lifestyle THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

Music & Movies In ‘Green Room’ a punk band faces the truly hardcore lay your early stuff,” is the advice given to the punk maker who can crisply craft John Carpenter-style atmosphere, band The Ain’t Rights when their dirt-broke, gas- mete out unnervingly merciless pain for his characters, and “Psiphoning tour lands a last-minute gig at an assemble robust, earthy thrillers with relatively meager Oregon backwoods roadhouse in Jeremy Saulnier’s brisk and means. brutal genre exercise “Green Room.” The tip from the spikey- haired ‘zine reporter who’s set up the show (an excellent David Gruesome and protracted battle W. Thompson, from “Win Win”) isn’t because the crowd will be I like the early scenes of “Green Room” best. In brief expecting the band’s nonexistent “hits,” but because he knows glimpses, Saulnier fully captures the experience of a strug- the angriest, heaviest tunes will go down best. They’ll be play- gling band on the road: waking up somewhere different each ing for skinheads. night, debating favorite music, making fart jokes in the van. The band, a grimy group of punks (Anton Yelchin, Alia It’s not very hardcore of me to say this, but I wish it continued Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) from Virginia limping on this plane, rather than settle into a gruesome and protract- across the country, shrug. They’ve had Neo-Nazis at their ed battle - as well-executed as the carnage is. Once it enters shows before. When they drive along a remote dirt road in the grindhouse, it stays there. their beat-up van, they’re still not intimidated by the swastikas But you can’t have a siege thriller without a siege, and and Confederate flags around them. They provocatively open “Green Room” is certainly among the genre’s finest examples. with the Dead Kennedys’ “Nazi Punks F—- Off.” The trouble Guns are employed, but the most chilling violence comes doesn’t come then, but after the show backstage, where the from teeth and blades on split-open flesh. It’s not pleasant, band returns to the green room to find a girl on the ground nor is it meant to be. In such moments, the earlier boasts of with a knife in her head. Things go south quickly, and the the band about their lack of social media presence - “When band is confronted with something far more hardcore than you take it all virtual, you lose the texture” - have come back to anything in their record collection. haunt them. You want texture? “Green Room” has it. “Green The road movie that “Green Room” started out to be veers Room,” an A24 release, is rated R by the Motion Picture abruptly into a siege film as the head Neo-Nazi (Patrick Association of America for “strong brutal graphic violence, Stewart, using his refined cordiality for menace) sends waves gory images, language and some drug content.” Running of “true believers” into the roadhouse to dispatch the witness- time: 95 minutes. Three stars out of four. — AP es. “Green Room” is Saulnier’s follow-up to his self-financed breakthrough “Blue Ruin,” a lean and riveting revenge tale also acted out by a novice in violence (Macon Blair, who pops here, too). The writer-director’s latest confirms him as a rising film- This image released by A24 Films shows, from left, Callum Turner, Joe Cole, Alia Shawkat and Anton Yelchin in a scene from, ‘Green Room.’ — AP It’s worth stopping into ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ hen you come back to a beloved to get on board. But as a tenuous peace takes place after many years, sometimes hold outside, drama continues inside the Wyou find all the faces have changed shop as Draya makes a play for Rashad and and the vibe is completely different. Not so Calvin considers moving his family to a safer with Ice Cube’s “Barbershop.” Though the third part of town. film in the franchise comes a dozen years after part two, “Barbershop: The Next Cut” is Cube and Cedric as colorful and clever as its predecessors. Minaj is a riot as a sassy flirt whose work There are some new faces (including uniform is a skimpy bra and skin-tight leg- Common and Nicki Minaj) and new elements gings. Common brings the smolder as a mod- (an attached beauty shop), but the warm ern man who supports his wife’s career but energy, subtle social commentary and big- feels frustrated at her lack of effort in the rela- hearted laughs are the same. tionship. Morris is a comic highlight, as is Ben Affleck, left, and Amy Adams, cast members in the Cube returns as Calvin, proprietor of a Deon Cole, who plays Dante, a guy who film ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,’ address the barbershop on Chicago’s South Side, where hangs out at the barbershop dishing one-lin- audience during the Warner Bros presentation at he oversees a motley crew of haircutters ers. As in past trips to the “Barbershop,” Cube CinemaCon 2016. — AP who spend as much time boasting and ban- and Cedric the Entertainer are the heart of tering as they do snipping and styling. the story. Affleck to direct Batman film, Perpetual scene-stealer Cedric the “The Next Cut” manages to address Entertainer returns as outspoken old-timer racism, sexism, police brutality and gang vio- Warner Bros chief says Eddie, and Eve is back as sharp-tongued lence in a thoughtful way without being Terri, once the shop’s lone female hairdress- heavy-handed. It’s a call for community en Affleck will direct a stand-alone “Batman” movie, says er. But you don’t need any background to be activism balanced with plenty of playful Warner Bros chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara. Affleck por- charmed by the chatter at this community laughs. There’s also the bonus of seeing Cube Btrayed the caped crusader in this year’s “Batman v hangout, where the staff has grown to In this image released by Warner Bros., Cedric The Entertainer, from left, Nicki Minaj and bust out some dance moves and Common do Superman: Dawn of Justice” and had been rumored to be the stu- include a bunch of new barbers and beauti- Ice Cube appear in a scene from ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut.’