Tag Archives: A&E

Uncategorized

Movie effectively blends humor and emotion

Leave a comment

By Brooke McAfee

When I stepped into the theater to watch the movie About Time, I expected it to be a pleasant, but an unmemorable romantic comedy. Within a few minutes, the mixture of lovable characters, witty dialogue, hilariously awkward situations, and a little bit of magic changed my mind.

Written and directed by Richard Curtis, About Time is centered around Tim Lake, played by Irish actor Domnhall Gleeson, and his quirky, lovable family. His father, played by Bill Nighy, reveals on Tim’s 21st birthday that all of the men in their family can travel back in time to previous events in their lives. Tim uses this ability to create second chances, relive certain moments, and build a more successful love life. He falls in love with a charming, but insecure woman named Mary, played by Rachel McAdams, and after plenty of time-traveling and a variety of “first meetings,” a sweet and humorous romance begins.

Though time travel plays a major role in the film, it is certainly not a perfect approach to the complicated topic. An audience searching for mistakes may certainly find plot holes in the story, but these imperfections were overshadowed by the brilliance of the movie on a comedic and emotional level. Time travel serves as the perfect comic device, yet laughter is perfectly balanced with tears as the story unfolds to reveal a simple, but beautiful message. Many romantic comedies are simply feel-good escapism, but About Time, while still maintaining this aspect, shows a deeper understanding of love and loss.

Despite the impossible element of time travel, the love story was more believable and realistic than many implausible relationships portrayed in movies. Gleeson gives a convincing performance as an awkward man struggling to find a successful relationship. McAdams is certainly no stranger to playing the love interest, and she has great chemistry with obscure, but talented Gleeson.

Although the relationship between Tim and Mary is touching, one of the most moving stories is the love between Tim’s eccentric family, particularly the relationship between father and son. Nighy is impossible not to adore in his role as the loving father who uses his ability to travel in time to read more books and spend more time with his family. Each family member has their own quirks and issues, and it is these little details that make these characters and their stories so relatable.

The soundtrack complements the movie perfectly, and the use of songs such as Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest,” contribute to the simple beauty of the story.

About Time is 123 minutes long, and is rated R for language and some sexual content.

The movie manages to be both one of the funniest and most emotional films I have seen in a while. The writing, directing, and acting are all excellent, and as I left the cinema, it left me with a smile and a feeling of optimism.

Christian DiMartino

Columnist critiques movies of summer 2013

Leave a comment

By Christian DiMartino

The summer movie season is wrapping up, and after seeing 20 movies, it is about time for a summary. Yes, there were some that I missed out on, from blockbusters (The Wolverine, Pacific Rim) to indie hits (Blue Jasmine, The Bling Ring). But summer is over, and it is time to move on. Here are the high and low points of summer 2013. *Note* If Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra was considered an actual movie (it was an HBO movie), it would certainly make the list.

The Best

5. Before Midnight: Most probably do not even know what this is, and it is a pity. Richard Linklater’s third chapter in the Before Sunrise trilogy is one of the best written and acted movies of the year so far. This time around, it has become more obvious that Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have developed into bona fide actors. Yes, the movie is a talk fest, but it is worth it.

4. The Conjuring: The Conjuring is a movie that has been done before, but not much better. It is a good old fashioned haunted house movie that takes its time delivering the chills, rather than constantly making the audience jump. It also helps when actors as good as Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, and Lili Taylor are involved. It is not the scariest movie, but it is among the best of its kind.

3. Iron Man 3: Iron Man 3, the first movie of the summer, kicked the summer off right. Often hilarious, with Robert Downey, Jr. doing what he does best, making people laugh, not to mention the  special effects, Iron Man 3 is a total blast.

2. The Great Gatsby: Ignore the critics. Baz Luhrman’s latest film is a visual marvel that captures the era and the essence of the novel well. Gorgeous and well acted, The Great Gatsby is as enchanting as movies get. Leonardo DiCaprio and crew could not have done better. Great job, old sport.

1. Star Trek Into Darkness:  J.J. Abrams’ previous Star Trek movie found a new fan (guess who?). After waiting four long years , the sequel finally came along, and it was well worth the wait. Star Trek Into Darkness puts the word “spectacle” into “spectacular.” The visual effects are marvelous and there are some nice references to previous movies. But what the crew really nails is letting the audience know these characters better, especially Spock (the terrific Zachary Quinto). Besides Quinto, the best actor involved is Benedict Cumberbatch, who steals the show as the villain. Star Trek 3 can’t come sooner.

