Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 28 February 2019
Huppert adds class to stalker thriller 'Greta'

By LINDSEY BAHR and-white photos in dusty
Associated Press silver frames that looks like
Imagine you're a 20-some- it belongs to a 95-year-old,
thing living in New York City not a 65-year old. (My first
and you spot a particularly thought was, "Is this Greta's
nice and structured green mother's home?")
leather handbag on the It's a not so subtle meta-
subway. Do you report it phor for the societal invis-
to the MTA? Ignore it and ibility of the aging woman
move on? Claim it and its and a theme of this other-
contents for yourself? Re- wise berserk but enjoyable
turn to the owner? film that I'm having trouble
For Chloe Grace Moretz's reconciling. First, because
Frances, a wide-eyed Huppert isn't nearly as old
transplant to the big city, as the film seems to want
it's obvious: You go alone her to be, and second be-
to hand-deliver the bag to cause perhaps narratives
Greta Hideg (Isabelle Hup- further alienating older
pert), who, according to people by casting them
the identification card you as creepy and crazy out-
find, is a tiny, nice-looking siders are kind of evil. Is it
woman in her 60s. This is the because it's written by men
first of many mistakes Fran- This image released by Focus Features shows Isabelle Huppert in a scene from "Greta." (Ray Wright and Jordan are
ces makes in writer and Associated Press co-credited as the screen-
director Neil Jordan's ("The writers)? It's possible con-
Crying Game," ''Michael riding the train alone back siders the right thing and ghost Greta that things get sidering how ridiculous and
Collins") stylish and know- to the spacious apartment before you know it, she and bad. underdeveloped a char-
ingly over-the-top "Greta she shares with her room- Greta are fast friends and Greta, a widow and mother acter like Erica is.
," a dark, Brian De Palma- mate Erica (Maika Mon- it's nice for a while! They to an estranged daughter, But Huppert seems to be
esque fairy tale about the roe), a wealthy party girl take walks in the city, have lives in one of those impos- enjoying herself fully lean-
dangers of trusting a lonely with more street savvy than long talks about life over sible old city houses that's ing into Greta's insanity, so
soul. She might just turn out dear Frances. Erica sug- homemade meals and red been so built up around, it's perhaps this one can get a
to be a wolf, right? gests they take the cash in wine, and even adopt a almost hidden now. Inside is pass. She helps elevate the
The film starts out like a rom- the purse and use it for co- dog for Greta. a cozy, but decaying mish- film from its self-consciously
com, introducing sweet lonics. But Frances, who re- It's only when Frances stum- mash of elegant vintage B-movie roots to be some-
Frances working in a fancy cently lost her own mother, bles on something that wares — threadbare rugs, thing that's actually pretty
Manhattan restaurant and wants to do what she con- frightens her enough to torn upholstery and black- good.q

Takedown of Paul LeRoux is gripping

true-crime tale

of a Criminal Genius and uncovered the truth. They
His Empire" by Elaine Shan- realized that with all of Le-
non (Morrow). Roux's worldwide resourc-
A master criminal and the es in technology, drugs,
step-by-step methods used weapons and people, it
to stop him permeate this would not be easy to take
gripping account that is him out.
both well-written and ex- These agents worked for
haustively researched by a division called the 960
Elaine Shannon. Group, essentially the elite
Paul LeRoux was a ruthless of the elite. They hatched
killer who took the tradition- a bold plan to infiltrate Le-
al methods of organized Roux's operation by using
crime and mixed them with the same methods that
modern technology. His had given their target so
team of mercenaries were much success: a combina-
ex-military men who mur- tion of modern technology
This cover image released by dered his enemies without and men willing to risk their
William Morrow shows "Hunt- hesitation or remorse. With lives undercover.
ing LeRoux: The Inside Story of so many layers to his enter- What follows is a gripping
the DEA Takedown of a Crimi- prise, LeRoux was able to true-crime tale that is both
nal Genius and His Empire," by
Elaine Shannon. stay hidden in the shadows unbelievable while yet be-
Associated Press while he raked in the mon- ing realistic. Investigative
ey and others did his dirty journalist Shannon takes
By JEFF AYERS work. the reader beyond the fly-
Associated Press A few elite Drug Enforce- on-the-wall and puts them
"Hunting LeRoux: The Inside ment Administration (DEA) right into the heart of every
Story of the DEA Takedown agents saw a pattern, and action and situation.q