Emily Allgair, Editor

With stars such as Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor and, of course, international heartthrob Zendaya, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” is one of this year’s first actual must-see movies. 

Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a tennis player-turned-coach, in an attempt to help her husband regain his confidence to finish his tennis grand-slam, has signed Art (Mike Faist) up for a tennis challenger competition, a low-level tennis tournament – something easy to prove he can get out of his own head. Tensions quickly rise when Art finds himself up against tennis burn-out Patrick (Josh O’Connor), his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.

Written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino, the script and screen adaptation of such was unparalleled. Their dynamic partnership makes me look forward to further collaboration between Kuritzkes and Guadagnino in their upcoming film “Queer.”

Best known for his film “Call Me By Your Name,” Luca Guadagnino’s directorial touch was reminiscent of his previous 2017 creation. From cinematography to even something as simple as pacing, Guadagnino’s hand is widely felt throughout “Challengers.”

Although I initially questioned the use of 80s synth-pop music as the score, I should not have been so quick to doubt the genius that are the minds of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The up-tempo, heartbeat-like music not only keeps you excited, it also keeps you on your toes. Heightening the buzz of the script, Reznor and Ross’ score is phenomenal, so don’t let the first two songs steer you wrong. 

Mike Faist, with a background in over-the-top Broadway theater, surprised me with his ability to play such a modest character. Art juxtaposes Patrick, and as the movie progresses, we start to pity Art (through no fault of his own). Faist’s portrayal of such a transparent character was honestly a breath of fresh air, although that doesn’t mean that there are moments of selfishness that overcome him. 

Throughout the film, Zendaya not only radiates beauty, her performance is impeccable. The role of Tashi Duncan adds yet another far-from-Disney role to Zendaya’s resume, and I am so thankful that it did. In her other more serious roles, such as Rue Bennett (“Euphoria”) and Marie Jones (“Malcolm & Marie”), Zendaya’s characters are often likable because of the difficult situations they find themselves to be in. In “Challengers,” however, Tashi is anything but. As the movie progresses, the actions and motivations of Tashi continue to make audiences not want to be supportive of her – and this is beautifully done by a collaboration between writer, director and actress.

During the Global Press Conference of “Challengers,” Zendaya herself described Tashi as “refreshing” because she doesn’t need you to like her. Tashi is a complicated character, and while Zendaya asks you not to judge Tashi based on her decisions, she also doesn’t care if you support said decisions, much like Tashi. 

Although I doubt it will be debated, “Challengers” is one of the best films released so far this year. From the performances by Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor to minute details of mise-en-scene, Luca Guadagnino’s newest film deserves every ounce of praise it will get. If you haven’t already bought your tickets to see it in theaters, you must do so right now.

Kenneth Lynch, Staff Writer

SUMMARY

Charlotte, a twelve-year girl, lives in an apartment complex with her little brother, mother and her step-father. She has quite the hobby of exploring and sketching out comics with her father. She meets a spider in her grandmother’s apartment and brings it to her room to take care of it. The spider is kept inside of a jar where Charlotte observes the spider as it consumes insects. She notices that the spider grows at an alarming rate and is fascinated by its progress. The story takes a mysterious turn when the residents in the surrounding halls disappear one by one. Charlotte is left by herself where she designs an attack plan and mechanism to defend her residence and save her family. 

PERSONAL OPINIONS

I was really pleased by the pacing of the movie and the background music. It was a smooth watch with humorous moments, jump scares, and plot twists. The attention to detail was incredible! Allowing the other neighbors to have their own moments in the movie allowed for the audience to connect with them before their disappearances. It was a nice addition to the pacing of the movie. The kills were absolutely epic! They were pretty neat to witness in the theater. A minor comment I have about the film was the backstory of why a bullet with the spiders were aimed at this particular resident building. I hoped for coverage on the lore behind the spider, but with the way the film ended, perhaps a second movie might explore the spider’s origin. 

RATING: 8/10!

Emily Allgair, Editor

Day One Highs

Argentinian DJ Bizzarap brought out none other than Shakira about halfway through his set. She then announced that she would be going on tour later this year.

Peso Pluma brought out Becky G during his performance on the main stage.

