To even the remotely well-informed observer of popular culture, it is blatantly obvious that Wash. U. skews one’s perspective on arts and entertainment and the societal trends that often come with it. While it can be difficult to put one’s finger on the ways in which it has been distorted, after four and a half years of intense observation of the specialized creature that is a Wash.
The St. Louis International Film Festival, after the fact The St. Louis International Film Festival is proof that God exists. For aspiring pretentious film snobs like me, the festival provides an invaluable opportunity to see fantastic films we otherwise wouldn’t see, some not so fantastic films we otherwise wouldn’t see and frightening incarnations of what we might become if we go to the Tivoli more frequently than we do now.
Show Review
Local opening act The Final Hour brought a pretty large following with them to Fubar Sunday night. Their following was full of energy and incited the rest of the crowd to get pumped with them. From here the momentum continued. Although only the second act of the night, the Cover-Up were the most intense bringing the crowd to such a frenzy that they felt the need to ask the crowd to make sure to stay safe.
Danny Boyle delivers again with “Slumdog Millionaire,” his Charles Dickens impression set in modern-day India. “Slumdog” explores how a poor orphaned boy, Jamal Malik, can go from wandering the streets with his brother, living off theft, to answering trivia questions for 20 million rupees on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” In the opening of the film, Jamal is being tortured and interrogated about how he cheated and managed success on the game show.
An album and personality review
I’m usually the first to suggest that pop albums serve as coasters, but when it comes to Britney Spears, I give her massive props. After going from “Star Search” to the “Mickey Mouse Club” to releasing a No. 1 hit at the age of 17 (“Hit Me Baby [One More Time]”) and onto a meltdown of paparazzi proportions, she is certainly etched in the mind.
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Axl Rose has been stewing a long time. “Chinese Democracy,” the infamous sixth album from Guns N’ Roses, has been in the works since 1994, back before guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagen and drummer Matt Sorum quit the group. Unfortunately, none of the 16 musicians on the new album can match the lineup that made the band so successful in the late ’80s.
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Ah, Thanksgiving, the holiday of too much. Too much food, too much time at home, too much family, too much non-productivity. But you can never have too much of a bad thing. So, to help you get through this week, I’ve comprised a list of memorable movie scenes that take place at the dinner table; they’re guaranteed to at least challenge the awkwardness, hilarity and outright horror of the real-life ones you’re sure to experience.
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With the recent passages of anti-gay legislation, the film “Milk” is as timely as could be. “Milk” is perhaps the definitive Hollywood film about the gay experience. Its subject is Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first openly-gay elected public official, who was the city supervisor of San Francisco in the 1970s.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to come together and share our gratitude. Unless you’re famous. Then you might want to take the lead from these entertainers’ acceptance speeches: Why not use this beautiful opportunity to express your thanks to instead pick fights with ambiguously-gay Brits, act like King Kong or declare yourself the Greatest Entertainer of the Last 1,000 Years? Here’s a sampling of the top three acceptance speeches, almost none of them about giving thanks.
Much like T.I. with T.I.P., Beyoncé Knowles wants to introduce her alter ego Sasha Fierce to the world. Unlike T.I. though, Beyoncé split up her two personalities into two different discs on her album “I Am...Sasha Fierce.”
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Though he may be renowned for turning hordes of squealing teenage girls to a slobbery mess with one single, angst-ridden stare, Robert Pattinson is just like any other bumbling teenager. However, with his portrayal of Edward Cullen, the hero of the “Twilight” trilogy, his normal life is sure to change.
It’s been almost a decade since Will Smith staked his claim on this era, declaring it the “Willenium.” In that time, Smith has risen from the Fresh Prince of the July 4 box-office to the only bankable star in a Hollywood trying to figure out what movie goers want to see.
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Movie Review
In seeing the highly-anticipated “Twilight,” one might expect a typical teen romance drama with the addition of vampires. While this is how many explain the plot, it is certainly not representative of the film or the story.
Jeffrey Goodman is a Wash. U. alum and filmmaker whose first full-length film, “The Last Lullaby,” played Saturday at the Tivoli as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. It was also nominated for the New Filmmakers’ Forum.
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St. Louis Shakespeare isn’t afraid of the bard. I’ve seen so many chaste productions of “Romeo and Juliet” in which lovers barely touch, bawdy jokes are elided over harmlessly and boys wrestling in the street is nothing more than good, boisterous fun.
On that glorious morning of Aug. 21 earlier this year, my life changed forever. Let me take you back.
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“Crash” is now a television series based on the film. It premiered Oct. 17 on the premium channel Starz.
Archuleta is a high schooler who just put out his eponymous first album. Right about now is when we can start to feel lazy and unproductive.
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Not a single song is original—no, forget original, most of these songs have been done by at least five different artists. So my advice to anyone considering buying this CD is: don’t.
I must admit, I had very low expectations for “Role Models.” On paper, it appears to be the latest film in a string of hackneyed “boys will be boys” comedic flops.
Well, it’s not as good as “Casino Royale.” Those are my first words in response to those who ask in eager anticipation about “Quantum of Solace.” It may not be, but it’s still worth seeing. “Solace” is one of the best action films you’ll see made today, but it’s just not redefining, like “Royale” was.
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According to T-Pain, his music is like a circus: “It came from people telling me that I’m running the game, that I’m the ringleader of the game.” Hence his newest album title, distinctively spelled.
Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, November 23
You've always wanted to go to a film festival, but it's far too expensive to fly to Cannes, and you're not really feeling the whole Utah in January scene. Well, my friend, you are in luck!
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There’s nothing quite like a song-and-dance number at the end of a comedy. Personally, I go into every comedy expecting one, craving one. The kicked-up heels, the synchronized dancing, I want it all. Most movies don’t satisfy my needs. I’ve become a bit of a multiplex nomad, wandering deep into the mid-afternoon for the perfect send-off.
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Fall video games
The holiday season is the most exciting time in gaming. Every year, an onslaught of highly-anticipated titles storm onto store shelves, and 2008 is no exception. Shooter fans won’t have a problem satisfying their tastes, no matter on which platform they play.
Morning, Wednesday, Nov. 5. It had been an emotional night, but it was a new day and time to get on with life. That is, until I turned on the TV—until my show took a break and the commercials came on. That was when I realized an important part of my life for the past year was past.
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No matter the outcome of the presidential race, Cadenza is on top of the arts & entertainment election news.
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A discussion of rhythm-gaming paraphenalia
If I told you I own three guitars, two drum sets and a microphone, you might think I’m a die-hard musician. But it’s hard to confuse the miniature guitars and drums that dominate my suite with real musical instruments. These plastic peripherals come with the massively popular “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” games, which lead the fastest-growing genre in the gaming industry.
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The McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, publisher of more than 100 scientific papers, friend of Bill Nye and member of almost every mission that has involved both NASA and Mars has more than the usual suspects on his MP3 player.