—AP an old-fashioned backspin. The two rappers dio’s top choice to helm the film. Tsujihara confirmed they were cians and the discussion subjects range from also wrote a song for the film, “Real People,” moving forward with him in the director’s seat Tuesday at Kim Kardashian to President Obama. ‘The streets are talking’ have been killed there so far this year. which plays over the closing credits. So CinemaCon, an annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas. The crew includes Terri’s husband and Director Malcolm D Lee and writers Kenya Calvin worries about how the surge in vio- whether it’s your first trip to Calvin’s or you’ve The stand-alone Batman feature is part of Warner Bros. plans for Calvin’s friend Rashad (Common), opinionat- Barris and Tracy Oliver develop each of these lence is affecting his 14-year-old son, Jalen got a standing appointment, it’s worth stop- an expanded DC Comics cinematic universe, similar to that of the ed Raja (Utkarsh Ambudkar), neurotic Jerrod characters enough to deliver a winning (Michael Rainey Jr), who’s getting into fights ping in for “The Next Cut.” “Barbershop: The Disney and Marvel collaboration. Warner Bros. has at least 10 fea- (Lemorne Morris, even funnier here than on ensemble comedy with multiple story lines at school and considering joining a gang. Next Cut,” a Warner Bros release, is rated PG- tures in the works, including “Suicide Squad,” “Wonder Woman” TV’s “New Girl”), and man-of-many-hustles and just the right dose of realistic drama. Set Calvin is also concerned about the effects on 13 by the Motion Picture Association of and “Justice League.” Unsurprisingly, those films comprised a One-Stop (JB Smoove), who offers haircuts, in present-day Chicago, the film opens with his business, especially when former barber America for “sexual material and language.” major portion of Warner Bros’ presentation, signaling that the stu- health exams, fake IDs and other services Calvin’s voiceover about the explosion of vio- and now mayoral aide Jimmy (Sean Patrick Running time: 111 minutes. Three stars out of dio is moving forward energetically with its original plans despite from his barber chair. They share the shop lence in the city. “The streets are talking,” he Thomas) tells him about a proposal to stem four. — AP reports that perhaps “Batman v Superman” is not performing as with a new business partner, Angie (Regina says. “They’re tired. They’re angry.” Chicago South Side violence by building a wall around well at the box office as the studio would have liked. Hall), and her team of stylists, including span- had the most homicides of any US city last the neighborhood. The shop responds by Affleck, who is also directing “Live By Night” for the studio, dex-clad Draya (Minaj) and unlucky-in-love year, and it’s on track to earn that sad distinc- sponsoring a 48-hour cease-fire. They con- made an appearance with Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane. He Bree (Margot Bingham). tion again in 2016. More than 140 people vince two rival gang leaders, both customers, confirmed that both would be joining Zack Snyder’s “Justice League,” which is currently in production in London. “Suicide Squad” director David Ayer and stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie were on hand as well to hype the supervillains gone straight pic, which launches on Aug 5 with intense footage focus- Doherty kicks off post-attack David Gest ing heavily on Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Music producer Warner Bros also trotted out stars and footage from a number of their upcoming films including the Harry Potter spinoff Bataclan concert schedule dies in London at 62 “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “The Lego Batman eter Doherty will headline the first show avid Gest, a music producer, reality TV manent injuries. Minnelli struck back with a $2 Movie,” the Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling comedy “The Nice at the Bataclan, the Paris concert venue Guys,” and the Emilia Clarke romantic drama “Me Before You.” But which was hit by a terror attack on Nov star and former husband of Liza million suit claiming Gest had stolen money P Minnelli, was found dead Tuesday at a from her. The pair ended their dispute in 2007 beyond the individual films, a big focus was the studio’s ongoing 13, when it reopens next Fall. Although the D commitment to its filmmakers and the specialness of theatrical Bataclan has not yet announced the day of its London hotel. He was 62. Gest’s friend Imad when their lawyers filed court papers saying presentation. The threat of The Screening Room, a proposed at- official reopening, Peter Doherty’s concert has Handi confirmed his death, remembering they had settled their differences and agreed home viewing experience of first-run movies, has loomed large been scheduled for Nov 16, three days after Gest as “a natural star and a genuine celebrity.” to divorce without fault. over the annual conference where theater owners come not just the anniversary of last year’s tragedy. Doherty, “David was truly larger than life. He was not Gest remained a friend of Jackson and to check out the new studio slates and mingle with stars, but to the Libertines co-frontman, is expected to just a huge talent and a dear friend but a after the singer’s death in 2009 produced a see the latest technologies that promise to enhance the