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(04/23/09 2:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many critics have been comparing “State of Play” to “All the President’s Men,” and not because it lives up to those standards. But it’s about as close as they can get, so that’s got to be worth something.Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is a veteran journalist working in Washington. He knows everyone and has all the inside sources. His latest story is on an inner-city murder, which he soon believes is tied to the supposed suicide of an aide to Sen. Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck). To get to the bottom of his investigation, Cal teams up with young blogger hotshot Della Frye (Rachel McAdams). “State of Play” doesn’t try to be purely journalistic, given that we don’t know the outcome as we did in “All the President’s Men.” But the film puts so much effort and detail not into the outcome itself, but how it got there. Consequently, the suspenseful build up is much greater. The film works its way through its complex and hectic plot to provide us with a satisfying conclusion before adding one last, equally effective. If you’ve already let out your sigh of relief, believing to be at the end of the film, do not fear the additional material. Co-writer Tony Gilroy’s extra twist at the end of “Duplicity” turned it from bad to worse, but this one works just fine.What also propels the plot are the performances. Crowe is solid as usual, and McAdams’s bright charm doesn’t detract from her maturity. And while Affleck is certainly the weak link in the cast, he’s not as bad as other critics have made him out to be.“State of Play” is a brainy, intricate drama that is plenty suspenseful and has a cast that carries the film with speed and finesse. Most importantly, though, it’s thrilling and entertaining in a season of films for which the same can’t be said.
(04/09/09 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There’s a lot that can be said about “Knowing.” It deals with
psychological questions that have been asked countless times in movies
and in life.
But the main question is whether its worth watching. Regardless of the
answer, it will make you scared, excited and giggle (for the wrong
reasons).
Most importantly, it will make you think.
Nicolas Cage plays John Koestler, an MIT astrophysics professor who
stumbles across a list of numbers he believes to be code for the date,
location and number of people killed in a given disaster.
The 50-year-old sheet of numbers was sealed in a time capsule, and up
until he discovers it, all of the predictions have been accurate,
leading John to fear the world will come to an end in a few days’ time.
The question that plagues John and is metaphorically portrayed
throughout the movie is this: Do our lives have direction and purpose,
and if so, do we have the power to change them?
Questions like this define the high point of “Knowing,” a psychological
thriller that keeps you thinking, despite a flawed set of fictional
rules and more than occasional overacting.
From the moment the first disaster hits, I was riveted. Here is a
visually beautiful and shocking film that is firstly intense, but at
the same time considers some heavy psychological implications.
It’s the ending that left me pondering whether I even enjoyed it.
The end completely alienates itself from a real, logical world, further
conflicting with any morals it had previously preached. The ending is
bleak and empty, whether Director Alex Proyas (“Dark City,” “I, Robot”)
intended it or not, though still an artistic response to many
unanswered questions.
There is greatness in this movie, but the ending, no matter how great, is wrong – and I can’t even be sure in which way.
“Knowing” will give me things to mull over for a long time, which is
more than I can say or predict for any movie this year. And I hope it’s
seen by enough people so I can share in their conversations.
(03/10/09 3:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For members of the Hoosier Poker Club, the game is not about gambling. It’s about experience.“It’s not a gambling atmosphere, it’s a learning environment for whoever puts forth the most effort,” said Travis Vaughn, president of the Hoosier Poker Club.The Hoosier Poker Club is looking for new members and is having a meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in the Sassafras Room in the IMU.In starting the club early this semester, Vaughn wanted to facilitate a place where both experienced and amateur players could play poker in an educational and social setting.The club meets Tuesday nights in the Indiana Memorial Union, alternating each week between lectures on game play and full-blown tournaments. Members who attend discussions and perform well at tournaments receive points that can be exchanged for prizes. This fosters an environment other than one of gambling, but one that still encourages competition.This has served veteran players well, but it’s also allowed newer people to learn the game.“From the new members that weren’t experienced with poker, they’ve found it to be a really welcoming environment,” Vaughn said. “And this is a better way than how I started learning, basically playing for money and losing all the time. This is just for fun.”Vaughn’s teaching methods seem to be paying off as the Hoosier Poker Club is consistently drawing new members and receiving good feedback.Hoosier Poker Club Vice President David Conway said Vaughn came to him with the intention to play the game with a different group of people.“The club is really relaxed, and it allows you to learn about other people’s interests,” Conway said.But one thing the club has stressed is that poker is about more than a game.“In all other card games, it seemed to me that you were playing the cards more than anything else, but with poker, you’re playing the person,” Vaughn said. “You find out a lot about people just from playing poker, like how anxious they are, patient they are and just how they act. I think it’s so insightful, but it transcends poker because you do things like that in life too.”In demonstrating the psychological impact of poker, Vaughn has made teaching the wider aspects of the game the goal of the club.“The main goal of the club is educational, helping members apply skills to the real world,” said Wei Liu, the Hoosier Poker Club treasurer.Liu said the game has risks and odds that all relate to the concepts he deals with in his legal studies major, just as it does for Vaughn’s business major.“What makes this club unique are that there are different experiences, ideas and ways to play,” Conway said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are. You can come and play seriously and meet new people in the process.”
