Search Results
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
(10/01/19 1:04am)
Judy Garland is undoubtedly one of the most famous American actresses of all time. From her lead role in the groundbreaking film The Wizard of Oz to her enduring status as a gay icon to her tragic death at the age of 47, she is not only a part of film iconography but also an emblem of the American entertainment industry. Unfortunately, despite her compellingly tragic life story, the biopic of her life—plainly titled Judy—falls flat when compared to the legend’s stardom and rawness.
(09/25/19 2:07am)
The Emmys didn’t create much buzz this year. Perhaps it’s because they were competing with Sunday Night Football, or perhaps because everyone simply forgot they were happening—I know I did. Fewer than seven million people tuned in for the broadcast—the lowest in the award show's history. Despite this, Twitter was still abuzz with fashion judgments, commentary on presenters, and delighted cheers for winners all around. Yet the most shocking thing about the 2019 Emmys is that they weren’t that shocking at all.
(10/02/19 6:27am)
“Presenting the Damn Thing,” a solo exhibition of a collection of paintings, seeks to provoke a distinctly American dialogue. The creator of the exhibit and its artwork, artist Inga Kimberly Brown, brings a unique perspective to the conversation with how she brings her mixed media paintings to life.
(09/22/19 10:02pm)
I was initially hesitant about Fleabag. It appeared to be riding the same wave of shows that focus on the lives of messy, awkward, sometimes cruel women going about their daily lives in some hip, up–and–coming city; often, they face money issues but never seem to be actually poor, and antagonize those around them, but in a charming way. Think Girls or Love or You’re The Worst, all media which isn’t necessarily bad, but not necessarily new or interesting. Why do we need another show like this when we already had Crazy Ex–Girlfriend? Yet, Fleabag is its own wonderful, perfect beast, and its second season is nominated for 11 Emmys—including Best Comedy Series, Best Lead Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. And frankly, it deserves them all.
(09/18/19 1:57am)
Last week, The Goldfinch made headlines for making headlines. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), has been anticipated for months—it's based on the Pulitzer–winning novel of the same name by Donna Tartt, stars greats such as Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman, and had a fantastic trailer released in July. Director John Crowley was launched to fame with the Oscar–nominated film Brooklyn in 2015, and with such a star–studded cast and reliable source material, The Goldfinch seemed to be set up as an awards season juggernaut. Unfortunately, it's not living up to expectations.
(09/10/19 3:34am)
Norman Fucking Rockwell! is many things—a combination of soft rock and piano ballads, a string of pop culture references to famous artists, a rumination on the tumultuous relationships, and the culmination of Lana Del Rey’s career. Since her beginnings with the viral debut single “Video Games” in 2011, the singer has been characterized by a unique, cinematic quality driven heavily by themes of romanticism and depression. Despite commercial success and solid critical acclaim from records such as Ultraviolence and Lust for Life, there’s always been a slight incoherence in her content, missing a measure of realism and depth. Released Aug. 30, NFR resolves these issues as Del Rey perfects her personal brand of melancholy.
(09/10/19 10:41pm)
Falling Inn Love is as unwatchable as it is cliché. Now, there’s nothing wrong with cliché—when done properly, it gives us exciting superhero movies and classic romantic comedies. Falling Inn Love, however, takes every unoriginal platitude and ruins it. At best, this is frustrating. At worst, it enforces toxic gender roles in the workspace and in romantic relationships.
(08/13/19 3:49pm)
Hulu’s Catch-22 is a show that is impossible to look away from. In the opening scene, viewers watch John Yossarian, U.S. Army bombardier, wanders dazed, naked and covered in blood on a combat airplane runway. An adaption of Joseph Heller’s 1961 satirical World War II novel of the same name, this mini–series portrays the absurdities of war and military life through graphic scenes and paradoxes. Written by Luke Davies and David Michôd, and directed by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Ellen Kuras, this star-studded show based on a literary classic meets its lofty ambitions.
(08/08/19 12:36pm)
With teenagers decked in floral dad shirts, plastic white clips in wavy hair, and a curfew that lingers in the Tuesday night air, walking into a Summer Salt concert is exactly like what the band’s name suggests. The group of guys from Austin strive to create the perfect soundtrack for chillaxin' by the pool, according to their artist’s profile on Band Camp, where they started their journey.
(08/04/19 7:00am)
After three immensely successful mixtapes and three Grammy awards, it’s hard to believe that Chance the Rapper (Chancelor Bennett) has not released a debut album until now. He’s reached a level of success that very few independent artists can achieve. With large artistic freedom, he’s created unique, uplifting rap heavily influenced by jazz and gospel, accumulating close personal and professional ties with some of the biggest rap stars in the process. Given his artistic and commercial success, his debut album The Big Day is long–awaited, highly–anticipated and appropriately titled. On these twenty–two tracks, Chance has set out to deliver a musical marathon that will have a little something for everyone.
