated series, which won Cliff Ruby
and Elana Lesser $10,000.
The program "See Dick & Jane Lie,
Cheat & Steal: Teaching Morality to
Kids," part of the syndicated show "Rais
ing Good Kids in Bad Times," was shown
in 80 percent of the United States, Ms.
Greening said.
The show looked at the amorality of
children and included interviews and
solutions used in different parts of the
country. Carol L. Fleischer, the program’s
writer, producer and director won a
non-monetary award in the documentary
category.
Father Kieser, institute president, said
in an announcement that a new $25,000
prize would be added in 1991 for the best
PBS or cable presentation affirming hu
man values.
The priest pointed to a sizable list of
networks and production companies that
contribute to the Humanitas Endowment
from which the prize money comes, and
said in a statement, "It is now very clear
to us that the industry is ready and will
ing to help the industry fulfill its human
izing responsibilities ... to enrich as well
as entertain its viewers."
NEW YORK (CNS) - Harrison Ford portrays a man
whose actions entrap him in a web of deceit and disloyalty
in "Presumed Innocent" (Warner Bros.).
As the film opens, Rusty Sabich (Ford) and his wife
(Bonnie Bedelia) are struggling to sustain their marriage,
which was nearly shattered by his affair with Carolyn
(Greta Scacchi), an attorney on his staff. Rusty’s boss
(Brian Dennehy) assigns a rape-murder investigation to
him - the victim is Carolyn and Rusty says nothing about
his past intimacy with her. Ignoring this conflict of interest
he also asks the detective assigned to the case (John
Spencer) to overlook the record of phone calls he has
made to Carolyn’s home.
Shortly thereafter, mounting physical evidence leads to
his arrest, and his boss, who is infuriated by Rusty’s
deception, agrees to testify against him.
The trial unravels layer after layer of complicity and
corruption as all concerned exploit the system to achieve
their ends.
Director Alan J. Pakula has turned this best-selling
novel into a darkly absorbing courtroom drama that
commands close attention to follow the increasingly
intricate plot.
The sober visual design of the film is as tightly con
trolled as the simmering Rusty, who grimly confronts the
likely loss of his career, family and freedom.
In this gritty drama of ever-shifting loyalties, the subtle
performances play a key part in sustaining interest in the
labyrinthine plot. Dennehy’s soured politician delivers
unexpected menace while Raul Julia as Rusty’s lawyer is
equal parts sleek and smug.
Other notable cast members include Paul Winfield, who
in his pivotal role as Judge Lyttle brings relish and a sly
glee to the tense trial proceedings, and Miss Bedelia as the
wronged wife, still pained by the sight of her husband’s
tears as he studies Carolyn’s death photos.
The film’s ambivalent perspective regarding right and
wrong is disturbing. By the conclusion most of the
protagonists have successfully manipulated the justice
system in one way or another, and it is too easy for the
viewer to simply blame the system, or worse admire those
who were so devilishly clever in subverting it. "Presumed
Innocent" is better seen as a character study than an
assessment of our courts.
Due to ambiguous treatment of the theme, rough
language and scenes of an adulterous relationship, the U.S.
Catholic Conference classification is A-IV - adults, with
reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is R -- restricted.
“THE FRESHMAN”
Shortly after arriving in New York City, a naive college
freshman, (Matthew Broderick) is bewildered to find
himself involved with a daunting Godfather-type business
man (Marlon Brando), pursued by his marriage-minded
SPIDER THRILLER - Actor Jeff Daniels as
Dr. Ross Jennings attacks what appears to be a
huge spider on his bedroom wall in
“Arachnophobia.” The U.S. Catholic Conference
daughter, presented with a giant lizard and tailed by
federal agents threatening to jail him. Writer-director
Andrew Bergman serves up an amiable comedy more
distinguished by fine acting from the leads and cameo
players than the story’s less-than-riveting dialogue and
perfunctory pacing. Minimal rough language. The U.S.
Catholic Conference classification is A-II - adults and
adolescents. The Motion
Picture Association of
America rating is PG -
parental guidance suggest
ed.
“ARACHNOPHOBIA”
A young doctor’s (Jeff
Daniels) fear of spiders
(arachnophobia) is put to
the ultimate test when he
relocates his family to a
small town unaware that a
deadly new species is
rapidly reproducing in his
bam. Despite one glaring
inconsistency in the plot,
director Frank Marshall
has crafted a deliciously
menacing thriller whose