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SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight, currently in its 100th year, is South Hadley High School’s student-run, open forum publication. Students create all content and make all editorial decisions.
Inside this issue Volume 100, Issue 1 | Summer 2020
4 News
6 Features
8 Poetry
11 Art
Contributors Adam Jaszek
Jonas Clark
Allie Sowers
Julia Plotniak
Bella Alcaraz
Julian Danilchenko
Brady Nestor
Michael Cruz-Robidoux
Chloe Parsons
Nadia Rusiecki
Elyse Manzi
Olivia Marion
Emma Skibel
Onix Gonzalez
Gianna Scibelli
Tyler Evans
Grace Pisciotta
Sophia Kennedy
Harrison Baptiste
Sujal Manandhar
Jillian Richard
Zoe Thomas
Adviser Mr. B-G Front Cover Sophomore Nathan Sarrazin illustrates principles of movement in design during quarantine. Back Cover A farewell from the Class of 2020.
Find us on social media Facebook: @spotlight153 Twitter: @spotlight153 Instagram: @spotlight153 Snapchat: @spotlight1919 On the web spotlight153.com Contact us Email: spotlight153@gmail.com Phone: 413.538.5063 x3512 Address: Spotlight Newspaper South Hadley High School 153 Newton Street South Hadley, MA 01075
2 ABOUT | Spotlight | Summer 2020
15 Reviews A note from the staff We are pleased to bring you a special “corona closure” edition of Spotlight for the summer of 2020. Due to the closing of school for the year in March, the content of this edition is different than our typical coverage of clubs, sports teams, and school news, features, and opinions. We hope you enjoy reading about the fictional characters we’d like to be quarantined with, poetic odes to things and places we miss and love, reviews of movies and shows we’ve been enjoying, and some quarantine creations made by students in Maureen McNally’s art classes. When school resumes, you’ll be able to get regular updates on school events from the Spotlight social media accounts listed on the left. Our Snapchat account, @Spotlight1919, is our newest offering, and will be updated with pictures from school events
and sports games. Please know that Spotlight would love to publish your work, so if you’re interested in working as a reporter or photographer, just let any Spotlight staff member or Mr. B-G know. We welcome opinion pieces, reviews, poetry, artwork, comics, photography, videos - whatever your talent or interest is, we want to give it an audience. We’re also happy to help you write a news or feature story if you’d like to attend a sporting event, concert, or other performance. We welcome reader feedback and editorial letters, which may be sent to spotlight153@gmail.com. A special thanks goes out to our sponsor, Easthampton Savings Bank, our advertisers, and our high school’s administrative team for their ongoing support of scholastic journalism.
Global pandemic claims nearly half a million lives Schools, businesses close in an attempt to slow spread of COVID-19
Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour
DAILY BRIEFING: Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases became a familiar face for Americans looking for information on the evolution and spread of the novel coronavirus. By Spotlight Staff
A highly infectious virus believed to originate from food markets in Wuhan City, China, in December made its way across the globe in a matter of months, infecting more than 9.5 million people and killing almost 500,000. Those with the disease, known as COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2, would develop symptoms ranging from headache and fever to congestion and difficultly breathing. Thousands were admitted to hospitals across the country, with many needing ventilators to breathe for them as their immune systems fought off the disease. Others who contracted the disease ended up having mild or no symptoms, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “The evidence we have given the percentage of people, which is about 25%-
45% of the totality of infected people likely are without symptoms,” Fauci said in an interview on Good Morning America. “And we know from epidemiological studies that they can transmit to someone who is uninfected even when they are without symptoms.” Given the prevalence and uncertainty surrounding the disease and its effects, governors across the country made the decision to close schools and businesses, allowing only “essential services” like grocery stores, pharmacies, and health clinics to remain open. In Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker instituted a plan to reopen the state in various “phases” based on available public health data. At the time of publication, more than 107,000 Mass residents had contracted coronavirus, and nearly 8,000 had died, according to figures released from the state.
