Oscars Rundown: A Night Not to Remember
(03/06/15 1:53am)
Harris’s performance felt lackluster, unoriginal and, at times, offensive. And, no, not in the Ricky Gervais, "he’s British, so it’s okay," kind of way.
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Harris’s performance felt lackluster, unoriginal and, at times, offensive. And, no, not in the Ricky Gervais, "he’s British, so it’s okay," kind of way.
We are only a few days away from what I like to call the Super Bowl Championship Finale of Films … also known as the Oscars. Like any true televised spectacle, the Academy Awards offer an opportunity to kick back with a few friends, debate your favorite performances and films and maybe even knock back a few drinks (if you’re of the appropriate age, of course). Thus, as your beloved entertainers pull off miraculous upsets, thank everyone from their overprotective mothers to their friendly neighborhood mailmen and drop the f-bomb on nationally watched broadcast networks, I ask you to merely drink along.*
With less than two weeks left until the Academy Awards, the race for Best Picture has slowly turned into one of the most competitive contests in years. A while back, before any of the nominees were even released, there was early buzz that Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher was going to be the film to beat. Well, there’s no other way to phrase this: it's not even close. This year’s most prestigious award will almost undoubtedly be presented to either a washed-up superhero (no, not Hancock) or a film where the make-up artists were so good you’ll believe the actors are actually growing up right before your eyes. In case you didn’t pick up what I’m putting down, I’m talking about Birdman and Boyhood.
I get it. Not everyone can understand why two, 250-pound bulldozers would run full speed into each other for the sake of a pigskin filled with air. I mean, why is it that Sunday, the day of rest (or let’s be honest, homework) is instead stereotypically defined by masses of men crowding around the TV with wings and nachos in hand? Well, today I hope to give all of you non-sports lovers a crash course on how to sound intelligent and interested during this upcoming Super Bowl.
Here we are – 2015! We made it! As we move forward into the unknown of this new, exciting year, Recess sat around our crystal ball and summoned forth some predictions for what to expect in 2015. Whether the predictions have to do with the rise of television, the wealth of new movies being released, or seemingly random artist collaborations, Recess has you covered. Read on to see what our staff members think.
Chris Kyle’s finger holds steady above the trigger as he zones in on a young boy who appears to be approaching a tank with a grenade. Though it’s possible that the child does not have any sort of lethal weapon, Kyle must make a decision in a matter of seconds. This is the tension that initially draws viewers into American Sniper.
I’m not going to lie to you guys. I woke up bright and early Thursday morning in order to see the Academy Award nominations the moment they came out. Was it a bit unnecessary? Sure. Do I regret it? Not one bit. From the moment I laid eyes on the fortunate few who will have a shot at Oscar Gold on Feb. 22, I knew we would have a competitive year at hand. Still, the Academy finds a way year after year to surprise me with unexpected contenders and, unfortunately, undeserved snubs. So, from one critic to another, here are some of the biggest shockers of 2015.
Ah, there’s nothing like the smell of new shows in the morning. Well, except napalm maybe. The new year has finally begun, so we are guaranteed an array of TV show premieres, from quirky comedies to tense thrillers. But be wary, my dear friends, for similar to the fall, plenty of these supposedly enthralling entities are likely to have short-lived seasons and get the unfortunate axe before they ever get into a groove. So, today, I hope to go out on a limb and predict the fate of the upcoming spectacles.
With the recent release of the Rotten Tomatoes' "Certified Fresh" action-thriller John Wick, many seem to be asking if Keanu Reeves is back. The polarizing yet money-making machine will be put to the test in this article to determine if, in fact, he is returning to former glory or if his critics are correct in emphasizing his lack of acting abilities. In order to do so, we must delve into the heart and mind of the time-traveling, red-pill-blue-pill, back-breaking, speedster that is Keanu Reeves.
