On Tuesday Feb. 3, the campus cinema showed “Dear White People,” a film starring Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson and Kyle Gallner. “Dear White People” is directed by Justin Simien as his directorial debut in feature films.

Even though the film was marketed as a comedy when it was released in theaters back in January of this year, it actually proved to be more drama-filled than anything. Shot in a way that gives the film an older feel that is at times self-aware, Simien gives his characters and storyline a quirkiness that would be expected of a comedy while still holding onto a controversial and conflicting plot. Without poking fun at a very serious subject matter, Simien is able to keep a light mood throughout while still getting a moral across. Random character placements, however, seem to drag this film down despite the best efforts of the main actors. Supporting characters do less supporting than hindering, and I strongly believe that this film would have been better without them having a strong enough casting for major players of the storyline.

The story begins as a film “educating” white people on the appropriate behaviors that they should demonstrate when in the company of members of different races. The film focuses on African Americans specifically (although according to the film that is now considered as a racist term), as told through a podcast run by Thompson’s character. She stands as an outgoing activist for the black population of an Ivy League school that is being forced into randomized room assignment, bringing about an end to the primarily black dorm on campus. With a very long build-up (almost too long), the viewer is given the initial idea that this is going to be the main conflict throughout the film. Little would they know that there is another hour left in the movie in which the action suddenly escalates. The film takes a turn from slightly goofy to extremely serious almost at the drop of a hat, changing the entire point and bringing about the moral that the director seems to be trying to display, which is to find out who you are and be accepting and proud of it, regardless of race.

The film uses actual events that have happened (sadly, I might add) on college campuses across the nation to prove that even though the writer or director can make a dramedy about such serious issues even in today’s society years after the Civil Rights Movement, that they are still a major problem in our world. Simien uses this to show his work as not just a movie, but as a lesson that everyone should take away from the film. Simien’s lesson is that we all, no matter who we are, need to accept ourselves and others in order to put a stop to all the hate in the world.

Article by Krista Skweres

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, the movie theaters are bound to be booming more than they usually are, considering that they have the opportunity to release films for the holiday the day before. This being said, not every couple wants to see the newest Nicholas Sparks adaptation. Some couples prefer blood and gore, which is the exact opposite of boy meets girl. They would rather see boy kills girl. Using the new films that are being released on Friday the 13 as well as what has already been released for your viewing pleasure, I have compiled a list that will fit every kind of couple with something to see for their Valentine’s Day dates. Enjoy!

For couples following the Oscars: “Still Alice.”

Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated, “Still Alice” stars Julianne Moore (who is the nomination and winner’s sake), Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart while following a woman’s downward spiral into dementia.

For Bond-loving couples: “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson lead this look at the British Secret Service. Filled with James Bond type gadgets, loads of action and comic relief, this will give a more action packed Valentine’s Day than the typical tear jerkers.

For sci-fi couples: “Jupiter Ascending” or “Seventh Son.”

Multiple sci-fi movies this month! “Jupiter Ascending” is directed by the Wachowkis (most commonly known as the directors of “The Matrix” trilogy) and starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum and this year’s Oscar nominee Eddie Redmayne. It looks to be an “out of this world” action flick involving other planets and royalty. “Seventh Son” also stars Julianne Moore, as well as Jeff Bridges, Kit Harington and Djimon Hounsou. It is marketed as a fantasy movie about fighting the evil powers of the world through good magic.

For the couples who are children at heart: “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water.”

Everyone loves SpongeBob. So much so, that as I type this my spellcheck is not trying to correct the word “SpongeBob.” While you might want to wait until a little later in the evening to see this one so that screaming children won’t be kicking your seat as you try to snuggle up with your significant other, it still proves to be a top choice, at least in my book.

Last but not least, for the couples where women call the shots: “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Ironically, the couples that see this on Valentine’s Day will be the couple in which the woman decides, because I’d be willing to bet most men have been dreading the release of this movie since the novel hit the bestseller list. I say ironically because the entire premise of this movie is a woman who is told what to do in the bedroom by a man. Spicy or domestic violence? A lot of activist groups will be boycotting this one, so there may be some seats in the theater left yet!

As you can tell, there is something out there for almost everyone, except for the couples who want the traditional Rom-Com. Change it up a little this Valentine’s Day and see something you wouldn’t normally see. There’s plenty to choose from.

