Thursday, January 18, 2007

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Smiths shine in 'Happyness'

Alexa Milan - Reviewer

"The Pursuit of Happyness" may not seem quite as hard-hitting as some of the season's other much hyped about movies, but it is a well-done film that is sure to make an impression.

"Happyness" is based on the true story of Chris Gardner [Will Smith], a man who went from being homeless to a successful stockbroker.

'The marriage of Bette and Boo' set to debut at Elon this week

Caitlin Burke - Reviewer

Tucked next to McCrary Theatre, the intimate Black Box Theatre sits awaiting audiences for the upcoming winter play, "The Marriage of Bette and Boo."

It will run from Jan. 19-23 and then resume Jan. 31-Feb. 3.

Playwright Christopher Durang examines family dynamics and relationships in an artistic yet absurdist fashion that is laced with a heavy layer of dark humor.

2006 Year in review for movies

Andrew Prince / Reviewer

Three of the most praised movies of 2006 came from Mexican filmmakers, namely Alejandro González Iñárritu (“Babel”), Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”), and Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”). What is the secret to their success? Why are these filmmakers and their work so interesting? In 1975, when Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and the late Robert Altman were the best directors, the great critic Pauline Kael noticed a common thread running through them: they each had a Catholic background. Kael, who was Jewish, argued that Catholic directors made movies that appealed to the senses more than non-Catholics because “there was more sensuality around them in their formative years, because their religion was itself more sensual, more suggestive, providing more material for the imagination.” I think the same applies to Iñárritu, Cuarón and del Toro, all from Mexico, where Catholicism is far more prevalent than in the United States.

'Dreamgirls' talented cast proves musicals can still be very successful on the big screen

Alexa Milan / Reviewer

Clapping, cheering and a standing ovation are not things that generally happen when people see a movie in theaters. However, that is exactly what the audience did when I saw “Dreamgirls.”

Movie musicals are a tough sell. The ones that have been released since 2002’s Oscar-winning “Chicago” were critically panned and had poor box office draws, but “Dreamgirls” has clearly made an impression on critics and audiences alike.

Powerful performances carry 'Children of Men'

Ryan Howard / Reviewer

“Children of Men” begins with the established setting of a typical dystopian future where the world has gone mad and the government has resorted to fascist tactics in order to preserve the peace. However, this movie opts to forego big-budget action sequences in favor of a more compelling and engaging story.