Story by Ethan Kwak Staff Writer Illustration by Ellie Nakamura Graphic Designer Bill Callahan’s ninth full length release, Ytilaer, is a twelve track concept album highlighted by instances of brilliance, tracks tinged with his signature blend of alt-folk and poetic articulations. Reality spelled backwards, Ytilaer is a commentary on the impacts of the global pandemic, increasing […]
Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary is a class act
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Ethan Lyons Staff Illustrator A series about the shortcomings of the American education system does not intrinsically lend itself to a quirky workplace mockumentary. But since it is helmed by the talented Quinta Brunson, it works. Abbott Elementary is a perceptive and incisively witty comedy that […]
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is joyous but shallow
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator After two years bereft of live entertainment, the Ahmanson Theater returned on Sunday, Jan. 16 with the North American premiere of the British musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. The story of a 16-year-old boy in Sheffield, England dreaming of becoming a drag […]
Spielberg’s West Side Story updates its source material with more depth and authenticity
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Martin Walsh Associate Design Editor As the phrase goes: all is fair in true love and war. West Side Story is content with oscillating between these two modes, from characters wistfully singing about the future to clobbering racial attitudes with a blunt club. Updated from the […]
SPHS Drama gives a stellar performance of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility under the stars
Story by Hanna Bae Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Shari Correll Contributor Under the direction of drama director Nick Hoffa, SPHS Drama’s rendition of Sense and Sensibility put a new twist on Jane Austen’s literary classic in its run from Friday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 14 under the stars on the Tiger Patio. The […]
Dune’s sublime cinematography balances a complex plot in the newest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel
Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator Condensing a 722 page novel into a single film is a daunting task. If that novel doubles as the first story in an incredibly complex six volume series, it is even more intimidating. This is the exact situation that Denis Villeneuve faces directing […]
The French Dispatch maintains director Wes Anderson’s signature wit
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Illustration by Martin Walsh Staff Illustrator Since 1996, director Wes Anderson’s singular style has skyrocketed him to the king of eccentric and fascinating films. His tenth venture, The French Dispatch, is no exception. The production fulfilled Wes’s signature flair with wit and style, but the lack of a coherent […]
Solar Power affirms Lorde’s musical versatility
Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator Since she released her debut album, Pure Heroine back in 2013, Lorde has had the element of surprise on her side, never failing to spark conversation and maintain unpredictability. Her work speaks for itself, but her age especially took the world by surprise. […]
Love, Victor redefines queer teen romance
Story by Michael Mayemura Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Staff Illustrator Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger’s masterful writing brings Hulu’s hit teen drama Love, Victor to life. Based on the successful movie, Love, Simon — Love, Victor centres around Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino), his friends, and family as they navigate through their complicated lives. […]
Garrett Bradley paints an evocative portrait of tennis star Naomi Osaka in Netflix docuseries
Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Staff Illustrator Netflix’s latest docuseries, Naomi Osaka, is an inspiring story about one of the most dynamic and talented athletes in the world. 23 year-old Japanese professional tennis player, Naomi Osaka, emerged on the scene three years ago and has since then taken the sport […]
Above all else, Roadrunner is honest
Story by Veronica KoutskyStaff Writer Illustration by Martin WalshStaff Illustrator Anthony Bourdain shocked and delighted the world when he swallowed a beating cobra heart on his show Cook’s Tours, but his fearless and carefree persona on the show was largely manufactured. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain dives into who Bourdain was outside of his […]
HBO’s highly anticipated Gossip Girl 2.0 is scandalous and opulent, yet ultimately hollow
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Illustration by Ethan Lyons Staff Illustrator 2.5/5 Spotted: the highly anticipated Gossip Girl continuation hit HBO Max on July 8th. With it comes a downpour of teen soapiness; don’t forget your umbrella. When Gossip Girl hit the airwaves in 2007, it became a cultural phenomenon, defining the CW as […]
Revisiting The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s influence
Story by Charlotte DekleStaff Writer Illustration by Penny AboudGraphic Designer The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s extravagant, ABBA-filled 1994 debut marked a monumental shift in both the film industry and queer culture with its refreshingly positive representation of gay and transgender people. The Stephan Elliot helmed film tells the story of drag queens […]
In the Heights explores the vibrant community of New York’s Washington Heights
Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Illustration by Allison LeeStaff Illustrator The success of Hamilton propelled Lin-Manuel Miranda to superstardom, but it was his Tony Award winning 2008 musical In the Heights that propelled Miranda into the musical world. In the new film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Step Up), stunning visuals […]
‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ suffers from sequel syndrome
Story by Sam GrotensteinStaff Writer Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Borat is arguably the most influential film on today’s comedy landscape. Sacha Baron Cohen pioneered the surprisingly ubiquitous genre of comedy that has been foundational for some of the most mainstream hits of the last few years. This is to say that the bar was […]
The unexpected feminism of ‘The Queen’s Gambit’
Story by Katie HohmanStaff writer Illustration by Terry SongStaff illustrator The Queen’s Gambit is an exhilarating new seven-part drama miniseries from Netflix. The show is an adaptation of Walter Tevis’s 1983 fiction novel of the same name and follows orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) as she attempts to become the world’s greatest chess player. Set […]