Page 62 - Time Magazine, Sep. 17, 2018

TimeOff Reviews

MUSIC
Paul
McCartney
stays curious

PAUL MCCARTNEY’S ACCU-
mulated discography is
among the most impres-
sive in pop. But as he’s
demonstrated in recent
years—in his collabora-
tions with Kanye West and
Rihanna, and in marathon
live shows—the former Bea-
tle and forever member of
rock’s highest echelons has
little interest in being con-
tent with his achievements.
Egypt Station, the 76-year-
old legend’s 17th solo album,
Purser and Froseth, cooking up a scheme that backfires puts McCartney’s boundless
curiosity on loving display,
MOVIES balancing instantly humma-
When great kids do not-so-great things ble ditties with intrepid rock
explorations.
By Stephanie Zacharek Recorded with super-
producer Greg Kurstin (Tegan
TEENAGERS OFTEN DO TERRIBLE In its best moments, Sierra Burgess, and Sara, Adele, Beck), Egypt
things, to themselves and to others; directed by Ian Samuels and written Station has pop confections,
the road to becoming honorable by Lindsey Beer, has the charm of like the flirtatious “Come On
adults is sometimes paved with a few a Shakespearean mistaken-identity to Me,” which benefit from
stones of cruelty. In the sweet, smart gambol. The movie stumbles in places, the pair’s attention to detail.
Netflix-produced romantic comedy working a little too hard to vilify certain But Egypt Station really takes
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, Shannon secondary characters. But the charm of flight in its second half, with
Purser (who played cult favorite the lead actors wins out. Centineo has two final tracks—both six-
Barb in Stranger Things) stars as the shambling appeal of a junior Mark plus minutes, both stylistic
high school senior Sierra, a bright, Ruffalo. His Jamey is a nice kid with no flights of fancy—putting a
reasonably confident young woman idea of how good-looking he is: when he grandly ambitious bow on the
who knows she falls short of the sends Sierra an awkward shirtless selfie, album. It shows McCartney’s
beauty standards that teenagers set he’s unaware of his Adonis-like power. spirit—still irrepress-
up for themselves: she’s curvy and a Froseth’s Veronica is the ice queen who ible, all these years
little socially awkward, but mostly gradually thaws out, also thawing us out later.
she’s getting by just fine. Then one of when her vulnerabilities become clear. —MAURA JOHNSTON
the class mean girls, haughty beauty Purser is a radiant presence,
Veronica (Kristine Froseth), plays unafraid to reckon with how unlikable
a prank on her, passing her number some of Sierra’s behavior is. Pushed
along to a good-looking football to the breaking point by her own
star from another school, Jamey frustration—she’s sure she could never
(Noah Centineo). Jamey texts Sierra, get a guy like Jamey on her own—
thinking he’s talking to Veronica. Sierra stages a betrayal that’s almost SIERRA BURGESS IS A LOSER: NETFLIX; MCCARTNEY: GET T Y IMAGES
Flattered by the attention—though shockingly out of character. Yet Purser
she knows it’s not meant for her— makes you believe in it. Even nice kids
Sierra keeps up the charade, can behave badly when the things they
eventually drawing Veronica into the want most seem tantalizingly out of
scheme. The two become tentative reach. Purser helps us see that cruelty
friends as the deception escalates, for what it is: a learning curve that can
though someone is bound to get hurt. be as radical as a hairpin turn. □
58 TIME September 17, 2018