(02/24/09 4:15pm)
werwer
(02/19/09 2:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There are inklings of similarities between “The Pink Panther 2” and the classic work of Peter Sellers. But after 2006’s “The Pink Panther,” the fact that Steve Martin makes a terrible Inspector Clouseau is no more a mystery to the producers than it is to us.In the case of this sequel, the shared name is merely a coincidence.What has not changed is that once again The Pink Panther diamond has been stolen. And for no good reason, Clouseau has been assigned to the case.Instead of Clouseau hilariously (or not) performing a one-man show, he leads a team of international detectives played by Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina and Bollywood’s lovely Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, all of whom have little of interest to do and are clearly above this material, but at the same time portray characters that are equally as pathetic and gimmicky as Clouseau.In addition to the parade of C-caliber stars, the movie is ripe with cheap laughs that reek of not a failed attempt to recreate a treasured classic but of modern, American slapstick. More could be said about why today’s slapstick comedies lack the charm of the good ol’ days, but frankly, this film is not even deserving of the analysis.The material is all mildly racist and sexist and extremely stupid. But with comedy this moderate, nothing in the film is particularly offensive, nor are any of the gags and stunts boisterously silly.Instead of cringing or crying out in disbelief at the lunacy of it all, we are left simply rolling our eyes. Perhaps a more outrageous film, however terrible, would be more entertaining.“The Pink Panther 2” is not only dumb but is also boring, a trait infinitely worse for any film going crowd.
(01/29/09 10:23pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” is more well-known as a sound track of the widely popular animated film than as another addition to their already broad catalogue. With that said, “Yellow Submarine” might be labeled as unnecessary, but any fan would know that there is no such thing as an unnecessary Beatles album.In addition to “Yellow Submarine” and “All You Need is Love,” which are both prominently featured in the film, the album contains four songs recorded in 1967 and originally released for the movie. John Lennon and Paul McCartney composed “All Together Now,” a joyous sing-along track that blends perfectly at the end of the movie, and “Hey Bulldog,” the rock piano and raucous dog howls of which make it a staple in The Beatles’ catalogue.Likewise, Harrison wrote “Only a Northern Song” and “It’s All Too Much.” While “Only a Northern Song” is significantly more obscure, both songs are reminiscent of the sound present in “Magical Mystery Tour.”The remainder of the album is what turns off skeptics. The rest is not so much Beatles songs as filler – background music used for the film as written by Beatles producer George Martin. Conceivably, the album would have been better had it been released in a B-side or EP format. Clearly, “Yellow Submarine” is not nearly as good as the “Yellow Submarine Songtrack” pulled directly from the movie. Notables from that album include “Eleanor Rigby,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Nowhere Man.” With a song list like that, the “Yellow Submarine Songtrack” seems like a greatest hits album, and the concurrent imagery of the film makes it a must-have for any Beatles fan.
