lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014 Coelho says Sony hack threatens all

razilian author Paulo Coelho says the Sony hack threatens us all ‘Culture of fear ‘ if society doesn’t enforce important values: our individual and Sony defended its decision after President Barack Obama said dur- Bcollective freedom of expression and an unwavering refusal to ing a press conference that the studio had “made a mistake” in drop- negotiate with anonymous terrorists. ping “The Interview,” a satirical film about a plot to assassinate North The best-selling author said in an interview Friday with The Korea’s leader, and he pledged the US would respond “in a place and Associated Press that he was prepared to make himself an example - manner and time that we choose” to the attack that led to the with- even if it meant inviting criticism and potential threats - if Sony drawal. The FBI blamed the hack on the communist government. Pictures had taken him up on his $100,000 offer for the rights to its Sony said the cancellation happened only because the country’s cancelled film. top theater chains pulled out. “This was their decision,” Sony said in a Defending these values is a matter of the highest concern for statement. Coelho made clear he wasn’t defending the movie itself “everyone on the planet, everyone who believes in freedom of but rather that he decried the “culture of fear” and apparent willing- expression,” he said, drawing parallels with the plight of fellow author ness to “negotiate with terrorists” that he said undercuts people’s Salman Rushdie, who spent years in hiding after his novel “The freedom of expression and the principle of not negotiating with ter- Satanic Verses” drew death threats from the Iranian government. rorists. He also expressed admiration for actor His plan was to release the film on his blog in the unlikely event ’s attempt to highlight the same values of sticking Sony took him up on his spontaneous offer via Twitter for the contro- one’s neck out to defend our freedom of information by putting for- versial film “The Interview” that Sony cancelled after threats from ward a petition for Hollywood bigwigs to sign - though none did. anonymous hackers. Clooney said the entertainment industry should seek release of “I thought that they could take the offer so as not to lose face,” “The Interview” online, telling Coelho said. “You know, ‘In a gesture of good will, we are going to the trade site Deadline that he urged Sony to “do whatever you accept $100,000 even if we put $44 million in this movie because we can to get this movie out. Not because everybody has to see the believe in freedom of information.’ ... Tomorrow the film would be movie, but because I’m not going to be told we can’t see the movie. there.” That’s the most important part.” The author of “The Alchemist” acknowledged he would have been Coelho said he was unable to reach any executives to discuss the afraid if he had released the film, particularly because he travels and decision not to screen the film before a projected Dec. 25 release, but could be vulnerable, but he would have been more ashamed of him- he thinks the studio ignored his offer because of fear that more Sony self if he didn’t at least try. hacked e-mails would be divulged. “So live with fear or live with shame? Better to live with fear,” he “What I’m doing here is much more a kind of political statement: said at his luxury Geneva home, where his phone and Internet service fight for you rights,” he said. “We live in a moment where fear rules, were mysteriously out of service in an apparent attack directed at and this cannot continue.” — AP Brazilian author Paulo Coelho poses for a photographer during an interview with The Associate him. “In the name of something that is more important than I am, as a Press, at his apartment, in Geneva, , Friday. Coelho says the Sony hack threatens us all if physical person.” society doesn’t enforce important values against anonymous terrorists. — AP Ashanti ‘shocked’ by prospect of stalker retrial

shanti is appalled by the prospect of facing her accused stalker again in Acourt, but the Grammy-winning R&B singer said Friday she’s determined to see the case through after a mistrial. “I’m shocked and horrified at the thought of going through this ordeal again, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure my family is safe and that justice is served,” she said in a statement to The Associated Press. A juror’s illness prompted a mistrial dur- ing deliberations Thursday in Devar Hurd’s case, which marks the second time in five years he’s been tried on charges of harassing the singer or her relatives. Ashanti told jurors Tuesday she was “dis- gusted ... and absolutely scared” when she realized last year that Hurd was behind a Twitter account sending her X-rated mes- sages and had posed for a photo with her younger sister at an event, despite a court order not to contact the family. “I didn’t Six reasons Jennifer Aniston know what he was capable of,” said the mul- tiplatinum-selling singer, who said she hired extra security because of Hurd. Hurd was representing himself, and could win the Oscar for ‘Cake’ cross-examined her in a sometimes odd courtroom scene peppered with objections from prosecutors and admonishments from multiplatinum-selling daughter. Hurd spent Singer Ashanti leaves the hat a difference a week makes. Once consid- sports unwashed hair. She’s still Jennifer Aniston, so suf- the judge to Hurd to adhere to rules for about two years in jail. cross-examination. courthouse after testifying ered a long shot for an Oscar nom, Jennifer fice it to say she still looks better than most people on Ashanti’s hits include “Foolish” and “Only at Devar Hurd’s trial in New Aniston has now received the holy trifecta- an average day - but it’s the kind of vanity-free perform- Hurd, a would-be rapper, argued that he U,” and she also has acted in films including W never meant to harm Ashanti or her family. York. Ashanti said in testi- nominations for best actress from SAG, Golden Globe ance the Academy loves. “Coach Carter” and “John Tucker Must Die.” He portrayed his raunchy tweets as adult mony that she was “disgust- and the Critics’ Choice Awards. An Oscar nomination This year she released two albums, ed” and “absolutely scared” communication about “sex, lovemaking and “Braveheart” and “A Wonderful Christmas seems more and more likely. 4. The competition emotional heartbreak,” and he noted that when she learned in July with Ashanti,” an expansion of an earlier 2013 that Hurd, who had It’s all the more impressive that Aniston has received Since the start of awards season, the perceived fron- some other messages were just about her recording. — AP such attention for a small independent film. In “Cake,” trunner for best actress has been as a career. been convicted of stalking her, had since been tweet- written by first-time screenwriter Patrick Tobin and professor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.” But she noted the no-contact order that followed his 2009 stalking and harassment ing her X-rated messages directed by Daniel Barnz, she plays Claire Simmons, a While Moore’s work is stellar as always, most of the talk and posed for a photo with woman who suffers from chronic pain and becomes is about how the four-time nominee is overdue. But conviction, which involved crude text mes- sages he sent Ashanti’s mother about her her sister. — AP obsessed with learning more about a member of her there is little doubt that Moore will be back in the race, support group who committed suicide. Aniston has and this isn’t perceived as her last opportunity to win. never been given such a meaty role on the bigscreen Other names like , before, and she rewards the filmmakers’ gamble with a and are in the mix, but are all recent win- beautiful, heartfelt performance. ners. On the flip side, actresses like and Aniston has made a lot of progress in a short time in are considered fairly new, and the nomi- the race and will likely continue. There are so many fac- nation will be their reward. In short, there doesn’t tors that go into Academy voting that have little do appear to be a passionate fanbase for any particular with the acting at hand. So here’s a list of reasons why actress. Which makes Aniston bursting into the race Aniston just might end up taking home the gold on last-minute, cast against type in a small movie, a com- Oscar night. pelling narrative to get behind.

