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Serial can’t be beat for funniest of the yearSerial is quite simply the funniest film of the year. Even though 1960 has nine months to go, I can’t imagine anyone topping the wild, irreverent humor of this movie. I laughed so hard my sides hurt.Serial is accountant Harvey Holroyd's (Martin Mull) caustic statement on the counter-culture. Harvey hates consciousness-raising, granola, hip alternate churches, people who say ‘i’ve got to get in touch with my feelings” and hydrotherapy. In short, he's my kind of guy.Thq bottom line (heh-heh) of this insanity is people just don’t speak English. Instead of the traditional marriage vows, couples spout platitudes and the kaftan-robed minister pron-onces union with the words “bonded for as long as your relationship continues.”There is only the illusion of people communicating with each other. It’s the curse of middle-class Marin County, located a stone’s throw from the counter-culture capital of the world, San Francisco.Kate, Harvey's wife, is into women’s encounter groups; Joanie, their daughter winds up a prisoner of the Church of Oriental Christian Harmony; Leonard is the world's worst shrink who recommends bizarre, questionably healthy therapies like doll training; Marlene digs non-aggressive foods; and Luck-man is a business executive who's the leader of a gay motorcycle club on weekends.it would be folly to attempt a simple explanation of the story, a foul-MoviesLeonardKladymouthed tyke named Stokely tells Harvey, courtesy of Star Trek, “in an insane society a sane man must appear insane.” Harvey thinks he can handle the challenge.Cyra McFadden's anecdotal account of life in Marin County began as a weekly column for the Pacific Sun Hence, the title Serial.Veteran television director Bill Persky makes an outstanding large screen debut in Serial. His pacing is impeccable and he handles the very complicated script with aplomb.The huge cast provides finely tuned character studies of the familiar and bizarre inhabitants of California. Bill Macy turns in a touching performance as Sam, a tragic man who loves his big car and Johnny Carson but succumbs to a diet of health food anda wardrobe of beads and fringes.There really isn’t a false performance anywhere in this complex stew.Martin Mull playing Harvey Holroyd has the difficult job of providing areasonable perspective to view the madness. Mult is a wonderful screen natural - the ideal movie everyman.Serially speaking folks, these fruits and nuts will make you howl.Stacey NeUda stays Up with«Serial?ll) p*rskv; *cr*w»J«v by «ich emti* *nd MiefrkMl EU**, b*t*d on It* book by Cvf* McF*dd*n; ci(wm*togr*cny by M*ft; artdirection bv Sill «dit«d bv John Wh*el*r,muUc tfcf L*k Schlfrln, lyric* by *orm*» Glna*t; prolt;Xc*ct bv Sidney B*cktrm*n. A p*r amount etc* tvr** At CbfiJtol 1. Adult P*r*nt*i Guid-M*rv«v Motroyd................................M*rtlo MullK«tt Holroyd.................................Tu«sd*v woid...................................... s*llv Ketiormon.................................................... am macyLuckrrum/Skull...........................Cftrlttcs*»r Um^1......................................... P*t*r Bonar*k§v* ■v’kt *........... Tom s^HOlhirtrequisite hot tub dip In SerialThe Coal Miner's Daughter is, at its roots, the traditional show business tale of a singer facing tremendous challenges and becoming an incredible success against impossible odds.It’s the story of country singer Loretta Lynn from age 13 to the present. Music forms a major backdrop to the picture, but this is essentially a human drama.Hie rags-to-richs tale avoids most of the common cliches and emerges as a original and entertaining film.However, the latter portion of the film tends to stray uncomfortably into heavy melodrama.The Coal Miner’s Daughter begins with Loretta’s attraction and eventual marriage to Doolittle Lynn. The early section provides tfie film with an irres-tiple romance and the breathtaking scenery of the Kentucky coal mining region.It is not a conventional marriage. Loretta and Doolittle have their fair share of trials in the early, shaky days of their relationship. By the age of 19,Loretta is the mother of four and Doo is a lumberjack in Washington State.From the point Doolittle buys Loretta a guitar and urges her to develop her musical skills, the intimacy and charm of the Kentucky days begins to slip away. Either her real story coincident-ly reads like a fairy tale or the filmmakers have decided to take some dramatic liberties. In both cases, the result weakens the plot.Audiences will recognize the scene where the novice performer wins the hearts of a tough crowd.The Lynns then set out to knock on the doors of every country station until Loretta’s song becomes a hit. Then it’s the Grand Ole Opry, tours, personalreflection and a happy ending.This is an authorized biography, so it's only fair to expect the more painfulaspects of Loretta Lynn’s life to be softened.But that almost doesn't matter. Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones providethe Lynns with strength, determinationand warmth. Their powerful and accurate performances root the film in character rather than incident, covering up most of the script’s false moments.Sissy Spacek is a natural for the role of Loretta Lynn. She blends in wonderfully with the people and locales of the picture. Spacek sings the movie's songs, thankfully adopting Loretta's style but not her voice.Vancouver actress Beverly D'Angelo puts in a brief but poignant appearance as the late Patsy Cline, and the opening sections benefit from an exceptional performance by Levon Helm as Loret-ta's father. Helm’s portrait of the hardworking man avoids phoney sentiment - an amazing film debut.For a film that deals with drug addiction, emotional breakdown and incredible pressure on marital stability, The Coil Miner's Daughter is surprisingly upbeat.Loretta Lynn's story on screen is a tonic for the spirit. A real tale which has universal appeal.Coal Miner's Daughtereicfcmin. bond on H* »utflfci«9r«etiy at Ur«t«hUEL * **' **»' OfoOucnaranifin t¥ Jtfn Cfcrto; Mlt«tf by Arthur Schmidt,•rtuUc MMrvltian by Owren Sr*lt;M*v; produced byMrwd Sc*n*#rU. A Univ«r**l film r*it*** At ttw Convention C«ntr* cinom*. M*turr Lar*ri* (Wabfc) Lynn...................... Tommy Lm jm;.............................. 8*v*rlv Q'Ar*tiorEr ....................................... LtV0 H*,m.................................. Pfcviiii fcovent....................... Willi #m $*rKltr*OfiD#v............... ftototft ElkinaSSSf 52....................................SS 453Eramt Ti4*.......................................... HJmytlf.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Mon, Mar 31, 1980
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
Rotten T.
USA 07 Apr 2022
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