theatrical release his second solo album this year and showbiz icon,” Handi said. The Metropolitan documentary, “Michael Jackson: The Life of an experience for audiences. Major filmmakers like Steven Spielberg will kick off his solo tour on May 11. The rebel- Police force said officers were called to Icon.” Gest gained a following in Britain with and Peter Jackson have come out in support of the service, but lious British musician previously performed at “reports of an unexplained death of a man in appearances on reality TV shows including the industry on the whole remains divided. the Bataclan in 2009 to rave reviews. his 60s” at the Four Seasons Hotel in London’s “I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here” in 2006 “I assure you we are not going to let a third party or middle The Bataclan’s first slate of concerts also Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning. and “Celebrity Big Brother” earlier this year. He man come between us,” Tsujihara told the audience of exhibitors. include Youssou N’Dour and the Super Etoile The force said an autopsy would take place had to leave that show in January after two “When there are new technologies ... we will explore them with de Dakar on Nov 18, Nada Surf on Dec 2 and “in due course” to determine the cause of weeks on medical grounds. His upbeat per- each of you. We know the status quo is not an option.” Not every MZ on Dec 3. The Bataclan said the renova- death, but it was not being treated as suspi- sonality and frankness endeared him to British studio has taken a hard stand. On Monday, “Star Wars: The Force tions will not change the set up of the famed Peter Doherty cious. Born in 1953, Gest was raised in south- viewers. Gest told a British TV show he regret- ern California, where he became friends with ted having plastic surgery in the 1980s, from Awakens” director JJ Abrams - a Screening Room backer - urged concert hall. “We wish to preserve the warmth during a concert by the Eagles of Death Metal. the conference to be open-minded about innovations. and conviviality, maintain the popular and fes- Michael Jackson and his family. He worked as the same doctor as Michael Jackson. “What an Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes had said a music promoter and television producer, idiot I was. ... It’s the stupidest thing in the “Hangover” director Todd Phillips on Tuesday, however, came tive spirit which has always defined (The EODM would be the first band to perform at out strongly against the idea of the Screening Room without Bataclan),” said the venue’s management. and was introduced to Minnelli by Jackson world,” he said. the Bataclan upon its reopening but that plan when Gest produced the King of Pop’s 30th He settled far from the bright lights of mentioning it directly while promoting his new Jonah Hill and Further concerts and shows will be unveiled in seemed compromised after he hinted that Miles Teller comedy “War Dogs.” “Why are we in such a rush to turn the coming days. anniversary tribute concert for television in showbiz, buying a house in the northern Bataclan security knew of the attacks in an 2001. English city of York. He told the Yorkshire Post movies into television? It doesn’t make sense to me. Movies are While announcing their first roster of con- interview published last month. — Reuters special,” Phillips said. “We need to do everything we can to protect certs, Bataclan’s management also paid hom- The couple married in 2002, at a celebrity- newspaper in 2014 that he loved the city’s that part of the experience.”— AP age to 89 victims who were killed on Nov. 13 studded ceremony with Jackson as best man cathedral, cobblestone streets, Viking history and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honor. They and famous York Hog Roast.—AP separated in a burst of headline-grabbing acrimony in 2003. Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging that she beat him so badly Bataclan announces first concerts during alcoholic rages that he suffered per- since Paris attacks in November

he team running the Paris concert group Nada Surf and the French group MZ hall where 90 people were killed in have also been booked to play the concert Tlast year’s jihadist attacks announced hall in the east of Paris in December, the yesterday a series of concerts would be statement added. “We want to preserve the held at the venue in November. British (Bataclan’s) warmth and friendliness and singer Pete Doherty and the Senegalese maintain its popular, festive spirit,” the man- star Youssou N’Dour and his Super Etoile de agement team said. The California group Dakar band will play the Bataclan on Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage November 16 and 18 respectively, the man- when jihadist gunmen burst in opening fire agers said in a statement. They said work on concertgoers on November 13, have had begun on repairing the interior of the repeatedly said they want to return to play building but “no exact reopening date has the venue. — AFP as yet been fixed”. File photo shows US music pro- File photo shows Liza Minnelli, right, and her hus- ducer David Gest poses with band David Gest, left, pose for photographers upon This file photo shows people walking by employees work- The choice of N’Dour, a Muslim, who has some of his collection of enter- their arrival at the musical theatre “Neue Flora” in ing to set the letter reading ‘Eagles of Death Metal’ on the often spoken out in support of dialogue between the world’s major religions, is like- tainment memorabilia at an Hamburg, northern Germany.— AP photos facade of the Olympia concert hall, on February 16, 2016 auction house in London. in Paris, ahead of the band’s concert. — AFP ly to be seen highly significant. The US rock