The River: Sissy Spacek, Mel Gibson
By Sean Hennessey
“I dream of the river but it has no beginning and no end.” So states Torn Garvey, as played by Mel Gibson, in a scene from “The River”.
It’s funny how a line per- taining to events in the movie can also apply to the movie itself.
It seems that the start of thEs movie and the end are the same. The opening scene depicts the flooding of the Garvey’s family land. The end depicts the flooding of the Garvey’s family land. In between is the struggle to replant the crops in order to meet the farmer’s nemesis — the bank payment.
The end is the struggle to fight back “the river” and save the ready-to-be-harvested crop.
With this continuous fight- ing of the river and the many other hardships suffered by the family (Mac, the wife as played by Sissy Spacek and the two children), a bond should develop between the audience and the family, right?
This does not occur. There is no real feeling of “I hope they win”, and this lack of deep feeling is what separates the river from the other two farm movies released this
year “Country”
and .
“Places in the Heart”.
“The River” is much more “Hollywood” than either of the other two. That may account for the much longer run “The River” has enjoyed at Charlottetown movie houses. ,
“The River” has a bad guy, Joe Wade, as played by John Glenn, right down to his destined-to—be-destroyed black jeep. It also has the “everybody likes a fighter scene” when all the farmers and all the out-of-work drifters join in to hold back the river before it can destroy the crop.
This is not to say “The River” is a really bad film. The photography is very beautiful, especially scenes of the river (similar to “On Golden Pond”); both movies being directed by Mark Rydell; however, once again there is the typical one-too- many sunset scenes.
The middle is by far the best portion of the film and surprisingly it doesn’t occur down on thefarm.
In order to raise a few more dollars for the family, Tom Garvey takes a job in a steel factory. However, he doesn’t realize it is in a factory which has been closed by a strike. So, in effect, these new “ workers (strikej
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breakers) are trapped in the plant for’two week periods while the strikers remain out- side the fence.
This feeling of being trapped is utilized on a number of other occasions by the director in a very appeal~ ing manner: once, when a deer walks into and becomes trapped in the factory, and
~ Review
By Chris Larsen
Triumph is one of Canada’s premier rock bands, with a live show comparable with the, best in music.
A lot of people haven’t heard from them since their last album “Never Surrender” appeared on the music scene in early 1983.
After two years of legal disputes with Attic label, they have finally been released from that contract and are now signed with MCA.
It seems that during their two-year break they managed to record some prime ma- terial which was finally re- leased last month on their new album, “Thunder Seven”.
This album has all the old
.. Triumph characteristics: Rie'~» incredible guitar"
Emmet’s work, Gil Moore’s percussion/ songwriting, and Mike Levin’s stinging bass lines.
Trium
again, when the' strike- breakers are forced to leave the plant. .
However, Hollywood takes over once again when a young woman with a young baby stops one of the strike- breakers to spit in his face. That strike-breaker is, of course, Tom Garvey.
With hindsight, however,
The album also shows a new teamwork and coopera- tion, though. No longer is the band satisfied with three- minute solos or screaming vocals. Now they concentrate on synthesizer fills and com- plicated instrumental tracks.
The songs on the album range from me‘llow guitar blues such as “Little Boy Blues” to steady rock tunes , such as “Cool Down” and “Stranger in a Strange Land”.
Thrown in for taste is a guitar instrumental and a vocal canon which turns out to be a multi-voice, no— instrument chant.
The first single from the album, “Spellbound”, best exemplifies the band’s tightness and maturity by combining searing. guitar, licks with some pretty tricky rhythms. I
This is by far the best Triumph album to date. Its
Bursary cheques out
Most PEI government bursary checks have now gone out, says Dave MacPherson, Director of the PEI \Student Aid
program .
About 850 had been mailed by January 17, said Mac- Pherson, saying any delays in individual checks were caused by students’ lateness in having their summer earnings
verified .
Only 30 applications for bursary remain to be processed.
In all, 2017 students applied for aid in P.E.I. this year, and $4,722,307 was guaranteed by the government.
45 students applied but were not eligible for any assistance, while a total of 1150 applicants were given bursaries, for a
total of $1,380,840.
