'Ratatouille' is Still the Best Film About Food
(09/23/20 9:02pm)
Among the ever–expanding Hollywood canon of films about food, the best one will forever be Pixar’s Ratatouille.
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Profits Over Plot: Why Live–Action Adaptions of Animated Children's Shows Fail
(09/14/20 3:18pm)
The massively popular second life of animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender is well–documented and well–deserved. A staple of our Nickelodeon childhoods, the critically acclaimed show was especially meaningful for children of Asian descent.
How Diverse Podcasts Make Film and Television Look Bland
(09/04/20 9:23pm)
The upcoming Netflix film The Devil All the Time released its trailer two weeks ago, causing a buzz thanks to its star-studded cast and suspenseful, gothic tones. Though it boasts the talents of industry heavy—hitters like Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and Sebastian Stan, there is not a single person of color to be found amongst the cast list.
Why British Panel Shows are the Best Quarantine Watch
(05/04/20 6:38pm)
Ever since I started as a student at Penn, I’ve survived finals by watching the British panel show, Would I Lie to You? In the show, two teams of contestants, led by iconic British comedians David Mitchell and Lee Mack, try to catch each other in a lie and win points. It’s game show television at its finest, emphasizing humor and wit over competition. WILTY has always helped distract me during finals season, and watching old clips of it now has me laughing even during the uncertainty of quarantine.
'SAWAYAMA' is a Must Listen
(05/01/20 1:43am)
Rina Sawayama’s debut album SAWAYAMA, released on April 17, is a genre–defying feat in introspection and identity presented as art. The album—produced by Clarence Clarity—sees Rina centering her identities as a queer British–Japanese person as the focal point of the record.
The Album with the Perfect Score
(04/20/20 7:10pm)
Throughout her long career, singer/songwriter Fiona Apple has been hard to categorize. Like Björk, she also came to prominence as a prodigy in the '90s with her hit single "Criminal," and she has a reputation for making difficult, avant–garde music.
New Releases or Radio Silent?
(04/13/20 1:51am)
In a time of canceled concerts and postponed music festivals, artists and their producers have reacted differently to a world on lockdown. The response is mixed, with some artists delaying the release of their albums, and some holding concerts via Instagram live. Artists from all sides of the pop music spectrum have shown us just how much one can do working from home.
Why Case Shows Never End Well
(04/06/20 8:55pm)
One of my all–time favorite guilty pleasures are what I call “case shows,” television series where every episode deals with a different case—think of police procedurals, the classic The X-Files, where there was a different monster every week, or House M.D., where the titular doctor diagnoses a different patient every episode. I grew up with these shows when they were at their prime, and they were the hallmark of entertainment during my preteen years. Now, since I’ve been at home for weeks, unable to go out or see anyone, these shows have been one of the comforts I’ve come back to.
The Top Fictional Alumni of the University of Pennsylvania
(04/08/20 5:38pm)
Everyone knows Penn has noteworthy alumni everywhere from finance and the White House to show business, but less mentioned are its fictional alumni. This includes any fictional character who has mentioned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania as part of their biography. Although slipping in a reference to Penn as a bit of casual world–building is far easier than to actually attend the school in real life, when and how writers choose to do so shows how Hollywood perceives the Red and Blue. And though there are certainly many more existing in television and film, this list boils down the top five, all dominating the small screen, though you'd be hard–pressed to find any of them in an admissions brochure.
"Life in Shorts": Director Gavin O'Connor on 'The Way Back'
(03/02/20 10:23pm)
Gavin O'Connor, C'86, has a thing for sports. Not only was he on Penn's football team back in his salad days, but he's since gone on to direct films like Miracle, about the US hockey team's eponymous "Miracle on Ice" in the 1980 Winter Olympics, and Warrior, in which Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton portray brother MMA fighters. The greatest departure from O'Connor's groove may be The Accountant, in which he directs Ben Affleck playing an autistic hitman who spends his days as a CPA.
