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(03/24/18 1:00pm)
When Zoolander 2 was released in 2016, I did everything in my power to pretend it didn’t exist. I immediately dismissed every trailer and subway station ad that inevitably found a way to sneak into my life, as though they were figments of my imagination. There was no way, I assumed, that the buffoonery that made the 2001 film Zoolander so outlandishly funny could be replicated without feeling completely worn out. I was also concerned that revisiting some of the original gags would force me to accept how juvenile they always were. Thankfully, I was able to avoid Zoolander 2 until it completely fell off the cultural radar.
(03/25/18 1:00pm)
Hang in there, Quakers. While it might not feel like it judging by the weather outside, summer vacation is only a couple of weeks away. As you begin to struggle through projects and finals, you might already feel like you need a respite from school. Consider putting off your work to watch one of these movies that could provide you with some much–needed escape.
(03/20/18 2:18pm)
I saw the trailer for Thoroughbreds at the Paris Theater in New York at some point in early December. It was the two female leads that eventually made me get out of bed on a Sunday morning just to go all the way to Old City and watch it—at least, this is what it looks like on an ever–growing list of “cool trailers” that I keep on my phone, and which comes in handy specifically in moments like that one.
(03/20/18 1:00pm)
Saturday Night Live, the bastion of American satire and late–night humor, has largely been lauded for its jabs at contemporary politics and culture. Since its creation in 1975 by Lorne Michaels, the program has churned out successful comics, television and film writers, and actors. While the television show does consistently create a handful of interesting characters and skits, SNL often quickly turns into a trite amalgam of reused jokes and tropes that beg the question: is SNL actually terrible? To which I answer, yes, it is.
(03/22/18 1:00pm)
Some people live to watch camera confessionals, wine throwing, and rich people crying; and some can’t stand it at all. However, if you’ve ever wanted a happy medium between “reality” television and real life, look no further. Terrace House, a Japanese gem of reality TV hidden away on Netflix, is the kind of show that both sides of the divide might be able to get behind.
(03/23/18 1:00pm)
Television crime shows are by no means homogenous—they may be fictional or based on true events, documentaries or live action, dramatic or comedic—but they are ubiquitous, and have had sustained popularity as television has evolved. Perhaps it’s the mysterious nature of crime that audiences are drawn to, or the fascinating psychology of the criminal mind. Maybe it’s the suspense of a well–crafted “whodunit” scenario that makes fictional crime compelling, and the grisly, off–putting details of true crime that gets under the skin of those who prefer documentary–style series. In any case, crime has, and will likely continue to be subject matter that makes audiences tick.
(03/19/18 1:00pm)
No one enjoys the first school days back from spring break. To cope during these difficult times, many turn to the same tried–and–true solution: Netflix. But what happens when you log on, only to realize that you binge–watched literally every appealing prospect over break?
(03/16/18 1:00pm)
It can be hard to find good shows to watch in languages that aren’t English. While the movie world has robust foreign film industries to compete with Hollywood, and even the Oscars honor foreign language films, there are less television shows that bring stories in other languages to life with the same amount of worldwide reach.
(03/22/18 1:00pm)
The availability of an entire season of television at arm’s length upon release has changed the way we watch television. On the one hand, binge–watching shows over the course of a few days is a satisfying way to process the whole story without waiting week to week for answers. On the other hand, it is only so long before we’re forced to hop on to the next thing once we’ve wrapped up on a series. This March, Netflix is bringing back several original series, as well as introducing some new ones. There are also a handful of streamable movies and documentaries coming to the platform throughout the month.
(03/23/18 1:00pm)
Remember those nights when you and your friends gathered in a circle to play party games? From Pictionary to Charades to Trivial Pursuit, these games never get old.
(03/14/18 1:00pm)
After the success of Glee, American Horror Story, and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, it only seems appropriate to deem writer/producer Ryan Murphy television royalty. Glee wrapped up its sixth and final season in 2015, and American Horror Story is currently in between annual installments. Meanwhile, American Crime Story is in its second season, following its predecessor The People v. O.J. Simpson with the somewhat less known true crime story of the assassination of Gianni Versace. The season is announced to wrap up with a ninth episode planned for March 21st.
