[imagebrowser id=2]Tragically heartbreaking, “Blue Valentine” is no doubt one of the best movies of the year. Outstanding acting and strong emotion mix the joys of new love and the pain of what happens when that love falls apart. The movie is shot documentary style, allowing the audience an extremely graphic portrayal of a relationship’s life…
‘Black Swan’ opens Oscar season with dark mystique
No one knows how to direct a chilling masterpiece like Darren Aronofsky—his portfolio features movie favorites “The Wrestler” and “Requiem for a Dream”—but this time, he’s making a lot more money doing it. Aronofsky’s most recent release, “Black Swan,” has brought in more than $1.3 million in its first three days in theaters. That’s about…
Butler thespians breathe life into Shakespeare’s comedy ‘Twelfth Night’
Shakespeare plays can be notoriously difficult to direct, but, if creatively interpreted, they can be highly enjoyable. Butler theater’s presentation of “Twelfth Night” was spot on. The play, directed by Professor Elaina Artemiev, is a romantic comedy in which drama, festivity and life abound. Artemiev said those aspects, among others, attracted her to the play,…
‘127 Hours’ is gritty, real portrayal of life-or-death decision
There’s nothing like a good amputation scene. Danny Boyle’s (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “28 Days Later”) new film, “127 Hours,” is the story of adventurer Aron Ralston and the perfect expedition gone wrong. For those who don’t remember, Ralston was hiking alone in Utah when a boulder shifted, pinning him to a canyon wall. He eventually, of…
Kanye West’s brilliant ‘Twisted Fantasy’
When it comes to Kanye West, you have to separate the person from the artist. The person may be a “jackass” as President Obama said, but the artist is a borderline genius. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” released two weeks ago, is West’s fifth studio album and his best yet. He has come a long…
‘Reflections: All About Sex’ opens at the Art Bank
Captured within the layers of mirrored images in store front windows, artist Slawek’s “Reflections: All About Sex” displays photographs far from the present day perception of sex. The pictures freeze the rooting of the term as it’s defined in different stages of life, telling a story about the growth from girl to woman. “Let us…
The man behind the turntables: Sophomore Sam Dorrance on being the musical life of the party
Last spring, Butler students raged with Girl Talk, whose ability to infuse electronic, dance and hip-hop music into an infectious mash-up moved concert goers through the aisles and on to the stage. With popping bodies and sliding feet, fans danced, not because of who they were dancing with, but because they couldn’t stop themselves. Innovative artists like Girl Talk give inspiration to Butler sophomore and disc…
Wizards, Westerns, Viagra: holiday’s biggest films
As the holidays inch closer and the long winter break looms, Hollywood is doing all it can to get your cash into movie theaters. But which movies this holiday season are worth seeing? Take a look at these promising flicks. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 — Nov. 19 The Harry Potter series is a generational story. This batch…
Lyric theatre brings classics to life
By Emily Delaney Butler University’s Lyric Theatre presented a variety of opera scenes in this year’s annual recital at Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall on Nov. 11 and 12. Directed by John Schmid and W.P. Sterneman III, the Lyric Theatre is made up of students in the Jordan College of Fine Arts who audition for a place…
Conan O’Brien back to late night
When Conan O’Brien hosted “The Tonight Show” for the last time on Jan. 22, his future was uncertain. He was leaving NBC and was not permitted to return to television until November, but he was going to receive a huge sum of money for his departure. What network or channel he would join next, if…