lifestyle THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 MUSIC AND MOVIES

Nicole Kidman Kidman in talks to star in romantic comedy ‘How to Talk to Girls at Parties’

icole Kidman is in negotiations to of Montagues and Capulets, it is punks and co-star in “How to Talk to Girls at aliens. NParties,” re-uniting with John This is the story of the birth of punk, the Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry exuberance of first love, and the universe’s US directors and Presidents of the Feature Film jury Joel Coen and Ethan Coen pose during a photocall ahead of the opening of the 68th Cannes Inch”), who directed her in “Rabbit Hole.” greatest mystery of all: how to talk to girls Film Festival.—AFP Ruth Wilson (“Locke,” “Luther”) and Matt at parties. Howard Gertler will produce Lucas (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Bridesmaids”) alongside Iain Canning and Emile Sherman will join Elle Fanning (“Maleficent,” Super of See-Saw Films. Michael Werner and 8”), who was previously announced, in the Winnie Lau will executive produce. Filming Coen brothers look at film cast. Based on a short story by Neil will start in the autumn in the UK. HanWay Gaiman (“Coraline”) from his collection Films will be handling international sales “Fragile Things,” the screenplay has been with CAA handling the US Hanway will con- from other side as Cannes judges written by Philippa Goslett (“Little Ashes”) sult with Fortissimo Films for Asian territo- with John Cameron Mitchell. The film is in ries.—Reuters ilmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen Asked what it would be like to be sitting in been asked in a sense to pass judgment on it or the spirit of “Romeo and Juliet,” but instead said yesterday it would be a new experi- judgment on other directors’ work, Joel Coen, analyze it and you have to defend your opinions Fence for them to be watching movies who did most of the talking on the brothers’ to a group of people,” he added. Gyllenhaal said rather than having a film in competition as the behalf, said he would try to watch the films “sim- jokingly that after only one meeting, the jury first co-presidents of the main Cannes ply as an audience member and somebody who had been broken up into the Ethan camp and International Film Festival jury. The Coens, isn’t involved”. But he said it would not be possi- the Joel camp. “We’re not allowed to talk about responsible for “Fargo”, “No Country for Old Men” ble to remain completely neutral, given his role who’s in what group but after a while you’ll and 1991 Cannes top-prize winner “Barton Fink”, on a jury which must eventually award the probably start to understand who’s in what head up a jury comprising directors Guillermo Palme d’Or top prize on May 23. group and that was purely based on personality del Toro and Xavier Dolan, actors Rossy de “When you’re asked to watch something as a and we had no choice,” he told a press confer- Palma, Sophie Marceau, Sienna Miller and Jake jury member it may affect the way you watch it, ence.—Reuters Gyllenhaal, and singer-songwriter Rokia Traore. it has to, to a certain extent, because you’ve Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz Starring in Pablo Escobar Movie

