Think back to when you were committing to La Salle, maybe even applying if you can. You likely used the Common App and I would say it’s highly likely that you checked a box to ensure your enrollment here: “Are you weird?”
You must have said yes because here you are; everyone at La Salle is weird. There is not one normal person here. If you think you know someone normal, you don’t know them well enough, because I promise you they are weird. Now, this isn’t to say that everyone here is the same type of weird. There are cool-weird people, weird-weird people and secretly-weird people, each with its own characteristics and elements that make them weird.
I couldn’t possibly write all of these elements and factors out, otherwise I’d be writing a forty-page thesis and to be completely honest, I’m not entirely sure of all of the different idiosyncrasies of the varying weirdnesses here. There’s just always something. And that’s not necessarily bad! It keeps us on our toes, you know?
It’s also important to keep in mind that if you find someone weird, don’t judge them too harshly, because guess what? You’re just as weird, if not even weirder. So on that note, stay weird and let people be themselves. Catch ya next week.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Philadelphia Film Society’s SpringFest and see some of the most exciting movies coming out in the latter half of 2023. PFF SpringFest is the organization’s spring festival—the main Philadelphia Film Festival taking place in fall every year—that showcases some of the best works of cinema arriving in the next few months. The festival took place over the course of the past weekend with a lineup of eighteen total feature films and documentaries from Friday to Sunday. I was able to watch nine films at this event, and here are my reviews of what I covered this past weekend.
“Somewhere in Queens” via Lionsgate
“Somewhere in Queens”
“Somewhere in Queens”, Ray Romano’s directorial debut, offers the story of a middle-class father who faces a crisis when his son is offered a potential basketball scholarship. Romano hits all the beats here in a sincere indie dramedy of a father who somewhat wants to live vicariously through his son. The emotional tension here and the presence of a great Laurie Metcalf performance reminds the viewer of a less-great “Lady Bird” but with high school basketball. Still, “Somewhere in Queens” is worth the watch if you are in the mood for a heartfelt comedy about family.
“Sisu” via Lionsgate
“Sisu”
Set in Finland in 1944 during the Lapland War, “Sisu” takes on some of the best attributes of classic action B-movies, slasher films, and modern action films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “John Wick”. The movie was touted as the late-night showing for the festival on Friday and did not disappoint in that time slot. The word “sisu” can be roughly translated from Finnish to more or less mean courage in the face of indomitable odds, and the entire film thus centers on stoic old miner/retired veteran who must defend his newfound gold from Nazis enacting a “scorched earth” retreat tactic. What follows is an hour-and-half long tale of revenge and one man’s war of attrition against a squadron of Nazis who wish to rob and murder him. The film plays up the audience’s desire to see Nazis suffer for their evils—passing up any commentary on Finland during WWII to focus on the action. “Sisu” was an overall enjoyable time—a gnarly action film in which the viewer can naturally get behind this one-man army who looks to reclaim his gold and wipe out a Nazi squadron.
“Carmen” via Sony Pictures Classics
“Carmen”
Benjamin Millepied’s modern adaptation of the classic opera “Carmen” is tough to bite into. The new take on a classic story is about a refugee and a border control agent that finds themselves together in dangerous circumstances. Being a big fan of Paul Mescal and composer Nicholas Britell, “Carmen” had been one of my most anticipated films of the weekend. The film boasts stunning cinematography and, of course, Britell delivers with a haunting, mesmerizing score. Mescal and Melissa Barrera both offer strong performances as the film’s two leads. Also, the dance and fight choreography were incredible and mesmerizing. Still, something felt lacking. There is not much of a clear, effective story here unfortunately. At least not one that draws the viewer into the film.
“The Eight Mountains” via Pyramide Films
“The Eight Mountains”
The directorial collaboration between Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch “The Eight Mountains” likely won the weekend for me personally. Set in the Italian Alps, this film chronicles the decades-long friendship between Pietro and Bruno—who had first met as children and later reunite as adults. Simply put, this film and its cinematography gives you a breath of jolting, fresh air like its characters are given in the high altitude of the Alps. This film looks breathtakingly gorgeous while the slowburn tale of friendship slowly guides the viewer through decades in the lives of these two men. The performances from the two leads were especially convincing in their portrayals of meditative melancholy over the same father that so profoundly shaped their lives in distinct ways. This film achieved the hallmark of any great movie—which is both making me cry and want to leave everything to live in a tiny home deep in the mountains.
“Blue Jean” via Altitude Films
“Blue Jean”
A debut feature film from Georgia Oakley, “Blue Jean” is the story of a closeted lesbian and PE teacher who must conceal her sexuality in Thatcher’s England. In a period of so much repression for LGBTQ+ people under the Thatcher regime, the film does not shy away from the harsh reality for the protagonist, Jean. In a similar vein that echoes modern struggles for queer people in the United States, panic about “traditional moral values” is used as a political tool to quiet the existence and presence of LGBTQ+. The film’s screenplay smartly considers the internal struggle between identity and society. It offers a look into how queer people are forced to change themselves to fit within society and the intense feelings of alienation from the mere suspicion of nonconformity. That internal struggle defines “Blue Jean” and—along with Oakley’s direction—makes for a great film.
Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton in “BlackBerry” via Elevation Pictures
“BlackBerry”
“BlackBerry” slyly tells the story of the rise and fall of the most popular phone of the early 00s—with substantial help from great performances by Glenn Howerton, Jay Baruchel, and Matt Johnson. With cinematography that reminds one of “The Office”, “BlackBerry” thrives when it does not take itself seriously as a business drama and leans in towards comedy. Film studios at a breakneck pace are pillaging any semblance of intellectual property they can get their hands on to make money. Business biopics worshiping materialism, IP and capital have become more and more prolific—a simultaneous sign of the times and foreboding harbinger of American consumer culture. Therefore, it is incredibly easy to be so tired of this genre. Going in, I did not want to like this movie, because I thought it would hop on those same trends. Thankfully, its comedic tones and show-stopping line deliveries by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Glenn Howerton greatly benefit this film.
“Passages” via SBS Productions
“Passages”
“Passages” is the newest film from writer-director Ira Sachs and centers on the story of a film director whose budding romance with a woman causes strife in his marriage with his husband. All three leads provide great performances—especially Ben Whishaw who follows up his stellar turn last year in “Women Talking”. LGBTQ+ representation has been an important topic in culture for a long time, but recently many people also emphasize that representation does not always have to be perfectly clean and positive. True representation will highlight queer characters and people as complex, complicated, flawed, real people and not perfect. And that is what “Passages” accomplishes so well. Tomas is our protagonist, but this character from the very first frame is shown to be an incredibly manipulative, flawed individual—making “Passages” one of the most compelling pictures at the festival.
Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver in “Master Gardener” via Magnolia Pictures
“Master Gardener”
As someone who wrote a ten-page research paper on “The Last Temptation of Christ” and considers “First Reformed” a perfect film, I would consider myself a fan of Paul Schrader. As someone who also wrote my senior Honors Project on recent growing trends of right-wing extremism in the United States, I have a myriad of thoughts and feelings on Schrader’s newest film. This director and famed screenwriter of “Raging Bull” and “Taxi Driver” returned this past year with “The Master Gardener” starring Joel Edgerton. Much like several other recent Schrader pictures (“First Reformed” and “The Card Counter”), “Master Gardener” follows a middle-aged man who has a haunting past, skills in a niche profession, and a diary. It is difficult not to feel decidedly mixed on this film. Schrader’s screenplays always feel so sharp and on the pulse of the dark realities of American existence, and “Master Gardener” is not an exception. Still, to call the subject matter of this movie complicated would be an understatement. Schrader does not want to paint the characters in this script to be uncomplicated. Throughout his entire filmography and career, it would be a mistake to say that Schrader has ever intended for his protagonists to be uncomplicated individuals. The stark difference with “Master Gardener” is that this writer/director takes on a much more optimistic stance on a person’s capacity for change and the future when compared to films like “First Reformed”. I am still unsure how to feel about this movie and am sure it will inspire discourse like any Paul Schrader movie does.
When writing about this film, one cannot refrain from thinking about the parallels between the flower motif and a certain line from “Garden Song” by Phoebe Bridgers.
And when your skinhead neighbor goes missing,
I’ll plant a garden in the yard then
“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” via Apple TV+
“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie”
This Apple TV+ documentary sheds light on the famed star, his career, and his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. From prior trailers, I went into the film with the preconceived notion that it would only be covering his long struggle with the degenerative disease. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the documentary encompasses nearly the entirety of the great actor’s life and career—illustrating how the fluidity of movement had always previously defined his life and perspective on the world. It is also made with so much compassion and admiration for Fox—never looking to exploit his condition but instead allowing the star to tell his story as he sees it. The film conveys that, for Michael J. Fox, his Parkinson’s diagnosis never killed his spirit despite constant adversity over the decades.
