University of Virginia Library

Pedding Of Ideals

Very few are intelligent. "Medium
Cool" is an exception because
Wexler was not so much analyzing
the Chicago riots as he was the
coverage given them. Of the remaining,
what I consider intellectually
dishonest, films some are well done
cinematic works, interesting to
watch but still untrustworthy.
"Zabriskie Point" and, in some
parts, "Z" are two such films. The
final portion of the aware films
("Easy Rider" heads the list)
resorts to shock treatments in the
place of artistry in the peddling of
socio-political ideals.

All of which brings me to
"...tick...tick...tick...," a not especially
noteworthy film except,
when viewed in the context of the
contemporary artistic and political
experiences, the intermingling of
which we are constantly subjected
to.

"...tick...tick...tick..." deals with
racial conflict in general and, more
specifically, with what happens
when a black man is elected sheriff
in a Southern town, Now, now, Mr.
Filmwatcher, take the title and the
information I have given you; add
your knowledge of today's political
leanings in film circles; (be sure to
keep in mind "In the Heat of the
Night") and you know damn well
what is going to happen in that
Southern town.

Be of good cheer, Director
Ralph Nelson will not surprise you
by awakening uncertainties. Yes,
the sheriff does meet with white
resistance, although to be more in
the vogue, Nelson has added some
black disenchantment as well. Yes,
he does face a crisis, although here
Nelson appears rather passe, for in
the end blacks and whites join
together...to protect law and order
no less. No martyrs here.

Nelson continually hovers between
the two poles, honesty and
dishonesty, and finally must succumb
to naivete, the cause of which
is an inherent distrust of ambiguity
so often found (the distrust, that is)
in today's films and political
decisions. Nelson insists on using
stereotypes: the fat redneck, the
good guy black. Even the black
"heavy," which few directors will
handle, comes through as a caricature.

Yet, in the end, this simplistic
vision bothers him and we wind up
with the absurd situation of KKK
members aiding the black sheriff.