Article by Krista Skweres

On Oct. 6, 2014 David Cox of The Guardian published an article describing how detrimental the newest David Fincher movie Gone Girl is to the growing positive depiction of females in today’s media. David Cox points out in his article that “Gone Girl revamps gender stereotypes- for the worse,” stating that everything could be seen as negative in the new film starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. He makes the leading character, Amy, into everything that defines bad stereotypes about women, and looks right past everything that would make this film a giant leap forward for all of womankind as well as for the image of women. Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
The previews kept the storyline in the film, even the main point of it, completely under wraps. With the previews that were shown, I could see how someone might think that this was a story of a victimized woman and her possibly abusive, alleged murderer husband who is targeted as the lead suspect in her disappearance. Honestly, with how different of a turn the actual movie took, I’m surprised that it was received so well as it completely changed genres mid-film. But hey, that’s the David Fincher way, having previously directed things such as Fight Club and Seven. In reality, the viewer gets a film where the woman takes charge and control in the absolutely craziest way possible, and gets everything that she wants.

Faking her own murder to get away from a cheating husband and framing him as a form of revenge, Pike’s character Amy proves that she will not be a victim from the first time we see her in the present (the movie jumps from present to past throughout). She shows herself at first as simply a genius who did what she deemed was right to teach her husband, who broke his vow to her, a lesson. As the film goes on, the audience sees more through the mind work that went into this scheme, mind work that is usually seen in men in the media. When Amy proves that she is willing to do anything to get what she wants, the film takes a turn into something similar to American Psycho starring Christian Bale. True, that this may fuel the fires of the crazy-scored woman image (hell hath no fury…) that previous films have created. I feel that it also shows that women are not always the victim, but the man can be the victim as well.

Throughout the film Amy leaves more and more men in her wake, creating more victims. Actually, the only woman who is possibly ever seen in the light of the weaker sex is Affleck’s twin sister, played by Carrie Coon, and that is only briefly. The women run the show. With Amy as its center, other women, such as the news anchor, seems to have the ability to sway the entire town’s opinion of Affleck’s character. The head of the police department has the final say over if he will be arrested or not, despite the fact her male partner is convinced of Affleck’s guilt. Through her acts of power and dominance over everyone around her, Amy is even able to have her husband cower in fear of her. How could this possibly be bad for the female image? Unless your opinion of bad means breaking the “poor little me” image of the dainty woman who needs a man, this movie did a great job at showing equality in all things male and female: insanity, self-respect and the ability to gain power.

Article by Krista Skweres

A lady’s man is both a blessing and a curse. Men who are able to get a lot of women into bed are seen as Gods amongst men to the men who do not have very high morals, but as scoundrels to women and men who happen to have a good head on their shoulders. Recently I saw the opera written by Mozart entitled “Don Giovanni.” This opera follows the life in a little longer than a day of Don Giovanni, who is a lady’s man having slept with thousands of women in many different countries, promising them the world and then leaving after he gets what he is after. The audience sees him trying to hook up with many women throughout the play; the play opens with him actually trying to rape a woman in her home while his kinsman stands watch outside. Although there are, at least in this production, many places of humor, there is a serious underlying message which becomes evident more and more as the opera goes on: people, men and women alike, do not approve and eventually plot his death. Before they have a chance to kill him, he is dragged into hell by none other than Lucifer himself after he is given the opportunity to change his ways but is far too arrogant to see what is right and change.

While I was watching this opera, even though it was greatly entertaining on its own, I couldn’t help but think about certain movies that continue in Mozart’s footsteps and try to warn men, through comedy, of the dangers of trying to be a “Don Giovanni.” A few that pop into my mind are things such as That Awkward Moment, The Sweetest Thing (although in reverse where the woman is the player, which is refreshing as it is not usually done), Good Luck, Chuck, Def Jam’s How to be a Player and even Knocked Up to a degree. But the one that plays in my mind more so than all other’s is none other than Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s 2013 Don Jon. His first full feature screenplay, it is clear he obviously knew his Mozart. Writer, director, and leading actor in his dramatic comedy, also known as a dramedy, Gordon-Levitt plays a young man who does nothing else but try to get ladies who he deems attractive into bed, with no intention of ever calling them again. Sound familiar? But much like “Don Giovanni” did as well, there was a turning point in which reality sets in and consequences of his actions soon catch up with Jon, though they are not as severe as being sentenced to an eternity of hell. This man is so like Giovanni that, like the title’s sake, his friends actually call him “The Don” throughout the entirety of the movie.

So how is it that this opera, which I honestly had never heard of before I had tickets to see it, has made such an impression on today’s media? Men and women alike know the dangers of sexual predators, and want to warn people of their dangers. Whether it be from warning men against being “that guy” who always loses in the end of these stories, or at the very least realizes that his ways are wrong and changes, or warning women against falling prey to a man like this who is most assuredly just trying to take advantage in any way that he can, it is obvious that musical, opera, television show, or movie, the people of the world have spoken: Don’t get dragged to hell, think about what you’re doing, and change.

Article by Krista Skweres