lifestyle THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015 MUSIC & MOVIES ‘Diary of a Teenage Girl’ is strikingly intimate

n “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” a bell-bot- She finds much of it within her family’s wall- skeptically at her naked body in the mirror tomed California 15-year-old girl comes papered, second-floor San Francisco apart- and jumping on her bed with a friend to Iof age in 1970s San Francisco. She docu- ment, where she lives with her mom, Iggy Pop and the Stooges. ments the transition she’s been craving, nar- Charlotte (Kristen Wiig), and little sister, rating into a tape recorder her eager plunge Gretal (Abby Wait). The air is filled with ciga- Empowering promiscuity into adulthood, and illustrating it in crude rette smoke, California sunlight and the Female sexuality has typically been so con- cartoons that take after R Crumb. The awak- moral muddiness of post-60s, Patty Hearst- strained by the movies that “Diary of a ening of Minnie Goetze (23-year-old Bel era 1976. After a string of men, her mom is Teenage Girl” feels almost radical in its portrait Powley) is awkward and brash, enthusiastic “looser now,” Minnie says. She vacuums dur- of empowering promiscuity. Heller occasion- and angst-ridden, lewd and tender. And it’s ing coke-fueled cleaning binges. ally overlays the film with bits of psychedelic gloriously honest. animations by Sara Gunnarsdottir, a technique As a film made by women and starring a The age difference that has become to feel a little overused. female protagonist, “Diary of a Teenage Girl” Minnie, big-eyed with dark bangs, is told Minnie aspires to become a cartoonist like is a bracingly fresh entry in a coming-of-age she “exudes sexuality.” Her first sexual experi- Aline Kominsky, R Crumb’s future wife, who, tradition that has, in the movies, almost ence, and one that continues throughout herself, succeeded in the male-driven comic always been seen through male eyes. It’s an the film, is with her mother’s 35-year-old book industry. unusually accomplished first film from easy-going boyfriend, Monroe (a striking, But thank goodness the irreverent but Marielle Heller, who also wrote the screen- naturally charismatic Alexander Skarsgard). earnest “Diary of a Teenage Girl” avoids the Review play, an adaptation of Phoebe Gloeckner’s What begins with childlike playfulness moralizing that would usually accompany a 2002 graphic novel. The different perspec- begets a full-blown affair. The age difference, film about young people, sex and drugs. tive is clear from the first shot, in which of course, makes the relationship inappropri- Besides, Minnie is too busy growing up to get Heller, in close-up, trails from behind and ate, but “Diary” largely withholds that judg- bogged down in such things, too busy hap- below the hippy strut of Minnie. Minnie ment. Minnie is the one who’s choosing her This photo provided by Sony Pictures Classics shows, Kristen Wiig, from left, as lessly becoming one of the most memorable smiles to herself, but her glow momentarily partners and driving her story. After their Charlotte Goetze, Bel Powley as Minnie G. — AP protagonists of the year. “Diary of a Teenage fades when a buxom blonde jogs past her. first time in bed, she asks Monroe to take a frightened by her experienced prowess in attempts to sternly instruct Minnie and Girl,” a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated R Such fleeting, contrary emotions of exu- polaroid of her, so she can see how she’s bed. The escapades grow darker, too, in the Gretal. The whole ensemble is excellent, but by the Motion Picture Association of America berance and self-doubt pinball throughout changed. She deduces she looks different: chapter she introduces as “The Making of a the film belongs to newcomer Powley, who for “strong sexual content including dialogue, “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” a movie with a firm “probably my aura.” Harlot.” The sole grounding voice in her life is doesn’t so much play Minnie as become her. graphic nudity, drug use, language and drink- grip on how it feels to be a precocious 15- In her headlong rush into adulthood, she her former stepfather Pascal (Christopher Her performance is remarkably easy in its ing involving teens.” Running time: 102 min- year-old in burning pursuit of self-discovery. passes by the boys of her high school. One is Meloni), who makes comic but heartfelt intimacy, filled with moments like gazing utes. Three and a half stars out of four. — AP ‘Fantastic Four’ oining Spider-Man in the annals of dizzyingly rapid reboots, Fox’s second stab at “Fantastic Four” Jcomes just eight years after the first try and its sequel, which didn’t set the bar inordinately high. Yet if this latest version, with a significantly younger cast (one’s tempted to call it “Fantastic Four High”), clears that threshold, it’s just barely, drawing from a different source to reimagine the quartet’s origins without con- spicuously improving them. All told, the movie feels like a protracted teaser for a more exciting follow-up that, depending on whether audiences warm to this relatively low-key approach, might never happen. Where many recent superhero movies have risked overstaying their welcome, “Fantastic Four,” at 100 min- Bjork cancels concerts in European tour