During the school closure, the South Hadley School District implemented a “remote learning” initiative, which featured weekly assignments for students that were posted to a centralized learning portal. Work completed during the closure was graded on a pass/fail basis, with students being granted “multiple opportunities for revision,” according to the district’s distance learning plan. Liz Wood, interim high school principal, acknowledged everyone’s efforts during these unprecedented times. “We have learned to navigate distance learning, social distancing, and a national pandemic,” Wood wrote in the high school’s monthly newsletter. “We have stuck with it together, supporting each other, and relying on our community during this difficult time.” Summer 2020 | Spotlight | News 3
Creative Commons image by Don Schwartz from Pixabay
RIGHTFUL ASSEMBLY: People have come out by the thousands across the country to protest police brutality and advocate for racial justice.
Nationwide protests call for equal rights, defunding police Black Lives Matter movement gains steam after a string of Black deaths by law enforcement By Spotlight Staff Spurred by outrage over racism and police brutality, people from all walks of life have banded together across the nation in calls for substantial reforms to the way law enforcement organizations are funded and operated. The catalyst for the demonstrations was the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck for more than 8 minutes. Floyd’s death - and the officer’s actions - were caught on video. “In no uncertain terms, the senseless, tragic killing of George Floyd has shaken me to the core,” said Interim Superintendent Diana Bonneville in an email to the South Hadley school community. “While I have deep respect for our law enforcement agencies and understand that the vast majority are here to serve and protect, it is unimaginable that such a heinous act could still occur in 2020. Perhaps this is my naivety--or simply the ugly truth of institutional racism.” 4 NEWS|Spotlight|Summer 2020
Following Floyd’s death, another Black man, Rayshard Brooks, was shot and killed by Atlanta police officers less than three weeks later. In both cases, the officers involved in the deaths have been charged, and are awaiting trial. One of the key reforms members of the Black Lives Matter movement are looking for is a reallocation of financial resources from law enforcement to health, education, housing, and community development. “We demand acknowledgment and accountability for the devaluation and dehumanization of Black life at the hands of the police,” the official Black Lives Matter website states. “We call for radical, sustainable solutions that affirm the prosperity of Black lives.” Locally, students at the high school have banded together to form a student union to “bring about imperative change regarding racism within our community,” according to its mission statement. “We believe the first step in acknowledging we have a problem is through
listening,” said junior Sophia Kennedy in a message to high school staff. “It is important that we understand white privilege and use it to help those without.” Liz Wood, the high school’s interim principal, also echoed the importance of listening in a message to the high school’s students and staff. “One thing I know for sure is the need for change,” Wood wrote. “How do we motivate that change? For me, this begins with simply listening.” Wood also noted that the school has a responsibility to “stand with our students of color,” and made a commitment to educate herself and those around her on ways to unite the community and “do better” for the students and families of South Hadley. The student union invites those interested in sharing their stories of racism or reading about the experiences of others to visit “shhsstudentunion” on Instagram.
Which fictional character would you want to be quarantined with? Christine McPherson, aka ‘Lady Bird’
Lady Bird image from IAC Films
By Grace Pisciotta If I were to be quarantined with a fictional character, I would choose Lady Bird, played by Saoirse Ronan. Christine McPherson is a character from the coming of age film, “Lady Bird,” directed by Greta Gerwig. Christine gives herself the name “Lady Bird” as she overcomes the many struggles of high school and is in a constant feud with her mother. Not only do I love Saoirse Ronan as an actress, but I also love her character. She is a misbehaving, reckless teenager who eventually finds herself, both intellectually and mentally. At the same time, she has a loving, creative, spontaneous, and quite fun side to her. I can connect to her character in so many ways, which would make spending quarantine with her so special.
Lady Bird and I would go for a walk in the woods and bond over our similarities. Although my relationship with my mother isn’t exactly the same as Lady Bird’s, there are still some similarities. Lady Bird and I are both very similar to our mothers, which makes it easy for us to get in small arguments. Despite this, the love for our mothers couldn’t be bigger. Lady Bird and I would really connect through this shared issue. I think my family members would really enjoy being quarantined with Lady Bird, as she is a very respectful person around other families. In the movie, she even specially folded all the napkins at the Thanksgiving table for Danny’s grandmother. This would be a very cool experience for both me and Lady Bird.
