Time Off Books NONFICTION Her food, her self IF YOUARE WHAT YOU EAT, ELEANOR ROOSEVELTWAS LEFTOVERS ON TOAST. Culinary historian Laura Shapiro has memorialized one 0fthe world's most celebrated cooks inJulia C ん旧 : A も and dissected American food culture in two 0ther works. ln her latest, What SheAte: Six emar た ab 厄 Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories, she studies the eating habits and hang-ups ofsignificant figures. Probing biographies, archives and her subjects' own writing, Shapiro argues that f00d and diet open revealing windows intO character. extraordinary circumstances produce extraordinary women; ” She writes, "food makes them recognizable. ” —LUCY FELDMAN FICTION Do-gooders in gangland RYAN GATTIS' NEW novel, Safe, pits tWO narra- tors against each other— both ofthem bad guys trying t0 be good. Ricky MendozaJr. , a. k. a. Ghost, a former addict whO cracks safes for the DEA, has decided to go rogue ⅲ a "ghetto Robin H00d' plot tO steal from gangsters tO pay offmortgages ofthose inneed. (lt's 2008 , and the financial criSiS looms. ) This puts him at odds with RudoIfo "Rudy ” Reyes, a. k. a. Glasses, a power- ん 1 gangster 's right-hand man whO hopes tO inform on his boss and start life fresh. At times, Gattis over- explains these men S motivations. He needn't— the pathos oftheir problems is inherently compelling. This macho, faster-than- a- speeding- bullet novel benefits from the extensive research Gattis has done on the L. A. gang scene —hiS previous novel,All lnvolved, was about the 1992 riOts— and that deep knowledge informs electrifying plot twists. TO navigate them, Gh0 st knows , he's "got t0 put a saddle on all the stuff that makes me be me and ride it. Strategy ・ Lying. Cleverness. AII the gifts I ever had that made me a damn goodjunkie have got to be used for good now. ” —SARAH BEGLEY 瓦 E 0 飛 00S V 瓦 T The cuisine in the Roosevelt White House was widely known as "the worst in the history Ofthe presidency. A Depression-era mentality certainly contributed— Henrietta Nesbitt, the COOk (the "most reviled" ever tO serve) dreamed up a low-cost lunch standby: 厄代 ove , whether kidneys, curried eggs shrimp and peas, 0 れ toast. The First Lady herself had little skill orinterest in the kitchen—the one dish she prepared with confidence, again and again throughout her marriage, was scrambled eggs, beaten and cooked in a chafing dish at the suppertable. "ltwas the onlyversion of homemaking she felt she was good at," Shapiro writes. " Everybody liked the eggs and the convivial atmosphere, and nobody questioned the casting. EVABRAUN The firstwords Braun spoketoAdoIfHitIerwere "Guten Appetit, ' uttered over a Bavarian sausage and beer she placed before him as a photographer's assistant. She was 17 , he 40,and theiraffairbegan shortlythereafter. Hitler hid their relationshipfrom the public through their 1945 suicides,which occurredthe dayafterthey married. But within the walls Ofthe Berghof, a zone untouched by wartime famine, Braun cherished her position in the seat tO his leftat lunch. Meals like sauerbraten (a pot イ oast dish), dumplings and spaghetti were Often shared among officials and guests (Hitler, a sweet-toothed vegetarian, was served from a separate tray)—but aside from a thirst for sparkling wine, Braun consumed very little. "She found his dietary regimen disgusting and said so, Shapiro notes. Secretary Traudl 」 unge described Braun as very proud ofbeing slim and dainty. 石 GU. 飛瓦 Y 飛 0 Ⅳ 旧 Sex and the SingIe GirI and as editor Of CosmopoIitan, Brown nevershied awayfrom sharingthe details Ofher life. Butwhen itcame tO fOOd, she could neverquite make up her mind. Attimes she declared herselfto be an expert cook—at others, a novice. She celebrated eatingand then decried the guiltthatfollowed.ln truth, Brown was a career dieter. Her favorite nighttime sustenance: a box Of sugar-free 」 e , mixed intO rub- berwithjusta bit ofwaterand finished with a dollop Of light yogurt. "FOOd and comfort, fOOd and safety, fOOd and emotional support—it's the Oldest relationship there is," Shapiro writes. "When she came backto her favorite 」 e ル 0 night after night, she was tasting perfect calm and sweet security. ILLUSTRATIONS BY CARRIE LAPOLLA FOR TIME 50 TIME JuIy 31 , 2017
