‘Big Chill’ nominated for three Oscars

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 18

‘Big Chill’ nominated for three Oscars

Lawrence Kasdan, one of the most successful screen writers and directors to emerge in recent years, has made another major movie in “The Big Chill,” which will begin at the Westend tomorrow.

The film has been well received by American critics and nominated for three Academy Awards for best picture, best supporting actress (Glenn Close) and best screenplay (Kasdan and Barbara Benedek). Kasdan has also had a hand in creating some of the most popular and successful films in recent years, writing and co-writ-ing’ “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Continental Divide,”’ “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Return of the Jedi” and the powerful drama, “Body Heat,” which also marked his directorial debut. A He has now directed an ensemble of contemporary young actors in “The Big Chill,” which reads like a list of Hollywood’s rising stars: Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and Joßeth Williams.

Although “The Big Chill” differs in subject matter and style from “Body Heat,” both films share Kasdan’s interest in creating dynamic characters which are true to people’s lives. In this film, the characters are former college friends who have drifted apart over the years. Members of the babyboom generation who entered young adulthood as idealistic non-conformists, they are now, for the most part, members of the establishment.

The young men of the story have “grown up” to be a running-shoe store entrepreneur, a journalist for a popular magazine, a television star and a drug dealer. The women have become a doctor, a lawyer and the wife of a businessman.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, this group of old friends is reunited at the funeral of one of their own, who has committed suicide. He was a drop-out who, in their earlier years, had

served as their collective? conscience.

Stunned by the loss, each* comes to the reunion with a • deep need to re-establish' the bond of caring they once shared.

In this context, the title, “The Big Chill” takes on. several resonant metaphori- * cal meanings, from the ob-c vious reference to the > group’s own (strongly reinforced by the occasion of their reunion), to ? the cooling of idealistic fires. in the face of more calculated self interest

Two of the 12 persons who won double tickets to} see “The Big Chill” in ourrecent Name the Stars contest have already collected ', them at the Westend.

The other 10 to still pick up their tickets are Brenda Nagle, A. Smith, Mrs Ann Gregory, Suzanne Wills, J. Raymer, Thos R. Roberts, Catherine Gee, Mrs Barbara Clements and Brian Butters, all of Christchurch, and R. ; Thomson, of Darfield. } These winners may col- • lect them at the Westend by ' presentation of identifica- , tion and full address. One amusing part of the } contest was the various' names of film stars given to } the pictures. Among the. photos of the men, No. 2, of } Woody Allen, was also taken } to be: !

Robert Mitchum, Al Pa-< cino, Bing Crosby, Sylvester} Stallone, Jamie Farr, Peter) Sellers, Mickey Rooneys Cary Grant, Victor Mature,' Harry James, Fred Astaire,' Sir John Gielgud, Danny,' Thomas and David Niven. .»