FBI Agent Gracie Hart By Chloe Parsons If I were to be quarantined with a fictional character, I would quarantine with Gracie Hart from Miss Congeniality. Gracie, played by Sandra Bullock, is a nerdy FBI agent who competed in the Miss United States beauty pageant in hopes to solve a case. Much like myself, Gracie is a tough, sarcastic character. We would get along great because we have similar personalities and share the same sense of humor. During quar-
antine, Gracie would teach me some FBI self-defense moves to help me prepare when I go into the law enforcement field. She would also teach me how to “play” the water glasses that she used during her pageant performance. My family would enjoy having Gracie quarantine with us because I’m sure she would crack a lot of jokes and keep us happy during this tough time.
Gracie Hart image from Warner Brothers
Hermione Granger
Hermione Granger image from Warner Brothers
By Zoe Thomas Someone I’d like to be quarantined with during this extended break would be Hermione Granger from the movie and book series Harry Potter. Hermione is one of the well-known side characters in Harry Potter, and the best friend to main character Harry. Throughout the series, Hermione gives Harry advice and helps him through everything he gets himself into. Hermione is a bossy, studious, loyal person. She is known for bossing her two friends around (Harry and Ron) because she believes she knows best and she normally does. She is a muggle-born which means neither her mom or dad is a witch or wizard therefore, she was never exposed to magic before she arrived
at the school. Because of her lack of previous education she is very studious with her work. I would want to be quarantined with her because I think our bossiness would balance out which would make our friendship even. I hope that her studiousness would rub off on me and she would be able to help me stay focused on work. I would probably make her engage in activities like working out, baking and taking pictures. Honestly, my parents would be surprised because she’s a fictional character but they also know how much I connected to her when I read the books as a younger kid. They would probably be happy to have more people in the house to add some variety.
Summer 2020| Spotlight | FEATURES 5
Quarantine would be more fun with these characters Kiara from Outer Banks
Kiara image from Netflix
By Jonas Clarke
The fictional character I would like to be stuck in quarantine with is Baby Yoda from the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian.” Baby Yoda is a mysterious creature who doesn’t speak a single word the entire season, yet has made such an impact on the characters. Baby Yoda’s heart was always in a good place no matter the situation; it has saved two people from dying off early in the show. By using the Force Baby Yoda sacrifices its strength and can nap for a long time after, so it is giving up a lot of vulnerability for committing these acts of kindness. Baby Yoda would be an amazing pick to be stuck in quaran-
By Nadia Rusiecki If I could pick any fictional character to be quarantined with at the moment, it would be Kiara from the Netflix show “Outer Banks.” Outer Banks is a Netflix original series that just came out, and is very popular right now. With nothing better to do in quarantine, I binged the entire show in 2 days. The plot is very suspenseful, and keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire time. The show is about a teenager, John B., and his 3 best friends (Kiara being one of them). The group of kids live a stereotypical “beach” life, have little responsibility and have a lot of fun. In the show, they all embark on an extravagant treasure hunt. That sounds very cliche, but the character development is so good, making the show one of my favorites. Kiara, one of John B.’s close friends, is a very happy-go-lucky, athletic girl. She comes from a wealthy family compared to the rest of the bunch, and is well-rounded. Throughout the show, she is always there for the boys within the friend group, and
tine with because of how cute it is. It’s always playful, and can use the force which I find super cool. One thing I would definitely try to do is to get Baby Yoda to use the Force on me and see if I can get it to make me fly. It would definitely take a lot of work to train Baby Yoda to do so, especially with the fact that its cool-down time can last a while. Another thing I would do is to go on walks with Baby Yoda to see what animals it can catch and eat, because I think I would find that entertaining. My family’s reaction to Baby Yoda’s arrival would probably be surprised and almost panicked because raising a unknown creature can be very scary and stressful.
