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August 2, 2017 The Skanner Page 7 Arts & Entertainment Film Review: Freed Kidnap Victim Adjusts to Reality in ‘Brigsby Bear’ by Kam Williams For The Skanner News “B rigsby Bear” revolves around an age-old premise that’s tough to establish and main- tain convincingly — namely, the plight of a sheltered protagonist blissfully unaware of reality. Four fi lms come quickly to mind. In “Room” (2015), we witnessed a little boy being imprisoned with his mother in a shed by the rapist who’d fathered him. In “Life Is Beautiful” (1997), we found a concentration camp internee doing his best to shield his young son from the horrors of the Holocaust. In “Being There” (1979), Peter Sellers played a gullible gardener who learned everything he knew about the outside world from TV. And in “The Truman Show” (1998), Jim Carrey was an or- phan who had no idea that he’d been ad- opted by a corporation that turned his life into a reality show. Now we have Brigsby Bear, a wor- thy addition to the challenging genre. Film still from ‘Brigsby Bear’ The movie marks the impressive di- rectorial debut of Dave McCary, who’s been writing for “Saturday Night Live” since 2014. The picture stars SNL’s Kyle Mooney, who co-wrote the script with Kevin Costello. As the fi lm unfolds, we’re introduced to James (Mooney), a 25 year-old very content to be still living at “home.” The overgrown kid religiously tunes in to See FILM on page 9 Interview cont’d from pg 6 ron James, and he’s even made a guest appear- ance on it. Is it based on his life or on that of an- other basketball star? EA: No. When the se- ries fi rst started, it was loosely based on LeBron James’ life, and really that of many basket- ball players, as many of them fi nd themselves catapulted into a whole new world of money and notoriety when they start to play basket- ball professionally. But the series quickly took on a life of its own aft er season one. KW: Is there a mes- sage you want people to take away from the show? EA: Yes: we’re missing out on so much commu- nication and it’s okay ! e t a d e h t e v a S to talk to and relate to one another. Our show does a great job of start- ing the conversation by tackling issues with gut- punch creativity. KW: How about “Real Husbands of Holly- wood”? What’s it like playing Kevin Hart’s wife? EA: It’s fun. I had no guidelines in creating this character as I had not met Tori before starting that series. But I do enjoy annoying Kevin, so I tried to come up with a character that would drive him crazy. I think I nailed it. [LOL] KW: Since it’s a fake reality show, do people ever mistake you for Kevin’s real-life wife? EA: Gosh, Yes! Even people who know me! Like family members who totally would’ve been invited to the wed- ding if I’d had one. I just take it as a compliment to my acting. Guess I’m pretty believable. KW: What’s it like having so many guest stars on the show? EA: Busy! You never know what the next day is going to be like on set. But it’s always fun. KW: Harriet Paku- la-Teweles asks: With so many classic fi lms being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in? EA: “The Josephine Baker Story” and “Love Jones.” KW: AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read? EA: “The Greatest Manifestation Principle in the World.” Read the rest of this interview at TheSkanner.com –NEW– LOCAT ION F oundation 32nd annual MARTIN LUTHER JAN. 15 2018 KING, JR. 8:30AM-10:30AM Breakfast RED LION ON THE RIVER – JANZTEN BEACH 909 N HAYDEN ISLAND DR, PORTLAND, OR Tickets Sales and Guest Speaker will be announced on TheSkanner.com H Let’s turn the answers on. #SKBreakfast