LIFE ?ING MALL As America's malls close down, ~ れ 10re t 0 stores are va iS え ng 0 れ g w 羸 them B Y コ 0 S H S A N B U R N
お 0 CO 刀 0 FamiIy Organizer 〇 ne simple app that calms the chaos of back to school. ← SchooI SuppIies List ー + Add item Baekpaek ロ B ・ nder [ コ 1 pack of # 2 pencils RYAN'S SUPPLIES Mechanical Pencils 凵 S SUPPLIES MON AII day TUE AII day 7 : 10 p WED 6 : 30 a 8 : 00 a 4 : 00 p 5 : 30 p 7 : 00 p 9 : 00 p THU B-day 10 : 00 p 9 : 00 a 10 : 00 a 4 : 30 p 5 : 30 p 6 : 30 p Sept ヤ Week Month September 4 Dutton Family Camping Trip (Lake CheIan) September 5 First day of school EmiIy ・ Ryan ・ Lily Mariners VS Astros David ・ Ryan ・ Li'y September 6 Swim team practice ( A 「 bo 「 Heights) Emiiy Soccer practice (Madison field) ・ Ryan BOOk CIub (Cafe Ladro) ・ Anne September 7 MichaeI's birthday (Turns 40 ) を A け Retu 「 n library books ・ Anne Orthodontist appt ・凵 y Curriculum night (Gatewood Eie 「 nentary) Get Cozi today— ・ free in the app store, ′ Download on the ロ AppStore GETITON Goog PIay JOin 20 million others whO have simplified family life with Cozi! •ÄÄracl< your family 、 schedules in oneplace 第 Send reminders to others in the famjly Share the grocery list, chores and meal plan Easy to use from any mobile device, tablet 0 「 computery ノ
Movie C H R ー S 1 0 P H E R ー N す 0 A N 0 [ A N す R N S 0 N E 0 ド W 0 R [ 0 W A R 宿ド S 0 S 1 C ー N E M A す一 C M A S 1 E R P ー E 0 E 0 RA M A 1 ー C 、 E E N 1 S . お Y S fE P HA ーに・ Z A 0 A R
I wanted tO throw the audience straight intO bombs landing on the beach. HOW much this very intense, snowballing series ofevents did YO 収 rely on special effects? Obviously we used visual effects when that in my films you normally only find ⅲ the necessary tO remove rigs, tO make things safe, third act. I felt the intensity ofthe experience and make it 100k like there are more planes would be such that there would be a saturation than there were. But of any ofthe films l've point where people couldn't sit through worked on, thiS was the most in-camera anymore. For that reason it felt important that [meaning shot on film, not added as an effect it be as short as possible. later] film we've been able to achieve. There's a very uncomfortable matchup between Seeing this movie ⅲ lmax is almost computer-generated imagery and the World overwhelming. HOW m 収 c are people War Ⅱ period. lt tends to not sit well. missing ifthey watch it from their couch? I like to make films that justify the price of admission. The type Of 61m that is most vital What makes Dunkirk different om your right now iS a cinema ofexperience—a 61n1 in previous films? I would say Dunkirk is my most experimental which you really feel that you are being taken structure since Memento. I tried tO give the away someplace different. audience an experience that will wash over them. They'll sit back and—l won't say enJOY YO 収 are a serious filmmaker whose movies the ride, because this is a very intense ride— are alSO blockbusters. Why has that but experience the 61m. I never want the become a rarity lately? audience tO watch the 61m in an overly cerebral lt's a very different world than when I made B 砒 ma れ Begins, where I felt I was really able t0 way. lt's not meant tO be a puzzle. lt's meant tO express something about what I felt. Right now be an experience. individual VOices in mainstream filmmaking are a little bit buried by the concept ofthe