Anthony Pantalone, Staff

Writing about “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is not easy. I write this openly and honestly when I say that words make it difficult to describe this film. Words make it difficult to even describe the experience of watching it in a theater. I laughed a lot. I cried a lot. I audibly said “What?” a lot. Therefore, the only word that comes to mind when thinking about the latest cinematic effort by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert is ‘triumph.’ Between its acting, directing, editing and, most of all, its screenplay, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” represents a creative triumph on all fronts. In the same way that the Daniels wrote this screenplay as a response to the worsening postmodern state of the world after 2016, its hopefulness and meta-modernism take a stand against nihilism. The important thing to know about this movie though is that nothing can prepare you for the experience of watching it. Whereas I would usually provide a brief plot summary, it genuinely would benefit the viewer to know less going in. I can’t recommend it enough. If there is one movie you watch this year, it should be “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Utilizing the Potential of your Cast

One thing this film does extremely well is utilize its cast to the utmost potential of each actor’s star caliber. Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” “Shang-Chi”) leads the film as Evelyn Wang—a role that is both a physical and emotional powerhouse. With an extensive background in Hong Kong kung fu movies, this role allows Yeoh to show off her physical strengths in fight choreography while also producing the dramatic and comedic performance of a lifetime. Alongside Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan especially shines as her husband Waymond Wang. Quan returns to acting in an emotional tour de force performance after famed childhood roles in both “The Goonies” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Quan noted he never actually would have returned to working in front of a camera if not for the cultural milestone of “Crazy Rich Asians” in 2018 for Asian actors in prominent leading roles. His performance has easily been my favorite of 2022 so far and likely one of my favorite performances of the past few years. Stephanie Hsu also delivers a great performance that is versatile and threatening while also incredibly heart-breaking. Finally, it’s important to note Jamie Lee Curtis (“A Fish Called Wanda” “Freaky Friday”) who truly embraces her talents as a comedic actor in this film.

Everything on a Bagel: Insane Absurdism Works

The Daniels overcome issues at the heart of many movies that revel in absurdism or use weird sci-fi concepts like a multiverse by anchoring a strong emotional core to all this insanity. There is a bagel that has quite literally all of existence on it. There is a racoon named “Racacoonie” who controls a chef like the rat in “Ratatouille.” There are scenes where all human beings have hot dogs for fingers. There is also a scene where two rocks talk only through subtitles. But the emotional core of the movie is so well written and weaved throughout every aspect of the story that this scene ended up making me cry. This film goes to crazy places, yet it always stays grounded in the humanity of its characters. The main existential struggles and family trauma of the protagonist always remain at the root of the story’s events despite the absurdism.

Blending Genre

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is especially skillful at blending genres in a way that is not usually executed well in other films. It’s science fiction. It’s a dark comedy. At moments, its fight choreography makes it feel like a kung fu film. At times, it is an emotionally crushing drama. On a basic level, it’s a slice of life movie about doing your taxes. The Daniels in one scene even attempt to pay homage to the moody tension-filled atmosphere of Wong Kar-wai’s romantic masterpiece “In the Mood for Love.” The pure creativity of its screenplay is on display throughout the use of different genres, yet this blend of genre never feels disjointed or works to confuse the audience. Instead, the film embraces a metamodern tapestry of genres to tell a grand narrative about existential anguish, the effects of trauma, and healing.

Greg Shannon, Staff

At this point when it comes to Disney+, they have established the main focus for their live-action series. Star Wars and Marvel content has seemed to be the main draw for the streaming service since its conception. With the amount of lore and fascinating characters between the two franchises, it’s no surprise why it seems like we are always getting new content for them. However, back in the summer of 2021, Disney decided to just nonchalantly drop a great show while putting out and hyping up other series, such as “Loki” and “Black Widow.” So, if you’re feeling a bit over-saturated with the abundance of space wizards, government affairs, and super humans then you should give “The Mysterious Benedict Society” a chance.

I first watched this show back in the summer of 2021 with my mom and was honestly just extremely impressed with how much this show pulled me in. The music, the quality of the shots, and some of the plots of this eight episode show had me glued to the TV. I was caught thinking, “Wow, why am I just hearing about a show this good?” Fast forward to this semester of my senior year at La Salle, I am watching this show with my roommates, and I am led back to thinking the exact same thing. I was astonished.