1. The campaign 5. Public sentiment Nobody is working harder than Aniston to get word This is tricky, but again, let’s not pretend people’s out about the small film. She’s been coast-to-coast for emotions don’t get involved. Aniston has been the cen- screenings, interviews and events, and she is always ter of so much speculation and gossip for years as part smart, passionate and charming. Her charm offensive is of one of the world’s most famous triangles, and while I reminiscent of when was cast against type in suspect everyone involved has long moved on, the 2001’s “Monster’s Ball.” In the beginning, Berry was con- same cannot be said for the general public. It’s easy to sidered a longshot, but she worked harder than any imagine people rallying behind Aniston - particularly in other nominee. In the end, she usurped the likes of Judi a year where Jolie’s “Unbroken” is supposed to be a big Dench, and frontrunner for player. As one Academy member put it after “Unbroken” “In the Bedroom” to win the Academy Award. was snubbed at the Globes, “I can’t believe the HFPA missed out on an opportunity to get them all in the 2. Voters love an underdog same room.” Too often, people complain about the predictability in Oscar choices-how the awards feel over before 6. The performance itself they’re even announced. But unlike years where “The Aniston is fantastic in “Cake,” which should be the King’s Speech” or “Argo” emerged as early frontrunners most obvious and important reason she’s worthy. It’s a and went on to win, this year has proved to be one of meaty role with so many facets, and she nails every the most difficult to predict in a long time. And every scene. In lesser hands, Claire could have been exceed- once in a while, the Academy likes to throw in a curve- ingly unsympathetic, shrill or pitiful. Instead, Aniston Madonna ball, like wins for in “My Cousin Vinny” or plays all shades of a complex woman and inhabits her releases Marcia Gay Harden for “Pollock.” Right now, there is no grief so fully we understand and even forgive Claire. For bigger underdog in the category than Aniston, and every moment where her anger drives someone away, there’s something exciting about the idea of her win- there’s a sweet, simple scene such as the one in which ning. she gives her housekeeper (a wonderful Adrianna 6 after leak Barrazza) a gentle ego boost. Those who dismiss her as 3. Voters really love a transformation a TV star clearly don’t realize just how difficult her work n a surprise preview of her new album, Madonna released of the incomplete tracks that are circulating. Please consider six songs Saturday on iTunes and various streaming servic- these six songs as an early Christmas gift.” From hiding her looks in “Monster” to on “Friends” could be - and how easy she made it look. Ies. The songs were released because several in-progress Songs available Saturday also include the plaintive, anti- Nicole Kidman slapping on a prosthetic nose in “The Those who write her off as a star, not an actress, forget demos were leaked earlier this week, publicist Liz Rosenberg drug “Devil Pray”; the secretive, name-checking dance track Hours,” Oscar always favors actors who are willing to that some people can be both. — Reuters said. “Illuminati”; and a with Nicki Minaj, “B—-h I’m Madonna.” strip away their good looks - especially beautiful Madonna said in a statement that she had wanted to wait Additional music will be released on Feb. 9, Rosenberg said. women. Much has been made of the fact Aniston wore until a different holiday season. “I was hoping to release my The full album, “,” is Madonna’s 13th and is set little to no makeup for “Cake,” other than prosthetic new single ‘’ on Valentine’s Day with the rest of for release in March. Producers include Madonna, Diplo and scars. She also dresses down in frumpy clothes and the album coming in the spring,” she said. “I would prefer my Kanye West. — AP fans to hear completed versions of some of the songs instead