This is the shortest movie you've made existing franchise, which has become a very since your 1998 feature debut, 0 03- robust economic model for the studios. But I ing. Why did D れⅳ demand less time think that will change. I think that the studios to tell? I wanted tO tell the story primarily in visual have always valued freshness and new VOices. Hollywood has always valued the unexpected— terms and not through the usual theatrical devices ofpeople discussing backstory. even ifWall Street doesn't. 4 . す H E S Y M M E 1 R Y 加 aiming tO capture what No 厄 ca 広 "the bureaucratic れ 0 re ” 0 工 e horror, va れ月・ 0 ア tema says 市 avoided ove 日ツ precise visuals. "You don't want tO see as it's observed 妙 住〃 intellectual, pretentious rnm e ら” explains. ロ 43
を対 : = 朝 1 0 H R ー S す 0 P H E R N 0 [ A N ' S G R E A す W A R B Y E 凵 Z A B E R M A N No れ , 46 , as built 0 career making smartfilms 市砒 are so blockbusters. His 10thfeature, Dunkirk, the British-American director's most ambitious yet. He spoke t0 TIME 0b0 砒 how 0 れ d why he made thisfilm OW H ー S 10 R ー C A R E S E A R C H Ⅳ 0 〃 0 れ d va Hoytemapored overphotos た e these as well as newsreelfoo tage れ d firsthand accounts. But 市 avoided direct replication. ' ア ou come up with 0 language 市砒沁 not self-conscious 0 れ d thatfeelspure, ” says va れ日 0 ア tema , ツ ou enter 0 scene andjust believe れ . ' part Ofthe national DNA. lt's in your bones as a Over the past decade, you've made movies BritiSh person. You receive the story first in its that take place ⅲ the DC Comics universe, more mythic, somewhat oversimplified terms. within the human subconscious and 0 収 t in The more you find out about the reality ofthe space. Why come back tO earth, tO history? Dunkirk is one Ofthe great untOld stories in evacuation, the more you find out ab out the modern C1nema. Having made a trip on a small me ssy historical truth of the thing. boat across the Channel about 25 years ago, the roughness ofthe water, the sheer physical DO yo 収 think there's a particular reason challenge of making that crossing—but without why the story hasn't been 亡 01d ⅲ film? Yes, I dO. What I realize in retrospect is this is anyone dropping bombs, without traveling a British 61m ー it has no Americans in it—but f intO a war zone—cemented in my mind an ま extraordinarily high level 0f admiration for the it needs the Hollywood studio machine t0 be able to make something technically on the people wh0 ⅲ 1940 just got 0 Ⅱ those little boats scale that's necessary tO dO this storyjustice. and came over tO help the soldiers. l've always seen Dunkirk as a universal story, something that anybody could relate to. But Growing up ⅲ Britain, what was your the reason why it hasn't been made before is it perception Of the events at Dunkirk? ln Britain, you grow up with this story. lt's really requires such massive resources. 41
lt also comes, by the way, from a person his blond forelock, like an English Troy Dona- whO has gotten little enjoyment from most hue) is with him, and a neighbor, George (Barry of Nolan's movies, with the exception Of Keoghan, whose eager, earnest face practically the observant, deeply affectionate 2015 tears a gash in the movie), hops aboard at the documentary short Quay, about experimental last minute, uninvited but welcome enough. animators Stephen and Timothy Quay. N01an Rylance has the demeanor, the carriage is perh 叩 s best known for his trilogy 0fBatman and even the wardrobe Of a man whO stands films, particularly The Dark Knight ( 2008 ) , by what's right. When he boards his boat, which characterizes the Gotham superhero he's wearing a んⅡ tweed suit, complete with as a reclusive, reluctant loner With a bruised waistcoat. But his sense Of what's right has soul. But the movie's alleged darkness is ofthe nothing t0 d0 with propriety. lt comes, simply, calculated