jork has cancelled the last The news was a blow to one Review three concerts of her French festival taking place this This photo provided by courtesy Twentieth Century Fox shows, The Thing, from left, Michael B. European tour because of month, la Route du Rock in the B Jordan as Johnny Storm, Miles Teller as Dr Reed Richards, and Kate Mara as Sue Storm, in a scene an unspecified “scheduling con- northwestern town of Saint-Malo. from the film, “Fantastic Four”. — AP photos flict”, organizers said yesterday. It was partially reimbursing peo- The Icelandic singer was pulling ple who held tickets for Bjork’s biggest problems are getting people to take his tele- to clobbering much of anything. And because it’s hard- out of shows she was meant to August 15 show. The other two porter device seriously, and experiencing puberty. ly a mystery that the heroes will end up united and fac- have performed at two French festivals, Pitchfork in Paris and ing off with Doom, there’s a sense of killing time in the music festivals and one in Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik, Ultimate goal early going that’s not adequately compensated for by Iceland. “Bjork really wanted to said they would fully reimburse Discovered seven years later at a science fair by Dr the fate-of-the-world-in-the-balance action sequence do these concerts”, according to tickets for Bjork concerts that Franklin Storm (“The Wire’s” Reg E Cathey), Reed is that finally ensues. Part of that, frankly, stems from her agent, but had to cancel were to have been put on in late whisked off to the Baxter Institute, a sort-of science uncertainty as to what exactly Doom’s powers are, academy and think tank, where he meets Storm’s after a fleeting demonstration of them that feels closer because of “a scheduling conflict October and early November. The adopted daughter Sue (Kate Mara) and her hotheaded to horror than the superhero genre. outside her control”, organizers three cancelled shows were to brother Johnny (Michael B. Jordan). said. The agent did not elaborate cap a mini-European tour that Alas, he has to leave behind his longtime buddy Enough similarities but said the singer was looking at had already taken Bjork to Britain, Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell), though when Reed decides to If the original comics were defined in part by the playing later dates to make up for Slovakia, the Czech Republic, This photo provided by Twentieth Century Fox put his device to the test, he enlists Ben to join in the interaction of the characters-from Ben’s depression at the ones scrapped. Spain and Germany. — AFP shows, Kate Mara, as Sue Storm, in a scene from enterprise. Rounding out the group is Victor Von having become a “monster” to the budding relation- the film, “Fantastic Four.” — AP Doom (Toby Kebbell), a former prized pupil of Dr ship between Reed and Sue to Johnny and Ben’s Storm, lured back to help Reed finish a project in squabbling-those dynamics emerge only fitfully. And utes, actually feels a tad rushed at the end, with a hasty which the mercurial Victor had previously dabbled. while comicbook aficionados will likely welcome the climax that nevertheless produces some solid The ultimate goal is to use Reed’s creation to reach an seriousness of tone, the near-absence of humor and moments-at least a few of which, given the slow pace alternate dimension, potentially providing the lengthy emphasis on building the interdimensional initially, probably should have come at least a half- resources to cure man’s ills, but also bringing with it all portal largely handcuffs the cast, with only a hint, for hour sooner. Instead, filmgoers are treated to a lot of the expected perils. example, of the ebullience Johnny gleans from his science, with the central characters gazing intently into An unscheduled attempt to visit those forbidding newfound powers. Technically, the look has improved- computer screens. Using elements from the original environs gives the group its extraordinary powers: starting with the Thing, who loses his shorts but picks Stan Lee-Jack Kirby comics as well as a 2004 revision of Reed the ability to stretch; Johnny to burst into flame up computer-generated size, muscle and menace that them, “Ultimate Fantastic Four,” director Josh Trank- and fly; Sue to turn invisible and cast force fields. Ben, was mostly lacking in the prior incarnation. sharing script credit with producer Simon Kinberg (a meanwhile, is transformed into a brutish rock creature, As for the costumes, much as in the first “X-Men,” veteran of the “X-Men” franchise) and Jeremy Slater- whose enormous strength has an officious bureau- they’re built for utility, with the spacesuit motif offer- goes way back into the group’s past. The story thus crat-type (Tim Blake Nelson) practically salivating at its ing enough similarities to satisfy all but those who begins with brilliant science prodigy Reed Richards more pragmatic applications. won’t settle for anything less than spandex and a big (played by Miles Teller as a grown up) back when his Alas, it takes a long time before anyone gets around “4” insignia. —Reuters

