THE CHRONICLE
commentaries
Movies worth seeing
W
hen I was a small and impres- ridiculous fight between the screaming sionable child, my parents (as girl and demon/killer/clown is never statistics willed) divorced, leav- seen. Just as you don’t lie at the foot of ing me to travel between the cliff you fell of off in their homes. My father your dream, you just wake lived in the city, away from up. “Drag,” however, keeps my friends, so when he had the camera rolling for work to do I was left nescenes that go from scary glected with a Blockbuster to ridiculous and funny. I card. The aisles at Blockcould talk about the gypsy buster became my new curse and the button but home and the employees the plot really isn’t central travis smith my new friends. Just kidto the movie. No, serioussavor the flavor ding, but I did see a whole ly. The director Sam Raimi lot of movies and think I buys into the “entertain, know a few good ones that you may not don’t enlighten” school of movie makhave seen. ing. His movie knows what it is, makes Movie suggestion one: Coming from fun of what it is and entertains you every Baltimore, I’m a big fan of “The Wire.” step of the way. If you aren’t a fan of “The Wire,” then Movie suggestion four: If one of your I just don’t get you. You also won’t be a best friends got into gambling debt with a fan of “City of God,” the former’s much crime boss, you’d have an obligation to do shorter Brazilian cousin. “City of God” whatever it takes to help him, right? It’s a is a 2002 film that illustrates the change get-out-of-morality-free card. Guy Ritchie and growth of organized crime in the Ci- directed a movie in which said morality dade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro. cards are cashed in by four blokes from The movie builds to, and ends with, a war London. They don’t really use them for between two gang leaders that tears the anything besides looking like idiots when slum apart. Like “The Wire,” however, the they store the money and marijuana they real story is about the vicious cycle of pov- steal from their neighbors in their own erty and crime in the respective cities. flat. If you want to see a well-shot, British Movie suggestion two: Imagine your- crime thriller/comedy with an entertainself bringing someone home from that ing cast, then see “Lock Stock and Two epic party last weekend. You’re getting Smoking Barrels.” If you want to see the down to business when, oh no! Her fi- aforementioned movie with a sweating, ancé walks in with a loaded gun. In one shirtless Brad Pitt, see “Snatch” as well. of those kill-or-be-killed situations, you Honorable Mention: Now although kill the man after he shoots you. You now more of you have seen “Eternal Sunshine have a bullet in your chest and three of of the Spotless Mind” than you have the the Wild West’s most highly trained hit- previous films, I included it because it’s men on your tail. Surprise, that guy you the best date movie. You probably won’t killed was pretty important. Fortunately, smooch during it, though, so I don’t know you have an outcast Native American if “best” is the word. named “Nobody” to do peyote with. All Those of you who liked “Black Swan” this happens while Neil Young impro- should know that Darren Aronofsky’s vises the soundtrack. You are the “Dead 2008 film, “The Wrestler,” is just as good Man,” who is coincidently played by even though it grossed a fraction of his Johnny Depp in a black and white exis- latest hit. tential western released in 1995. And to end this glorified list of an artiMovie suggestion three: “Drag Me to cle, I give one final recommendation. See Hell” is a horror movie that makes fun “Drive” while it is still in theaters. Then of horror movies. It’s all very meta. In you can always say, “Oh yea that one, yea I most horror movies, when the machete’s saw that one in theaters.” owner is about to go all “murderball” on some screaming teen, that same screamTravis Smith is a Trinity junior. His coling teen wakes up in a cold sweat. The umn runs every other Friday.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2011 | 15
No hate, just appreciate
I
was surprised to find out that 26 matter. They should be given the full privstates in the Union allow first cousins ileges and rights that they fight for. They to marry, whereas only six recognize should be able to live in a society that is same-sex marriages. We live hate-free and in a society in a society that is founded where they can freely exon the basis of individual press themselves without freedom and the rights to having to be circumspect pursue one’s happiness. If about secondary opinions. this country is indeed the Imagine if Duke had a land of the free, one should requirement on how the easily be allowed to express campus had to be: that one his or her love to whoever needed not only to be white, tegan joseph he or she desires. Gay marbut to also come from an upmosugu riage is accepted in 10 per-class family. I can assure other countries, including you that a lot of students— be fierce, be real Argentina, Canada, South including myself—would Africa and Sweden. not find themselves at this People argue that gay marriage is a sin school. Instead of this alternate Duke, we against God. I am definitely aware of the reside in a place that embraces diversity. fact that the Bible does not condone ho- Unfortunately, this does not translate to the mosexuality. In fact, it is abominable for a outer world. man to sleep with a man according to the Tyler Clementi, a former Rutgers stulaw in the Bible. What does strike me is the dent who committed suicide after being fact that those who base their argument on teased by classmates because of his homothis fact are the same people that tend to sexuality, shouldn’t have killed himself judge others. The last time I picked up the because of being who he naturally is. How Bible—which was yesterday, by the way— people can be so hateful and judgmental I recall reading that we are not supposed because others choose to embrace who to judge one another and are supposed to they are doesn’t really make sense. love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Whoever I choose to sleep with is Most people argue that the institution none of your business, and vice versa. You of marriage is going to be corrupted if can’t just stereotype a person based on gays are allowed to marry. Wait a second! their sexuality. You’ve never been in the Isn’t the institution of marriage already individual’s shoes. First impressions are corrupted? The Americans for Divorce not always the same. The differences we Reform estimates 40 or 50 percent of perceive that eventually create degrees marriages to end in divorce if the current of separation tend to be the indicators of trends remain like this. The number of the similarities that we as human beings divorces that straight couples get is unbe- have with one another! lievable. I am a firm believer in the exWe should really start uplifting those tension of marriage to everyone because around us. We, as individual entities, need happiness should be inclusive to all. We to begin to take the initiative in making shouldn’t dictate what others ought to do sure that those who are afraid to be who and not to do. There’s no characteristic they are become less frightened and start or quality in this world that is uniform all living a truthful life. Society should not across the board. When we look at race, obstruct happiness because somebody socioeconomic status, gender and other happens to be queer. Since when did betraits, we see differences that make this ing yourself become a social problem? world diverse. Diversity is what makes the It’s OK for you as an individual to be world in which we live interesting and entitled to your opinion. One’s inability unique. I simply do not understand why not to welcome change, however, should we should limit ourselves to just one stan- just not prevent others from seeking and dard definition of marriage. pursuing their own happiness. If two people on this earth love one another, care for and better each other’s Tegan Joseph Mosugu is a Trinity sopholives, the opinions of others should not more. His column runs every other Friday.