T U E S D AY | 0 3 . 2 5 . 2 0 1 4 | E X P R E S S | 23
Not a ‘Punk’d’ Joke
AP AND GETTY IMAGES
Dave Brockie, left, performed in GWAR as “Oderus Urungus,” right.
GWAR’s Brockie Dies at 50 Obituary Dave Brockie, who as “Oderus Urungus” fronted the alien-costumed heavy metal band GWAR during graphic and fake-bloodsoaked stage shows for more than three decades, has died. He was 50. Officers were called to Brockie’s home Sunday evening and found the singer dead inside the home, Richmond police spokeswoman Dionne Waugh said Monday. Detectives don’t suspect foul play at this time, and the medical examiner’s office will determine cause of death, Waugh said. The band, founded in 1984, is known for its comically grotesque costumes, stage antics and vulgar lyrics. GWAR was nominated for Grammy Awards for best long-form music video in 1993 for “Phallus in Wonderland” and for best metal performance for “S.F.W.” in 1996. GWAR released its latest album, “Battle Maximus,” in September 2013. Brockie remained a constant in the band that has had a revolving door of members, including lead guitarist Cory Smoot, who was found dead on the band’s tour bus in North Dakota in 2011. He was 34. MICHAEL FELBERBAUM (AP)
PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX/EXPRESS ILLUSTRATION
Mila Kunis is expecting a child with fiance Ashton Kutcher 27
Bible on the Big Screen ‘Noah’ is the latest scriptural adaptation to reach out to a new audience: churchgoers Film In the beginning of their work together on “Noah,” director Darren Aronofsky made Russell Crowe a promise: “I’ll never shoot you on a houseboat in a robe and sandals with two giraffes popping up behind you.” It ’s an unlikely project: a $130 million Bible-based studio film made by a widely respected filmmaker (“Black Swan,” “Requiem for a Dream”) few would have pegged as a modern-day DeMi-
lle. “Noah” is a culmination of the Biblical film shift brought on by Mel Gibson’s independently produced “The Passion of the Christ,” which awakened Hollywood with a $612 million box office haul in 2004. When Jonathan Bock started his company Grace Hill Media in 2000 to consult Hollywood studios on reaching the faith community, the two “really didn’t know each other,” he says. Since then, films like “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “The Blind Side” have benefited from outreach to churchgoers. “You’ve seen the faith community go from almost pariah status or fly-over status to now being seen as an important market,” says Bock, who consulted on “Noah.” “In my
Get the Popcorn A slew of other religious stories are set to join “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe, above left:
“Son of God” (February) Based on the miniseries “The Bible”; stars Diogo Morgado, above center, as Jesus. “God’s Not Dead“ (March) A Christian college student tries to prove to his professor that God is real. “Exodus“ (December) Christian Bale, above right, stars as Moses in Ridley Scott’s adaptation. “The Redemption of Cain” (TBA) Will Smith is producing this vampire twist on Cain and Abel. “Gods and Kings” (rumored) Ang Lee replaces Steven Spielberg as director of this possible Moses epic.
mind, what we’re seeing is another renaissance where the greatest artists are telling the greatest stories every told.” Though Hollywood largely swore off the Bible epic when films like 1965’s “The Greatest Story Ever Told” flopped, the revival dovetails recent trends. Figures like Noah come with no licensing fee, and, often, plenty of opportunity for flashy special effects. Aronofsky believes he has a history of artistic ambition on his side. “What is literalism when it comes to interpreting and making an artistic representation of the text?” Aronofsky says. “Is Michelangelo’s David a literal interpretation of what David looked like?” JAKE COYLE (AP)
It’s High Time: In an interview with website celebstoner.com, Tommy Chong, far left, said he would reunite with longtime comedy partner Cheech Marin, left, for a new film in the “Cheech and Chong” franchise. “Super Troopers” director Jay Chandrasekhar is set to direct. Chong told the website that in the script, which Chandrasekhar will write, the duo attend “a festival called the Burning Joint. All sorts of shenanigans happen. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” (E XPRESS)