(01/29/09 10:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Recorded in only one day, “Please Please Me” is an excellent showcase of what makes The Beatles so lovable.It showcases the band’s influences of R&B, girl-group pop and rock ‘n’ roll through both covers and well-written originals. While “Please Please Me” is quite simplistic, it displays John and Paul’s knack for writing and singing timeless pop music. The album opens with the driving rock ‘n’ roll track “I Saw Her Standing There,” a song reminiscent of Chuck Berry, in which Paul delivers a riveting vocal performance and George performs a truly rocking guitar solo. The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” the title track, and their cover of the Top Notes’ “Twist and Shout” are three smash hits not to be forgotten. While “Love Me Do” is as simple as it gets and even childish in some aspects, its extreme catchiness and staple as the first great Beatles hit makes it special. “Please Please Me” remains one of the finest Beatles tracks of all time as it combs the band’s musicianship, lovable lyrics, incredible vocal harmonies and outstanding showmanship.Though some tracks are a bit too schmaltzy for their own good, like George’s “Do You Want to Know a Secret” and the Broadway standard “A Taste of Honey,” “Please Please Me” is a timeless pop record that rightfully kick-started Beatlemania.
(01/26/09 2:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He calls himself “Spiral Cheese Horizon,” and as of now, he’s an up-and-coming artist of a unique sort.Thursday night’s gig at the Cheshire Cafe in Collins Living-Learning Center happened to be his first performance under the stage name, but with a calling card like that, IU alumnus Ryder Timberlake might not be unknown for long.In a culture focused on popular music genres, most struggle to define Timberlake’s style.“Loosely, it’s video games meets electronic,” Timberlake said, explaining his style. “More specifically, I have a wide range of inspirations.”Some of these include Motoi Sakuraba , the musical composer of several games such as the Mario sports games, but Timberlake’s personal favorite is the soundtrack to “Tales of Phantasia,” a game for Super Nintendo. More mainstream influences include artists such as Philip Glass and Cypress Hill.His influences emerge in his music, which features hip-hop beats similar to those of Cypress Hill, Glass’ repetitive style and the subtle electronic noise of classic video games.In most of his songs, Timberlake lays down a short, simple keyboard line. With a click of the mouse, he repeats the keyboard riff, and he lays another on top of it in an endlessly melodic, electronic and at times sinister sound.“He pulls a lot together on stage, and it’s actually very impressive considering how little equipment he has,” said Gavin King, a fan of Timberlake’s music. “The computer he uses was nearly imploding, and yet he keeps moving along so quickly.”A unique talent might emerge on recorded tracks, but friend Flora Reid said his personality can also be seen in his performance.“He’s always been somewhat of a quirky person, and you can definitely see some of those electronic aspects coming through in his personality,” Reid said. “He’ll probably be in that category with someone like Imogen Heap. But I like it, and I think it’s got potential.”With his unique style, Timberlake’s music can be strange for those not familiar with the genre. “It’s all about what attitude you approach it with, and it’s obviously not for everyone,” King said. “But it’s done with an air of humor, honestly, and if you approach it that way, you’ll enjoy it.”But Timberlake’s other talents are more mainstream. He has a lucrative background in hip hop, having served as an emcee for years.“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to compose music,” Timberlake said.With such an elaborate background, music is certainly an area where he can excel, but he said he does it for the love of the music.“Nowadays I just really want to do music, not necessarily make a fame name out of it,” Timberlake said. “But if I can pay the rent and afford the health insurance, that would be great.”James Estes, a member of the Collins Community Council, said Collins is a good place for performers to start their careers.“Collins is open to programming by students and for students,” Estes said. “If you want that specialty thing and are willing to put forth the effort, you can do it.”
(12/10/08 6:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Frost/Nixon” isn’t just about politics.It’s mostly a film about the conflict between TV host David Frost and President Richard Nixon during a 1977 interview. However, the line dividing the two themes could probably have benefited from being more distinct.At the beginning of the film, the movie reminds its audience that Nixon (Frank Langella) has resigned after it became clear he would be impeached. Months later, Gerald Ford has pardoned him, and the demand for the trial Nixon would never face has become ever more prudent. This is where David Frost (Michael Sheen) steps in. He’s a talk show host in Australia, but he suddenly decides he would love to interview Nixon. Shockingly, Frost doesn’t ask for the challenge to broaden his horizons or prove something to both the public and the media: He wants the ratings. Frost sponsors the show out of his own pocket, facing criticism every step of the way, and Nixon isn’t much help either. Throughout the interviews, he molds the questions to his favor, even the tough ones. Nixon’s tactics fuel the conflict between the two characters that prove to be so successful in grabbing our attention. Director Ron Howard clearly wants to avoid a political discussion. It’s a wise choice, for in doing so, Howard puts the laboring politics we all know in the background, allowing for the psychological debate to step forward. But Howard stages it like a boxing match, highlighting Nixon’s one-liners but rarely delving into the deeper aspects and motives behind either characters’ words.A more introspective look at the mental and emotional success and failure of either character would have been more powerful. With Frost’s only motivation being fame and prestige, our relationship with him is somewhat hollow. At the same time, Nixon appears distant, allowing only for a surface-level look at his debating techniques and thought process.It must be said, however, that the story is well-told, appropriately paced and skillfully acted. Langella’s two monologues will ensure him a Best Actor Oscar nod. Howard has done the job of capturing the intensity of the Frost/Nixon interviews. That is truly an accomplishment, but he fails to go beyond to identify the issues that made the moment important in the minds of Frost, Nixon and the American people.
