Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 29 July 2019
'Art of Self-Defense' examines, satirizes toxic masculinity

By LINDSEY BAHR vey Weinstein allegations
Associated Press broke during the shoot
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Di- in 2017 and the #MeToo
rector Riley Stearns says he movement became a
didn't realize he was mak- phenomenon.
ing a perfect movie for "It was kind of weird that
2019 when he started writ- this idea that I had been
ing "The Art of Self-Defense feeling was very personal
" four years ago. to me was really starting to
But his darkly comedic riff spread into a direct discus-
on toxic masculinity starring sion," Stearns said. "More
Jesse Eisenberg as a timid and more people are relat-
and "weak" man who takes ing to the film in ways that
up karate just kept becom- I originally wouldn't have
ing more relevant. The Har- intended, which is hugely

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Jesse Eisenberg in a scene from "The Art of Self-
Defense."
Associated Press

humbling and very interest- said. "Casey is a product of Bechdel Test," Stearns said.
ing to see." this very unusual world. As "My intent then was to say,
"The Art of Self-Defense" is much as I loved the char- let's find the best people
currently in 540 theaters na- acter I also loved the world for the job to take on these
tionwide, where it's finding he exists in which is a world department head jobs but
a healthy audience amid where people speak in this also really try to focus on
all the flashier blockbusters very unusual, blunt, earnest finding the best women for
and superhero films in the way." the jobs as well, to really
multiplex. Imogen Poots plays the try to counteract that. I just
Eisenberg's character film's sole main female knew I didn't want it to be a
Casey Davies is mocked character, an instructor at set full of men. It was really
even for his "feminine" the dojo who despite all important for me to have
sounding name. After get- her skills has not been pro- that female perspective."
ting brutally beaten one moted to black belt. Sterns Both Stearns and Eisenberg
night by horde of masked did this knowingly, but also see some of the changes
motorcyclists, he stumbles made a concerted effort happening in the industry
on a local dojo run by an to make sure his below the as many wake up to the in-
over-the-top alpha played line team was predomi- justices women have been
by Alessandro Nivola and nantly women. subject to for too long.
signs up for classes. And "It's a film about men, star- Soon after filming "The Art
things take an unexpect- ring men, written by a man. of Self-Defense," Eisenberg
edly dark turn. Everything about it was so found himself on the set of
"There's an absurdity to overtly masculine, which I "The Hummingbird Project,"
him because he's timid knew, I was making fun of with Salma Hayek and Erika
in such an extreme way it, but still at the end of the Rosenbaum, who both al-
and aggressive in such an day was not going to be on lege Weinstein sexually ha-
extreme way," Eisenberg the side of films passing the rassed them.q

K.Flay celebrates all her sides on

CD 'Solutions'

By MARK KENNEDY Illinois-raised Kristine Fla- Vibes." She channels Wee-
Associated Press herty, starts her third studio zer on the environmentally
K.Flay, "Solutions" (Night CD with the wonderfully au- conscious "Not in Califor-
Street Records/Interscope) tobiographical statement nia" and practically raps on
It's always been hard to pin song "I Like Myself (Most of "Good News." Her thrilling
down K.Flay's music. She's a the Time)" and ends with vocals range from babyish
bit of a sonic chameleon, a wistful tune about her to Joan Jett-ish.
mixing elements of hip-hop, father, "DNA." In between, K.Flay, whose biggest hit to
rock and indie pop with we get to celebrate all the date is her 2017 "Blood in
moods that go from brash gloriously different sides of the Cut," got a song on the
to introspective. You'll get an artist who resists getting TV show "Riverdale" and has
no clear answers after lis- boxed up in one genre. been featured on songs by
tening to her new album There's The B-52-ish "This X Ambassadors, Tom Morel-
"Solutions" — thankfully. Baby Don't Cry" and the lo and Mike Shinoda.q
K.Flay, the stage name of Lorde-adjacent "Bad