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'Alien Nation' flick
is something new
"Alien Nation"
Vida) Review
Directed by Graham Bilker
"Alien Nation" is one of those
movies that play belter on the tele
vision screen than in the movie
theater. In the comfort of your
home you can enjoy the humor of
the film and the symbolism to a
greater extent than when you are
watching it in a movie theater. So
even if you have already seen the
film, give it a try on video. You
might discover something new.
"Alien Nation" marks another
return to movie making by James
Caan. He was seen a few years ago
in the movie "Gardens of Slone"
but this time out he has a more
popular role and one of his fans
will more readily embrace. He co
stars with Mandy Patinkin in a film
about the future acceptance of aliens
in our society. The movie is a
blend of comedy and drama that
may just strike the right nerve in
the brains of the viewing audience.
Matthew Sykes (Caan) is a cop
with a lot on his mind. He is trying
to cope with a failed marriage, the
sudden loss of his partner, and a
society which is filled with men
from outer space. These creatures
arc known as "slags" and they look
like a tribe of Jasons in the ice
hockey mask from "Friday the
13th."
Sykes draws a "slag" named Sam
This book chronicles
newsman's struggles
"Kill the Messenger"
By Ken H. Fortenberry
Book Review
If you arc a fan of the Buford
Pusser story as told in "Walking
Tall," then you will thoroughly
enjoy Ken H. Fortenberry's book
"Kill the Messenger." His story in
volves the same "us versus them"
altitude that permeated the talc of
Pusser and his fight against corrup
tion in a small southern town.
Fortenberry, in writing the
autobiography of his slay in Mc-
Cormick, South Carolina, stacks
up incident after incident which
would have caused a lesser man to
run. But as Editor of the local pa
per, "The McCormick Messenger,"
Fortenberry was determined to hang
lough until all the corruption he
spied had been exposed.
In his story Fortenberry relates
abuses he, his wife, and his children
endured. There were threats, taunts,
and even bombings used to try to
run Ken out of town and get him to
shut down the voice of the paper.
The family and friends of the local
sheriff were the main ones against
Fortenberry and his family. That
was because the sheriff was the
main target of the paper editorials.
The incidents of this story arc
100 recent for Fortenberry to be ob
jective about them. They all oc
curred within the past three or four
years. So he writes with a bitter
ness about the town and its people
that all there may not deserve.
Surely one good and honest soul
must live there besides the Forten
berry family.
As written the story concerns a
man who was an isolationist. No
neighbors, friends, preachers, or
supporters are mentioned in more
than a casual manner. It is as if Ken
and his family were a fortress in
this southern town with the alliga-
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Francisco (Patinkin) as his partner.
They are as different as day and
night. Sam is a gentle sort who is
full of family and charity for all. He
feels Earth is the greatest place in
the universe since it has allowed
him to be assimilated into the
workforce. He takes Sykes' abuse
with tolerance and good nature.
The "differences" of the Slags
gives the movie its humor and its
heart. Slags get drunk off of spoiled
milk. They are most vulnerable in a
spot just under their left arm. They
are deathly afraid of water as it re
acts with their skin in the way acid
docs to ours/ And there is a sub
stance they have left behind on their
world which is a strong drug to
them but looks and tastes like Prcll
to humans.
The movie is great at capturing
these differences and exposing them
in a variety of ways. That makes
for some inventive photography a
dialogue. It also provided me with a
chance to see for the first lime
someone "prellcd" to death.
Caan is rough, tough and tender
in his role. His transformation
from "slag" hater to "slag" acceptor
comes too quickly to provide any
dramatic impact but that is the fault
of the script and direction rather
than his acting.
Patinkin is able to create a won
derful character even though his face
is hidden mostly under the "slag"
makeup. His voice speaks with
V" J J %
\l . . .mm
Ken Fortenberry
...former newspaperman
tors of corruption swimming
around them in the moat.
If you lake everything Forten
berry writes at face value, it makes
an interesting and quickly read
story. But if you look between the
lines and try to find the heart of the
matter you will be lost. It is not
doubted that Ken Fortenberry and
his family endured hardships in
McCormick, South Carolina, but it
is doubted they were as totally
alone as this book indicates.
This story made headlines across
the country and brought the cameras
of "Sixty Minutes" to McCormick.
That kind of notoriety lights caused
changes in the structure of this
small town's politics. If if didn't,
then the new editor of "The Mc-
Cormick Messenger" will have a
chance to write the same kind of
book.
"Kill the Messenger" is pub
lished by Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
It contains 178 pages and sells for
$17.95.
Reviewed by Jackie K. Cooper
f Entertainment
|v J I
■ A*
Mandy Patinkin and James Caan in 'Alien Nation'
...In film, Caan is warm, Patinkin is engaging
honesty and caring, which sets the
essence of the character from start
to finish.