Honorable Mentions: This is the End, Man of Steel, Monsters University

The Worst

After Earth: Of 20 movies, none of them deserved annihilation as much as this one. M Night Shamylan’s latest disaster is a 100-minute talk fest rather than a cool sci-fi movie. It is incredibly dull, and if Will Smith does not look interested, the movie is doomed from the start. The saddest thing about it is that it is not even Shamylan’s worst (Reigning champion: The Last Airbender).

Most Surprising

Tie: Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III: After giving up on both franchises, it is nice to say that both movies were pleasantly surprising. The well-reviewed Fast & Furious 6 is dumb fun, and proud of it. The poorly reviewed Hangover Part III is a bit different from its predecessors, and it is for the best. It is not as wild, but it is still funny and it ties the trilogy together well. Neither movie is amazing, but both are better than expected.

Most Disappointing

Kick Ass 2: It is sad to say that The Lone Ranger, which was torn apart by the world, was better than Kick Ass 2. The first hour of it lives up to the original. It is funny and fun, and Chloe Grace Moretz steals the show once again as the foul mouthed Hit Girl. But the sequel takes a wrong turn in the last 40 minutes, and it is a turn for the worst. It is also a waste of what could have been a great Jim Carrey performance. At the end of the day, it is a wasted opportunity.

Well, there it is. This summer was not the best. But it was a decent one. There were only two bad movies the entire summer, and some were borderline bad but shamefully enjoyable (White House Down, The Lone Ranger). It was also a good summer for comedies, such as This is the End, The Heat, and We’re the Millers. All this summer needed was another Batman movie and it could have been perfect. If the summer didn’t meet expectations, there is still a lot to look forward to in the rest of the year, such as The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, Gravity, and Her. Count me in.

A&E, Patrick Prifogle

FC student places first at Classical Singer High School Competition

Leave a comment

By Patrick Prifogle

On April 13, sophomore Liam Resener participated in the Classical Singer High School Competition hosted by Depauw University. Not only did he qualify for the quarterfinals, but he finished first place in his age division. A feat he can hardly believe.

“I did not feel like I performed my absolute best,” said Resener. “They announced third place and I thought, oh man this is making me nervous, then they announced second and I thought, oh well more competitions will come along, then they announced first and I was kind of in shock.”

He will now travel to Boston, in May, to try to advance to the semifinals, and possibly even the finals.

“I still can’t believe it, although today we started to make travel arrangements for Boston. I’m super excited for it.”

Choir director Angela Hampton knows what it takes to become an outstanding vocalist. “He worked really really hard,” said Hampton. “He advanced his skill at a very fast rate, that’s pretty remarkable.”

In order to make it the finals, he will have to go through some stiff competition.

“There are about 175 high schoolers from across the nation participating in the second round and only 30 or 40 get semifinal spots.”

“I’m looking forward to next round. I certainly don’t expect to make it to the semifinals, but I would love to.”

Blake Dykes, Features

Different restaurants recommended to prom goers

Leave a comment

By Blake Dykes

Prom is one of the most exciting times for any high school student, so everything about that night should be perfect. Why not start the night off eating at somewhere classy and different, beyond the same old Clarksville restaurants. Why not look outside the box and try something new?

The first place on our list  is called Del Frisco’s. Del Frisco’s a fairly fancy steakhouse located in Louisville. The menu includes shrimp cocktail, soups, salads, steaks, and much more to choose from. The entrees average around $32-$39. This may be a rather expensive place to go, but it you have saved up for a formal dinner this is definitely the place to be. Del Frisco’s is located at 4107 Oechsli Ave Louisville, KY 40207. Be sure to make your reservations by calling (502) 897-7077.

However, not everyone likes their meat enough to spend $39 on it, so another option, similar to Del Frisco’s is J.Alexander’s. J. Alexander’s has similar menu items, with the addition of some burgers and salmon entrees.  Most entrees stay around the price of $23, not including salads or appetizers (same as Del Frisco’s).  J. Alexander’s is located at 102 Exmoor Court, Louisville KY  40223. For reservations call (502) 339-2206.

Another classy restaurant in Louisville is Jack Fry’s. Jack Fry’s has a more exotic and wide range of meals to choose from. Some of their best dishes include; lamb chops, duck breast, shrimp, deep fried oysters, cheese plate served with nuts and other seasonal ingredients,  and pecan and pear salad. Maybe this sounds good to you, but one person in your group just likes the plain and simple, not to worry, they also have chicken breast and hamburgers. The pricing ranges anywhere from $10-$38, but averages around $28. Jack Fry’s is voted the best restaurant in Louisville, so make sure you call and reserve your spot. (502) 452-9244. Jack Fry’s is located at 1007 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204.