“The Mysterious Benedict Society” is an adaptation of a 5 part book series by Trent Lee Stewart. The show consists of mostly four main characters, each of them being smart in their own kind of way. First, there’s  George “Sticky” Washington who can memorize anything he reads. Next up, we have Kate Wetherall who is the street smart character with a bucket that solves every problem. Then there is Constance Contriare whose instincts and gut feelings make sure she’s always right. Lastly, there is the leader Reynie Muldoon who out of all of them is the smartest and is the best at coming up with a plan. The chemistry between all the kids works really well. They all bring something unique to the show and it gives the show a nice charm. Whether that be the insane amount of things in Kate’s bucket (an absurd amount by the way), or how incredible Sticky is at memorizing things, they all bring something to the show that you couldn’t get rid of, or replace.

If I had to pick a favorite character out of all of them, I would give it to Constance. Honestly, I hated her at first. I think it was more attached to the other characters, and I thought her rudeness was just annoying but eventually, it just became funny. Watching her roast and call everyone stupid became a highlight of the show for me.  While every character gets some good character development, there’s just something about the development Constance gets that made me happy.  

I think the last thing that really blew me away was the way they showed off each kid’s intelligence. It was unique every time, and they had some kind of brain teaser almost every episode. Even in the first episode, we’re greeted with a challenge to get across the room but not to step on a square tile. However, the entire room is filled with black and white square tiles. Getting to see the main cast of characters solve little things like this is just extremely cool to me and blows my mind when I see all the different ways they go about it. 

This series came out in June 2021 on Disney+, and it for the most part just flew under the radar. There weren’t any big commercials, Instagram posts, or tweets. It’s almost like Disney had no plans of even putting this out there. Maybe it was to put less pressure on a show like this surrounded by bigger shows or maybe it was because Disney just didn’t care. Regardless, I think that this show is a gem and is genuinely one of the best shows that they have on their streaming service. Hopefully, if and when there is a second season Disney realizes the quality of a show they have on their hands and decides to give it more love.

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Welcome back to the fun segment “A&E Trivia.” This week, we have a special “comedy” edition. We will play a little quizzo with a total of four questions — one question from each category. You will be given three answer choices. The categories are movies, television, music and celebrities. Let’s go!

I hope you all enjoyed this week’s “A&E Trivia” and hopefully got a question or two right. Email tripodij2@lasalle.edu any questions you would like to see asked in the next edition. Be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass,” where you can see these questions asked in a video format, in addition to celebrity and entertainment news. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on Comcast channel 56. The times are as follows:

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Header Image: AP News

Welcome to the wonderful world of entertainment. The following news includes highlights of celebrities, television, movies and music this week.

Jessica Simpson’s credit card declines at Taco Bell

Taco ‘bout embarrassing! Pop singer Jessica Simpson was a guest on “The Real” where she talked about a variety of topics, including her clothing line. Appearing from a remote location, Simpson told the hosts that she has been living on a tight budget after putting a large amount of money into expanding her clothing line. As a result, the 41-year-old admitted that she has “no working credit card.” Simpson explained how she didn’t realize this until her card declined while buying food at Taco Bell.

Amber Heard appears to be copying Johnny Depp’s courtroom look

The defamation trial between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, is taking place in Virginia. As the case receives live coverage, social media users have noticed that Heard is copying Depp’s outfits and accessories. For example, Depp wore a gray suit with a black shirt at his last public appearance before the start of the trial. Heard then wore a gray suit with a black shirt on the first day of the trial. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor wore glasses while taking the stand; the “Aquaman” actress was then seen wearing glasses. Heard even takes a sip of water after Depp takes a sip. The list goes on. According to multiple sources, Heard is playing “mind games” with Depp.

“The Bachelorette” films in Wildwood

On April 25, production for ABC’s hit reality dating series “The Bachelorette” took to the Wildwood, New Jersey boardwalk to film the hometown date of contestant Tyler Norris, as he showed co-bachelorette Rachel Recchia around his South Jersey hometown. The couple ate funnel cake and spent time at Morey’s Piers. According to sources, the pier and local shops opened exclusively for the show’s production. Recchia, a 26-year-old pilot from Florida, was a finalist on the previous season of “The Bachelor.” “The Bachelorette” is set to premiere on July 11 at 8pm on ABC.