(11/20/08 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If actors like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, as well as arguably lesser actors like Rob Schneider and Jessica Alba, all make up the top 1 percent of successful members of the entertainment industry, what chance is there for the rest of us?The Business Careers in Entertainment Club is creating opportunities for students in unlikely mediums.“BCEC is for students interested in the business side of the entertainment industry,” said junior Matt Morrison, BCEC president. “There’s no other outlet for this type of work, so we provide a hands-on experience along with contacts in the industry.”“We provide a world of networking opportunities,” said junior Brittaney Norris, vice president of BCEC membership. “At least give it a shot to find out what we’re up to. You can be involved as much or as little as you want.”The club comprises several committees such as film and TV, gaming, music and sports, all of which work on their own business enterprises but come together for larger projects.This year, each committee has been pursuing individual projects. The music committee currently works to promote the Addicted to Music Concert set to take place during Little 500 week in April. The concert is a benefit gig to promote awareness of drug overdose.Both the sports and gaming committees are working with other companies and associations for their projects. The sports committee is promoting the King of the Court, a three-on-three basketball tournament similar to last year’s event sponsored by EA and Rockstar.The gaming committee, one that has been re-established from previous years, is marketing for GameZombie.tv, an online gaming Web site currently functioning as a class at IU.The film and TV committee has had the most recent success. The group signed a deal with Universal Studios to promote some of its upcoming films.Co-director of the film and TV committee Jordan Zavaleta is in charge of many of the promotions.“For each movie, we have to throw three events,” Zavaleta said. “When ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ came out on DVD, we hosted a karaoke night.”The advance screening of “Role Models” on Nov. 5 in the Whittenberger Auditorium at the Indiana Memorial Union was organized by BCEC.Zavaleta’s contacts with Universal are already turning into job options. Zavaleta received an internship with Production Management Company BenderSpink.He’s one of several to find work through BCEC. Former club members have found jobs at HBO and the Endeavor Talent Agency.“BCEC got his (former film and TV committee director) head in the right direction, and now he’s getting paid as an assistant director,” Zavaleta said. Yet Norris, also the assistant director in the film and TV committee, is helping BCEC produce its biggest project yet, a documentary on the Little 500. “It’s like a live version of ‘Breaking Away,’” Norris said. “We’re following five teams, three male and two female, to find out how the riders’ lives are affected. It shows they are really just average, everyday people that deal with schooling, fraternities and other events.”This project incorporates all the committees of BCEC. They are working to compose music, write a script and release it in time for the next Little 500.“Being a centralized group that branches out, we are combining and collaborating to make much bigger things,” Morrison said.“For most people, you can make a great script in a writing class, and then it all ends,” Zavaleta said. “We’ll build your resume up, get in touch with people in the business, clue you in on how the industry works and get you headed in the right direction.”
(11/19/08 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For anyone who remembers IU alumnus Will Shortz for either his individualized enigmatology major or for being the New York Times crossword puzzle editor, his name is resurfacing once more with a generous donation to the Lilly Library and a guest appearance on “The Simpsons.”Shortz, the New York Times crossword puzzle editor and an IU alumnus, is donating his collection of more than 20,000 puzzle books to the Lilly Library. The collection dates back to 1543, with word puzzles from around the globe, including crosswords, logic puzzles, picture puzzles and even the only known copy of the original crossword puzzle from 1913. Although IU is his alma mater, Shortz selected the Lilly Library based on his colleague Jerry Slocum’s donation of manipulative puzzles – like Rubix Cubes – which, since 2006, has been given its own exhibit known as the Slocum Puzzle Room. “I hope that the material is to be preserved and researched by classes, and I know they’ve already done a great job of that with Jerry’s collection,” Shortz said. Slocum said he selected the Lilly Library because of its staff and atmosphere.“The researchers treated me extremely well, and they made resources available, but under controlled circumstances, so (the puzzles) aren’t damaged or misused,” Slocum said.Slocum said that since the puzzles were made available, they have been used in a computer graphics setting to teach 3D, as well as to educate students on global culture. “You really have to try these puzzles in order to appreciate them,” Slocum said. Merl Reagle, one of the top crossword puzzle creators in the world, commented specifically on Shortz’s collection. “There’s absolutely nothing like it in the world. It’s truly unrivaled,” he said. Reagle elaborated on how Shortz’s collection will be a beneficial resource. “Many people don’t have any idea there is a puzzle history,” Reagle said, “but if you have any question in your mind, a puzzle will date back and can answer it.”Although Shortz is well-known as the crossword puzzle editor of the Times, he became even more popular in the 2006 film “Wordplay,” a documentary on crosswords that is centered around an annual crossword puzzle tournament.But his most recent claim to fame was on Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons.” In the episode, Lisa competes in a crossword puzzle contest, but when Homer places a bet against her, she loses faith in her dad. To win Lisa back, Homer places two secret messages in the New York Times crossword puzzle edited by Shortz and written by Reagle. The two appeared briefly at the end of the episode. “It was a thrill. ‘The Simpsons’ is one of the great icons of American culture,” Shortz said about appearing on the show. “I agreed to do the show on the condition that the actual crossword appear in that day’s New York Times, and they loved that idea.” The actual crossword did in fact appear in Sunday’s New York Times, complete with both secret messages, one reading diagonally from left to right inside the puzzle, and the other reading down the first letter of every clue. Reagle, too, enjoyed his spot on the show. Both he and Shortz did a real-time table reading with the entire cast.“To have met everybody was swell because they are just the nicest people in the world,” Reagle said. The crossword puzzle itself is reaching the ripe age of 95, and the collection will be a welcome addition to the Lilly Library. “Puzzles have been around for hundreds of years, and this collection will probably have grasp between people and actual things. It really takes you back to another era,” Reagle said.
(11/17/08 3:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>No one was riding brooms during the Quidditch Tournament at Collins Living-Learning Center on Sunday, but the spirit of the fantasy novels was still alive.The third annual Hogwarts Week at the Collins Living-Learning Center rounded out on Sunday with the event’s inaugural Quidditch Tournament.A game based on the sport in the popular Harry Potter series, Collins’ version of Quidditch is a combination of ultimate Frisbee, dodgeball and hide-and-go-seek. This particular match had 13 players composing two teams of three “Chasers,” a “Beater,” a “Keeper” and a “Seeker.” The final player was the “Golden Snitch,” who hid throughout the game while the two Seekers attempted to find him.The game follows the rules of ultimate Frisbee, as players attempt to throw a Frisbee through a goal, or, in this case, three golden hoops on each side of the playing field. Likewise, if a player holding a Frisbee is hit by a dodge ball, it results in a turnover. The final score of the game was 210 to 10, and the winning team received the Quidditch Cup and Borders gift cards. “This was certainly the high point of the week,” said Alex Lahmeyer, a freshman who played the role of the Keeper during the game. “But I also enjoyed the lectures and the wand-making seminar.”Junior Lisa Runion, who organized the event, commented on the success of the week. “We had some very good discussions on things like the history of Collins and Wizarding 101.”Each lecture was attended by about 15 people. The week also featured movie screenings of the five Harry Potter films, each of which was attended by at least 20 people. “I think we had a really good turnout, and a lot of people really came together,” Runion said.Another successful event this week was the Mystery at Collins. “An ancient Golden Snitch was stolen from Collins by a monster from the ‘Chamber of Secrets,’” Runion said. “In the latter half of the week, clues were left throughout the building, all embedded with Collins history to help people find the location of the Snitch.” A camp out planned for Saturday night was canceled due to inclement weather. “I was a little disappointed the camp out was canceled, but I think this time of year is a good time to have it because there’s no fall break,” Runion said. “It’s a very stressful time, so people need a release.”The event was open to all students and will be again for the fourth annual Hogwarts Week next year.“Collins is known for its unique activities like this one, and this is the place to live if you’re interested in things like this,” Lahmeyer said.
(11/12/08 10:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU basketball season began Friday, Nov. 7, but even well before the game, Coach Tom Crean was anything but an unknown face. Far from it – students and fans think he is the best coach IU has had since Bob Knight.His work on the court is impressive, but his efforts off it are making him famous among students. David Burkart, a junior in the telecommunications department, said Crean has made it a point to build up and mobilize the student fanbase. In doing so, people have begun to peg Crean as an enthusiastic, exciting coach with a great personality.Holly Koski, a freshman majoring in sports marketing, said Crean will renew faith in the basketball program and bring it out of “the depths of college basketball.”Jeremy Blaylock, a freshman majoring in elementary education, echoed Koski’s sentiments, adding that Crean brings with him years of experience coaching, which will help a team that has fallen from its glory days.“The alumni have faith in him,” said Josh Warren, a freshman majoring in English, who gave Crean’s time at Marquette University as an example of how the coach will bring IU basketball back to “old times.” And Crean is expected to do this primarily through discipline. Burkart said that unlike coaches in the past, Crean will not put up with behavioral problems from his players. “He’s going to deal with kids that aren’t bringing their A-game,” Burkart said.“If they weren’t getting the glory, they weren’t caring during practice,” Warren added. “Coach Crean is going to change that.”“He’s just got a lot of charisma for both basketball and IU,” Koski said.Crean is also “unscripted and outspoken,” Burkart said, an attitude he finds refreshing. “He’s like a politician in the way he’s getting his name out. There’s no BS with him.”With Crean’s credentials and experience, the question that comes to mind is how well the team will really perform. Thanks to Crean, most students are still optimistic. Warren said he doesn’t think the team will be as bad this year and actually doesn’t expect the team to have the losing record everyone is worrying about. Due to Crean’s influence, Warren said in a few years he expects IU will again be a serious contender in the Big Ten. The fact that fans have more faith than the pundits is reassuring to Koski, who agreed that IU basketball has a lot more prestige left in it than the “experts” give credit for. In light of all the praise, Crean had something to say. “I am honored and humbled by this accolade. Every day, I feel how privileged I am to serve this great University as its men’s basketball coach.”
(11/12/08 8:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heath Ledger isn't the only posthumous actor to deliver a strong performance this year. On Aug. 9, Bernie Mac passed away, but not before completing work on his latest film “Soul Men.”The movie stars Mac and Samuel L. Jackson as retired R&B musicians from the ’70s. Their band was known as The Real Deal featuring Floyd Henderson (Mac), Louis Hinds (Jackson) and front man Marcus Hooks (John Legend). Now with Hooks’ death, Henderson hopes to get Hinds together for a comeback tour after performing a benefit gig at the Apollo Theatre in Hooks’ memory.Yes, this is one of those movies that could be full of possible cliches at very turn. The pair is on a road trip and anything could go wrong. The characters are old, and isn’t it funny to watch them try to do young things. The characters are black and are required to swear as often as possible. But “Soul Men” never goes too far with any of that material. About the worst thing that happens on the road is that Henderson accidentally shoots a hole in a tire that Hinds just changed. Henderson also has an AARP card, but the card says enough by itself. Even their manager says, “They say motherfucker a lot, but they’re really nice guys.”And it’s true. They are really nice, funny guys that the audience can relate to and like. Jackson carries some deeply witty, intelligent and profound dialogue. Mac too can make audiences laugh solely because of his patented, bulging eyeballs. Mac was one of those comedians you thought would always be around. He was never an A-list comic, but it’s movies like this that make us want to remember him. Mac and Jackson contribute quite a bit to their roles, but much of this material falls flat. What makes “Soul Men” good is the almost sentimental moments where the duo performs. This film thankfully takes its music seriously, and viewers should have a good time simply watching without “trying” to be entertained. Mac started some other projects before his untimely death, but perhaps audiences will remember him best for this “soulful” performance, and rightfully so.
