Sappy 'Up Close' ends predictably

Published: Friday, March 1, 1996

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 webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu