My heart dropped when I saw the words “whitewashing” and “controversy” appear in a headline about the upcoming film “Annihilation.” I’ve been excited for the film ever since its trailer dropped in December. The movie features an all-female scientific team exploring a mysterious environmental disaster zone, with two of the main characters played by Gina […]
Category Archives: Film & TV
Movie review: ‘Black Panther’
World-changing technology meets rural grasslands in Marvel’s latest venture. “Black Panther,” the sixth film in Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) after he becomes king of Wakanda. In addition to his royal transition, T’Challa must defeat the unscrupulous smuggler Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and lethal criminal Erik Killmonger (Michael B. […]
Alumna’s film focuses on capturing authenticity, specificity of ice skating
Maddison Bullock wanted to watch a movie about ice skating but couldn’t find any, so she decided to make her own. “Ice,” the upcoming film alumna Bullock co-directed, produced and acted in, will debut Tuesday at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood. The film follows the journey of Bailey and Peyton, two figure skaters who […]
Playing the Villain: Female filler villains detract from fair representation of women
A movie is only as good as its villain, and a good villain is much more than a monster with maniacal laughter or a sinister-looking entity surrounded by henchmen. From the anarchist Joker to the cunning and brutal Annie Wilkes, countless successful films have earned their iconic status thanks to their antagonists. Each week, columnist […]
Screenwriter uses emotional films to spread message about marriage equality
Dustin Lance Black promised LGBTQ children that they would soon have full, equal federal rights on the stage of the 2009 Academy Awards. After receiving the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his film, “Milk,” the UCLA alumnus stepped away from film to work as an activist, bringing cases of marriage equality to federal courts. […]
Reel Representation: People of color’s experiences enhance ‘Black Panther’s’ storytelling
I’ve watched the “Black Panther” teaser trailer close to 30 times. When the trailer was released last summer, everything about it captivated me – from the fast-paced editing which is in time with the music to the vibrant production design that lit up the screen. But what captured my attention most was the breathtaking number […]
Movie review: ‘The 15:17 to Paris’
A group of friends who met in junior high school take on an international terrorist threat in “The 15:17 to Paris.” “The 15:17 to Paris,” directed by Clint Eastwood, follows the true story of three Americans who stop a terrorist attack aboard a Paris-bound train while traveling together through Europe. The film incorporated the backstories […]