The Philadelphia Film Society is a great member-run non-profit organization that promotes cinema in Philadelphia. This organization owns three different theaters in Center City—the Philadelphia Film Center, the PFS Bourse Theater in Old City, and the PFS East Theater near 2nd Street. For more information on this organization, upcoming events, and memberships, follow the link to https://filmadelphia.org
La Salle University student via La Salle University
April has been a busy month for student activities at La Salle University. A range of events has filled La Salle students’ calendars from athletics, the arts, wellness, greek life, and more. La Salle Wellness’s programs this month begin with a Take-Back the Night event on April 4. This event was an opportunity for La Salle community members to gather and share stories of “survivorship, hope, and advocacy.” This event is aimed at taking a stand against sexual violence. This event included music and sign making, group and confidential discussion, and s’mores and hot chocolate after the program! From April 11 until April 14 La Salle Wellness hosted the clothesline project to honor survivors of sexual violence. Students were encouraged to stop by the Union between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to decorate a shirt and share a story of love, support, or survivorship for Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The shirts were then displayed in the Union. During the rest of the month La Salle Wellness will host a planting event about “seeding your dreams” and a mental health roundtable on April 20.
Late night La Salle hosted a s’mores event after the Masque’s production of “Drinking Habits.” This play is about two religious nuns who secretly make alcohol, but two reporters are suspicious of their activities. In addition to this event, Late Night La Salle also hosted a popcorn event and plans to host an event in partnership with OLAS, one with different kinds of cookies, a PJ party and movie night and a tea tasting.
On April 18 the career center will host one of their spring career check-ins. These check-ins are a series of tabling events geared toward the graduating senior class, and any other students looking for career-related assistance. This is a chance for students to check in on their career prep and exploration with the Career Peers & Counselors in the Union Lobby. They will be there ready to answer any questions and provide you with handouts.
On April 25 there will be an around-the-world wine-tasting event for students who are 21 years old. Students can enjoy an evening of food and wine pairings from around the world. Wines from 5 different countries will be featured with a brief history provided.
On April 26 La Salle Student’s Government Association will host a General Assembly meeting, which is open to all members of the student body.
Off-campus, students have a rich selection of activities. On Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. students can head to nearby Manayunk for the annual StrEAT Food Festival where they can enjoy food, shopping and music. In addition, on April 30 La Salle Students will be running in the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run 10-Miler which has been a proud Philadelphia tradition for over 40 years.
Wrestlemania season has officially come to an end and what a success it was. From some of the best female wrestling the sport has seen to possibly the best tag-team match of all time this Wrestlemania will definitely go down as one of the best WWE has put on. Here are some thoughts and my ratings of the matches.
Night 1
Austin Theory defeats John Cena to retain United States Championship
Starting the whole weekend event we got to see one of the best wrestlers of all time, John Cena, back on the grandest stage of them all square off against Austin Theory, a guy the WWE is clearly trying to push to a main eventer. While it was awesome seeing John Cena back, this match was such a let down. The match took a while to get going and once it did it was just filled with cheap shots coming from Theory which ultimately lead to him retaining the United States Championship. Best part of this fight was Cena’s five knuckle shuffle, where he thanked the fans before pulling it off. Makes you wonder if this is our last time seeing him in the ring?