Michael Scott By Emma Skibel I would like to be quarantined with Micheal Scott from “The Office.” The show is about the people who work in a paper company in Pennsylvania. Micheal Scott is the Regional Manager of the Scranton branch of the company. Micheal is always making jokes (whether he means to or not) and is overall a very humorous individual. I would like to quarantine with him because he could lighten the mood very quickly with his antics. I don’t think quarantine could ever Michael Scott image from NBC Universal
6 FEATURES | Spotlight | Summer 2020
always supports their decisions whether they are good or bad. Most of the time she goes with the flow; however she is mature enough to make sure that the entire friend clique is on the right path. I personally think it would be really fun to be quarantined with Kiara because her personality makes her a person you could spend a lot of time with without getting bored. She seems really easy to talk to, and if we were hypothetically quarantined at the beach where she lives in the show, then we could go to the beach everyday. That is my absolute dream right now. I really wish I could spend these days near the ocean. One specific activity that we would do together is try and surf. In the show she knows how to surf, and I have always wanted to learn. This would be a perfect opportunity. If quarantining with Kiara was a reality, I think my mom would react in a good way. To be honest, she would probably want to join us and go to the beach because my mom loves the beach and warm weather.
Baby Yoda
Baby Yoda image from Disney Pictures
be boring with Micheal, considering how enthusiastic and full of energy he is. One activity I would like to do with Micheal is have him host a “Dundie Award” show but for my family. I’m curious to see which awards he would give to certain members of my family. I think my family members would be happy to quarantine with Micheal. We all love the show and I think everyone would benefit from Micheal’s jokes and even just his presence.
Characters to quarantine with By Adam Jaszek One character that I would like to quarantine with the most is Jim from the Netflix series “The Office.” “The Office” is basically a comedy sitcom that is based in a paper company out of Pennsylvania called Dunder-Mifflin. Jim, one of the main characters in the show, is known for staring at the camera and giving the classic “Jim face,” pranking Dwight constantly, and being in love with Pam the receptionist. Jim overall is a very likable person and a big fan of sports - specifically basketball. This would make it very easy to get along with him and have no problems co existing. One issue would be his messy
Jim Halpert
ness, but could probably be solved without any real issues. Most of the time I’m assuming me and Jim would play NBA 2K and play basketball in the driveway one-on-one. I would say we should watch sports but that doesn’t exist right now, sadly. This would likely affect how entertaining it would be but I’m assuming pranks would be pulled on me at random times out of Jim’s boredom during this quarantine. My family would probably be confused that I’m isolated with a prankster and almost jock-like paper salesman from Pennsylvania, but would honestly not be too surprised at the choice for a roommate I made. Jim Halpert image from NBC Universal
Spencer James
By Allie Sowers
Spencer James image from Netflix.
By Elyse Manzi
If I were to be quarantined with one fictional character, I would want it to be Rachel Greene from the TV show “Friends.” In this show, Rachel is one of the six characters the show is based around. Her, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Ross all live in New York City, very close to each other, and they go through the early stages of adulthood together. Rachel Greene is a very important character in the show. She comes into the picture by walking into the coffee shop in her wedding dress after leaving her ex-fiancée at the altar. She has nothing. No job, no home, and no one she knows except Monica. Rachel grows into an amazing woman within the 10 seasons. She goes from not being able to do the job of waitressing correctly, to being an executive at the designer brand Louis Vuitton. She is brave, funny, compassionate, and an amazing
In a time like this, quarantine can get boring so easily. Even with all the electronics and stuff we have, it’s still possible to get tired of looking at a screen. One character I’d love to be quarantined with is Spencer James from “All American.” “All American” is a show based upon a true story; it focuses on a teenager from a rough life with a love for football and his story surrounding football. It’s really inspirational and my favorite show ever. Spencer James is the main character of the show. He’s a teenager who is extremely talented at football. He gets an offer to play at Beverly Hills High School, rather than his small home town Crenshaw. From there on out, it focuses on Spencer’s
friend. I believe that Rachel will be a great person to quarantine with because I feel like we have a lot in common, which would make for some fun times. We both aren’t the cleanliest people, so neither of us would get mad over a little mess. Rachel loves to gossip and tell stories, as do I, so we could never get bored. While quarantined with Rachel, I would try to teach her how to be a little more athletic, because that is something she is lacking. And I would like for her to online shop for some new outfits for me because she has an amazing sense of style. My family would definitely have very mixed emotions about Rachel being quarantined with us. They would all be pretty overwhelmed seeing that Rachel and I both share the same sassy, snarky qualities. My sister would be excited because she is a big fan of “Friends,” and Rachel seems very fun to be around.
highs and lows of high school football, and also focuses on the life of a Black teenager. Spencer is a very kind, polite, grateful, amazing person. He cares for every single one of his friends and he’d do anything to protect them and his family. I’d want to quarantine with Spencer because he’s really fun to be around and is a good person to have engaging conversations with. I’d also want to play football with him, obviously, since he’s so good at it. I’d also play video games with him because he loves to play those too. I would look forward to teaching him how to play volleyball; it’d be really funny to watch. Personally, my family would love to have Spencer in their home. He’d help around the house and would help my sister and me. I imagine he’d take a lot of stress off my parent’s shoulders.
