Film Macau Daily Times | Edition 2701 | 08 Dec 2016 Awards season opens This year's Oscar favorites don't appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards. The top contenders — "Moon- light," ''La La Land" and "Manchester by the Sea" — have together grossed modestly at the box office, though "La La Land" is yet to be released X3 Movies: Neruda Books: Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance by Mark Greaney Music: Blue & Lonesome by The Rolling Stones Wine: The Progenitor of East Asia Food & beverage: Mexican ancient beverage of pulque makes a comeback MANCHESTER BY THE SEA BY MANCHESTER X2 PÁTIO DA ILUSÃO illusion DRIVE IN Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer POET ON THE RUN IN A AP PHOTO STARTLINGLY GREAT ‘NERUDA’ hilean director Pablo Lar- storytelling. Larrain is not inte- creatures — a popular poet of rain is on a hero’s quest to rested in dramatizing a Wikipe- the people. Cdestroy the conventional biopic dia page, but getting to the truth “This man would pull a piece it seems. He turned the post-as- in spite of the facts. In this way, of paper out of his pocket and sassination days of Jacqueline even though he explains relati- 10,000 workers would go silent Kennedy into an atmospheric vely little, he reveals quite a lot. to hear him recite poetry,” says examination of mythmaking New York Times Book Review one character in the film. and the public and private self critic Selden Rodman said of His communist affiliation made in “Jackie,” and in “Neruda,” Pablo Neruda that “no writer of him an enemy of the state in the story of a poet on the run, world renown is perhaps so litt- post-WWII Chile, however, into a thrilling meditation on le known to North Americans.” forcing him into exile in 1948. authorship. I certainly didn’t know any- We’re introduced to Neruda The stories of both Jackie Ken- thing about the Chilean poet, (played by Chilean actor Luis nedy and Pablo Neruda are and that fact is likely inextrica- Gnecco, who gives a tremen- already compelling on their bly linked with my assessment dous dramatic performance) own, but Larrain manages to and enjoyment of the film, but living life as a communist se- go beyond the specifics and get not to its artistic merits, of whi- nator, a poet and an all-around to their essence through power- ch there are many. bon vivant with his aristocratic fully and uniquely cinematic Neruda was and is that rarest of wife, Delia (Mercedes Moran). Gael García Bernal in a scene from "Neruda" He’s pompous and charming noir-style detective on the hunt ving. It is silly and looks silly, and hedonistic and empathetic for the exile with mechanical but somehow it works, drawing AP PHOTO all at once — but glaringly dis- resolve, but within these genre you further into a trance-like sta- connected from the people he confines the story manages also te rather that shaking you out of writes about and for. to be immensely playful and in- the movie magic with a cheesy, When a warrant is issued for sightful, too — about politics, antiquated technology. his arrest, Pablo and Delia go authorship and art — as it toys But again, “Neruda” is more on the run away from their fan- with form, tone and story. interested in the ineffable expe- cy digs and parties and friends There is a great meta conver- rience than reality, or making and attempt survival in more sation between Oscar and De- you forget you’re watching a modest settings, always fear- lia at one point in which Delia movie. Not many directors get a ful of who might be around the tells Oscar that he is merely a one-two punch like “Jackie” and corner ready to report them to secondary character who is “Neruda” in the same season, but the authorities. Pablo sneaks given context and life only by it just makes it all the more clear out on occasion to mingle with the man he’s pursuing. The ar- that Larrain is one of the world’s the local prostitutes when he’s tificiality of the self-conscious most exciting and imaginative not writing. exchange is exaggerated by filmmakers, whatever the subject On their tail is a police officer, their shifting setting (one mo- may be. Inspector Oscar Peluchonneau ment they’re inside sitting at a (Gael Garcia Bernal), a charac- table, the next they’re outside “Neruda,” a The Orchard re- ter who was invented for the standing face to face). Larrain lease, is rated R by the Motion story to make it more of a fa- also gives Oscar’s pursuit of Picture Association of America ble. While “Neruda” starts out Neruda an intentionally fake for “sexuality/nudity and some a little slow, it kicks into gear quality by using rear end pro- language.” Running time: 107 Luis Gnecco as