Maybe you and your group of friends aren’t really feeling a big dinner before prom, but would rather go somewhere fancy, tasty, and isn’t going to make you so full your clothes no longer fit. If this sounds about right, I’d recommend Harvest Restaurant. Some famous dishes for this place include; buttermilk fried chicken livers, sweet potato hummus on a pretzel crostini, vegetable stovetop pie, and pickled Jalapeno bacon grits. Even better, it is not as costly, with entrees ranging from $14-$19. If you think this sounds good, you know what to do, (502) 384-9090. Harvest Restaurant is located at 624 E Market St. Louisville, KY 40202.

There is a possibility that none of these places that have been listed sound good, maybe you don’t like the ordinary, and prefer other foods. Not to worry, try Havana Rumba! Havana Rumba is a Cuban restaurant also located in Louisville. They have a very large menu that provides plenty to choose from. For instance, their Cuban Sampler is pabarella, chicken empanada, and cuban pork tamale all wrapped up together. Or another thing they offer is Empanadas De Pollo, lightly breaded, flaky pastries stuffed with roasted pepper and sour cream. If you prefer spicy, try Calamares Fritos, which consists of fried calamari served with sweet chili sauce and aioli. If all of these are all too ordinary try some fried plantains. At around $10-$13 these prices are not too bad at all. Call (502) 897-1959 today. Havana Rumba is located at 4115 Oechsli Ave  Louisville, KY 40207.

Or perhaps you’d like to avoid crossing the bridge on prom day, well not to worry, there are also nice places to dine on our side of the river. If Italian food is up your alley try La Bocca, located in New Albany. La Bocca has all of the mainstream pasta and pizza dishes plus much more. The entrees range from $15-$17. This restaurant is old time Italian and if that is what you like call (812) 945-7711. La Bocca is located at 2708 Paoli Pike, New Albany, IN 47150.

Use prom as an excuse to go to one of these nicer places that you normally wouldn’t treat yourself to! Don’t settle for your typical resturants that you could go to on any other Saturday night. Whether you are willing to spend quite a bit, desire to venture over to Louisville for your meal, or would like to spend a little less and still have a new experience closer to home, all of these restaurants listed above can provide this for you.

A&E, Christian DiMartino

Columnist anticipates upcoming summer releases

2 Comments

Summer is the season that I wait for year after year. Not just because school is out. I am talking about the movies. Most of the big blockbusters come out in the summer, and it is drawing near. To get in the spirit, here are the five movies I am dying to see this summer.

5. Man of Steel (June 14, PG-13)

I have honestly never been a fan of Superman, but I am open for surprises. Man of Steel is produced by a master, Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception) and judging from the trailer, it seems like he has brought some of that Dark Knight-ness to this movie. If Nolan is involved, I am there.  

4. World War Z (June 21, PG-13)

After nearly six years in development, World War Z is finally coming to the big screen. I honestly do not know anything about this movie other than that it is about zombies. On another note, this is bound to be one of the more ambitious movies of the summer, so for that I am interested to see Brad Pitt and director Marc Forester (Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace) pull it off.

3. Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17, Not Yet Rated)

After being pleasantly surprised by director J.J. Abrams previous Star Trek movie (I was a non-believer , and ashamed), I have been patiently waiting for the sequel. Well, it is coming very soon to a theater near me, and I cannot wait. I am interested to see Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch go really bad.  I like my movies with a bit of darkness in it, and judging from the title and the trailer, I doubt that Star Trek Into Darkness will disappoint.

2. Iron Man 3 (May 3, Not Yet Rated)

The first two Iron Man movies were pretty light, but it seems like Iron man is in real trouble this time, and that is just what I like. What a better way to kick off the summer movie season than with a movie that looks as stunning as this. With Robert Downey Jr. in it, it may not be as dark as it seems. But hopefully it is the perfect blend of light and dark. This might be The Dark Knight of the series. But let’s not go that far.

1. The Great Gatsby (May 10, Not Yet Rated)

Summer is the time for big budget blockbusters, but yet Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby looks better than all of the big blockbusters combined. The trailer is so dreamy and enchanting I am mainly curious to see just how Luhrmann pulls it off. Luhrmann, who also directed Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, is a visionary, and is the perfect choice to direct this.   Initially meant for release last Christmas, Warner Bros. pushed it back mainly to avoid the clutter of Oscar season (Les Miserables, Django Unchained, and Zero Dark Thirty were all released around that time), because they felt it was worthy. That alone is a sign of greatness. DiCaprio seems perfect for this role also. By the end of the summer, The Great Gatsby will probably not be the most successful. But it will be one of few with purpose.

This summer seems like a promising ones. Sure, there are a few that the world could do without ( Is Fast and the Furious 6 and The Smurfs 2 really necessary?), but then again there are some that did not even make the cut(the apocalypse comedy This is the End and Johnny Depp doing his thing in The Lone Ranger.) Summer could not get here faster.