RECESS  |  CULTURE

'Beautiful Boy' is an honest depiction of addiction and loss

By Alizeh Sheikh | November 14, 2018

What “Beautiful Boy” lacks in finesse, it makes up for in heart. The film, helmed by Swedish director Felix Van Groeningen, chronicles the true story of journalist David Sheff’s (Steve Carell) desperate attempt to salvage his deteriorating relationship with his son, Nic (Timothée Chalamet), who is addicted to methamphetamines. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Lil Peep's 'Come Over When You're Sober Pt. 2' is a sweet goodbye

By Alexandra Bateman | November 14, 2018

Gustav Åhr — better known by his stage moniker Lil Peep — was just 21 years old and on the cusp of widespread fame. A rapper with the heart of an early-2000s emo kid, his distinctive sound combined trap beats and emo melodies with painfully honest lyrics about depression, failed relationships and indulgent drug use.

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Actor Musicians: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

By Jack Rubenstein | November 14, 2018

Excelling at acting or music alone is hard enough, but some are bold enough to pursue both domains professionally.  For every successful transition, there is one that reminds people why being an actor-musician is so difficult.

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'Overlord': An excellent World War II zombie adventure

By Don Gex | November 14, 2018

The day is June 6, 1944 and groups of American battleships and troop transport planes approach the European shore. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

With 'American Vandals' cancellation, Netflix moves to focus on own programming

By Sydny Long | November 7, 2018

When Netflix abruptly cancelled its award-winning original program “American Vandals” shortly after its well-received second season, there was understandable confusion.

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Hasan Minhaj's 'Patriot Act' helps diversify late night comedy

By Jack Rubenstein | November 7, 2018

Hasan Minhaj’s "Patriot Act" is not original. The show is one of dozens populating the now bloated late night talk show format. But what the show lacks in originality, it makes up for in being sharper, funnier and more engaging than most of its competitors.  

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'The Kindergarten Teacher' is a cautionary tale of society’s influence on the arts

By Kerry Rork | November 7, 2018

Parents and teachers should always hope for the best in their children — an improvement from who they were and who they became. But what if that hope for improvement transforms into an attempt to control every aspect of an individual’s life, making them into the mirror image of what they hoped they could become?

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Your guide to Duke's frenchiest fries

By Tommy Pratt and Rishi Dasgupta | October 31, 2018

We hold this truth to be self-evident: not all fries are created equal. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Halloween selections from the Recess staff

By Recess Staff | October 31, 2018

Halloween is upon us, and with the holiday comes classics in film, TV shows, music and books. The Recess staff selected some of the spookiest media to enjoy on All Hallows Eve: 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Marvel's 'Daredevil' gains clarity in its third season

By Alyssa Wilson | October 31, 2018

After more than two years, Daredevil finally returns with a third season and a new vitality. When we last saw Matthew Murdock (Charlie Cox), a.k.a Daredevil, he had been put through the ringer. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'Nuthin’ 2 Prove' is nothing new from Lil Yachty

By Andrew Rawlings | October 24, 2018

As one of the most recognizable rappers in recent history, Lil Yachty has accomplished a lot during his short tenure on the mainstream rap scene. With two songs peaking within the the Billboard Top 10 and a record deal with industry giants Quality Control, Yachty’s career blew up in a matter of months. However, after a disappointing second studio album in “Lil Boat 2,” Yachty, ironically, had a lot to prove on his new studio album “Nuthin’ 2 Prove.” Is this the key that will finally cement Lil Yachty’s place in the Atlanta trap scene?

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Loving to hate Radiohead

By Will Atkinson | October 17, 2018

Over the summer, I attended a screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s music documentary “Junun,” which featured a Q&A with the director himself along with some of his co-conspirators in the making of the film. Among them was Jonny Greenwood, who has become Anderson’s chosen composer, responsible for the scores for “There Will Be Blood,” “Inherent Vice” and, most recently, “Phantom Thread.”

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'A Star is Born' retells a classic tale of fame and sacrifice

By Bre Bradham | October 17, 2018

Standing on the side of the stage as a stadium crowd roars and Bradley Cooper’s teasing cowboy crooner begs her to join him, Lady Gaga’s Ally has a choice to make. She can walk out on the stage and sing a duet with him, or she can let the opportunity of a lifetime pass. It’s a trope that you’ve seen a dozen times, but you can’t help the voice in your head begging her to do it. You know she’s going out there, but God, what if she doesn’t? 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Young the Giant's 'Mirror Master' is a story of self discovery

By Kerry Rork | October 17, 2018

2018 has been a good one for indie albums, with hits like Courtney Barnett’s “Tell Me How You Really Feel” and Mitski’s “Be the Cowboy.” Young the Giant is providing yet another one with the newly released “Mirror Master.” 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'Bad Times at the El Royale' is a good time at the movies

By Don Gex | October 17, 2018

What do a racist vacuum salesman, an elderly priest, a young African-American woman and a rude hippie have in common?

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'Big Mouth' embraces the humiliation of puberty in its second season

By Sydny Long | October 10, 2018

Adult-oriented animated programing is rarely praised for its tastefulness and maturity.

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Netflix mini-series 'Maniac' is a disorienting dystopian spectacle

By Alyssa Wilson | October 3, 2018

“It begins like this,” says the soothing voice over as “Maniac” opens with the colorful image of an amoeba. But wait, that isn’t the beginning — we need to go back even farther.

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

'White Boy Rick' promises guns, drugs, and action but fails to deliver

By Don Gex | October 3, 2018

The year: 1984. The place: Detroit, Michigan. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

Can students casually consume art at Duke?

By Sydny Long | September 26, 2018

Consuming art takes time. 

---

RECESS  |  CULTURE

BROCKHAMPTON avoids saturation with “iridescence"

By Tristan Kelleher | September 26, 2018

An intimate account of suffering personal relationships and uncertainty about sexuality; a glimpse into a frantic mind where incoherent thoughts fly in every direction; a criticism of the music industry; a childhood memory; a desperate confession of responsibility and coping: All are achieved by BROCKHAMPTON’s latest album “iridescence.”