Sappy ‘Up Close’ ends predictably

Sappy ‘Up Close’ ends predictably

By Lael Loewenstein

Daily Bruin Contributor

From the moment that Sally Atwater (Michelle Pfeiffer) walks
into the the office of veteran news director Warren Justice (Robert
Redford) and spills the contents of her purse all over his floor,
it’s clear she’s got a lot to learn. But Justice, spotting her
fearless drive, renames her Tally and gives her a shot as a
reporter.

"Up Close and Personal" is the story of Tally’s rise from
small-town weatherperson to network news anchor. A sweet but uneven
film, "Up Close" boasts some strong performances and some savvy
media criticism. Ultimately, however, the writers privilege
tear-jerking romance over drama, a choice which dilutes the film’s
central conflict.

That conflict – can a woman of talent and ambition overcome the
obstacles posed by the cutthroat TV news industry on her way to the
top – was originally suggested by the life of NBC anchorwoman
Jessica Savitch, detailed in the book, "Golden Girl." But writers
Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne have taken this script so far
from Savitch’s story that the only points of comparison left are
Atwater’s tailored suits and puffed-out, oversprayed hairdo.

From the beginning, it seems clear that Atwater is destined to
rise, and she benefits immensely from Justice’s attention. The
mentor-protegé relationship becomes one of sexual attraction,
and Warren is soon giving Tally reporting tips from the bedroom.
Inevitably, Tally becomes too big for the local Miami market and
gets an offer to work in Philadelphia.

Moving there, of course, means leaving Warren. So before she
goes, we’re treated to a saccharin montage sequence of the lovers
cavorting in the Florida Keys to the over-amped warbling of Celine
Dion’s "Because You Loved Me." A cross between a Florida vacation
promo, a VH-1 music video and a perfume commercial, this kind of
self-indulgent love sequence should have been drastically cut.

"Up Close and Personal" suffers from the same kind of
over-articulated emotional sensibility that marked Avnet’s "The
War." The understated, quirky charm of his earlier "Fried Green
Tomatoes" seems long-forgotten. Instead, Avnet has helmed a movie
that tells you at every turn how to react. When Justice gazes
adoringly at Tally, it’s clear that we’re supposed to do the
same.

Always a strong performer, Pfeiffer emotes beautifully on cue.
As for Redford, he brings a dose of his "All the President’s Men"
integrity to the part. His Warren Justice seems to be an homage to
two earlier roles: equal parts Bob Woodward and Jay Gatsby. Justice
is not above quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald to seduce the comely young
reporter.

Especially effective but likely to be overlooked are the
supporting performances of Stockard Channing and Kate Nelligan. As
two hard-edged veteran newswomen, Channing and Nelligan ignite a
few sparks in this otherwise watered-down movie.

A final flaw: "Up Close and Personal" has an ending so
predictable that you could safely place your bets 20 minutes before
the denouement. A safer bet might be to skip it altogether. Grade:
B-

FILM: "Up Close and Personal." Written by Joan Didion and John
Gregory Dunne. Directed by Jon Avnet. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer
and Robert Redford. Starts today.Comments to
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