Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 14 November 2019

Elizabeth Banks takes a shot at

'Charlie's Angels'

By LINDSEY BAHR once chalked the show's other words, just entertain
Associated Press No. 1 status up to bras (or us. And in that respect, this
If you're watching a big stu- lack thereof). 2019 "Charlie's Angels" only
dio film featuring a female But then Drew Barrymore partially succeeds.
ensemble, there is a 50% and McG came along The action is fine and en-
chance that there is go- with a take that knowingly gaging but nothing we
ing to be some monologue winked at its own history of haven't seen before. The
about how men underes- sexploitation while playing costumes, by Kym Barrett,
timating women is both a into a very 1990s "you go are fantastic (a love letter
truism and an advantage. girl" concept. Add a batch to sequins, hot pants and
This image released by Sony Pictures shows, from left, Kristen It's becoming as inevitable of charismatic movie stars excess) as are all the fierce
Stewart, Ella Balinska and Naomi Scott in "Charlie's Angels," in
theaters on Nov. 15. as environmentalist super- and a Destiny's Child an- makeup looks. As for the
Associated Press villains. On its face it's a them about financial inde- chemistry? Well, it's a little
harmless observation and pendence and suddenly lacking. Part of that is due
a signal to the audience "Charlie's Angels" seemed to the story. These Angels
that this movie is aware of fresh. don't have a pre-existing
modern gender politics. What is most surprising relationship. Stewart's Sabi-
Sometimes it's even pass- about the latest "Charlie's na and Balinska's Jane are
able, as in "Hustlers." But Angels," which was written solo operators. And one
where it starts to wear thin and directed by Elizabeth (Scott) isn't even an Angel
is when the movie around Banks, who also plays the at all, but an engineer who
it doesn't stand up to even part of Bosley, is how little gets dragged into the fray
the most modest expecta- the "go girl" feminism of the because she's discovered
tions of popcorn entertain- 2000 film has evolved in that the energy saving
ment (hello, "Ocean's 8"). nearly 20 years. Blame soci- device she created can
The latter is more the case ety or a lack of imagination be weaponized. So when
with "Charlie's Angels ," star- on the part of the filmmak- things go awry with the de-
ring Kristen Stewart, Ella Ba- ers, but there is nothing all vice and it's stolen to be
linska and Naomi Scott. It that new about the ideas sold on the black market,
is, of course, a semi-reboot here. The film even feels they have to learn to work
of the 1970s television series the need to hit the audi- together under the oh-so-
that spawned a film series ence over the head with a fabulous and oh-so-jaded
and another attempt at a "girls can do anything" mes- guidance of Banks' Bosley.
television show. sage right at the start with Stewart is having so much
While it has always fea- an entirely sincere (and fun playing such a sarcas-
tured three women in the wholly disconnected) mon- tic and carnal character
lead roles, the original con- tage showing pre-teens that it's impossible not to
cept was not exactly a doing things like sports and smile along with her, but
model of enlightened femi- science. the others get a bit lost in
nism. And unhelpful moni- But then the question of her movie star shadow. The
kers like "Jiggle TV" did their expectations rises again: interplay of three magnetic
best to undermine any kind What are we really looking stars is what made the 2000
empowerment that audi- for in a "Charlie's Angels" film so appealing. And
ences might have derived movie after all? Not terribly Stewart's delightful come-
from seeing women lead- much. Some good action, dic turn is not enough to
ing a popular television costumes and chemistry carry the sluggish begin-
show. Even Farah Fawcett from the leads, perhaps. In ning. q

New award to honor arts and activism

named after Lena Horne

to honor arts and activism, well as Harry Belafonte, Billy
a prize to be named after Porter, Judy Collins, Dee-
Lena Horne. sha Dyer, Roxane Gay, Bob
The Lena Horne Prize for Art- Santelli, Bruce Cohen and
ists Creating Social Impact Jose Antonio Vargas.
will recognize those who Lumet Buckley says her
“promote awareness and Tony- and Grammy-win-
create social change.” ning mother didn’t chase
This April 7, 1994 file photo The inaugural winner will fame. “It was about ad-
shows singer-actress Lena
Horne in New York. be honored in February. vocating for equality and
Associated Press The recipient will receive a justice and I am so proud
$100,000 donation to be di- that her legacy will contin-
By MARK KENNEDY rected to a charity of their ue through the Lena Horne
NEW YORK (AP) — The ven- choice. Prize.”
erated Times Square con- The prize’s advisory board The prize was created by
cert venue The Town Hall includes Horne’s daugh- Michael Matuza, Jeb Gute-
has created a new award ter, Gail Lumet Buckley, as lius and The Town Hall.q