Step right up, ladies and gents. See the World's Tallest Man, the Monkey Lady and the Human Blockhead! And over here we have the Teen Queen (Jodie Foster), the Weirdo (Gary Busey) and the Rock Star (Robbie Robertson)! Like the carnival midway itself, this movie is bright, brassy, edging on bizarre and violent just beneath the surface. What makes it work are three perceptive performances. Foster provides a measured, mature portrayal of a small-town girl seduced by carnival life, among other things. Busey, an Oscar nominee for The Buddy Holly Story, once again displays his versatility, and Robertson, who doubles as producer, exudes sensuality in his acting debut (he was in the Band's The Last Waltz, of course, but that was a concert film). The story itself careens uncertainly from comedy to romance to melodrama. Yet documentary filmmaker Robert Kaylor captures the curious demimonde of the carnies. His first feature pulls you in like a sideshow—it repels as it fascinates. (R)
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