Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509080012
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT WOLF ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LONDON LENGTH: Medium
``You can't really go into a studio in Hollywood and go `Jane Austen,' and have them go `yeah,' and see dollar signs,'' Heckerling, 43, said in a recent interview.
``I came in more with the type of character I wanted to do and examples of the humor. `Emma' was a structural tree for myself.''
The result is one of the freshest films of the year, and a return to form for Heckerling, the Bronx-born American Film Institute graduate who came to prominence in 1982 with another teen comedy, ``Fast Times at Ridgemont High.''
As the characters in ``Clueless'' might put it, the new film is majorly good. Dope, even.
It's showing in Roanoke at the Grandin and Towers theaters.
``Ridgemont High'' brought attention to an unknown named Sean Penn, and ``Clueless'' may do the same for such gifted young actors as Justin Walker and Breckin Meyer, Mollie Heckerling's clear favorite.
Current lead Alicia Silverstone is already landing magazine covers - and upping her asking price - following her performance as Cher, the popular, well-heeled blonde who learns the value of self-knowledge in the bitchin' '90s just as Emma Woodhouse did nearly two centuries ago.
Determined not just to be ``a ditz with a credit card,'' Cher learns to ``make over my soul,'' even if more practical matters like driving on the freeway remain beyond her.
Heckerling said she wanted to re-create for contemporary audiences the ``little world'' dramatized in Austen's 1816 novel.
``It's such a strong structure - that sense of class and the social dynamic,'' said the director. As with Austen, her film is about ``the people we hang with, and those we don't.''
``You hear the words `teen comedy' and think, `What should there be - a bunch of sex at parties, then the girl gets the boy at the end?' It has to say something, and `Emma' lays it all out so wonderfully.''
Heckerling was in London for a month's vacation with her manfriend, actor Bronson Pinchot, as well as her parents and her daughter, Mollie, 9. She was last here a decade ago for post-production on ``National Lampoon's European Vacation,'' a Chevy Chase comedy she directed.
Mention of that film elicits an ``eek!''
For Heckerling, high school comedies are down to an art form.
``I sometimes think, how many ways are there to shoot a classroom?'' Heckerling said. ``I've been doing this for 100 years. If I have one more scene of people at their lockers, I'll throw up.
``My favorite kinds of movies are `A Face in the Crowd,' `Sweet Smell of Success,' `Reservoir Dogs,' `Mean Streets.' I like to watch those, but as far as what I'm able to create, my mind goes towards sillier places.''
Other Heckerling films include ``Johnny Dangerously'' (1984), a poorly reviewed gangster spoof with Michael Keaton, and the first two of the three ``Look Who's Talking'' films, with Kirstie Alley and John Travolta.
For television, she has produced and directed several pilots, and likes the freedom that comes with that medium.
``Movies, you go: Uh oh. My entire career depends on this - every scene is going to make me or break me.''
As for the future?
``I'm trying to think of what to do with myself,'' said Heckerling, sounding none too keen about talk of a ``Clueless'' sequel: ``A `Clueless in College' - that kind of situation.''
by CNB