Autumn has kicked into full swing, and my grades have steadily declined as a result of ridiculous hours spent in front of a television screen. My mind is fixated on TV, and, as such, I find it important to consider the innovative, unique spectacles soon to be released. Sure, one could argue that there’s way too much TV out there already that makes it impossible to add any more shows to one’s palate, but I ignore said naysayers. There is always room for more TV. Simply drop that unnecessary Phys-Ed class or abandon your community service requirements: you have more important obligations to attend to. So today I bring you three soon-to-be modern classics in an age of way too many modern classics.
As dentists free up their post-October schedules and children dressed in overpriced, poorly designed outfits prepare to aggressively scavenge their typical suburban neighborhoods for diabetes in a bowl, I propose some pre-festivities entertainment to get you in the spirit. Horror films have captivated audiences, driving them to the theater for years. Their focus on the supernatural, mass murderers, and monsters among us has appealed to our deepest curiosities for ages. In particular, slasher films that rely on antagonists who kill with knives, chainsaws ... basically anything besides guns, have flourished over the years. We love to be scared. We love to question our sanity. We love the complexities of the unknown. So before you carve distorted faces into an (now) inedible fruit, I implore you to step into the heart of darkness and fear.
I feel like nowadays all I seem to write about is superheroes. To be honest, I can’t deny my passion for caped crusaders and escapism. Nonetheless, the true reason I continually capture the superhero genre in my pieces is that superhero films are becoming more popular and more frequent. So as DC has just recently released their new film slate, I’d like to consider whether the number of superhero films in the next five or so years is exciting or excessive
Do you remember a time when Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy changed the face of superhero films through its gritty, realistic reboot? DC was at the top of its game, and many argued that it had the upper hand over Marvel. But then something miraculous happened: Marvel shot out exceptionally witty and adventurous films such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the promise of an unbeatable team-up called The Avengers. On the other hand, DC rebutted with misfires like Green Latern–-jeez, does that film reveal DC’s nonexistent sense of humor. Even Man of Steel was too serious for its own good.
It all began in 2010 with the release of Iron Man 2. For me, it was the first reminder of a disease that existed throughout the vast cinematic universe: sequelitis. Sequelitis can be defined as a film sequel that not only is far worse in quality than its predecessor, but, often, destroys a franchise. Sure, there are the occasional successes like The Godfather Part II or Spiderman 2, but more often than not you get films like Grease 2, Staying Alive and, my personal (least) favorite, American Psycho II: All American Girl. Unfortunately, it is a malady that still continues to plague our contemporary society.
If you are a college student, like me, then there is one word that will always catch your attention: FREE. Whether it’s free T-shirts, free coozies or–everyone’s favorite–free food, it is your obligation to take advantage of it. Well, Freewater Presentations has a line-up every year of fairly recent films that are not out on DVD or Netflix or whatever else you use–don't worry, we won't judge. So to help maximize your trips to Griffith Theater, here is the scoop on what to watch and what to skip.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Iron Man, Spider Man, Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy and so many more. Every era of movies tends to have its own theme. The 1940s and 1950s were all about the shady inner workings of crime in film noir. The 1960s took on the cowboy against the outlaw style of the western. Now, we are undoubtedly living in the Age of the Superhero. With three to four superhero films coming out every year and no sign of slowing down, we cannot deny that these crusaders are high in demand. So, let’s go back in time and see how we got here.
Life at Duke can be stressful. There may not be time in your schedule for your favorite shows with the BME/ECE double major, the economics minor and an MMS certificate (because you’re a freaking Duke student, so why not). And don't forget that you're juggling four service clubs, independent research, and a sports team that you’re not even sure you’re still a part of. Fear not, for today we have a survival guide for binge-watching away a weekend at college.
This past Sunday was a struggle for viewers (myself included) as "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" went on a short hiatus. The new variety show on HBO has reached new, unexpected levels of hilarity while still informing viewers across the country.
Dir. Spike JonzeWarner Bros.4.5/5 stars
Spike Jonze