Rachel Greene
Rachel Greene image from Warner Brothers
Summer 2020 | Spotlight|FEATURES 7
Odes to what we love and miss Ode to dance
Ode to dance
Ode to the beach
Image from publicdomainphotos
Ode to the beach
Public domain image from Pixabay
Ode to nature
Image from publicdomainpictures Image from Flickr Creative Commons
Public domain image from Needpix
By Olivia Marion
Public domain image from pxhere
By Sophia Kennedy Staying late at night With music blasting While constant smiles engulf the room. Hurting feet Complementing our sore muscles Bringing all other emotional pains to an end. Walls covered in pink With little kids running around, Missing the welcoming family we’ve created. Miss my principal source of happiness. Miss the exhilaration of landing a turn. Miss the thrill of getting it right. Miss the electrifying pain. Miss the hot, bright lights on my skin. Miss the daunting stage that feels like home. Stay home they say, well, dance, you are my home. I miss you.
8 POETRY | Spotlight | Summer 2020
By Jillian Richard Oh dance class you make me feel like flying sometimes I wonder how you can make me so sore yet so happy the pain of my blisters and calluses melts away the music blares and the smell of sweat and hairspray increases I love you though especially how you make me feel graceful flying when I leap and turn The constant blood, sweat, and tears are worth it as soon as the pattering of dancing feet hits the ground I’m set free all the costume sparkles and glitter the sounds of music, laughter, and pounding feet draw me in
Ode to a schedule
Oh, how I love the beach! The soft crashing of the waves as they hit the sand on the shore; The cry of the seagulls as they hunt for the next rogue chip; The mystifying whisper of the wind as it carries stories from the sea: Shipwrecks, mermaids, pirates, lost treasure… The overwhelming peacefulness of the endless sand dunes; The beautiful silhouette of the horizon as the sun sets; The sleepiness obtained from the mesmerizing scene, as the sun’s rays beat down on bared tanned skin. Oh, how I love the beach!
By Nadia Rusiecki
By Michael Cruz-Robidoux
The beach My second home Blazing hot and tropical Plunging waves evoke tranquility Sloshing sea foam dissolves into the sand Torrid sun rays bake my skin A pungent aroma of sea salt permeates through my body Salt water lingers on my lips as I emerge from the waves Individual sand granules slide in between my toes Water trickles from my sopping hair down my back Evaporating off my body as I lay in the sand Salt dries my pores Country music plays lustily It is like paradise It is Utopian
Trees, grass, and flowers Light up my eyes with joy The fresh air is so brisk You cleanse my mind of all negativity Some days cold, some days not Unpredictable yet a grand sight Walks, jogs, and runs Feel better when they are with you A great escape from the daunting tale of reality Hide me from all the terror Guide me to all the beauty Nature you are my savior
By Onix Gonzalez Time is important and much has been lost I’ve tried to fix my schedule but what is the cost? With school gone scheduling is harder This explains why the days feel much longer School made days feel evenly split Surprisingly this pandemic makes me miss it The schedule that I had balanced both my night and day No schedule makes my sleep schedule feel like summer in May Once school comes back I’ll have more balanced sleep Hopefully a balanced schedule is something I can keep Balanced days are something that I really appreciate Until school comes back next year, I’ll patiently wait
Summer 2020 | Spotlight|POETRY 9
Ode to pens that write smoothly
Ode to Basketball
Ode to uprights
Image from Flickr Creative Commons Image from Wikimediacommons
By Julian Danilchenko Pens that glide, slip, and slide, My love for you bounds the universal divide, I use you all the time in schools at my desk, As I write with you now you’re simply the best, Your grabby grip and black plastic back, The sound of your click that sometimes goes clack, Your rhythm of writing and waltz of your ink, The way I’ll miss your words if I even blink, I pay for transfusions when you run out of blood, Your ink trails out slowly and makes you a dud, You come back every time a paragon of life, with just one stroke you take away my strife, Pens that glide, slip and, slide, My muse, my flame, my life, my pride. 10 POETRY | Spotlight | Summer 2020
By Harrison Baptiste Image from Flickr Creative Commons
By Brady Nestor Grippy and bouncy Round and hollow Orange and black Comfortable and compressed It is like a tennis ball but bigger and better Basketball is life, escape and a sport You are an escape from reality when ever we play When friends play, your game gets more fun Made for a hoop Made for a net Dunkable Shootable Dribble passable We miss you, basketball.
