Page 4 August 3, 2017 Entertainment Film Review To the Bone is a Worthy Debut from One of TV’s Fiercest, Funniest Female Writers By Kailee Andrews for Cinemacy Marti Noxon is a television visionary, but you probably haven’t heard of her. As a screenwriter and producer, she shaped two of television’s modern classics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Mad Men, and even stepped in as show-runner for Buffy’s controversial, ambitious final seasons. Clearly a force to be recognized, Noxon’s debut feature film, To The Bone, resembles television in the best possible ways. It’s character-driven, limber in its movement between comedy and tragedy, and extends the character’s life well beyond the moment. We begin with Ellen (Lily Collins), a 20-year-old artist suffering from anorexia. She has dropped out of school and is shuffled between treatment programs. None have worked. So, with exhaustion, Ellen agrees to treatment with an unconventional doctor, played with a stern warmth by Keanu Reeves. You may now feel a building sense of skepticism and comparison to other films where sick, smart-mouthed teens deal with existential questions and benefit from the guidance of a cool mentor. However, Noxon and her team are the perfect, passionate crew for telling this story with authenticity and charm. And that achievement begins with the fully realized protagonist. We meet Ellen in a stasis. Fearing her past and unwilling to build a future, she worries that she’s moved from personhood to burdenhood in the minds of her family, and herself. She is smart and sympathetic, but--and this is key--the film wisely avoids romanticizing her appearance or mindset. Lily Collins gives a lovely performance, but when the camera is trained on her body it maintains a clinical gaze. In an industry that praises, and often demands, that women make themselves small, Noxon’s film employs costumes, lighting and a body double to show us life-threatening weight loss. Likewise, as we enjoy the frequent laugh-out-loud dialogue, Noxon and Collins carefully remind us that same wit can heel-turn into a biting, outward expression of Ellen’s own self-hate. For instance, in one excellent bit of physical humor, a friend of Ellen’s performs an inspired When Harry Met Sally-style sexual encounter with a chocolate bar. Ellen laughs along before snapping when she realizes that even this moment among friends can’t break her compulsive calorie control. This is a very responsible film. It’s also a reminder of the necessity of giving artists the freedom to tell their own story. Marti Noxon and Lily Collins both were once young women with eating disorders, and Noxon’s script includes autobiographical details. The material is elevated by the specificity both bring to the table. To the Bone is a masterclass in taking a deeply felt, personal story and dramatizing it into a stylish, strange and powerful film. It’s a moving exploration of a disease that affects millions and is often misjudged as vanity rather than a true illness deserving of treatment. It’s unafraid to incorporate weird, specific details that can come with anorexia, such as being bottle-fed as an adult. The characters’ problems aren’t resolved by speechifying doctors--the film is wise enough to say that professional treatment and community are so, so essential, but one’s personal will is the critical leap. To the Bone is a worthy entrance into film from one of television’s fiercest, funniest writers. Marti Noxon’s project stands on the vanguard of the fight for women’s stories to be seen for what they are, which is as commercial and fully cinematic as anything. To the BoneJTOPUSBUFENJOVUFT/PX streaming on Netflix.r Lily Collins in To the Bone. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. Check It Out Camping Day By Patricia Lakin; Good Night, Animals By Lena Arro; and Froggy Goes to Camp By Jonathan London Reviewed by Katrena Woodson, Teen and Young Reader Librarian, El Segundo Public Library This week, I am reviewing a few picture books on the topic of camping. The first is called Camping Day by Patricia Nash. The story is centered on a family of crocodiles as they experience all of the joys and troubles that can come from camping, packing, hiking, pitching the tent and telling stories around the campfire, as well as being afraid of the dark and dealing with the noises of nature. Lakin’s story is cute and the text will engage young readers. The book is wonderfully illustrated by Scott Nash. Nash’s minimalist style and use of vibrant colors are sure to hold the reader’s interest. This picture book is a fun read aloud that would be best enjoyed by readers ages three to seven. The next camping book is Good Night, Animals by Lena Arro and illustrated by Catarina Kruusval. This is the story of a brother, Bubble, and a sister, Pearl, who are planning to go camping and spend the night in a tent. Pearl is very uncertain and a bit afraid of what the night will hold for them, but Bubble is there with his flashlight and a reassuring smile to tell her that everything will be all right. Pearl keeps hearing strange noises that scare her only to discover that the noises are coming from friendly animals that Bubble invites into the tent to join them. By the end of the book, the tent is jam-packed with animals and Pearl is no longer afraid. This is a charming tale perfect for young readers between the ages of three and five. For the last book, I chose to review Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London. Fans of Froggy will especially love to follow their beloved Froggy on yet another journey. In this story, Froggy is out of school for the summer and his parents are sending him to a summer camp called Camp Run-a-muck. Froggy is nervous and uncomfortable at the beginning of the story because he is a long way from home and doesn’t know anyone at camp--feelings all kids who have gone away for camp are sure to relate with from past experience. As the book goes on and Froggy becomes more at ease, he starts to make friends and have a great time. London’s text is full of silly sound effects, and the illustrations are humorous as well as action-packed. This book is perfect for children who might be nervous about going away to camp for the first time. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out Camping Day by Patricia Lakin; Good Night, Animals by Lena Arro and Catarina Kruusval; and Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London, Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London. or any other title on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your library card, or please contact the reference staff for further BTTJTUBODFr Camping Day by Patricia Lakin. Good Night, Animals by Lena Arro. Katrena Woodson. Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com
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