avier Bardem and Penelope into chaos. Vallejo’s memoir Cruz are starring in describes her romantic relationship JEuropaCorp’s Pablo Escobar with Escobar along with origins of biopic, “Escobar,” with shooting the rebel organizations in starting later this year. EuropaCorp Colombia, reasons for the growth announced Wednesday at Cannes of the cocaine industry, the horrors Singer Jennifer Lopez arrives at the Latin Billboard Awards, in Coral Gables, Fla.—AP that it will finance, distribute and of narcoterrorism during 1988-1993 co-produce with Pinguin Films and and the links of the Medellin and Dean Nichols Productions. The film Cali cartels with Caribbean dicta- will be based on Virginia Vallejo’s tors and Colombian presidents. She Lopez heading to Las Vegas 2008 best-selling Spanish language testified in 2008 in the reopened memoir “Loving Pablo, Hating case of the 1985 Palace of Justice Escobar.” Spanish director Fernando siege in which more than 100 peo- for residency next year Leon de Aranoa (“A Perfect Day”) ple died and was granted asylum in enny from the Block is heading to Sin range from $59 to $219. Lopez, 45, follows will direct from his own script. the US in 2010. City. The pop star announced Tuesday in the footsteps of contemporary pop stars Producers for the film are Dean Escobar was portrayed by Jnight on “American Idol” that she’s like Mariah Carey, 45, and Britney Spears, Nichols, Javier Bardem and Benicio Del Toro in “Escobar: heading to Las Vegas next year for a resi- 33, who also launched Vegas residencies. EuropaCorp CEO Christophe Paradise Lost,” the directorial debut dency at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Lopez once dominated the pop and R&B Lambert. Executive producers are of Italian actor Andrea Di Stefano. It Casino. Jennifer Lopez’s stint at the AXIS charts with back-to-back singles, but has Jere Hausfater, Dany Boon and combined the true story of the Theater will begin Jan. 20, 2016. The first 20 struggled musically in the last decade. Her Todd Nichols. International sales for drug king with a love story performances go on sale Saturday. star power, though, has gotten a boost the film will be launching in between a young Canadian surfer, She has live shows set for January, thanks to “Idol.”—AP Cannes. Bardem and Cruz teamed played by “Hunger Games” star Josh February, May and June. Tickets prices previously on “Vicky Cristina Hutcherson, and Escobar’s niece Barcelona,” for which Cruz won a (Claudia Traisac). Radius had sched- best supporting actress Oscar. uled “Escobar: Paradise Lost” for Bardem worked with Leon de release in the US in January but Aranoa on “Mondays in the Sun.” pulled the film out its slot without “A Perfect Day,” the Spanish giving a reason and has not re- director’s first English-language scheduled the release. The film film, will premiere as part of the received positive notices at Cannes Film Festival’s Directors Telluride and Toronto Film Fortnight. “Escobar” will follows the Festivals.—Reuters rise of Pablo Escobar, the ruthless Colombian drug king who died in a shoot out in 1993 after his reign had helped plunged his country Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz Music Review: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ soundtrack not so perfect

here is such a thing as being too clever. The Barden Bellas and the TTreblemakers, who return in the film “Pitch Perfect 2,” have found a way to cram even more songs per square airwave in their mash-ups. Although the tunes are neatly stacked and folded into each other, they don’t always work outside a visual medium. The reason is their brevity, two lines and they’re on to the next song. Thus listening turns into a race to recognize the song. The tunes span decades and genres and are deftly mashed into new entities. Some take flight, like the pleasant “Back to Basics” Actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny attend David Duchovny in concert.—AFP sequence that includes a cappella versions of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Lady Marmalade” and “Mmmbop.” However, “Riff Off” starts with an enjoyable rendition of the Duchovny, Anderson “Thong Song” and cycles through a dizzying array of booty-praising tunes in a short span, losing its head to its own ingenuity. sing together onstage The song that everyone keeps on coming back is Jessie J’s “Flashlight,” written by Sam Smith and Sia. The ballad, poignant and hey starred together on “The X Files,” Duchovny gave Anderson a light kiss on memorable, is one of the album’s highlights, but David Duchovny and Gillian the lips after the performance and whis- while singer-songwriter Ester Dean brings a TAnderson played like they were on pered in her modern EDM feel to the comedy with “Crazy “The X Factor.” “The X Files” stars sang ear as she left the stage. The musical col- Youngsters.” And the unexpected Snoop together onstage in New York City Tuesday laboration comes ahead of the duo repris- Dogg rendition of “Winter Wonderland” feels night, performing Neil Young’s “Helpless” ing their roles on “X Files” for a six episode like a good gamble in an otherwise pre- on the day Duchovny released his first run airing on Fox this summer. The hit dictable sound. For fans of a cappella, this album. The Golden Globe-winning actor series lasted nine seasons after debuting in will be a treasure trove of inspiration; for sang lead while Anderson harmonized with 1993. Duchovny also sang songs from his fans of the film, a serviceable memento; and his background singers and band. debut album, “Hell or Highwater.”—AP This CD cover image released by Universal Music Enterprises shows the original motion picture for the rest of us, just an OK album.—AP soundtrack for “Pitch Perfect 2.”—AP