Straight and tall Intimidating but challenging Bright yellow you can’t miss There are so many kicks ahead My leg gets tired I keep kicking Some go in and some go wide Some go in and some are short I’m not giving up Can’t wait to show up at a game The pressure of the score doesn’t bother me This ball is going through
Principles of artistic design
Featuring creations by Maureen McNally’s art students Clockwise from top left: 1. Sophomore Jasmine Patruno illustrates balance as a principle of design. 2. Sophomore Jessica Sabourin offers a ‘selfie’ utilizing principles of design to show how she’s getting through quarantine. 3. Sophomore Jasmine Patruno’s ‘Toilet Roll art.’ According to McNally, it was “just asking to be done.” 4. Junior Olivia Dowen’s Color Wheel from Home.
Summer 2020| Spotlight | ART 11
‘1917’ image from Dreamworks Pictures
Adrenaline rush, realism of ‘1917’ make it a must-see By Bella Alcaraz
Recently, my parents and I have watched the film ‘1917’ together after hearing much praise - especially after all the awards it has won. The story follows two British soldiers who are best friends during World War I: Schofield and Blake. The date is April 6, 1917. On the ground they are stationed in France and it appears as if the Germans have retreated; they have pulled back in the northwest and everyone assumed they were moving on. Then, the British allies have urgently announced that the British are all going to get brutally killed if they lead the attack on the Germans at dawn of the next day. Blake and Schofield are given mandatory orders to deliver a life-saving message in enemy territory to Colonel Mackenzie: halt their 1,600 fellow soldiers from attacking because the Germans are leading them to a trap. 12 REVIEWS | Spotlight | Summer 2020
The Germans have cut the field telephone lines to the British, so they have to deliver the message by hand to call off the attack. If they don’t make it before dawn of the next day, it would lead to the loss of Blake’s brother. The request is very important and personal now for Blake. He is told to pick another soldier to bring along with him on his journey, and he picks Lance Corporal Schofield to accompany him on this impossible mission. I especially loved the way the movie was filmed in particular. There is not a single cut or camera change throughout the movie. It is just one long, and continuous video that really helps me feel like I’m really there with them as they go on this journey to save everyone. The fact that this is a true story really touches me even more. Throughout the two hours that this movie runs, every single minute is us just follow-
ing along these two soldiers on their journey, and even their casual conversations are always hinted with the suspense that they could get attacked or shot at any point in time. It really makes the conversations feel like there’s more depth and meaning within - that every moment with others is really meaningful. The amount of emotion and sheer suspense that this movie made me feel was enough to make me wish I could erase my memory and rewatch it again because it was just that good. This movie really made me feel things that no other movie has before - the great rush of adrenaline. The acting, cinematography, and everything put together was just too good to put into words, and it will always have you on the edge of your seat. “1917” is truly a masterpiece, and I think that it’s a great movie that everyone would love.
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Summer 2020| Spotlight | 13
‘Goodfellas’ a cinematic masterpiece
‘Goodfellas’ image from Warner Brothers
FUNNY HOW? Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta, and Robert De Niro are three of the legendary actors featured in Martin Scorsese’s mob classic.