Billie Eilish is featured in new “Simpsons” short film

Pop singer Billie Eilish voices a “Simpson” version of herself in a new Disney+ short film titled “When Billie Met Lisa.” Based on the animated television series “The Simpsons,” the plot follows Lisa as her family becomes aggravated with her saxophone playing, so she leaves home and goes to a freeway underpass to practice. Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, are in town and just happen to be driving overhead. The car stops and the pop singer jumps out to try and locate the lovely music. Once the two girls spot one another, Eilish asks Lisa if she wants to jam. The starstruck Lisa, crying tears of joy, says “yes.”

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of April 30, 2022

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “As It Was” by Harry Styles. Back at the top spot after falling to the second spot, this is the third week the pop/R&B song is on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “Call Me If You Get Lost” by Tyler, The Creator. Moving up from the 120th spot to the top spot, this is the 37^th week the hip-hop/rap album is on the charts. 

Thank you for reading this week’s “What’s Trending.” If you have enjoyed this article, be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass” for more celebrity and entertainment news and content. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on Comcast channel 56. The times are as follows:

Nolen Kelly, Editor

I’m a very big Wes Anderson fan. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is the best animated movie I have ever seen immediately followed by Anderson’s other animated film “Isle of Dogs,” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is one of the best comedies of the 2010’s and I will stop there because I could talk about every other movie of his and how significant they are to me. As of writing this, I am three movies away from finishing Anderson’s eccentric catalog of movies with my most recent viewing being the focal point of this article: “The French Dispatch.” As a writer, movie enjoyer and watcher of fine stuff: Wes Anderson’s works have all always spoken to a different part of me but none have looked me in my eyes and said “Hey, man, this is for you” quite like “The French Dispatch” has.

The French Dispatch

“The French Dispatch” is about the death of the editor-in-chief of the Kansas Evening Sun newspaper in Liberty, Kansas and the release of the final issue of the paper, “The French Dispatch,” told through four stories of the paper’s different sections. Written from the perspectives of a cyclist in a crazed town, an imprisoned and tortured artist, the young leader of a rebellion and a food writer who gets entangled in a kidnapping, respectively, each of the four interview stories offers its own fun but emotional story that, in each of their unique ways, are love letters to journalists and writers.

Writers and Stories

As I previously stated, this movie is the final edition of “The French Dispatch” told through four different stories and interviews that offer something unique to the journalists they pay tribute to. Although I’m just a silly writer, I still felt like this movie was made for me. I don’t really know how to explain it, but this movie was crafted with pure love. Despite stories of a seedy town, a war, the kidnapping of a child and a violent prisoner, this movie wants to give you a hug. Each of the stories is like a mini-Anderson movie in a bigger movie so they all have that special touch to them that he brings to all of his movies. They have sweet endings and some epilogues to each story that make you feel good or sad. Personally, I thought Timothee Chalamet’s (“Dune” “Lady Bird”) section went a tad too long but every time they played that entrancing Jarvis Cocker song “Aline” I felt good and sad simultaneously. 

Celebrity News

This movie is stacked with talent. Every scene is filled with at least three big names in combinations we probably never knew we would see. There comes a point where there are probably too many people in this movie. Excessive casts are cool to see with so many people appearing in a single movie but of course not everyone is given enough space to do their thing. 

However, the majority of the cast does a pretty solid job making themselves visible. Much of the primary cast has some great performances but I wouldn’t say one was more stand out than any other. Rattling off a few great performances include Jeffery Wright (“Westworld,” “Casino Royale”), Timothee Chalamet (“Dune,” “Lady Bird”), Benicio Del Toro (“Traffic,” “Sicario”), Lea Seydoux (“Spectre,” “Death Stranding”) and for those familiar with the Nolen lore, it should be no surprise I also loved Frances McDormand (“Fargo,” “Almost Famous”). Again, pretty much every performance was solid and consistent. 

Arts Section

The movie is told through the past and present with the past shown in black and white and the present gushing with an almost intoxicating amount of Anderson’s usual bright yet simple color palettes. Even in black and white this is a crisp looking film. Although the look of the present was way more visually appealing and pretty, it was never annoying that half the movie was in black and white. An Anderson movie in all black and white sounds interesting and I would watch it, but he is so good with colors and his movies are dang pretty as heck and I would be sad if there were no colors in one of his flicks. If anything, the colors always enhance his shots and frames in each movie which nicely leads me to my next point: the production in “The French Dispatch” is unsurprisingly, really good. 