Rating: 6.1/10
Men’s Fatal Four-Way Showcase: The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy vs. Viking Raiders vs. Ricochet & Braun Strowman. Winners: The Street Profits
This match had to be the shock of night one for how awesome this was. For no buildup going in, it ended up being one of the most powerful, high flying and energetic matches of the night. For someone who has never seen wrestling before or does not care, I would show them this match. The Street Profits end up winning this match in an awesome ending. Rumor has it that Triple H is making big changes on Monday Night Raw and if there are two sets of tag team titles I would love to see this team carry them. Rating: 8.9/10
Seth Freakin’ Rollins Defeats Logan Paul
Ah yes, Logan Paul. Internet Star-turned-Boxer turned Entrepreneur turned WWE Superstar continues to prove he can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the WWE. Even die hard fans can not deny Paul has great in-ring talent. For how great Paul looked for his fourth match in the WWE, Seth Freakin’ Rollins outshined him. Rollins is currently the biggest babyface in the company. Whenever someone tries to cut a promo against Rollins the entire crowd just chants his theme song. I think it is time for Rollins to be back in the main event picture and fight against Roman Reigns. All in all this fight was great from the KSI appearance to the chants this fight had it all. I would have liked to have seen more buildup but not much you can do with Paul’s busy schedule. Rating: 8.6/10
While it was great seeing Trish Stratus back and how she proved she definitely can still wrestle, I felt this match was a little dull. As much as I loved watching Lita back in the day, I think it may be time for her to hang up the boots. She botched a few of her moves and clearly could not move as well as the others. Other than Lita, Becky Lynch looked amazing and proved why she is one of the best Female Wrestlers in the business and Damage CTRL did a lot of fun moves and pops for the crowd. It is unfortunate this match came after two amazing matches or else I could have seen myself liking it more. Rating: 6.4/10
Rey Mysterio defeats Dominik Mysterio
Besides the bloodline storyline this had one of my favorite buildups this Wrestlemania. Dominik Mysterio, while it was not believable at first, has cut some amazing promos leading up to this event and has truly embraced being the villain. How could you not enjoy this fight? From Rey Mysterio riding in a convertible with Snoop Dogg to honor the late great Eddie Guerrero, Rey beating Dominik with a belt, to Dominik throwing water in his sister’s face, this match had it all for a great storyline ending. This match could very well be Mysterio’s last fight as well and if it is he left on a high note. Rating: 9.1/10
Rhea Ripley defeats Charlotte Flair for Smackdown Women’s Championship
To be completely honest, I was not invested in this match leading up. This was one of the worst builds for a World Championship going into Wrestlemania and it was pretty clear Ripley was going to win. After the fight was over I had to say it out loud, this was the greatest Women’s wrestling match I have ever seen in my life. It was a slow burn to start and I was nervous we would have to sit through a boring match until one of the most highly anticipated matches in recent history. Once it gained momentum the two superstars absolutely shined and showed why they are the two best in the ring. As predicted by most people, Ripley became the new Smackdown Women’s champion but was still an incredible match. Ripley hitting her finishing move, the Rhiptide, off the top rope for the win made me jump out of my seat. Ripley is going to hold this belt for a very long time and she deserves it. Rating: 9.5/10
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens defeat The Usos for the Tag-Team Championship
I will say it, this was the greatest tag-team match of all time. When was the last time anyone cared about a tag match? The bloodline storyline is the best storyline I have ever seen in WWE since the CM Punk John Cena storyline in 2011. This storyline is the reason why I started watching wrestling again. Everything about this match was perfect. I do not know what else to say besides this was done so well. Rating: 10/10
Night 2
Brock Lesnar defeats Omos
This matches’ buildup was just two big boys going at it to kickoff Wrestlemania. It was cool seeing Lesnar hit Omos with an F5 but besides that this match was just fine. Rating: 5.8/10
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya & Shotzi vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville. Winners: Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
I was really hoping this would shock me like the men’s showcase on night one. In the beginning it was certainly trending that way as all the superstars really had moments to shine. The ending however was so lackluster with former UFC Champion Ronda Rousey just walking into the ring and putting Shotzi in an armbar and winning. The ending definitely knocked a few points off of my rating for this one. Rating: 6.0/10
Gunther defeats Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in Triple Threat Match
Looking at this match on the card I asked myself, how could this be bad? Three massive men just beating the heck out of each other for over twenty minutes was awesome and there was decent buildup leading up with Sheamus vs McIntyre. I have never seen so many chest slaps in a match ever. Everyone thought Sheamus should have won to complete his career grand slam but Gunther is a young rising star and needed this win for his resume to be propelled to the top.