Original ‘My Fair Lady’ Executive producer Mark Gordon, from left, actress Priyanka Andrews to direct Sydney show Chopra, and writer/executive producer Joshua Safran appear dur- ing the “Quantico” panel at the Disney/ABC Summer TCA Tour at tage and screen icon Julie the Beverly Hilton Hotel. — AP Andrews will direct a 60th Sanniversary production of Indian film star “My Fair Lady” at the Sydney Opera House, a show she first Priyanka Chopra starred in on Broadway in 1956, joins US TV’s ‘golden age’ it was announced yesterday. The British actress rose to ndian film star Priyanka Chopra juicy role in a “smart show’ that prominence as Eliza Doolittle in says she was eager to add a US any actress would covet, she said. the original production of Alan ITV series to her resume. “It’s like Parrish is “Jason Bourne in female Jay Lerner and Frederick the golden age of television right form,” Chopra said. Loewe’s retelling of George now and I wanted to be part of Despite her new job, she has Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, that ... revolution,” Chopra said of no intention of abandoning her This file photo provided by Disney/Marvel shows Hulkbuster in a scene from the her role as a FBI recruit in ABC’s film career back home. “I love film, “Avengers: Age Of Ultron.” — AP kick-starting a long theatre, new drama “Quantico.” It debuts doing my Indian films, and it’s movie and television career. Sept 27. But she told the network amazing that I can balance both,” She will be in Sydney later this that she didn’t want to be cast for Chopra said, labeling herself an year to start casting. ‘Avengers’ helps Disney “I am thrilled to have been the color of her skin, what she effective multitasker. After this looks like or where she’s from, season wraps she’ll jump back asked to direct My Fair Lady at Chopra told a TV critics’ meeting into a film. the Sydney Opera House in top 3Q earnings expectations August 2016,” Andrews, who Tuesday. The goal was a worthy TV’s 15-hour-plus production project that “gave me the respect days took her by surprise. So did made her movie debut in of being an actor.” Chopra said she being in the dark about her char- isney’s movie studio boosted parks revenue grew, the unit’s revenue 1964’s Oscar-winning “Mary is glad to bring further diversity to acter and story lines until getting company earnings once again, came in below forecasts. Studio revenue Poppins”, said in a statement. “I ABC, which includes characters of each script, in contrast to knowing Dwith the debut of “Avengers: Age gains of 13 percent topped all divisions, look forward to coming to Julie Andrews various ethnicities in “Fresh Off the how a movie begins and ends. of Ultron” proving the continued helped by “Avengers,” which grossed $1.4 Sydney this November to cast arrogant phoneticist Henry strength of the Marvel superhero brand. billion in theaters worldwide since its Boat,” “black-ish” and other series. “They tell me nothing,” she said of the production and begin the Higgins. Net income grew 11 percent in the April release. Since coming to America as a the producers. But she heard from process of bringing this great “To think that Broadway’s student, “I never saw anybody a good source, Kevin Spacey, April-June quarter to $2.48 billion, or Every Disney segment grew except for $1.45 per share, topping the $1.39 its interactive division. There, revenue musical to life once again.” original Eliza Doolittle, Julie who looked like me on TV, and that’s part of the charm of work- Producer John Frost and Opera Andrews, will direct our new this was an opportunity for me to ing in TV. Spacey said during a expected by 10 analysts polled by Zacks dropped and the unit broke even, revers- Investment Research. Revenue climbed ing a profit from a year ago, as the “Disney Australia artistic director production at the Sydney change that.” She plays Alex master class that he never knows Lyndon Terracini will jointly Opera House 60 years later will, Parrish, an Indian-American what “House of Cards” character 5 percent to $13.1 billion, a hair short of Infinity” game lost momentum. The game present the new production I’m sure, excite both Australian whose fledgling FBI career and Frank Underwood is up to until he the $13.2 billion expected by six ana- is expected to get a surge of fresh content freedom are in jeopardy after a reads it on the page. “It keeps you lysts surveyed by Zacks. for this holiday season. Shares fell 2.1 per- about Cockney flower girl and international audiences,” New York terrorist attack. It’s a on your toes,” he told her. — AP Disney said weakness in the euro hurt cent to $119.14 in after-hours trade fol- Doolittle and the appealingly said Frost. — AFP revenue at Disneyland Paris. Although lowing the release of results. — AP