(11/10/08 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The third annual Hogwarts Week kicked off Sunday at the Collins Center with a wand-making seminar and a screening of the first Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”Throughout the week, residents and nonresidents will participate in Harry Potter-themed events, including movie screenings of each of the five Harry Potter movies, lectures by guest professors on magic, magical history and ancient runes and a Quidditch Tournament on Sunday.“We’re hoping to create a sense of community in Collins,” said junior Lisa Runion, the coordinator of the event. “It allows people to get together and meet people they wouldn’t usually meet while bonding with a common interest.”The six houses of Collins are all eligible to compete for the House Cup, which serves as an incentive for students to attend events and gain points for their house. In fact, history has shown that the event gets quite competitive. “People have moved to this dorm specifically because they want to be a part of this event,” said senior Tomas Feher.An event that is anticipated to be equally competitive is this year’s new Quidditch Tournament. “It’s a combination of ultimate frisbee, dodgeball and hide and go seek,” Runion said. “It’s Muggle Quidditch, really.”The night included a wand-making seminar. Students rolled up paper to create decorative wands with glue, glitter and paint. Among all the activities, Collins is likewise promoting education with lectures by guest professors. For instance, the ancient runes class will feature discussions about the Tolkien language found in the “Lord of the Rings” series.“We’ve got some great presenters this week,” Runion said. “I’m also looking forward to our Deathly Hallows campout, where there will be a bonfire and book discussions.”
(11/05/08 8:07pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The British gangsters in “RocknRolla” are no different than American gangsters or the Italian mafia, but there’s never been a definitive name for them. The title doesn’t have much to do with the movie, but it’s about time the thugs across the pond have their own moniker.Lenny (Tom Wilkinson) is the big mob boss around London. He controls all the property around town and makes it multiply in value. He gets the building rights the city won’t give to anyone else, and that’s why Lenny owns the town. All the other primary characters go through him in one way or the other. First, there’s One Two (Gerard Butler), who owes Lenny money. Then there’s Uri (Karel Roden), the Russian who wants to do business. He is prepared to pay Lenny 7 million Euros, but One Two plans to steal them. Uri also gives Lenny his “lucky painting,” which draws a lot of attention when Lenny’s stepson Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) steals it from Lenny.Guy Ritchie directs the film, whose previous works about British gangsters (“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch”) are likewise laden with plot and characters whose motives couldn’t seem more different but that all tie together by the end of the film. In hybrid dramadies like this one, the director must rely on dialogue and not suspense to keep the audience interested. Ritchie capitalizes on a heavy, fast-paced British dialect that manages to keep attentiveness but lacks the witty flair that made his previous films standouts. It’s not that this film isn’t good. It’s entertaining, with an ending that does turn out to be remarkable and stylistic. It’s just that it could be so much more. With the same old story, there isn’t much that particularly stands out, nor is there much more to recommend. Yet until the next one, “RocknRolla” will satisfy fans of this genre that Ritchie has dominated for so long.
(11/03/08 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite the previous evening’s Halloween festivities, roughly 30 athletes participated in the first Teter Meter 5K on Saturday.The run, organized by the Teter Quad student government, was an “opportunity to run a competitive race for fun and for free,” said junior Amber Taylor, head of the Teter Meter group.To participate, students donated a can of food to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.“The Food Bank makes packages for families, homeless shelters and any other non-profit organizations that need food,” Taylor said.As a charity event, the run gave participants the opportunity to exercise in a race-like setting without a large entry fee. “It’s all about being healthy,” Taylor said. “I did sports in high school, but when I got to college, I found it hard to exercise. It wasn’t until I started training competitively that I noticed improvement, and this is an opportunity for others to do the same.”Unfortunately, due to some routing problems, what was intended to be a 5K turned into nearly a five-mile run, some of the athletes said. The Teter Meter 5K is intended to be an annual event, and Taylor hopes to improve many aspects of the event next year.“Next year, I hope to train the volunteers to send runners in the right direction and put up bigger signs,” Taylor said.Taylor also said she felt the turnout was low because the event was the morning after Halloween, and she said it will be more successful in the future.The course was intended to circumnavigate much of campus before ending back at Teter Quad.“It was a really nice course with a nice range of scenery,” first place finisher Joey Slaughterbeck said. Slaughterbeck, a junior, also complimented the strategic variance in hills and straightaways.The additional distance did not affect some of the runners’ moods.“I ended up running at a faster pace for a longer course, and I feel everyone did really well,” Slaughterbeck said.Likewise, first place female finisher and freshman Caitlin Engel, a member of the IU cross country team, felt she ran well for such an early-morning event.“It was a fun, hilly course, especially for 10 a.m., and it was fun to compete as well,” Engel said.
