Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9504060001
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
James Carville and Bill Clinton did the same thing with "It's the economy, stupid," and it worked for them, too.
Frankel's sign referred to Sarah Jessica Parker.
Though she's one of the brightest and most attractive actresses of her generation, "Miami Rhapsody" is her first starring role since, as a child, she was an "Annie" on Broadway. Until now she's been known for smaller parts in such films as "L.A. Story," "Honeymoon in Vegas" and "Ed Wood," and for her appearances on David Letterman's show.
This time out, though, she's at the center of a witty romantic comedy about a young woman named Gwen who's considering marriage as all those around her are crumbling. The movie opens today at the Grandin Theatre in Roanoke.
At a time when good roles for women are rare, the film is something of a gamble. So she and Frankel are in the middle of an extended publicity tour that's taking them to film festivals from Sundance to Miami and points between.
At a stop in Washington, D.C., her enthusiasm was still strong.
"It was my idea to do so much promotion and go anywhere people would be hospitable, because this is a word-of-mouth picture,'' she said. ``It needs as much attention as anyone's willing to give it.
"I was very surprised that it was being made. Most of the scripts that I love are 'in development' forever. They're just never made, or the process by which they're made is long and laborious and by the time you get to the project, the steam is gone."
Not so with "Miami Rhapsody." By Hollywood standards, it's a relatively inexpensive project that was made on location in 30 days, giving the film a strong shot-on-the-run energy.
"I loved the part," Parker said, "including all of her flaws, which are very apparent." Gwen's dilemma - choosing among various men, relationships and career choices - mirrors the actress's own life.
"For my friends and I, there's a certain amount of ambivalence about archaic notions of marriage and women and men and their roles,'' she said. ``I think we're very old fashioned, and ashamed of our desires to be homemakers. It doesn't seem appropriate for women with a fast track and careers - women who are independent and strong and not defined by men. But we still have maternal instincts that we can't do anything about, so the sacrifices don't seem too awful too us."
She was also uncertain about David Letterman's serving as master of ceremonies for this year's Oscar Awards. "The truth of it is I don't know him outside what you see. I've never spoken to him before the show, or afterwards. We've never socialized. I feel a little bit sad about him hosting the Oscars. I mean I'm very happy for him. It's only right in the progression of events. He has, after all, taken the Johnny Carson role, but I don't want him mixing with that riff-raff.
"I like that he's so private, so much a mystery even to those of us who shamelessly appear on his show every month.
"Having to do talk shows is one thing when you're promoting a movie, but there's something uniquely terrifying and wonderful about hearing your name called and then you're sitting and talking to him. You are virtually paralyzed and it's like being in a car accident with no memory, no recollection of what you've done to humiliate yourself this time."
As "Miami Rhapsody" moves into wider release, it appears to be catching on with audiences. And if it does really well, it might generate the business's most coveted prize - the sequel. Sarah Jessica Parker was half serious, half joking when she said that they'd already made plans for it.
"The title of the sequel is 'Gwen!' with an exclamation point, and we've already written the theme song, which I won't sing to you."
by CNB