(07/29/19 7:00am)
First there’s the sound of drums, followed by the surprising rip of an electric guitar. Then flashes of a woman in a blue dress, a loose ribbon twirling around her ankles. Bold white text interrupts her journey through a crowded street, proclaiming that it is 1763, “London is booming,” and “one in five women makes a living selling sex.”
(07/28/19 7:00am)
Since Disney announced Toy Story 4 in 2014, the responses have ranged from excitement to nervousness to rejection. 2010’s Toy Story 3 wrapped up the trilogy perfectly and was then viewed as the end of the iconic series. So, how can the story of Woody and the gang continue? With the release of Toy Story 4 last month, our questions are finally answered.
(07/24/19 6:35am)
When the original animated Lion King was released in 1994, it quickly became one of the highest-grossing animated films in the world and an integral part of many childhoods. A product of the "Disney Renaissance,” the Lion King was widely praised for its storyline, animation and music. Whenever I watch the original animated film, I'm in awe of the opening scene featuring the animals of the Serengeti set to the powerful “The Circle of Life.” It’s no surprise that the creators behind the impressive soundtrack are some of the best musical masterminds of our time: composer Elton John, lyricist Tim Rice and film score composer Hans Zimmer.
(07/24/19 6:34am)
Sometimes we come across a piece of literature, whether it be a line stolen from the middle of a library book or the fiction section of the New Yorker, that inadvertently resonates with us. Maybe its simplicity struck deeper than upon first glance, or it perfectly wrapped up the melancholic elegy you were reading. It is these lines that we cling to, turning them over when we let our minds wander, or carefully selecting them for our high school senior quotes. What does it mean, however, when the collection of quotes you have curated does not derive from English class, or your favorite Walt Whitman piece?
(07/21/19 7:00am)
Imagine if you were the only person on Earth who remembers who the Beatles are? In the movie Yesterday, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is hit by a bus during an unexplainable 12–second world–wide power outage and wakes up to find that everyone around him no longer remembers one of the greatest bands of all time. As a failing musician, Malik seizes this opportunity to write down and perform all the greatest Beatles hits that he can remember.
(07/21/19 6:05am)
There are fewer moments more satisfying than emerging victorious after a long game of Monopoly. Gathered around the board with your colorful property cards spread in front of you like prizes, it's no surprise that a game about being financially successful has been so financially successful in popular culture. Other popular games such as Scrabble, the Game of Life, and Catan often draw us back into fond memories of being crowded around cardboard for hours. Maybe finally cleaning your childhood bedroom at home will inspire you to host game nights with as many friends as your apartment living room can hold. But, in a crowded world, do we still value board games for their inherent entertainment—or is their only value hidden in our nostalgia towards them?
(07/16/19 7:36am)
Spider–Man: Far from Home always had some big shoes to fill. Released on July 2, the film is not only the first one to set after Avengers: Endgame but also the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four of films. It also continues the story of Peter Parker, aka Spider–Man, one of the most beloved superheroes of all time. The filmmakers, then, were tasked with creating both a standalone Spidey film and a satisfactory follow–up to the second biggest film ever. While many past Marvel movies have done both, Far from Home falls a little short. Filled with awesome action pieces and fun teenage antics, it's an enjoyable film that also feels at odds within the MCU.
(07/16/19 7:37am)
Follow the bees. That's the first thing you should know if you decide to visit the brand new project put together by Penn’s School of Design in honor of the 50–year anniversary of landscape architect Ian McHarg’s 1969 ‘landmark book’ Design With Nature. The project is divided into three parts housed in close, yet different buildings on campus—some of which aren’t well–known to the average Penn student. Therefore, the entrance to each exhibit is covered with large, unmissable swarms of plastic bees, making it easy to find whichever one you’re looking for. Bees were specifically chosen as ornaments because they are symbolic in Rome—ornamental bees marked late Renaissance buildings owned by great patrons.
(07/11/19 7:00am)
The phrase “working-class” often conjures up antiquated and monotonously serene urban pastoral images—a factory worker stands by an assembly line with a shy smile and a gray uniform, building a Ford Model T as though time loops. Working: A Musical aims to dispel that notion, exposing the three–dimensional narratives of those that serve our food, park our cars, and teach our children.
(07/06/19 4:29pm)
Like many celebrities we direct our attention towards, Zendaya began on Disney—unlike many, she stayed there. Taking breaks to obtain runner–up on “Dancing with the Stars”, play Michelle in the latest “Spiderman” series, and appear in a Bruno Mars music video, the 22–year–old has had her hands full curating a family–friendly image for her audience.