Pablo Neruda with Oscar’s arrival. He’s a jection during shots of him dri- minutes. BOOK IT tTUNES TOM CLANCY TRUE 'FAITH 'BLUE & LONESOME' BY AND ALLEGIANCE' THE ROLLING STONES he latest novel featuring templates what to do, his son t shouldn't be a surprise, really, but still it's a bit TJack Ryan, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Jr. is undergoing startling to hear just how well the Rolling Stones AP PHOTO I iconic hero and now president training to join an elite spe- AP PHOTO can play the blues. Strip away the glitz, the oversized of the United States, delivers cial-ops group known as The stages and the pyrotechnics, and you're left with two all the elements that fans ex- Campus. The organization terrific guitarists, a frontman who can play an exu- pect from the franchise. is recruiting a few others as berant harp — and a drummer named Charlie Watts. In Mark Greaney's "Tom well, and their expertise will No wonder "Blue & Lonesome" sounds so solid. Clancy True Faith and Alle- be needed when a terrorist Their first studio album in more than a decade has giance," someone with inside begins striking at individuals the simplest of concepts: Put the guys in a studio for knowledge and access to per- inside the United States. Has three days, give them a songbook heavy on Jimmy sonal details of key military this enemy been given classi- Reed, Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf, and play it and government personnel fied materials to strike at the live, without overdubs. The album is noteworthy for has been selling that informa- heart of America? President what it is not: It's not a museum piece, not a tribute tion to enemies of the United Ryan will need to put his per- album, not an exercise in nostalgia, even if at times States. sonal feelings aside to save the sound harkens back to the blues covers that filled In a crowded New Jersey res- the nation from a ruthless ad- the Stones' first few albums. taurant, U.S. Navy Comman- "Tom Clancy True Faith and versary. The Rolling Stones, "Blue & Lonesome" In those early days, they always seemed to be trying der Scott Hagen is on leave Allegiance (A Jack Ryan Tom Clancy died in 2013. His (Interscope) to sound like somebody: Chuck Berry here, Muddy with his family when a man Novel)" (G.P. Putnam's Sons) novels were blockbusters that Waters there, and the songs, though undeniably cool, shows up and tries to kill by Mark Greaney focused primarily on techno- had a rushed, frenzied feel. The Stones were trying him. The gunman is a Russian logy while the people invol- to prove their Delta authenticity, not an easy task for five English kids. Fifty-plus years later, they whose brother was onboard a These are only two examples ved were secondary. Action- aren't trying to sound like anybody but themselves. The songs have grown, expanded, been given submarine that Hagen des- of a growing problem with a thriller author Greaney, who room to breathe, and the playing is remarkably self-assured and comfortable. troyed when he was serving data breach of such extreme has continued the series, han- Mick Jagger's voice is deeper and raspier now, and he's not straining for effect. His blues harp on the USS James Greer. magnitude. How does this dles the tech side with grace playing, neglected for decades, is effective and convincing. The guitars take center stage, showing Meanwhile, in Tehran's air- informant have such top-se- and has fleshed out the cast Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood at their expressive best, with Eric Clapton sitting in on two tracks. port, a Canadian businessman cret details? Is everyone who and given them depth. The Stones' early passion for the blues helped introduce a young white audience to the established who has previously made a works for the government or Clancy fans will enjoy "True giants of the Chicago blues scene. Songs like "Little Rain" and "Hoo Doo Blues" show the Stones dozen visits is flagged as a military now a target? Faith and Allegiance." can continue the tradition on their own. CIA spy. While President Ryan con- Jeff Ayers, AP Gregory Katz, AP 08.12.2016 thu NEWS OF THE WORLD Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer n Hollywood’s early but rapi- THE OSCARS dly solidifying awards season, two films — radically different Iin tone and tune — have separated themselves from the pack: “Moon- light” and “La La Land.” ‘Moonlight,’ ‘La La Land’, “Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins’ lyri- cal coming-of-age tale, added to its already hefty haul on Sunday, ‘Manchester by the Sea’ separate taking best picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association .