s ort. Like most Of Nolan's pictures ー fromthe heart. ln one ofthe film's quietest, most especially the elaborate puzzle movie lnception astonishing 1 れ 01 れ entS , he confirms tO hiS son, ( 2010 ) , a densely plotted dazzler that adds up with nothing more than a glance, that telling a t0 nothing—it's heavy on flashy technique that lie can sometimes be the right thing tO dO. strives tO convlnce us it's great filmmaking. Dunkirk, grand and ambitious as it is, is OF COURSE, Dunkirk is an action 1 れ 0 ⅵ e. NOlan different from any other NOlan movie. lt's calls it a "ride; ” the kind of cringe-inducing different from any other war movie, periOd. language e ncouraged by marketing dep art- steven Spielberg's saving private ッ 0 れ ( 1998 ) ments. But he clearly knows it's more than is Often hailed as a great war picture, and its that. The picture is intense and harrowing in Normandy-invasion sequence is brutally places. Those with fears ofclaustrophobia and effe ctive. But its intensity practic ally burns the drowning should steel themselves. The movie rest Ofthe story away. NOlan sustains Dunkirk's is alSO at times assaultively loud, a feature that dramatic tension from start tO finish. This is a meshes with eyewitness accounts. Yet it's SO supreme achievement made from small strokes, carefully paced and shaped that it never feels a kind of seurat painting constructedwith dark, like punishment. lt is also only 106 minutes glittering bits 0f history. N01an filmed largely long—its very economy is an act Of boldness. on location, at Dunkirk Beach. ()n certain lnstead 0f shrinking from this world, you scenes, a calm lake ⅲ the NetherIands stood ⅲ reach toward it. This is a picture that needs tO for the bulldoggishly choppy English Channel. ) be seen big, in lmax if you can. (That recom- The flying scenes, taut and thrilling, feature real mendation comes from a person WhO normally vintage Spitfires. When the small boats arrive' prefers dentistry tO lmax. ) How Dunkirk's unique visual style was achieved: ュ . T H E ー N す E N 5 ーす Y Cinematographer Hoyte va れ日 0 tema captured the relentless action by training hiS 厄れ S over the soldiers' shoulders 0 れ d れれ iZi れ g overhead shOts 市住 t allow for reflection between action た es. "Every shotyoujust ha 怩 tO askyourself,' he says, "what it wou 旧 e た e. ” 39
Time Off Reviews Bomer, i れ g 0 genius producer with hand ⅲ everything, watches over hiS stars as FX's Feud: Bette 0 d れ . lts side storie s include the megastar (Jennifer Amazon tries tO complete F. SCOtt Beals) with a secret, the bratty child Fitzgerald's unfinished novel star (Chloe Guidry) who is fed drugs to perform. Even thudding hints at what's By DanieI D'Addario t0 come for the characters land gently. We see portents ofthe future in large successful man. Success as a producer part by meeting chic Fritz Lang and THE LAST TYCOON, AN UNFINISHED novel by F. Scott FitzgeraId published followed. Women want to be with him, Marlene Dietrich. ℃ 00 れ is as sweetly in 1941 , a year after his death, is a and men want t0 beat him—specifically, addictive as box-offce candy. nervy piece 0f work. The draft j itters Kelsey Grammer's Pat Brady, a rival And yet I wish there were more. with desperation, as if Fitzgerald were executive consumed byjealousy. ツ C00 れ , like Amazon's less entertaining trying tO craft, sentence by sentence Bomer, the star of White Co ″ 0 ら but equally glamour-glutte d Zelda and aphorism by aphorism, a hit. The is amiably blank. He convinces you Fitzgerald dramaZ: The Beginning 可 perspective shifts almost at random that Monroe responds tO various Everything, is a diverting series that uses and the plot, about a movie executive psychological torments, including being history the way revelers at a Gatsby- with barely hidden vice s , skitters away a widower, by