Leslie Bcvis has a small role as
a "slag" who tries to get romantic
with Caan. It is a challenging part
as she too must overcome makeup
as an alien and still provide sexy
interlude for the film. She succeeds.
The movie is rated R for vio
lence and profanity.
"Alien Nation" is a little too
cute in parts and a little too violent
./* * -Jf**
-j
;4- v •* v
"I had 20/Hm *- V
vision the nexfV. j -
day ... I've w 4 \
Mrs. Helen F
of Fort Valley -a former teacher ■;.
The miracle of restored ...
About the operation...
Mrs. Monk says;
"Before the operation it had gotten to the point where my vision was
getting pretty bad; I could not tell one pastel color from another. Dr.
Johnny Gayton removed the cataract from my right eye, and the
following day Dr. Willis Webb said I had 20/20 vision.
At the hospital there was always someone with you it was great
personal care. When the nurse took me to my car afterwards, she
hugged me! It’s nice to know you are in a safe place and in a con
genial atmosphere"
FOR INFORMA TION ABOUT EYE SURGER Y AT PEA CH COUNTY HOSPITA L PLEA SE CALL:
l)k. JOHNNY GAYTON l)K. JAMYS HAYS
Ophthalmic Surgeon Ophthalmic Surgeon
I-800-24 I-SJ24 82.4 0226
Peach County Hospital
601 N. CAMELLIA BLVD, FORT VALLEY.GA • (912)825-8691 or (912) 745-1211
in others. The makers of the film
seemed to be schizo in their inten
tions of where the film was going.
Still the charm of lough but tender
Caan and the warmth provided by
Patinkin is engaging. A really good
film was possible but only a mod
erately entertaining film emerged.
And that which is good is enhanced
in the video version.
I scored "Alien Nation" an un
worldly 4 out of 10.
Reviewed by Jackie K. Cooper
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989
'Domino' makes bad
movies look good
"Domino”
(Taurus Productions)
Movie Review
Birgitlc Neilscn is best known
for her marriage to Sylvester Stal
lone and her liaisons, dangerous and
otherwise, with Mark Gastineau. In
between these affairs of the heart
she has endeavored to make herself
known as an actress. Her latest
film, "Domino,” shows she had
best slick to romance. Acting with
any depth is clearly not within her
capabilities.
Neilscn has the title role in
"Domino" and her lop heavy
physique topples the film like the
toys for which it is named. Luckily
the cast is full of Italian actors who
are not known to American audi
ences so when they fall down, to
Birgitlc's acting level, it is no great
loss.
The film docs not have a plot. It
is just a collection of sequences
showing Neilscn in one bulky cos
tume after another, with a hundred
different wigs covering her short
blonde punk cut. If this is beauty
my eyes arc betraying me.
In a few sequences Neilsen ap
pears topless or draped in sheer fab
ric. She appears to think this will
make her a modern day Marilyn
Monroe. At her best she looks like
a modem day Joey Hcalhcrton.
The film is rated R for nudity
and profanity.
The only positive thing that can
be said about a film like "Domino"
is that it makes all other seemingly
4 bout the hospital...
The hospital now has the latest, state of the art equipment that is
available for eye surgery. The argon laser, especially designed for
ophthalmic surgery, can be precisely focused on a spot as small as
one millionth of a meter. The Phaco-Emulsifier Aspirator in the
hands of a skilled surgeon transmits power through an ultra-sonic
needle. The surgical microscope uses a unique focusing system which
accommodates for movement, much like the human eye. and is used
for comeal transplants, cataract surgery, and retinal surgery.
bad movies look good. 1 would sit
through five showings of "Miss
Firecracker" before I would endure
ten minutes of this film again.
Here's hoping Neilsen and
Gastineau find happiness and retire
to the country before she makes any
more movies. Another stinker like
"Domino" may sour me on movies
for life.
I rated "Domino" a pitiful pizza
1 out of 10.
Reviewed by Jackie K. Cooper
MmL J -mm (iim« ww
Ghostbusters II PG
Indiana Jones PG-13
1:05 4:0! 7:10 9.3 S
Batman PG-13
1:00 4:00 7 00 9:25
Road House R
12:25 2:40 4:50 7:20 9:30
Star Trek V-The Final FrontleiPG
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Pet Semetary R
1:05 3:05 5:05 7:05 9:05
See No Evil, Hoar No Evil R
1:00 3:00 5:00 7:00 9:00
No Holds Barred PG-13
1:10 3:10 5:10 7:10 9 10
7:05 9:05 I
Rain Man r|
7:00 9:30
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