Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 24 deceMber 2018
‘Welcome to Marwen’ is a fantastic misstep

By LINDSEY BAHR living in a semi-permanent
Associated Press mobile home, popping pills
Eighteen years ago, a man like candy, and avoiding
named Mark Hogencamp human interactions wher-
was brutally beaten by ever he can — especially
five men outside of a bar those that remind him of
in Kingston, New York. The the assault, which is why
assault put him in a coma he’s doing everything he
for over a week and left can to get out of attend-
him with permanent brain ing the sentencing hearing
damage and little memory for his attackers despite his
of his previous life. To cope, lawyer’s pleas.
he constructed an elabo- His PTSD manifests in his
rate miniature World War fantasy world. When he
II-era Belgian town where feels attacked, suddenly
he would create fantasy there’s machine gun fire
sequences with dolls rep- being sprayed throughout
resenting himself, his friends the bar in Marwen. It’s also
and even his assailants, the place where he can
and photographed them. always get the girl, if he so
He called the town Mar- chooses. He can also con-
wencol and the eccen- This image released by Universal Pictures shows the dolls of Marwen, from left, Anna, voiced by struct whatever kind of girl
tric and fascinating scene Gwendoline Christie, Cap’n Hogie, voiced by Steve Carell, GI Julie, voiced by Janelle Monáe, he wants, whether it’s a
caught the attention of the Roberta, voiced by Merritt Wever, Suzette, voiced by Leslie Zemeckis, and Carlala, voiced by Eiza young blond milkmaid or a
art world, the media and Gonzalez, in “Welcome to Marwen.” replica of the woman, Nicol
eventually became the Associated Press (an uncomfortable-look-
subject of an acclaimed come to Marwen ,” despite Hoagie is handsome, as- is his fantasy, so they all ing Leslie Mann), who has
2010 documentary. what I believe were the sured and unflappable in love him of course, but he just moved into the house
Why Hollywood and an al- best of intentions, is cloy- wartime. A plane crash? tells them to keep their dis- across from him.“Welcome
ways innovative filmmaker ing, jaw-droppingly sexist No problem. Shoes on fire? tance because there’s this to Marwen,” co-written
like Robert Zemeckis would and oddly lifeless. It’s not He’ll just wear a pair of heels blue-haired Belgian witch by Zemeckis and Caroline
be drawn to this inherently that it’s a poorly-directed instead. A Nazi holding him named Deja Thoris (Diane Thompson (“Edward Scis-
dramatic, emotional and movie. It’s just stunningly at gunpoint? He’ll talk to Krueger, who is probably sorhands”) wants to be
fantastical story is hardly a ill-conceived. Steve Carell him with no fear. And if he thankful to be hidden be- both childlike and adult
mystery. The head-scratch- plays Mark, and his WWII gets in over his head, no hind the animation) who in ways that the film is not
er is how it ended up as action-figure alter-ego worries, a cabal of beau- gets jealous and kills wom- equipped to examine in
such a disaster. Yes, “Wel- Hoagie, who we meet first. tiful, machine-gun-toting en who get close to him. any sort of serious way, mak-
and scantily clad women Seriously. In the real world, ing the whole thing creepy
will come to save him. This however, Mark is a mess, and discomforting.q

Travis Scott in talks to perform at halftime show

By MESFIN FEKADU
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper
Travis Scott is in talks to per-
form at the Super Bowl half-
time in Atlanta, The Associ-
ated Press has learned.
A person familiar with the
situation, who spoke on
the condition of anonymity
because they were not al-
lowed to speak about the
topic publicly, told The AP
that Scott is close to sign-
ing on to perform at Super In this June 2, 2018 file photo, rapper Travis Scott performs at The
Bowl 53 on Feb. 3 at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Associated Press
The person confirmed that crimination against blacks the halftime show, brought
Scott will headline Pepsi’s in the United States two Scott to the NFL, which is
pre-Super Bowl concert on years ago. Some musicians in talks with the rapper.
Feb. 1 in Atlanta, two days have reconsidered per- Scott, 26, has had an uber-
before the Super Bowl. forming at the Super Bowl successful year with his lat-
Controversy has surround- as a result, and Rihanna est album “Astroworld,”
ed the halftime show since and Jay-Z were among one of the year’s top re-
NFL player Colin Kaepe- the stars who reportedly leases. It features the No. 1
rnick said he would not said no to performing at hit, “Sicko Mode,” and re-
stand for the national an- halftime show. The person cently earned Scott three
them in protest of racial dis- said Pepsi, which sponsors Grammy nominations. q