adopting the pose of themed party today use a strand offake from its author's control. lt's plainly vacuousness. That he left me wanting pearls. ツ C00 れ tosses it on as a way tO unfinished but んⅡ of neuro se s and vastly more is maybe the point—as show that the past was different but also passion. That is to say, んⅡ oflife. that's hOW everyone whO meets him fun! Fitzgerald is often remembered ln adapting it for the screen, Amazon seems tO feel, including Pat's wife, Rose, beyond the classroom for the romantic has made a show that feels the opposite. played by an aching Rosemarie DeWitt. drama ofhis life and times. But he wrote The first season ofThe Last ℃ 00 And as Pat's daughter Celia Brady, the with crackling acuity about los ing love unfolds slowly, taking time to nod ambitious young would-be producer and losing one's mind and, above all, at every aspect Ofthe moviemaking wh0 is the novel's real protagonist, LiIy about the curse ofliving ⅲ the past. industry and LOS Angeles society in the C011ins has the sort of rising gumption Amazon's The Last ℃ 00 れ is about a 1930S. lt's beautiful—and damned ifyou any fan ofJudy Garland will recognize. man who's good at his job and—contrary compare it tO itS source material. She resists the urge tO put a topspin of t0 Fitzgerald's view ofthe human Title aside, the ShOW seems more millennial irony on the role. And she condition—the pleasure ofretreating influenced byMad Men than by sells this show's devotion to an idea of intO historical fantasy.. lt's a missed Fitzgerald's works. Monroe Stahr (Matt the past as impossibly elegant. opportunity. One that, after a gorgeous Bomer) is a sort ofproto—Don Draper. The show will appeal to fans of 10 hours, you may not remember. Born t0 a scornful father, he changed OId HoIIywood. lt's as lavish a re- THE LAST TYCOON wi 〃 stream on Amazon his name and affected the mien ofa creation ofthe bygone La La Land starting on 」 y 28 48 TIME July 31 , 2017 TELEVISION T 工 E LAST TYCOON: AMAZON; OZARK: NETFLIX; LINNEY: GETTY IMAGES
Conversation THE INVESTIGATOR RE "WILL BOB MUELLER Separate Fact From Fic- tion? ” [July 3 ] : Gee, how can there be a conflict Of inter- est justifying the removal of Robert Mueller as special counsel investigating Presi- dent Trump when he is an old pal ofJames Comey and has "installed Democratic donors on hiS prosecutorial dream team ” ? With a dos- sier like that, the only way Mueller's conclusions can be considered fair and accu- rate is if they exonerate the President. Anything else will look like a witch hunt, not tO mention a superb use Of tax dollars. MichaeI 仕 Keedy, ALAMOGORDO, N. M. TERROR 粮 THE PHILIPPINES RE "A DEADLY NEW FRONT for ISIS ” [July 3 ] : Your re- port accurately describes tO the world the horrific ordeal taking place in the siege 0f Marawi City as the menace Of terrorism reaches Philip- pine soil. As Ronald Reagan concluded: government iS not the solution tO our prob- lem, government is the prob- lem. Such is the case here, where past governments have failed to addre s s Mind- anao lsland's nagging issues. On behalf of those people who dearly love peace, I 叩 - peal tO the current govern- ment to faithfully adhere tO its promises SO that the TALK TO US SEND AN EMAIL: letters@timemagazine. 