I’m a fan of the use of simplistic theater-like sets in some scenes. It makes the scenes that featured these sets feel like stories the characters are telling. Mitch Mitch’s story taking place on a stage was nice, the movable walls at the French cafe and the construction sites were satisfying, and the empty room that Del Toro paints Seydoux is isolated and empty yet intimate with a single snowy window in the back. I already assumed this movie would look good but the scenes with these little set designs are nice touches that I hope Anderson does more work with in future films and projects. 

Obituaries

“The French Dispatch” is a wonderful movie. The music, performances, colors, stories and writing are all so much fun and so damn charming. I think I’ve only seen one Anderson movie so far that I’m not running like Scooby-Doo to rewatch (“Bottle Rocket”) but I know for a fact I will be rewatching this again soon. This movie was a big hug for me but that does not totally mean it will be for everyone else and I would say go into this, if you do, just expecting to watch a good movie like any other movie. I loved this and I hope you love it too if you so choose to watch it. “The French Dispatch” is now available on HBOMax.

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Header Image: TMZ

Welcome to the wonderful world of entertainment. The following news includes highlights of celebrities, television, movies and music this week.

Ben Affleck hits a Starbucks sign with his car

Paparazzi spotted Ben Affleck and his fiancé, Jennifer Lopez, in the drive thru of a Los Angeles Starbucks. While being hounded by paparazzi, Affleck, who was driving, knocked over a small Starbucks sign that was by the curb. The sign then got stuck to the back rim of his Mercedes. One photographer went to pull the sign out from under the actor’s car. According to TMZ, the famous couple went through the drive thru in order to avoid being noticed. However, this incident attracted unwanted attention.

                                                                       

Jennifer Garner gets surprised by her childhood crush on birthday

Actress Jennifer Garner recently turned 50 years old. The “13 Going on 30” star revealed to her followers on Instagram that she received a special birthday present. In the video posted to her account, Garner shared her excited reaction to receiving a personalized e-card featuring her childhood crush, former teen idol Donny Osmond. Little did the actress know that Osmond would then sneak up on her from behind. Osmond sang his hit songs to the birthday girl and brought her a cake that said “13 Going on 50.”

                                                                               

Wendy Williams is planning a big television comeback

Television personality Wendy Williams was spotted out in New York City having dinner with three other people: her niece, her niece’s boyfriend and television personality Baruch Shemtov. According to Page Six, onlookers noted that Williams appeared to be doing well: her personality was vibrant, she was dressed fashionably and she was walking without assistance. The 57-year-old was also overheard telling her group about her plans of returning to television and regaining access to her frozen bank account. The former daytime talk show host stepped away from the limelight last year due to health issues.

                                                       

Nicolas Cage plays himself in new film

Actor Nicolas Cage produces and stars in the new action and comedy film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” Playing himself, this film follows actor Cage as he faces creative and financial struggles. Cage is then offered one million dollars to attend the birthday party of a superfan which he desperately accepts. Soon enough, he bonds with his fan and they become best friends. However, things take a dramatic turn when Cage finds out that this fan is a dangerous criminal. In order to save his own life, Cage must channel his most iconic action characters. Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish and Neil Patrick Harris also star in this film. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” is rated R and will arrive in theaters on April 22.

                                                                      

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of April 23, 2022

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “First Class” by Jack Harlow. This is the first week the hip-hop/rap song is on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “7220” by Lil Durk. This is the fifth week the hip-hop/rap album is on the charts. 

                                                     

Thank you for reading this week’s “What’s Trending.” If you have enjoyed this article, be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass” for more celebrity and entertainment news and content. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on channel 56 on Comcast. The times are as follows:

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Welcome back to the fun segment “A&E Trivia.” This week, we have a special “number one” edition. We will play a little quizzo with a total of four questions — one question from each category. You will be given three answer choices. The categories are movies, television, music and celebrities. Let’s go!

I hope you all enjoyed this week’s “A&E Trivia” and hopefully got a question or two right. Email tripodij2@lasalle.edu any questions you would like to see asked in the next edition. Be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass,” where you can see these questions asked in a video format, in addition to celebrity and entertainment news. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on channel 56 on Comcast. The times are as follows: