Mexico, Drugs and Headlines

AP PHOTO Macau Daily Times | Edition 2810 | 26 May 2017 Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Wine: The Gentry of Rheinhessen F & B: Walnut Potica Books: Music: Neva Left by Snoop Dogg Movies: War Machine Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg Mexico, drugs and headlines The year(s) Journalist Javier Valdez, founder and editor of now extinct “La of living Pared”, is the latest pressman to fall victim of the crossfire of rival cartels. But Valdez’s killing this month sparked an outcry unseen during the frequent murders of dangerously Mexican journalists X3 X2 PÁTIO DA ILUSÃO illusion DRIVE IN Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer ITT GOES ALL OUT IN FLAWED SATIRE P AP PHOTO ‘WAR MACHINE’ ere’s a general rule of thumb: cks off, and drives, “War Ma- ding up military operations If you’re going to rely hea- chine,” a smart and genuinely in Afghanistan. McMahon is Hvily on voiceover to tell your interesting but overstuffed cri- in all but name a caricature movie’s story, and exclusively so tique of modern warfare and of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, in the first 15 minutes with an as- the men in charge that also ine- the once commander of all sault of colorful character intro- legantly whiplashes between U.S. and NATO forces in Af- ductions, you’d do well to make absurdism and sincerity. And, ghanistan, who was famously sure that the narrator is a compe- yet, while it might not reach destroyed by an inflammatory lling one. Unfortunately for wri- the heights of classic war sati- Rolling Stone article by the ter and director David Michod’s res like “Catch-22,” or “M-A- late writer Michael Hastings. military satire “War Machine,” S-H,” a strong and sobering The article painted McChrys- Scoot McNairy is not that nar- third act makes “War Machi- tal’s team of counterinsurgen- rator. A fine actor, yes, but one ne” a worthy and thought-pro- cy evangelists as arrogant and whose disconnected voice is at voking endeavor. If only the anti-authoritarian and featured best unremarkable and at worst first part held up to the finish. derogatory comments about like Tobey Maguire on sedatives. At the center is Brad Pitt’s Ge- the Obama administration Alas, it is McNairy’s sleepy, neral Glen McMahon, a four- from his staff. Brad Pitt (left) and Ben Kingsley in a scene from "War Machine" lengthy exposition which ki- star general tasked with hea- Michod attempts to infuse that sort of rebel energy and vi- gor into “War Machine” with him he can’t do, whether it’s far the least interesting thing In the past, Michod has ex- varying results, focusing heavily securing more troops or occu- about “War Machine.” Except celled in stripped down mi- on McMahon’s robotic drive, pying an unwinnable area, and for McMahon, they’re presen- lieus, like in the slow-bur- AP PHOTO delusional megalomania and his seeing his stubborn arrogance ted as fools and caricatures ning “The Rover,” and miscreant hangers on (including up against the bureaucratic from the start and we never he does not disappoint in Emory Cohen, Topher Grace, profiteers is really something expect anything else from executing the final tragic RJ Cyler, John Magaro and An- to behold. them. mission, laced with heart- thony Michael Hall). Michod adapted “War Machi- Where “War Machine” really pounding dread and soul- Lean and sporting a blinding ne” from Hastings’ 2012 book finds its stride, however, is in aching futility. But it’s a bit white-blonde military crop, “The Operators: The Wild the human margins outside of of a slog to get to the power- Pitt uses everything in his ar- & Terrifying Inside Story of the reporter’s purview — es- ful conclusion, which is more senal to fully embody this America’s War in Afghanis- pecially in scenes involving nuanced, fair and bleak than man whose entire existence tan.” McNairy plays the Has- the young soldiers on the grou- the over-the-top first two acts is given worth through war. tings stand-in — a rumpled nd who are haunted and con- might have suggested. This His exaggerated facial tics, Rolling Stone reporter named flicted by the confusing and might not be the classic mo- aloof overbite and perpetually Sean Cullen who we don’t ac- unspecific directives given to dern military satire that we clawed hands can come across tually meet in the flesh until them to execute this confusing needed, but it is a start — and at times a little actor-y, but about halfway through. He’ll and unspecific war. Will Poul- an unflinching one at that. effortlessness is not what he bear witness to the antics of ter and Lakeith Stanfield both appears to be going for. This is McMahon’s staff, and destroy steal the show as some of the “War Machine,” a Netflix not an everyman, or someone them on the page. But seeing Marines tasked with trying to Originals release, is rated just doing a job. He is his job. the bravado and bluster and win the unwinnable area for TV-MA. Running time: 122 Brad Pitt in a scene from "War Machine" He’s driven by what others tell stupidity of these men is by McMahon. minutes. BOOK IT tTUNES SANDBERG WANTS TO CHANGE THE SNOOP DOGG LOOKS BACK ON CONVERSATION ABOUT DEATH CD REFLECTING RAP’S SHIFT n their last day together, teamed up with Adam Grant, here’s a strong whiff of the past the Silicon Valley elite a professor at the Wharton on Snoop Dogg’s new album, O AP PHOTO T couple Sheryl Sandberg and School of the University of AP PHOTO starting with the cover: A throwba- Dave Goldberg were sunba- Pennsylvania, to write “Option ck photo of the young rapper taken thing and playing the popular B: Facing Adversity, Building almost 25 years ago in front of a strategy board game The Se- Resilience, and Finding Joy.” Route 187 sign in Los Angeles. ttlers of Catan on the iPad. With “Option B,” Sandberg The title is a nod to his endurance: It was May 2015, and they wants to change the conversa- “Neva Left.” were vacationing at a USD tion about death. The D-O-Double G may be spen- 12,750-a-night Four Seasons The book is part memoir, ding time on talk shows, desig- resort in a secluded part of rehashing Sandberg’s painful ning soccer cleats or cooking with Mexico with close friends. All and raw account of losing her Martha Stewart, but he still seems seemed right in their world. husband, and part research. to have lots to prove on his 15th But soon an abrupt and devas- Anyone who has experienced a studio CD, a deeply chaotic album tating event punctuated their loss of similar magnitude will that reflects hip-hop’s constant love story and 11-year marria- recognize their own emotions changes swirling around our ever- ge. Goldberg, CEO of Survey- when Sandberg recounts what fixed Snoop. Monkey, went to the hotel gym happens after Goldberg’s death The West Coast rap legend is ai- and never returned. After a few — surprise, anger, pain, isola- ded by almost 20 guests, including Snoop Dogg, “Neva Left” (Doggy Style Records/Empire) hours, Sandberg, who is se- “Option B: Facing Adversity, tion and loneliness. KRS- One, Redman, Charlie Wil- cond in command at Facebook Building Resilience, and “Option B” is a call to have son, Method Man, Wiz Khalifa and and wrote the wildly success- Finding Joy” (Alfred A. Knopf) forthright conversations in up-and-coming October London. Whoever comes, Snoop keeps up. ful business book “Lean In,” by Sheryl Sandberg these hard times instead of the “Go On” is an R&B treat and “Bacc in Da Dayz,” which samples early Tribe Called set out to look for her husband pleasantries exchanged after Quest, was clearly designed to make your car shake so hard the mirrors might fall off. and found him lying next to an a tragedy occurs. What’s the “Big Mouth” doesn’t just sound like a blast from the past — it’s like listening to the Big exercise machine with a pool isolated after her husband’s point of asking a grieving per- Bang of rap. of blood around his head. At death. Friends avoided the sub- son “How are you?” anyway? The two public sides of the rapper are on show — the strapped thug ready to bust your door age 47, Goldberg’s heart had ject or asked superficial ques- Early in the book, Sandberg down as well as the pleasure-seeking host of hazy summer pool parties. His nasally voice stopped. tions like, “How are you?” quotes Danish philosopher is characteristically unrushed and distant, his lyrics precise, his flow coolly menacing. Goldberg’s death made hea- “I felt invisible, as if I was Soren Kierkegaard in saying, It wouldn’t a Snoop album without at least one ode to weed and “Neva Left” actually dlines around the globe, and standing in front of them but “Life can only be understood has two — the club-friendly “Mount Kushmore” and “420 (Blaze Up).” But there are a Sandberg was left to pick up they couldn’t see me,” San- backward, but it must be lived few lazy songs among the 16, including “Trash Bags,” “Swivel” and “Moment I Feared.” the pieces for their two young dberg writes. Goldberg’s death forward.” “Option B” is about Snoop, from his throne, doesn’t seem to like what he hears these days: “The party don’t children.

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