Lana Del Rey brought out Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste, and Jack Antonoff during her performance; Billie Eilish was quoted to say “This is the reason for half of you bitches’ existence… including mine.”

Day One Lows

Hatsune Miku, the Japanese AI-backed program, was supposed to have a three dimensional hologram performance that ended up being reduced to two dimensions due to an issue with the computer code. 

The Japanese House had technical difficulties, erasing 15 minutes from the 40 minute Coachella-debut set.

Lana Del Rey’s mic kept cutting in and out throughout her set, even forcing her to stop mid-set for a sound check and asking the audience to pick up her slack. 

Day Two Highs

No Doubt surprised fans with their reunion after nine years and then brought out Olivia Rodrigo for a back-and-forth rendition of “Bathwater.”

Tyler, the Creator brought out Childish Gambino for “Running Out of Time,” A$AP Rocky for “Potato Salad” and “Who Dat Boy,” Charlie Wilson for “Earfquake,” and Kali Uchis for “See You Again.” Rihanna was seen in the crowd.

Paris Hilton hopped on stage for a quick game of cornhole during Vampire Weekend’s set.

Son of the late Sublime foreman Jakob Nowell made his official debut as the band’s new singer. They were joined by Bud Gough and Eric Wilson.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were seen in the crowd during Ice Spice’s set. 

Day Two Lows

Audiences were slammed for being “embarrassing,” not knowing the words to one of Blurs’ most well-known songs, even having their frontman basically begging them to sing along. The band went on record to say that they would never return to Coachella again. 

Tyler, the Creator addressed Jarrod Carmichael admitting he had feelings for Tyler, the Creator, making an already awkward situation more tense. 

Day Three Highs

J Balvin put on an intergalactic-themed show with special guest Will Smith, who rapped the iconic theme of Men in Black. 

Doja Cat headlined, kicking off her performance in a hazmat suit and bringing out A$AP Rocky and 21 Savage during her set.

TEMS brought out Justin Beiber and Wizkid to perform “Essence.”

During her set, Renee Rapp sang a cover of “TikTok,” surprising the audience with Ke$ha herself. 

Katy Perry made a cameo during Mia Moretti’s debut DJ set, shooting Moretti-branded dollar bills into the crowd.

Day Three Lows

Grimes had a major technical error during her set, and screamed and cursed into the mic out of frustration. 

Nelly Furtado fell while performing “Eat Your Man,” injuring her finger but still not missing a verse.

Emily Allgair, Editor

Best Picture 

Oppenheimer

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Emma Stone, Poor Things

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Best Directing

Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer

Best Adapted Feature Film

The Boy and the Heron

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Fiction

Best Original Screenplay

Anatomy of a Fall

Best Cinematography

El Conde

Best Costume Design

Napoleon

Best Documentary Feature Film

20 Days in Mariupol

Best Documentary Short Film

The Last Repair Shop

Best Film Editing

Oppenheimer

Best International Feature Film

The Zone of Interest

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Poor Things

Best Original Score

Oppenheimer

Best Original Song

What Was I Made For? Billie Eilish, Barbie

Best Production Design

Poor Things

Best Animated Short Film

WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

Best Live Action Short Film

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Best Sound

The Zone of Interest

Best Visual Effects

Godzilla Minus One

Emily Allgair, Editor

In case you didn’t know, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts an annual gala in tandem with the unveiling of their new Costume Institute exhibition – and this year, that exhibition is titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The annual Gala is a charity event and fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute. But what does that mean? Who are the hosts? When is it? How can I watch? All valid questions, so here are the answers:

What is the 2024 Met Gala theme?

This year’s exhibit will feature around 250 rare costume items that are taken from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection that holds pieces from over 400 years of fashion history. “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” is said to “offer a deeper appreciation of the integrity, beauty, and artistic brilliance of the works on display,” as each piece will be displayed in a new way. Because some of the garments are too fragile to be worn, they will be displayed by video animation, AI and light projection. One of these pieces includes a ball gown made by Charles Frederick Worth in 1877.

What is the dress code?