00E Please dO not send attachments FOLLOW US: facebook.com/time @ti me (Twitter and lnstagram) much-awaited peace will finally come. Hermini0 ArcalesJr. , MANILA THE MILITANT MANIFESTA- tion among the Moro com- munity is just the latest twist ⅲ thorny Philippine-Moro relations. A military push won't SOlve the socioeco- nomic disadvantages that marginalize and eventually fuel recruitment to terrorist groups by appealing t0 soci- ety's hopeless have-nots. lmran Contractor, VALLEY STREAM, N. Y. CONFEDERATE MEMORIALS RE "A CONFEDERATE MONU- ment Solution, With Con- text ” [July 3 ] : I have no an- cestors who fought for the Union. I have no ancestors who fought for the Confeder- acy. I have no ancestors WhO owned slaves. Still, when Confederate monuments are removed, I feel as though my American heritage is being assaulted. Thanks t0 Josh Sanburn for showing us how some cities have leadership With vision. Stu Bieber, LAKE GENEVA, WIS. RACIAL BIAS RE "THE DRUG CASCADE ” [July 3 ] : I understand the urgency tO get treatment for the people wh0 are suffering from opioid addiction, but I am tired Of seeing the ava- Will Bob Mueller separate fact om io 取 ? 第 : り 1 ど当」いいト ! は $ highlights , imagining the and as the end of the article space technology happening, some amazing advances in read for everyone. There are and made it an accessible tOOk a very scientific subject Kluger. I appreciate that you new telescopes by Jeffrey fascinating article on NASA's [JuIy 3 ] : Thank you for the RE "EYES IN THE SKY ” INFINITY AND BEYOND PHILADELPHIA Ma A 〃〃 Parrish, black wome n. oin babies ” as they did with or their addicted babies "her- calling them "heroin whores ” fied by the media. NO one is women are not getting vili- is a rush to treatment. Their demic ” for white folks, there Now that we have an ' epi- folks were addicted to crack? all this attention when black on the subject. Where was lanche ofmedia comments MILK DUDS RE "FOR THE RECORD ” [July 3 ] : The 7 % 0fAmeri- cans wh0 said they believe that brown cows produce chocolate milk p robably voted for President Trump and may well be his climate- change advisers. Brian L. 6 も oc わ厄ⅲれ , MAYO, IRELAND SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ln "How They Make the Greatest Show on Earth ” (July 10 ー 17 ) , the fashion credits misidentified the jacket worn by Nik01aj Coster-Waldau. lt is a JOShua Kanejacket. ln the same issue, "Why America's First Daughter ls a Hit in China ” incorrectly described G-III Apparel Group Ltd. The company makes clothing under the lvanka Trump name , but it does not pro- duce lvanka Trump shoes and isn't involved with the brand's trademark possibilities iS awe-inspiring. Chelsea D 卍 0 れ , DUBLIN applications. Send 0 letter: Letters tO the Editor must include writer's 〃 name, address 0 れ d home telephong may be editedforpurposes ofclarity orspace, d should addressed t0 the nearestofftce: HONG KONG - TIME Magazine し e e , 37 / F , OxfO House, TaikOO Place, 979 King's Road, Qu 砒Ⅳ Bay, Hong Kong; JAPAN - TIME Magazine し e 社 e , 2- 1-27F Atago, TOkyo 10 6227 , Japan; EUROPE - TIME Magazine 社 e , PO BOX 63444 , London, SEIP 5F 」 , UK; AUSTRALIA ・ TIME Magazine し e e , GPO BOX 3873 , Sydney, NSW 2001 , Australia; NEW ZEALAND - TIME Magazine し e せ e , PO BOX 198 , Shortland St. , Auckland' 1140 , New Zealand PIease recycle this magazine and remove inserts and samples before recycling 3
Reviews Time Off within the context Of its broad, exaggerate d humor—never seems tO be trying tOO hard. You've seen the setup before, probably only a few weeks ago ifyou've darkened the doors Of a movie theater. Four best friends from college, now edging toward middle age, reunite after falling out oftouch. Regina Hall's Ryan Pierce, a successful writer and aspiring heir- t0-Oprah TV star, has been invited tO work her magic at the Essence Festival in New Orleans, and she decides that this might be a good time to get the old gang, known as the Flossy Posse, together. Sasha (Queen Latifah), formerly a successful journalist, now runs a gossip site— work that doesn't make her particularly happy. Lis a (Jada Pinkett S mith) is the divorce d mom who lives for her children and has fallen into premature frumpiness. Dina (the glorious Tiffany Haddish) marks time at an offce job, but she reallyjust lives to have a good time. Of the four she's the one with the dirtiest mouth and the one most likely to take wild chances. Her wardrobe iS a menagerie Of neon animal prints, and she favors hoop earrings the size Of cruise-ship portholes. 