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October 20, 2008
A&E
The Talon
Critic’s Corner
Picks of the entertainment world--newly released and recently remembered
Burn After Reading By Ian Massey editor-in-chief Americans needs some ice, because we just got burned. The Coen brothers have caught fire at the box offices once again with their recent release of Burn After Reading. If the Coen Brothers sound familiar, maybe it’s because they have directed classic films throughout their careers. The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, Fargo and Raising Arizona are notable films that they have crafted in the past. Their movies often push the envelope and they are known for leaving audiences offended, laughing hysterically or praising their creative plots. Burn After Reading begins with CIA analyst Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) being patronized and eventually demoted due to his drinking problem. Cox returns home and decides to write a memoir of his career in the CIA, which his cheating wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) constantly ridicules him about. Katie Cox’s lover
is Treasury agent Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney). After finishing his memoir, Cox’s wife steals the
disc containing the precious document. However, after a mixup, the disc gets into the wrong hands when two personal trainers at Hardbodies Gym, Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) and Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) discover the private CD in the gym’s locker room. Litzke is down on her luck with numerous
dating sites. When Litzke gets ahold of Cox’s memoir, she sees it as an opportunity to blackmail the analyst in order to pay for her plastic surgery. The story unfolds as Feldheimer and Litzke go to extremes in their pursuit of a blackmail fortune. Pitt’s character is hilarious and is completely unique from his past roles. Feldheimer is an off-thewall personal trainer who wears short shorts and is constantly dancing to his iPod music. Likewise, Clooney is different from his natural serious role, playing a quirky agent who has compulsive behaviors. Burn After Reading is a rare film that employs the lost art of storytelling. It utilizes a mix of subtle comedy with a dramatic story. Certain audiences may not appreciate the subtleties in the film, or certain vulgar events that take place; however, that is why the Coen brothers are known for having loyal fans as well as harsh critics. I appreciate this smart comedy and give Burn After Reading an A-.
Eagle Eye: Solid but stretching By Niall McCarthy staff writer Eagle Eye starts and ends the same way: intense. That is probably the best word to describe this movie. It is action packed from beginning to end, filled with shooting, car chases, and just about anything that gets the adrenaline pumping. E a g l e Eye is about Jerry (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel (Michelle Monaghan), two strangers who are brought together by a phone call from a woman they have never met. The voice asks them to perform many dangerous and illegal tasks, which eventually leads to Jerry and Rachel as fugitives sought by the FBI. The voice commands through any electronics they have with them, such as cell phones, or security cameras outside of stores. This movie is definitely not for someone who doesn’t have an imagination. The viewer will definitely need to open his/ her mind to accept a lot of what goes on during this film. Many of the action scenes are so ridiculous
that they are unbelievable, but director D.J. Caruso did a nice job of making the action believable without pushing it into the outrageous category, for the most part. Action and science
fiction are balanced perfectly in this film, making the viewer contemplate the danger of today’s technology. It paints a picture of what technology can lead to and how seriously it could change one’s life. In contrast to the praise that most new technologies receive, this movie shows the bad that can come of technological advancements, and almost serves as a warning to be careful how far we take our beloved electronic devices. LaBeouf and Monaghan
give solid and believable performances overall, and really add to the film. Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Chiklis also deliver very interesting performances. Thornton’s character of an FBI Agent was one of the most interesting characters in the movie as he changes greatly throughout the whole film. The movie does fall prey to the typical cheesy lines and overly dramatic scenes that most action movies have, such as when LaBeouf and Monaghan are trapped in a box together, but these hardly distracted from my overall enjoyment. From the car chase near the beginning of the movie, to the chase scene at the end, this one keeps viewers interested, and hoping for more. It is very exciting, and never fails to keep the viewer’s attention. Anyone looking to see a movie with action, good acting, and an interesting storyline should definitely see Eagle Eye. This movie receives a solid B+, missing out on the A just barely because of some of the overly dramatic scenes, and occasional unbelievable scenes in the film.
AR Spotlight Accelerated reading is mandatory in most English classes on campus. This column is dedictated to sifting through those long lists of books and finding the perfect ones to not only to get the reader points, but to keep him/her interested.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Book Level: 7.7 Point Level 14.0 By Heather White a&e editor It’s a story of corruption, beauty and wealth. The novel takes place in London during the nineteenth century. Dorian Gray is a handsome, young aristocrat who takes his place as the muse to a well-known artist Basil Hallward, who wishes to spend his days doing nothing more than painting him. But soon Gray’s world is forever changed when he is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, who values nothing above his own pleasure. The impressionable Gray finds himself curious to the lifestyle of Wotton. Gray soon finds out that his beauty opens doors to unimaginable pleasures. Obsessed with all experiences,
whether moral or not, Gray begins to become internally ugly while remaining youthful and beautiful externally. As time goes by, it’s clear that there is some supernatural force preventing Gray from aging. The portrait of him painted by Hallward begins to change and Gray’s face becomes that of an ugly old man. Gray becomes fearful of the portrait, and locks it up in the attic and continues on with his life. Gray’s decline in morality leaves the reader questioning what the consequences, if any, will be. This book is captivating from beginning to end. The intricate novel weaves even the smallest hints of seduction, lust and greed into the story seamlessly. From devastating his young and innocent love to his obsession with pleasure to his evil and manipulative demeanor, the transformation of the once charming and naive Gray progresses in such an epic way that you are left hoping that all of Gray’s evil deeds catch up with him. By the end chapter, Wilde has his audience thirsting for every word, and he does not disappoint. Wilde provides the most shocking and climatic ending that quenches the reader’s desire for redemption. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is deserving of a solid A.
TESTING...
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highest, while the juniors came in with the lowest score. MVHS is taking steps to further prepare students for the CST’s. “We continue to refine our curriculum to match the state standards for each course. We use the data from the testing program to properly place our students in the proper classes. We challenge our students to take the most rigorous courses they can handle,” stated McGonigal. McGonigal is pleased with the school’s state testing performance. “I am proud of the efforts that our students and staff put forth to get ready for state testing last year. The hard work
paid off with strong results.”
“We challenge our students to take the most rigorous courses they can handle.” Teachers will continue to work towards preparing students for the 2009 CST’s. “With continued effort we can reach the heights of an 800 API score, which is the state target for all schools. When that day comes it will be awesome,” McGonigal proclaimed.