Page 48 - ThePhoenix1987-88

--_--- --~--..- - ~ Page 8/Western Maryland College/February 1" 1988 _CraigCecil _ Williams improvises in Good Morning, Vietnam Every once in a while, someone "approved" selections such as he went along, while cameras Good Morning, Vietnam to in Hollywood will dream up a those by Benny Goodman or Jim rolled continuously. In effect, a M*A*S*H .staungthatbothhandle seemingly simple, yet brilliant Nabors. Diverse monologues aug- majority of Williams' script just similar wars with a similarly light- money-making idea. Whoever ment the rock 'n roll, such as an rolled off his tongue like sweat off hearted touch. That's true, but concocted the plan to cast Robin interview with infantryman Gomer an aihlete. there is one glaring difference. Williams in a film as a disc jockey Pyle and a descriptive weather The most blatant example of M*A*S*H containedacastofwell- was a genius. Now a rich genius. report from Walter Cronkite. And this comes when Cronaucr's jeep developed characters possessing Good Morning, Vietnam is a former Vice President Richard somehow manages to get stuck in a certain individual nuances, but purely comic, career-boosting ve- Nixon always seems to loom traffic jam with conveniently here Williams' character is the only hicle for Williams. Here, director nearby as the target of some sexu- placed. fully stocked troop carriers one we learn anything about. The supporting cast act in the truest Barry Levinson (Diner, Tin Men) ally-oriented joke. surrounding him, The hilarious transports viewers to Saigon, 1965, Of course, the soldiers come to rapid-fire exchanges that follow sense, they arc simply provided as when America was just getting her love Cronauer's outrageousness, between Cronauer's mouth and padding around the Williams' character. This is definitely a one- feet wet (and muddy) in the "con- which quickly establishes him as various soldiers are reminiscent of flict." The screenplay is based on an institution, one that superior Williams' stage acts. man show. the real-life antics of onc Adrian officers find difficult to remove. The improvisations tum out to Vietnam rather than some studio The most surprising aspect of Cronauer, known as the most unor- Only when it is too late does the top 00 one of t!1efilm's strengths. But backlor arc several scenes of Cro- Good Morning. Vietnam is that. thodox: Army disc jockey of the brass realize they have helped to they are also a weakness, lengthen- naucr chasing a beautiful girl because Williams plays a disc time period. create an uncontrollable enigma, ing the viewing time to a full two through the streets of a very con- jockey, this movie can be enjoyed Williams plays the immensely one other than the war itself. hours, which doesn't seem bad vincing Saigon. just as much with your eyes closed, popular Cronauer (no doubt in a Throughout the course of the until viewers realize the movie is In reality, all of the outdoor and ears open, from beginning to more comically magnified sense), film the radio station/disc jockey dragging through the final twenty shooung was done in Thailand, so end. That's the ultimate test of a freshly shuffled in from Crete to motif sets up situations where Wil- minutes. the rendition of a Vietnam-era city great comedy, and an extraordinary Saigon by the Army as an attempt liams is allowed to release his full But what about the war that's is quite good. It seems the writers comedian. to bolster the fighting man's mo- comic potential. And he docs. supposed to be raging somewhere introduced the girl into the story to rale. Scenes evolve where he simply sits nearby? Periodically, random flesh out a more personal, off-the- (Robin Wilfiamswasrecently Immediately upon doffing behind the microphone spitting shots of soldiers, helicopters, and air rendition of Cronauer as well as presented with the Golden Globe headphones in the radio station, he forth round after round of comic napalm are interspersed with helping to define connections be- awardfor.Best Actor in a Comedy promptly disobeys every guideline satire like some automatic weapon Cronauer's radio performance to tween later events. Being able to for hisperformance in GoodMorn- for proper conduct on Anned gone berserk. By now, it has been give viewers just the right dosage to sec his emotional side greatly en- ing, Vietnam) Forces Radio. Cronauer spins rec- widely publicized that during film- reinforce the idea that a war is hances the depth of the film and ~~~~~~~ ords by the Beach Boys and James ing Levinson let Williams impro- going on out there. The only other Williams' performance. Rating out of 10: Brown on the airwaves, instead of vise large sections of the script as evidence viewers have that this is Some critics have compared SATURDAY I13 l th A COMEDY SHOW AffAf~$ featuring tfu,= RTf Sue John TONIGHT! • Ferrentino & Kolinsky 9pm - Forum Admission - $1 FEB.11- 14 John Bizarre FRIDAY! ~ EDDIEMURPH;I Comedian 7&9pm 131~. -l -1_'> ... 9 pm Pub FORUM lHEHEArsllACKONI Alumni 3pm FREE! Admission - $1 ~'"'---~ - Students - $1 Staff - $5 f'·',', .. , r