Date: Fri 15-Mar-1996

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-10

Quick Words:

Playing-Close-Redford-Pfeiffer

Full Text:

(rev "Up Close and Personal," Now Playing, 3/15/96)

Strong Language For Its Rating, `Close/ Personal' Works With Redford &

Pfeiffer

By Trey Paul Alexander III

According to Up Close & Personal , one of the horrific indignities of working

in broadcast news is being forced to change one's name: an ambitious but

untested young woman from Reno (Michelle Pfeiffer) must change her name from

Sallyanne Atwater to Tally Atwater in order to make her debut as weatherperson

for a local station in south Florida. Oh, say it ain't so!

All facetiousness aside, Up Close & Personal , continuing its run at Danbury's

Crown Cine theatre, is not an enlightening discourse on the boob tube's

cottage industry of television news. From biographies and telefilms about the

tragic life of Jessica Savitch (who served as the film's inspiration though it

is only loosely based on her), to the plethora of media coverage on such juicy

spats as Connie vs Dan (CBS), and Jane vs Deborah (NBC), Joe and Jane Average

are quite aware of the conflicts that often arise between those who bring us

the news. Consequently, this movie brings very little that is new to the table

in terms of showing the grit under the fingernails of this vocation.

What it does have in spades is star power, and the wattage given off by

Pfeiffer and Robert Redford could light up a small town. Their efforts are

enough to make this glamorized, slickly-packaged love story watchable, despite

its weaker aspects. In fact, despite the irksome overtime put in by the

studio's hype machine (enough of the annoying commercials already!), you will

probably be swept away by this melodrama and put under the spell of its

appealing leads.

The narrative centers on Tally Atwater, a green go-getter who dreams of facing

the nation every night from behind the distinguished desk of a network anchor.

But she must begin her quest humbly, as a gopher for the news director of a

Miami station. Warren Justice (Redford) - his cornball name tells all about

his high standards on ethical responsibility in reporting the news - initially

has her pick up his dry cleaning and make the coffee, but before long she is

in front of the camera ("She eats the lens," says Justice, in a hammy line

served up ad nauseum via the movie's many promos) with him tutoring and

shaping her from behind the scenes.

The script offers little originality and only occasionally shows flashes of

wit. Some of the most shocking dialogue comes not from clever asides or biting

chit-chat, but from ill-timed, alarmingly strong (for a PG-13 flick) language.

It is a shame this is the only way the writers found to add punch; this tale

of a woman professional clawing through an often ruthless milieu could have

been much meatier.

But what the screenplay fails to offer, Pfeiffer and Redford exude through

their delightful performances. Their pairing works like a charm, and when

Tally and Warren eventually fall in love, the collective, sympathetic sigh of

the audience will be palpable. Although the film in many ways trips over its

own intentions, these two never fail to hit their marks, thus making the

romance in Up Close & Personal the main course for any viewing pleasure.

Some of the picture's other virtues include: a brief, but delectable turning

by Stockard Channing as a venomous Philadelphia anchor who resents Tally's

presence when she moves into town; a cameo by Pfeiffer's real-life sister,

Dedee, as Tally's younger sibling; and a syrupy Celine Dion power ballad (who

is becoming as ubiquitous on movie soundtracks as Bryan Adams) that in the

context of this love story eventually wins you over, despite your better

judgment.

Up Close & Personal is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations. The

merging of Pfeiffer and Redford makes for great chemistry, and a sequence in

which they frolic for a weekend in the tropics (including a scene in which

Redford seductively massages Pfeiffer's arches) is worth the price of

admission.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 15-Mar-1996

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