Rating: 8.2/10
Bianca Belair defeats Asuka for Raw Women’s Championship
While watching this, I really wanted Rhea Ripley to somehow interfere to set up Rhea becoming a universal champion like Roman Reigns. Yes it was wishful thinking but she is just such a great wrestler that I want to see more of. This fight was still good even though I felt Asuka should have won. Overall a very decent fight and a reminder of how far Women superstars have come in this industry and how great these fights have been. Rating: 7.9/10
Edge defeats Finn Balor in a Hell in a Cell
The Hell in Cell returns to Wrestlemania as well as Balor’s “The Demon” gimmick which looked awesome. This match is as close to the attitude era we could get in this PG era. Chairs, ladders, tables, and kendo sticks were all on display. What turned the vibe around however was Balor getting injured about ten minutes into the match. Edge threw a ladder at Balor and instead of his head going in between the stairs of the ladder, it hit him square on the temple resulting in a major cut on his head and blood dripping on the mat. They had to let doctors into the ring to check in on Balor delaying the match by a few minutes. When they began to wrestle again doctors had to stay in the cell to make sure he was ok which was odd but luckily Balor continued to perform at a high level, even taking a chair shot to the head to end the match. Great match but I am nervous about Balor’s health. Rating: 8.6/10 *bonus points for how sick Edge’s entrance was
Miz’s matches
Before I get to the main event I figured I would quickly talk about the Miz and the two random matches he had. The first match was against Pat McAfee and kind of George Kittle? It really just made me want to see McAfee on commentary as I dislike Corey Greaves there. Next was the awesome return of Shane McMahon but only lasted thirty seconds as he tore his quad. Snoop Dogg with the improv of the year as he hit the Miz with the peoples elbow. I think Wrestlemania could have done without either of these matches. Rating: 2.4/10
Roman Reigns defeats Cody Rhodes for Universal Championship
Wow. Just wow. You can not tell me watching both entrances you did not get goosebumps. Going into this fight I felt it was time for a new era with Rhodes as champion. When Reigns won I was upset along with the rest of the WWE Universe. I keep going back and forth on how I feel about this ending. Because a Rhodes win at Summerslam is not going to hit as hard as it would’ve last night, but then again are WWE fans ready for Reigns not to be champion anymore? He is the best wrestler on the roster, he is the best heel on the roster, everyone loves to hate him, but he is the Tribal Chief and we need to acknowledge him. Rating: 9.2/10
On Thursday, April 13, La Salle University’s Communication and Political Science departments will host Tom Curley, a notable alumnus. Curley is one of the founders of USA Today, former president of the Associated Press, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Collegian. While at La Salle, Curly studied political science.
This event will consist of a panel of political science professors and Curley will discuss media freedom and the first amendment. This panel will be followed up by a question and answer with Curley regarding both advice about careers in the media and the importance of balance in news coverage. Collegian editors will be moderating the question and answer session.
Having a long and fruitful career, Curley has been interviewed and written about by large outlets like the New York Times as well as smaller more local papers like the Collegian. The Times reported that Curley enjoyed photography and hiking in his free time and how Curley did not want to spend his career thinking “about woulda, coulda, shoulda…[he] wanted to participate fully in the digital change in the media.” In November 2020, in the heat of the pandemic and online communication, the Collegian looked to Curley about the importance of free speech, social movements and speaking out. In that article, Curley advised student journalists that “there’s a way to get the story out, and in many ways, it is a good time to get the stories out and make some changes.”
The event this Thursday is aimed at discussing these changes. The political science panel will begin at 11:15 in the communication center and the question and answer session is to follow at 12:30.
I think I’ve only had real food poisoning twice in my life, but every once in a while, I’ll start to get a stomach ache or start feeling nauseous a few hours after eating. This past weekend, I experienced the latter (luckily). I was able to take some Advil and go to bed before anything bad really happened, but not before sitting on the bathroom floor, contemplating everything that led up to that moment (you know the feeling).
I know there is definitely science behind what happens when you experience food poisoning, but I don’t really want to know what it is. I think it’s so much cooler to only know that your body thinks it has been poisoned and therefore does everything it can to flush your system. What’s crazy is how quickly your body reacts. And how quickly it can fix the issue (which I guess if it flushes everything out, that makes sense, but still).
And the different levels of having food poisoning… You can either be me on Easter night, kind of ill to the point of justifying going to bed super early but waking up the next morning feeling fine, or you can be completely down for the count for the next 24 hours and anywhere in between.
Again, although I am a School-of-Arts-and-Sciences person, I am not really science at all. But the body is crazy! I hope that you could relate to this fascination, but if you know the science behind it, please don’t ruin the magic for me. Very little bewilders me at this point, food poisoning being one of them, so just let me have this one. Thank you.
In an effort to keep from declaring bankruptcy, Bed Bath & Beyond is asking shareholders to approve a reverse stock split at a forthcoming special meeting, according to a regulatory filing made late Wednesday.
To ensure that there are enough shares available to raise up to the $300 million in equity from a stock offering announced last week, the retailer’s board is urging shareholders to accept the reverse stock split at the May 9 meeting as Bed Bath & Beyond deeply needs cash to survive, again.