(03/15/18 1:00pm)
There were a lot of things to like about Boyhood. It was sweet and thoughtful, like any good coming–of–age tale should be, and, perhaps more importantly, it felt like a fully realized vision. The director, Richard Linklater, was on a mission in making this film, as he sought to do the unprecedented and use the same young actor again and again over the course of 12 years, to the effect that the audience could see a boy grow into a man right before their eyes. This unconventional approach produced a kind of raw movie magic—it was something people had never seen before. It is easy to attack the film for being nothing special, given how ubiquitous the slice–of–life coming of age film is. I dare to disagree.
(03/16/18 1:00pm)
Despite the absence of a single functioning cinema in Moscow until 1922, Soviet Cinema prolifically flourished within a matter of years. Only a year later in 1923, an additional 89 cinemas had begun operation within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In its earliest stage, Soviet Cinema was composed largely of agitki—didactic propaganda films meant to agitate and induce the masses to participate in the new order of Soviet political life. Reaching countryside to countryside, such short reel films exposed countless Soviet peasants to motion pictures.
(03/13/18 1:00pm)
In the theatrical release of A Wrinkle In Time, before the first shot, there is a filmed message from director Ava DuVernay, who offers a warm, confident explanation for why she chose to take on the adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved 1962 science fiction novel. The decision to break the fourth wall before the movie even begins comes off as strange, but sitting down to watch it—or, just pulling up reviews—clarifies the purpose of the segment: A Wrinkle In Time is, in many ways, a movie that demands an explanation. Why is DuVernay, an acclaimed director who helmed projects such as 13th and Selma, directing a children’s movie? Why is it flopping at the box office compared to Disney’s other recent release, Black Panther, despite its diverse cast that includes stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, and Mindy Kaling?
(03/04/18 2:00pm)
“It was an honor just to be nominated.” Usually, we assume this is a lie intended to make actors sound grateful, but in the case of many young Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, the honor truly does lie in the nomination rather than the win. While it may come as a shock to some readers, winning an Oscar can actually be a career curse to many actors.
(03/14/18 1:00pm)
Last spring, I had a conversation with my father about Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. This is a rare thing for us—my dad typically only cares about television if a football game or an OJ Simpson documentary is on. He doesn’t care about most shows, but he does care about his job as a middle school principal and the students that he works with. When he became concerned about a new show that they were talking about at school, he asked me if I had seen it. I did—first, a few episodes with mild disinterest, then the rest of the show in one outrage–fueled sitting—and by the end, I came to understand why teachers and administrators, as well as TV critics, had issues with it: it’s a reductive and glorified account of what it’s like to struggle with mental illness, aimed at an impressionable audience.
(03/14/18 1:00pm)
Walking around Penn’s largely pre–professional campus, the chances of seeing a movie camera that doesn’t belong to a news network are minimal. But Penn does have its fair share of aspiring filmmakers who pursue this art both on and off campus. Street had the opportunity to talk to three of them about how they discovered their passion, how they used it to put their thoughts on screen, and what they plan to do with it in the future.
(02/27/18 2:00pm)
These days, seeing a movie can be expensive. The average price of movie theater tickets in the U.S. hit an all time high last year, and the costs of DVDs, subscription services, and on–demand movies on platforms like YouTube can add up. Even for the film lovers who avoid costs using less legal means, in today’s busy world, there’s still the time commitment of sitting down to watch.
(02/28/18 7:16pm)
It should come as no surprise that history is a great storyteller. Bringing historical moments to life on screen can illuminate the triumphs and pitfalls of people across space and time. Revisiting stories with contemporary significance through film ensures that the lessons of the past remain within the public psyche. Black History Month serves as a moment for the celebration of Black excellence, a reflection on the experiences of African Americans (both today and through history), and a deepening consideration for the people and events that will forever shape the political, social, and cultural landscape of the United States.
(02/26/18 2:00pm)
The Great British Bake Off, a BAFTA Award–winning television series, exemplifies the best of what reality television has to offer: sweets, critiques, and layers of British humor. The UK show has propelled 24 different international spin–offs, along with similarly structured series such as The Great Pottery Throw Down and The Great British Sewing Bee.