Students become eligible for bursary after the first $2400 of each year’s costs have been covered by loan.
startling n'ews!”f " '
“Hold it e Columbus, just' returned, withsome
~ a trapped existence. They are
the entire life of the Garvey “Mae. YOU life doesn’t have
family can be thought of as , _, , . movie to really work, her hfe
shouldn’t have been made
trapped by “the river” but it . that hard. Everything that
will not release its victims as easy as the other captors depicted in the movie. But then again, the other captors are human — the river is not.
In speaking with Mac Garvey, Joe Wade ' states,
does go wrong. By having some of its reality and bite.
give it a 58.
ph,ThunderSeven_
into. 7
'Oh, by the way, if you get a chance some time, take a peek at the cover of the album. It’s pretty wild.
sheer force and skill in inter- preting the band’s feelings makes this album a worth- while purchase no matter what type of music you’re
By P. Stahl Maclntyre
David Lee Roth, the lead singer of VAN HALEN, has recently released his solo project, “Crazy From The Heat.” Songs‘include the BEACH BOYS’ “California Girls,” Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Coconut Grove”, Edgar Winter’s “Easy
' Street,” and the old standard “Just A Gigolo.” No other
members of VAN HALEN play 'on this album but VAN HALEN fans don’t worry; another VAN HALEN album is in the process.
MOTLEY CRUE fans may have seen the lastof the LA. neavy metal quartet. It seems the lead vocalist of the CRUE, Vince Neil was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he got behind the wheel of his car. The car rolled, and .n the process killed Vince’s passenger, HANOI ROCKS drummer, Nicholas “Razzle”Dingley. If charges are pressed, Vi‘nce is looking at a seven year sentence WITHOUT‘baiI. '
‘ DEF LEPPARD’S drummer, Rick Allen, has recently lost his left arm in an automobile accident. Rick is supposedly trying to create an electric drum set for one-armed players. In other LEPI News, their collaboration with Jim Steinman (who was hired to produce their new album) has come to an end. The boys decided to produce the albumthemselves, even turning down an offer from BILLY SQUIRE.
Belfast Rockers U2 have donated the money they earned for the December 3, 1984 concemt at Radio City Music Hall to AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S “Stop Torture Week.”
KISS’ new lead guitarist, MARK ST. JOHN, has contracted a rare disease known as REITER SYNDROME. Symptoms include: urethritis, conjuctivitis, arthritis, and skin lesions on the palms of the hands and heels. KISS recruited BRUCE KULICK, formerly of BLACK JACK, to fill MARKS’ shoes.
RATT has recently re-released its debut EP, simply titled “RATT”. RATT is now making a video for “You _Think You’re Tough”, from the EP using a GALA of stars, and concert footage from Hawaii. RATT has also started laying down new tracks for their new untitled album which is due for release in the Spring.
DAVID BOWIE and jazz—fusion guitarist PAT METHANY have combined forces on the soundtrack album for the movie; “The Falcon and The Snowman”, starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. The song is supposed to be monster. _
HERMAN RARELL, drummer of the SCORPIONS, will be releasing his solo album in February. The all-start line-up includes: JUAN CROUCIER, bassist for RATT; DON DOKKEN, vocalist from DOKKEN; STEVE MARRIOT; and last but not least CHARLIE HUHN, ex from TED NUGENT. Despite rumors, HERMAN is still a member in good standing with the SCORPIONS. _
DURAN DURAN 'is now in the studios recording the soundtrack for the next JAMES BOND film entitled,,“A View To Kill”.
IN LOCAL ROCK NEWS:
Prince Edward Island’s own HAYWIRE is going to the studio to record_their debut EP. Some Of the songs included are: “Bad Boys”, “Jealousy”, and “Come Back”. After the fivesome finish their EP they’re off touring Western Canada. The best of Luck to ’em. ‘ , I
Be on the lookout for a new rock trio called the “SCREAM- ING TREES”. All the members of the ban were once members of the bands TITAN and TEQUILA. With a line-up
‘ of DAVE ROBERTS (lead vocals, bass and keyboards), Bruce
Nelson (vocals, guitar and keyboards), and Steve “Mr. Entertainment” Coady (vocals and drums), these boys can charm the toughest of all crowds. "
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