By Tyler Evans
During this quarantine, I’ve had the chance to really get into organized crime movies and books - they’re something that’s really piqued my interest. A few weeks ago, I watched the movie “Goodfellas,” directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1990. The cast includes Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and many more legendary actors. The story is mainly about Henry Hill and his life in the mob. It begins with Hill as a young man as he rises in the mob to become one of the top mobsters in the Italian-American crime syndicate. As a high ranking mobster, he enjoys a life of luxury and especially women. The story portrays Hill meeting and marrying his wife, then suddenly having an affair, and we see Hill’s once perfect marriage collapse before our eyes. Hill isn’t the only mobster we meet in the movie. Jimmy Conway
(De Niro) and Tommy Devito (Pesci) are Hill’s partners and each play critical roles. All three were living lavish, luxurious lives when suddenly everything came crashing down. Hill made many mistakes; an ugly drug addiction lead to his demise. Conway was eventually arrested, and Devito was savagely murdered as another crime family took its revenge. I thoroughly really enjoyed this movie. The plot, actors, and the ability to go from laughing to crying in one scene is something truly special. I honestly don’t have any negatives about this film - it was truly a masterpiece with no boring or lagging scenes. I’d rate this as a top 10 movie of all time; not a lot of movies do what “Goodfellas” does. Many movie critics seem to say the same thing, as it was given a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 9/10 rating on IMDb. I couldn’t agree more with these ratings, truly an all-time movie.
‘Queer Eye’ provides viewers with heartwarming, transformative moments By Julia Plotniak
I haven’t really been binge-watching anything over this quarantine, but a heartfelt show that I can always go to is “Queer Eye.” “Queer Eye” is a Netflix reboot of a show by the same name. It was created by David Collins, and stars the fab five: Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, and Jonathan Van Ness. The show is reality television, and is a whirlwind of emotions. It is all about makeovers, and helping people have a better quality of life. Every episode revolves around a different episode, and you get to know that person and their story in about an hour. Each person in the fab five has a different aspect of life that they work with. Antoni works with food, helping people adjust their dining styles and discovering healthier and easier meals to suit individual lifestyles.
Tan works with fashion, and helps people revamp their wardrobes to help them become the best, most confident versions of themselves. Karamo helps with culture, giving people ways to discover themselves, and helping families come together. Bobby is the interior designer, and completely remakes the homes of people while they are on the journey to self-discovery. Lastly, Jonathan is the grooming expert, and works with people to find their new hairstyles and daily routines. The fab five helps people find themselves, and they do it in the best way possible. Throughout each episode, they are extremely accommodating to every individual’s needs, and make sure that the person feels safe, even when escaping their comfort zones. There is nothing to dislike with this show. Every season is filled
‘Queer Eye’ image from Netflix
with heartwarming moments that can make your eyes water, and you are able to learn so much from the lessons that are taught. The transformations are incredible to watch, as you are able to see the joy radiating
from the person at the end of the episode. “Queer Eye” is a feel-good show suited for everyone, and it is an especially good watch during this tough time.
Humans, dragons co-exist in humorous ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trilogy By Sujal Manandhar
‘Dragon” image from Dreamworks
14 REVIEWS | Spotlight|Summer 2020
One of my favorite movie trilogy is the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trilogy. It has a really good core idea, a world in which humans and dragons co-exist along with the problems and benefits that this might bring forth. The animation style - yes it is an animated movie - is very polished, and it is clear that the animators put a lot of effort into them. The important characters are unique, but sometimes get a
bit annoying. There is some humor in this movie, and most of the time it is pretty chuckle-worthy but at the same time some of the jokes could have been more refined. The story is very well-written and engaging; also the score of the very good and memorable. The main character of this story is Hiccup, a Norse teenager, who we see grow alongside his best friend and dragon Toothless, and follow them in their adventures to change the world for Humans and Dragons alike.
Although I have said some very good things about this movie, no movie is perfect and there are some things that could have been improved such as some of the villain choices and their motives, more engaging side characters, the aforementioned humor, and some of the decisions made along the way by the characters. If you can look past this then the movie is genuinely a great trilogy, which I highly recommend watching. Overall this trilogy gets a 8/10 from me.
