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April 2012


Leisure

GU alums’ film reaches cult status

The premise of Sound of My Voice, the Sundance breakout from Georgetown alumni filmmakers Zal Batmanglij (COL ’02) and Brit Marling (COL ’05), sounds eerily similar to that of a “B”-grade horror movie—the premise of a mysterious female cult leader who claims to be from the future and takes blood transfusions from her followers hardly makes a film approachable. The artful combination of psychological elements and a sci-fi background, however, makes Sound of My Voice a surprising discovery that gracefully treads the line between cerebral indie and suspenseful thriller.

Leisure

Nostalgia sets in for senior art majors at Spagnuolo

“There are not a lot of outlets for art on campus, and so I think it is hard sometimes to recognize that Georgetown is not all about Business or International Politics,” senior studio art major Nicole Thomas said. “But there is another side to Georgetown.” And starting this week, that side is on full display.

Leisure

Five-Year Engagement will have Segel fans saying, “I do.”

In his latest film, Jason Segel is back to give audiences a peek at what lies beneath his clothing—though, thankfully, not quite to the degree of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. In The Five-Year Engagement, the recent release from director Nicholas Stoller and the prolific producer Judd Apatow, Segel’s signature humor and the film’s raunchy writing transform a movie whose title could very easily be mistaken for your run-of-the-mill rom-com into a genuinely funny, ballsy comedy that is exactly what we would expect from that trio.

Leisure

This is the sweetlife

For the second year in a row, the Sweetlife Festival is taking Merriweather Post Pavilion by eco-friendly storm. The festival, which takes place this Saturday, once again promises an enticing combination of delicious organic food, live music, and all things green. But for its sophomore year, everything about this “party with a purpose” is bigger, from the lineup to the impressive list of partners supporting this sustainable celebration.

Leisure

Critical Voices: Jack White Blunderbluss

With Blunderbluss, his first solo release, Jack White decided to bring it all back home. Moody yet serene, the album conjures images of The Who, which will probably appeal to die-hard fans of The Black Keys, and though the sound is sometimes smoky, it will not leave you coughing. Instead, guitar rock mogul White has released an album that can be appreciated by devout followers of his namesake band, as well as a newer, unfamiliar crowd.

Leisure

Critical Voices: Kip Moore, Up All Night

While it was once said that nothing could quite describe feelings of love and heartbreak like a country song, the largely unimpressive country releases streaming out of Nashville this year would seem to suggest otherwise. But this blatant disregard for lyrical quality paired with poor attempts at instrumental virtuosity may finally have been overcome by the songwriter-turned-singer Kip Moore. Up All Night, Moore’s debut album, introduces a much-needed believability to his lyrics and vocals, which allows the LP to shine above today’s cookie-cutter country.

Leisure

Plate of the union: The tea party manifesto

“But still, how can you call yourself a true tea lover if you destroy the flavour of your tea by putting sugar in it? It would be equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt.” Challenge accepted, Mr. Orwell.

Leisure

You’ve got issues: Take it with a grain of salt

Dear Emlyn, I’m obsessed with movies, and there are a LOT that I want to watch with my girlfriend. But we only have three weeks left in the semester! She probably does not care to see all of them, but HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONES SHE DOES CARE TO SEE?! I mean, I can’t ask her directly, that’s weird. On top of this, we have to wait until the fall to watch the next season of Breaking Bad, and that’s just a tragedy. Fix my problems. —Swaggy Swate

Voices

Hunger Games obsession helps ease post-graduation fears

Sophomore year is coming to an end, and the dreaded slump has set in. Combined with the recent streak of bad weather, this has lead to a complete and utter lack of desire to do anything. I’ve found other ways to occupy my time, like thinking about how I’m pursuing a degree that, especially in these tough economic times, isn’t exactly practical—it’s sometimes pretty difficult to see how the skills the SFS has taught me can translate into a career. Still, one cannot spend hours dwelling on insecurities without going insane, so I have turned to my favorite fictional world for solace—Panem.

Voices

Religious plurality at Georgetown inspires contemplation

At Georgetown, religion is everywhere. And for me, whose only religious experience pre-college was a third-grade Christmas gift exchange in which I gave a teacher a Barbie I didn’t like, a Jesuit university was quite the jump. And while my Catholic friends here might remind me that this is “barely Catholic” in comparison to their private high schools, I feel the strength of faith everywhere I go.