The company has seen problems with the business before the pandemic hit, and its business has been experiencing declining trends. Despite an increase in online retail sales, Bed Bath & Beyond still didn’t generate the same number of sales in past years as other shops like Target. Due to poor performance, Bed Bath & Beyond fired Mark Tritton, its recently appointed CEO and former Target chief of merchandising.
The declining stock price of Bed Bath & Beyond, which has been trading below $1 for the past two weeks, has made fundraising attempts extremely difficult. Bed Bath’s stock was trading at about 30 cents early on Thursday, giving it a market worth of only about $132 million. According to the company’s statement, if the plan isn’t carried out, it probably will not have enough equity to pay its debts and maintain operations. Leaving them no option but to file for bankruptcy.
That being said, the struggling store announced that the reverse stock split would occur at a ratio between one for ten and one for twenty, to be overall decided by the board. If the split is granted, there will be a considerable decrease in the number of shares of common stock that are outstanding, enabling the company to issue enough shares to satisfy the requirements of the offering. The firm anticipates that the reverse split will increase Bed Bath’s share price per share, which will enhance investor perception of the company’s stock.
The stock offering will eventually dilute Bed Bath’s share price, even if the reverse split temporarily raises it. This is what happened after the business announced another stock offering in February. Since January, the home goods business has been issuing bankruptcy warnings after a string of poor quarters left it barely hanging on to life. For instance, it announced a $120 million lifeline on Wednesday from liquidator Hilco Global so it may replenish its inventory in a desperate attempt to boost sales.
On paper, Bed Bath & Beyond’s plans to streamline operations and stock fewer items may have made sense, but in fact, they have displeased customers and investors. Since fewer products were available, the “Beyond” division of the company struggled because many devoted customers were used to buying at the retailer before heading to rivals Target or Home Goods. Customers used to have a wide variety of brand alternatives, therefore they were disappointed by the alterations made after the structural cleaning of its aisles. Bed Bath & Beyond has been distressed for years, having failed to reinvent itself in the digital age despite efforts to declutter its stores and remake its coupon strategy. I believe the company’s idea to push for a reverse stock split proves the company is on its last leg. If not approved, the company will likely end up in liquidation if it cannot find a buyer.
On Monday, Apr. 3, I had the opportunity to attend a VIP advance screening of “AIR”—the newest film from creative duo and best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The film tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro, a NIKE basketball guru who looks to gamble on signing a sneaker contract with up-and-coming rookie Michael Jordan. The screenplay—from newcomer Alex Convery is fairly straightforward, telling the story of one man’s perseverance through great adversity towards success. Vaccaro and Nike had consistently floundered in the basketball division in the past and stood little-to-no chance of landing Jordan. Only through Sonny’s unconventional and genuine approach does he eventually achieve success in this endeavor. Simply put, AIR is the feel-good movie of the spring—the type of film that could be enjoyed by both the most hardcore basketball fans and casual viewers who know the name “Michael Jordan.”
via Amazon Studios
A Star-Studded Cast
“AIR” boasts an incredibly talented cast of iconic actors who all deliver great performances. While the film’s screenplay is generally tight and entertaining, this film is strengthened immensely by its casts and their performances. Matt Damon stars as the protagonist of the film, Sonny Vaccaro. Ben Affleck is the eccentric CEO of NIKE Phil Knight and actually flexes skills as a comedic actor in this role. The great two-time Academy Award winner Viola Davis portrays Deloris Jordan—the mother of the basketball legend—with a certain gravitas that would not be possible with any other actress. Jason Bateman and Chris Tucker play Rob Strasser and Howard White, two employees aligned with Vaccaro in pursuit of the Jordan deal. Both actors—who are incredibly well-known for their many prior roles—shine in adding sharp-witted humor and sarcasm to all their scenes. Marlon Wayans makes a brief cameo as George Raveling, the assistant coach for the 1984 US Olympic Men’s Basketball team.
Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro/via Amazon Studios
Damon and Affleck Together Again
The popular duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon first became a household name in 1997 with their iconic screenplay for “Good Will Hunting”—a movie in which they both starred—that would earn them the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. “AIR” sees the longtime friends reunite on a project together for the first time in almost two decades. In the twenty-six years since “Good Will Hunting”, Affleck has built up an incredibly successful career both in front and behind the camera. Affleck has been known for directing hit films such as “The Town” and “Argo”—the latter winning the Oscar for Best Picture and Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Director in 2012. Damon has also achieved considerable box office and critical success—starring in the Jason Bourne franchise and the Ocean’s Eleven films alongside George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The pair have been friends since they were eight and continue to this day. One of the best strengths of this film was their dynamic, a winning creative combination that highlights all the fun of being able to make movies with your closest friends.