'Women are just Even though Ryan has as lascivious a reputation t0 uphold, the women waste no and sexual as time in getting up tO men, and they no good, hitting the want tO let loose club s in their tighte st and have fun. ' dresses and highest MALCOLM D. LEE, Loubs. (Timid Lisa is director Of Girls Trip, the one whO needs the in Entertainment Week/y predictable makeover: her defense ofher dowdy skirt, ostensibly hand-embroidered by GuatemaIan artisans, is one 0fthe movie's funniest bits. ) Girls Trip contains the most outrageous depiction Of public urination l've ever seen—but I mean that as a recommendation, not a deterrent. There's the obligatory ridiculous white girl (played by Kate WaIsh). But face it—white girls are pretty funny. And yet, in the end, the movie is generous toward her, as it is tO all its characters. These women learn life lessons, sure. One ofthem gives a loser guy the gate, and another scales a long-overdue career overhaul. Through it all, they laugh, scream and mime unbelievably dirty sex acts. But the overall mood is one Ofjoy and catharsis rather than self-inflicted debasement. This is a girls'-night- out comedy that doesn't leave you feeling depleted and insulted. GirIs Trip has tall shoes to 6 Ⅱ , and it never stumbles. 46 TIME JulY31, 2017 0 れ d れ e iS a message from a lost world: the 1990S THERE'S NO SUCH THINGAS THE PERFECT FAMILY. BUT when you're a teenager, any family seems better than the one you ve got. That's the territory mined by writer-director Gillian R0bespierre and co-writer Elisabeth HOlm in も 0 れ卍ⅲ e , set ⅲ New York City in the mid-1990s, when people still used pay phones and bought music at Tower Records. This was also before smartphones gave us a handy excuse to stop looking each other ⅲ the eye. Although where there's a will, there's a way: perpetually irritable teenager Ali (Abby Quinn) can't stand her mother, hardworking, distracted pat (Edie FaIco). She also grows t0 despise her father Alan (John Turturro), an advertising copywriter who'd rather be a playwright, when she discovers a cache oflove poems that suggest he's having an affair. She confides in her older sister Dana (Jenny SIate), whO's suffering from some relationship trauma Ofher own and temporarily moves back tO the family apartment to sort things out. Ali's prickliness drives the tWO youngwomen apart, but they broker an une asy pe ace when they weigh a tough question : Should they tell Pat about Alan's infidelity? Robespierre directed the tender and extraordinary 2014 comedy Obvious Child (also co-written with H01m, also starring Slate), and while this picture doesn't have the same quiet-earthquake impact, it's just as emotionally open and just as funny. At one point Ali storms out 0fthe house angrily, and Pat, in that deadpan-comic tone parents use when they send their kids out tO face wolves (orjust the world), worries aloud that she'll probably get mugged. AIan assures her that that won't happen: "She's too scary. " You laugh, but it hurts a little tOO. lt's clear Ali is no fun to live with, and Robespierre and HoIm redirect our sympathies from one family member to another gracefully. The actors are all terrific: as Ali, Quinn has a radiant wildcat sweetness—there's fragility behind all that hissing. And Slate, with her marvelous, helium-tinged voice, is a pure pleasure tO watch. At one point she responds tO a friend's outrageous dating tale with a classic spit-take. Somehow she makes it bOth elegant and hilarious. —STEPHANIE ZACHAREK Slate ⅲ Landline; the wa. we were, before smgr 中 0 れ e & MOVIES LEE: GETTY IMAGES; LANDLINE: MAGNOLIA; SPIDER-MAN: SONY; RI 工 ANNA. VALERIAN 】 UNIVERSAL ロ