The dress code for this year’s Gala is “The Garden of Time.” It is inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story with the same title. Although it sounds Disney-like, this theme is more of a catalyst to spark conversations surrounding the fragility of clothing, nature and life. This means that you can look forward to “gothic florals and trailing foliage with a historical edge.”

Who is hosting this year’s Met Gala?

This year’s hosts are Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya. Fans of the Met Gala are both excited and surprised by these choices, creating lots of anticipation for the roles of this year’s hosts. 

What happens during the Met Gala?

This is a great question, probably because we are all wondering. Guests must follow the no-phone, no-social media policy of the Gala. This means that the only way to see inside is through exclusive photos (the ones from 2023 can be seen here). Usually, some sort of high-profile performance takes place and the guests are able to explore the exhibition before sitting down for dinner. 

Who attends the Met Gala?

This is a secret until the night before the Gala. Usually, however, you can expect to see some of the biggest names in entertainment, like Beyonce and Rihanna, and fashion, like Marc Jacobs and Nicolas Ghesquiere.

When is the 2024 Met Gala?

The Met Gala is always held on the first Monday of May, which makes this year’s event take place on May 6. It takes place in New York City at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

How can I watch the 2024 Met Gala?

In previous years, the Met Gala has been live streamed by Vogue, on their website and their social media platforms. As for right now, we have to stay tuned for how to watch this year’s event, but we can assume it will be similar to last year.

Steven Hoang, Staff

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. As of right now, you are probably thinking about things like what to give your significant other, writing a fan-fic about your crush to feed your inner delusions or thinking about a rom-com to snuggle up to. With that being said, if you are in the third category, here is a list of a few rom-coms to watch. Be prepared to grab a snack and a drink because you might add some of these films to your watch list. 

The Proposal (2009)

Book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is at risk of deportation back to Canada. For protection, she fakes an engagement to her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). Andrew agrees to go along with the plan, but has Margaret go along with him to visit his unconventional family in Alaska. Throughout the movie, their facade slowly turns to reality. The intentionally awkward comedy feels very authentic and not forced, which I appreciated, and the chemistry between Bullock and Reynold helps to enhance the overall experience.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

What makes this movie stand out from the pack is its strong musical element. If you’re an ABBA fan, then get ready for a jam fest. The film focuses on Sophie, (Amanda Seyfried) a bride-to-be who secretly invites three men (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård) from her mother’s (Meryl Streep) past in hopes of meeting her biological father. The movie in itself is quite vibrant and the Greek setting helps to convey that. To me, it brings in a summer-like element to help cope with the chilly temperatures that are going on right now. 

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 

Taking place within a high school setting and based on William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew,” it centers around Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a new student, who is infatuated with a girl named Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). Cameron’s father has a very strict rule on dating in which Bianca can start dating once her antisocial sister, Kat (Julia Stiles), gets a boyfriend. Attempts are then made to set up Kat with a “bad boy” named Patrick (Heath Ledger). Overall, the movie does a great job of doing a modern take on Shakespeare’s comedy and has a great combination of comedy and emotional storytelling. 

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) 

This film focuses on a guy named Andy (Steve Carrell), a virgin who works at an electronics store. His co-workers (Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen) are determined to help him lose his virginity. However, Andy struggles with awkwardness when dealing with female customers. At some point, he comes across a local shop owner named Trish (Catherine Keener) and a romance slowly begins to blossom. The film is a lot more on the raunchy and vulgar side compared to the other rom-coms on this list, but nonetheless it is enjoyable underneath all of that. 

Amélie (2001)

Nominated for five Academy Awards, this French rom-com focuses on an introverted and shy waitress (Audrey Tatou) who hopes to better the lives of those around her, while trying to deal with her own respective isolation. The thought of love is not her primary goal, however, this changes when she meets a man named Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz). Though this movie wouldn’t necessarily fit within the traditional rom-com genre, it does have some qualities that are reminiscent of it. Overall, the film is very wholesome and whimsical. The music is also really enjoyable. I highly recommend this film. To me, it is one of the hidden gems of rom-coms.

Emily Allgair, Editor

On Sunday, Feb. 4, Taylor Swift walked home from the Grammy Awards with more than the two trophies she had won that night – she walked home breaking Grammy’s history. 