'The Invisible Man' is the Prototype of the Modern Horror Movie
(03/04/20 8:57pm)
H.G. Wells’ novel The Invisible Man, one of the pillars of science fiction, depicts the world through the eyes of Griffin, a mad scientist who learned how to make himself invisible. He terrorizes a local town with his newfound ability, leading to the destruction of his own sanity and that of those around him.
Disney's LGBTQ Representation in 'Onward' May be a Misstep
(02/28/20 3:30am)
Disney has claimed to have their first gay characters numerous times, each to varying levels of outwardness, representation, and validity. First, it was LeFou in the live adaptation of Beauty and the Beast who did little more than dance with a man in an ensemble scene at the film’s close. Next, it was through Cyrus Goodman on Andi Mack, who was the first of Disney’s characters to say “I’m gay” on–screen. Now, Disney has garnered headlines again with a character in the upcoming film Onward, voiced by Lena Waithe, who, apparently, is the first out gay character in a Pixar film.
How 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' Caters to the Female Gaze
(02/28/20 3:07am)
There is no question Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a story for women. Although oppressed by their circumstances, there's joy and courage in the daily lives of our two main characters, Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a French painter, and Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a bride–to–be who is her subject.
'Sonic the Hedgehog' Wasn't Worth the Wait
(02/28/20 3:19am)
Why can’t we stop talking about Sonic the Hedgehog? Almost a year ago, in April of 2019, the movie made headlines after its first trailer. The reason? Its absolutely horrific design for Sonic. His eyes were small and beady, his teeth were shockingly human, and his overall look was so photorealistic that he scarcely resembled the fuzzy, blue hedgehog we have come to love from the original Sega games. Apparently, the dozens of articles on the subject and the public outcry were heard by the producers—just a few days later, they announced that Sonic’s design was to be changed and the movie’s release date postponed.
'Picard' is a Modern Update on the Idealism of Star Trek
(02/21/20 1:21am)
Star Trek: Picard is an addictive show that stands on its own, despite having roots in previous Star Trek media. It may be less emotional or nostalgic for viewers who are unfamiliar with the other installments of the franchise, but it’s still an independently interesting science fiction mystery. The show clarifies itself as it goes along, setting up the stakes for those with no background in the greater Star Trek universe.
A Piece for Pugh
(02/21/20 1:40am)
Every generation needs its darling. It should come as no surprise that names such as Elizabeth Taylor or Audrey Hepburn, the most famous actresses of their time, are surviving household names. More recent and comparable women who started their careers while young and have had a lasting impact on culture include Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson. Just a generation later it's Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster. Now, however, it comes time for the current crop of college students and young people to figure out who will become the prominent name of the time. Among a wide scope of talented performers, a single name has emerged: the 23–year–old, Academy Award–nominated, Florence Pugh.
Kristen Schaal: Animation's Most Memorable Voice
(02/21/20 12:58am)
Even if you don't know Kristen Schaal's name or face, you definitely know her voice. Gracing the best animated cartoons of the past decade, you've inevitably heard her childish, high–pitched intonation, whether due to her leading role as Louise in Bob’s Burgers or Sarah Lynn in BoJack Horseman.
'Fantasy Island' Fantasizes That It's a Horror Movie
(02/17/20 6:48am)
Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island, based on the 1984 ABC television series of the same name, has a very simple premise—somewhere, there is an island that makes your dreams come true. The mysterious Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña) runs it with his ominous staff and apparently invites various people to visit and live out their dreams. With such a concept, of course, things will quickly go awry.
'Birds of Prey' Deserves Better
(02/17/20 6:00am)
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is a superhero movie in some sense of the genre. It's based on comics by DC, set in the famous city of Gotham, and cares about a character’s journey to beating some brooding, ominous villain who pulls political strings behind closed doors. It has fight scenes, character development, and big, flashy sequences where all our heroes come together.
A Love Letter to Bollywood
(02/12/20 1:02am)
When I was a child, my family didn’t have cable. When we wanted to watch something together, we’d pull out the DVD that sat under the television throughout my childhood, unceremoniously kept in a white paper sleeve with a handwritten title on the top: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, one of the most popular Bollywood movies ever made.
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