(10/21/08 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Forget the ultimate gaming experience.GameZombie is “a prime way to get hands on learning experience,” said adjunct professor Spencer Striker, creative director and executive producer at GZ.Beginning no more than 18 months ago as a graduate level project, GameZombie.tv was born as a Web site dedicated to video games.“GZ is a high quality, online video series that focuses on interviews and reviews all related to video games,” said senior Charles Pearce, the production manager at GameZombie.Since then, GZ has developed first into an internship program and now into an IU class for telecommunications majors looking to pursue careers in the industry. Modeled as an actual business, “(Video) editors get to flex their muscles more than in any other class,” said producer Adrienne Thiery, a senior majoring in telecommunications.“What we do for students is fairly unique,” Striker said.The students spend their time creating professional-looking videos to be published online. However, the class goes above and beyond by using advanced multimedia and viral marketing to allow students to promote their work.“We get our editors used to talking to production companies,” Pearce said. “It’s basically like a first job. By forcing students to get their work out there, the big companies already have their names, and the students see the results from their work return in the form of jobs.”Evidence of GZ’s impact is already noticeable.“When I start talking about GameZombie (to production companies), they listen, and they love it,” Thiery said.Past students have already received jobs at places such as G4. One student received a job doing the video production for one of the top soccer teams in the country.With more than 180 videos online, GameZombie.tv is growing quickly and establishing a name for itself. GZ has coordinated with bebo.com – a site similar to YouTube – GameTrailers.com and Dailymotion.com to promote their work.In 2008, Striker and the GameZombie team won the Webbie Award as one of the strongest video Web sites on the Internet. Originally a site exclusively for reviews, GameZombie.tv has evolved into incorporating high profile interviews, gaming news, as well as fictional comedy programming.“We are developing shows that are very relaxed, with conversational banter,” Pearce said. “People will come back to get news, but also because of the relationship factor.”The GameZombie.tv team is looking to expand yet again with their new class due out this spring. T436: Web Video & The Game Industry is an extension to the current class being offered this semester.Just like this semester, the curriculum will include making and editing videos to be published online.“We’re looking for very motivated students,” Striker said. “It’s a great opportunity because the telecom department places heavy emphasis on collaboration. It’s a very collective college.”Those interested in enrolling in the class this spring should contact GZ at GameZombie.tv to explain what it is they would like to accomplish in the class.Other students interested in finding out more about GameZombie can see their work at GameZombie.tv or even watch 30-minute episodes on IUSTV. “GameZombie can help editors find their own voice,” Pearce said.
(10/15/08 9:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you’ve seen a coming-of-age sports movie or a racial integration film, you’ve seen them all. “The Express” attempts to combine both genres, and although it’s all familiar, it's also fairly convincing. Running back Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) was the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award. When he earned it in 1961 as a member of the Syracuse Orangemen, he was still being persecuted in his own town during the civil rights era. The bulk of “The Express” follows Davis’ sophomore year when Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) bumps him up to the varsity team. Racial issues in this movie serve as side notes to the action. The coach is concerned with little aside from winning, let alone race, and that makes “The Express” nothing more than a sports film.When Davis refuses to leave the field, he’s not making a stand for African-Americans; he just wants to play. The coach isn’t scared about West Virginia fans harming the black kids on his team; he’s scared they’ll harm his teammates who happen to be black. This makes “The Express” a frustrating cliche. But it is well-acted and well-directed, and it is especially grin-worthy watching Davis dominate during every game.Quaid specifically delivers a strong, believable performance. He has always struck me as a Harrison Ford wannabe, acting less and frowning and grunting more as he ages, but what better role for him than a surly college football coach? Of course, we’ve seen it all before. But lack of originality and inability to directly tackle the issues aside, “The Express” is an enjoyable, exciting sports film.