‘Little Women’ relates to audiences with characters’ passion, ambition By Grace Pisciotta “Little Women,” a film directed by Greta Gerwig, tells a timeless piece of American literature with a modern twist. The movie is based off a novel of the same name written by Louisa May Alcott that tells the story of four sisters, Jo, Amy, Beth, and Meg, and how they each find their own place in the world. There have been several adaptations of “Little Women,” including Broadway plays and other films, but this version gives people the chance to experience the story in a new light. I think the reason there have been so many versions of it is because everyone knows “Little Women,” and it will always be relevant. No matter who you are, you can relate to something or someone in the story. The girls all have so much
ambition and passion to reach their movie. I love that Gerwig did this, bedreams, which are all so different cause we get to see the development from of each one ancharacother’s. ter in a The film very dealso tailed shows way. the The strong film bonds also beopened tween up new women ideas and about now each they characimpact ter, and and helped ‘Little Women’ image from Sony Pictures inspire us have each other, but also how men exist a better understanding of them. For in that world as well. The story is told example, In Alcott’s original novel, Amy through a parallel plot: the girls’ child- wasn’t a very liked character because hood and their adulthood. The plots of her stubbornness and immaturity. switch back and forth throughout the Although in Gerwig’s version, Amy is
played by Florence Pugh (one of my favorites actresses) and she does a great job of giving us a better understanding as to why Amy acted this way, without displaying her character incorrectly. I don’t think people have seen the part of Amy who is driven and creative, so I’m glad that Gerwig incorporated this part of her into the film. The movie also includes a ton of other legends: Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep. I mean seriously, who doesn’t love Meryl Streep? Personally, this is one of my favorite movies because it’s warm, funny, dynamic, real, and feels very modern. In all the mess and in all the beauty shown throughout the film, it’s one that shows what it is to be a family. It’s truly something that everyone will enjoy.
Enzo the dog shines in heartfelt ‘Art of Racing in the Rain’ By Chloe Parsons “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” based on the novel by Garth Stein is my favorite heartfelt movie. The film is narrated by an intelligent dog named Enzo adopted by an ambitious race car driver named Denny Swift. When Denny, who “isn’t much of a dog person” brings Enzo home, Enzo does not fail to share his feeling of jealousy. Denny, of course, is unable to hear Enzo’s thoughts so the dog begins to show his emotions in unimag-
inable ways. As the film continues, Enzo witnesses family stress, conflict, and tragedy, and does his best to help. Enzo listens to Denny’s life lessons and realizes that lessons on the racetrack can also be used in life. Anyone who has owned a dog will be drawn into this story, and even the most hard-hearted will shed a tear because of the dog’s thoughts and the grief of the humans in his life. Personally, I started to cry during the first scene and did not
stop until about twenty minutes after the movie ended. The film relies on the built-in emotion pet lovers will bring to it and the details of Denny’s struggles and losses. The Art of Racing in the Rain is filled with tragedy but is balanced by the innocence of the dog’s narrations. I enjoyed this movie more than I imagined I would. I have watched it many times and it gets better every time that I watch it. ‘Racing’ image from 20th Century Fox
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ offers a cure for boredom By Gianna Scibelli
‘Pirates’ image from Walt Disney Pictures
As a huge Disney fan, I have been very thankful to have access to Disney+ to watch my favorite movies. I have watched some new movies I never got a chance to see in theaters, as well as some movies I have not seen in quite some time. A couple of weeks ago I decided to rewatch the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. As I hadn’t seen them in years, I could not recall the plots, or endings to the movies. The movies are set in a time around 1720 to 1750. As the title obviously suggests, the film series is about pirates, in the Caribbean. In the first movie, you find yourself in Port Royal with ships and British soldiers everywhere. Eventually we meet the main pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. Throughout each of the movies, Captain Jack Sparrow is always searching for a treasure of some sort. He picks up characters along the way
to be his crew, friends, and fellow captains. These movies are action filled, and will keep your eyes glued to your screen. Of course no movie is complete without a parallel plot. While Jack Sparrow is searching for his beloved treasure, we meet two very important characters. They not only help Jack Sparrow, but eventually help themselves. They go through family problems, relationship problems and more. But they resolve in one way or another by the end. The film series by itself is great, but they are even better if you are a fan of the Disney parks. In both American Disney parks, there is a ride based off of the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. It is so interesting to see the movie and compare it to the ride. It just makes the whole movie experience better. If during this time in the world, boredom has become a daily thing for you, a great way to fix that is by watching the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series.
Summer 2020| Spotlight | REVIEWS 15