Ben Affleck as Phil Knight/via Amazon Studios
The 80s and Cinematography
Two other strengths of AIR include the film’s cinematography and the setting of the 1980s. The director of photography for this film was Robert Richardson—a legendary cinematographer who has worked on several cinematic classics including “Casino”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “The Aviator”, “Kill Bill”, and “A Few Good Men”. With Richardson behind the camera,what could have been a pretty by-the-numbers sports business movie gets elevated into something much more substantive and entertaining. His great camerawork is especially noticeable in a scene during which Vaccaro and the rest of his team are huddled late at night at a small table discussing their game plan to win over the Jordans. The fashion, offices, and hairstyles all feel meticulously dated and accurate to the mid80s. The soundtrack utilizes hits from the time period that all make sense for the film and make each scene feel more important. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” is specifically referenced—which works perfectly in the story as his album of the same name came out in 1984. One specific sequence in the opening credits of the film establishes this setting seamlessly as Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” is played over clips of movies, shows, and events of the 80s.
On Monday, Mar. 28, I had the opportunity to attend a virtual event where Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz and Emmy-nominated writer Alice Birch spoke about and debuted the trailer for their new show “Dead Ringers”. This six-episode show is a remake/re-imagining of David Cronenberg’s 1988 classic film of the same name. Birch and Weisz in this show look to update the original film’s story of eccentric twin gynecologists, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, for modern audiences from a female perspective. Weisz—who won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2006 for “The Constant Gardener” and starred in box office hits such as “The Mummy”—pulls double duty as the twin protagonists of the series. Alice Birch, the creator and writer of the show, has amassed a successful career as a screenwriter and playwright—garnering an Emmy nomination for her work on Episode 3 of “Normal People” in 2020.
“Dead Ringers” via Prime Video
When asked about what “Dead Ringers” is, Birch and Weisz responded:
Alice Birch: “It’s a reworking of David Cronenberg’s iconic film. It’s a twisted, darkly comedic thriller about these two dangerously codependent twins who are obsessed with each other. Have never spent a night apart for their whole life. Have always lived in the same city.”
Rachel Weisz: “They’re both obstetricians and gynecologists, and they’re very brilliant in their field. They’re professionally at the top of their game.”
When asked about the experience of playing two main twin characters, Rachel Weisz answered:
“This was without a doubt the biggest challenge of my acting life….No question about that. But also the most joyous in many ways. It was hard work….[I]t was thrilling. I mean, exciting as maybe learning to walk a tightrope.”
The creator/writer Alice Birch also was asked about the importance of telling this specific story from a female perspective.
“It felt like it would just be really interesting to tell this story with two women at the center of it. But I don’t know that Rachel and I ever had conversations where we said, “okay, well, now that they’re women, how does that change it?” It, of course, changes everything, but it also changes nothing. That’s what I think we wanted it to be as fun and as wild as the film and let the series go in its own direction. And then setting it against a medical background that particularly focused on obstetrics and gynecology – that felt really right for the storytelling…It felt like that could have like this tone that we wanted could really sit in that space in a really interesting way.”
Here is the official trailer for “Dead Ringers”:
“Dead Ringers” will be available for streaming on Prime Video with the first two episodes premiering on Apr. 21.
Ralph Smith, the sports editor for Central High School’s student-run newspaper, The Centralizer, has been reported missing. This report comes shortly after the Editor wrote an article trash-talking local cricket superstar Bur-a-boo Sockball and their loss in the cricket world cup, costing Sockball his entire career. Messages were later found on Smith’s phone showcasing an interaction between Sockball and Smith, where Sockball stated, “I am a lot more richer than you, and i can hit a ball very good… you are nothing”. Smith simply responded, “Please, sir, I’m only 15”.
Authorities are confused about the nature of the kidnapping, seeing how Smith only made a simple report stating the outcome of his last cricket match. Size 9 footprints were found at the crime scene, next to a plunger and a Louisville t-shirt.
The folks at TheCollegian will continue to report on the issue as new information is brought to light.
The La Salle Collegian 