This Grammy’s cycle, Swift was nominated for six awards, including Album, Pop Vocal Album, Song, Record, Pop Duo/Group Performance and Pop Solo Performance of the Year. When the night concluded, she left with two new trophies to add to her collection, winning Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year for her latest new material, “Midnights.” 

Before this night, Swift was in a four-way tie with legends Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder for earning three Album of the Year awards throughout their careers. In earning her fourteenth Grammy overall, Swift broke this record when her name was called by none other than Celine Dion.

A few days after her record-breaking win, two of Frank Sinatra’s children, Nancy and Tina, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to congratulate Swift, writing, “Congratulations @taylorswift on your Album of the Year win and breaking our dad’s record. You’re a champion for artists everywhere, and doing it your way.”

These wins come in the midst of backlash the singer-songwriter has been facing online. Many people are outraged that Swift has yet to use her large platform to speak out against the Israel-Palestine conflict, as well as her large contributions of CO2 emissions via the frequent use of her private jet. Although most Swifties are maintaining their loyalty, some have begun to turn against Swift, especially following the creation of Jack Sweeney’s several social media accounts that monitor her private jet usage and the lawsuit that is possibly soon to follow. 

When Swift accepted her award for Pop Vocal Album of the Year, she recognized it being her thirteenth Grammy. Because of the significance surrounding this number to Swift and consequently her fanbase, she announced her eleventh studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

On Feb. 6, Swift released the tracklist for the new album, revealing features with both Post Malone and Florence + the Machine. With songs titles “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “So Long, London,” many fans are anticipating “The Tortured Poets Department” to be a breakup album with many call-outs towards ex-longtime-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.

This was an exciting night for Swifties across the world – not only did their favorite superstar win her thirteenth (and fourteenth) Grammy, breaking Grammy history, she announced a new album and looked amazing doing so.

Ellen Stadlman, Staff 

In case you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks or you just don’t have TikTok, I have compiled a list of some things you have missed over winter break. From the ACE family drama to the Mean Girls movie release, I’m sure you will find entertainment from at least one story on the beloved app. 

The Ace Family

The Ace family parents, Austin Mcbroom and Catherine Paiz, have announced their divorce leaving fans confused and surprised. I’m not sure really how much of a surprise it is considering some controversy has arisen in the last few years about Austin being abusive towards Catherine and some allegations of him cheating, which started to raise concerns from fans when they heard him yell at her in a video that the family forgot to cut out. The couple announced their divorce on Jan. 11 and since then, my TikTok page has been filled with videos of Austin and videos of people making fun of Austin for his actions. Most, however, are about him deciding to buy an RV and park it in front of the house that Catherine is still living in with the kids after he got kicked out.  

The Mean Girls Movie

The Mean Girls movie was released on Jan. 12 and although I have not seen the film myself, I have seen so many TikToks about it that I might as well have. What I have gathered is people have mixed feelings about the movie as some feel the casting for Cady Heron could have been better and some of the songs from the Broadway musical were changed. I have also seen endless videos about star Renee Rapp (Regina George) and how loved she is by her fan base, as well as her appearances on talk shows such as Saturday Night Live. 

Saltburn

In the same genre as “Mean Girls,” the movie “Saltburn” starring Jacob Elordi got a late start as it was released on Nov. 17 and started to get popular about a month later. The movie gained popularity when fans noticed some of the scenes were odd or maybe a little eerie, also just purely the fact that Jacob Elordi is in it.   

Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Gypsy Rose was released from prison in late December and has taken over every platform of social media, including TikTok, since.  From the day she was released, she has posted multiple videos every day about her life, building a fan base extremely quickly. Her story became popular once again as she talks about what she has been through and how her life is now after being released.  

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

This list would not be complete without mentioning the Kelce family along with Taylor Swift as they take over TikTok and the NFL. After the Eagles lost in the wildcard round of the playoffs, Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie have been attending brother Travis Kelce’s games with the Kansas City Chiefs alongside Travis’ girlfriend Taylor Swift.  The family is absolutely hilarious and never doubts making a mark anytime they are in public. The new relationship between Travis and Taylor has taken over the NFL social media, along with showing them at the games.  Some fans love it and others hate it, causing some controversy about the whole situation.