Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Mary Queen of Scots is an Uneven, but Enjoyable Period Drama

Mary Queen of Scots is an entertaining, but ultimately uneven period drama. It has gorgeous costumes, a wonderful pair of lead actresses, some genuinely compelling palace intrigue, and a few... Read more

By January 4, 2019

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Reinvents the Classic Hero

On top of a New York City skyscraper, a teenager clad in the blue-and-red Spider-Man suit hangs over the edge, gazing at the cars on the streets below. This is... Read more

By January 3, 2019

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If Beale Street Could Talk is a Celebration of Black Love

“The thing that grabbed me about this book is that these guys are soulmates. They are just soulmates. And I just hadn’t really seen or read many narratives about young,... Read more

By December 28, 2018

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is Some Kind of Glitterful and Wonderful

With lights that sparkle and costumes that dazzle, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical works like magic onstage. Based on true events, Beautiful chronicles the life of singer-songwriter Carole King as... Read more

By December 13, 2018

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Best of 2018: Albums

Sweetener – Ariana Grande Ariana Grande has faced unimaginable tragedy and loss in the last two years, and yet, the singer has prevailed as one of the most positive and... Read more

By the December 7, 2018

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Best of 2018: Movies

Black Panther Black Panther is more than just a movie—it is a cultural phenomenon. The film bolsters an incredibly talented and predominantly black cast that breathes new life into the... Read more

By the December 7, 2018

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The Favourite is a Carnal, Comical Survival of the Fittest

Beneath layers of starched pleats and prim petticoats, the trio of well-stationed women who animate the ornate corridors of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest have claws. But this is no mere... Read more

By December 6, 2018

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Critical Voices: Fleetwood Mac, 50 Years – Don’t Stop

In 1968, the iconic folk rock band Fleetwood Mac was formed in London. The group has had 18 different members, and endured half a century of drug abuse, bitter breakups,... Read more

By December 4, 2018

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Anything Goes at Arena Stage Provides a Delightful Rendition of a Timeless Classic

After a two-minute dance break, featuring almost every actor in the cast engaging in an array of wildly complex, yet precise tap routines, the dancers triumphantly returned to singing the... Read more

By December 3, 2018

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With A Duo of Superb Performances, Green Book Warms Your Heart

Today’s films are often judged by how nuanced they are at presenting their central themes. They must be direct, but not overtly obvious; thought provoking, but not contradictory; open to... Read more

By November 30, 2018

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is All Setup and No Payoff

With Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), the new Harry Potter prequel series, set over 50 years prior to the events of the original series, was off to... Read more

By November 28, 2018

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Concert Preview: Travis Scott, Nov. 29, Capital One Arena

The past two years have been busy for Travis Scott, to say the least. While he has been slowly building a name for himself since 2013 with the release of... Read more

By November 27, 2018

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Ian MacKaye’s New, Unnamed Group Makes Debut

“Punk show?” said the man standing in the opening to the nave of St. Stephen’s church. “Around back,” he continued. Still confused by the sanctified venue of the hard rock... Read more

By November 20, 2018

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Widows is much more than a heist film

Viewers should not go into Widows expecting to leave with the same goofy smile that this summer’s Ocean’s 8 inspired. Instead, they should probably start stretching their jaws now to... Read more

By November 19, 2018

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Ralph Breaks the Internet and conventions of children’s animation

In the action-packed finale of Ralph Breaks the Internet, a virus, represented by a small-insect like creature, begins to spread throughout the Internet. As it takes over, it repeats the... Read more

By November 17, 2018

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Boy Erased is a quiet revelation

Gay conversion therapy has become a forgotten topic in America, but it continues to be bafflingly relevant in contemporary society. Boy Erased is a step towards addressing and tackling the... Read more

By November 16, 2018

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an overwhelming examination of Westerns

What can be added to a genre that is already oversaturated, filled with stereotypes and clichéd movie tropes? The age of the Western has come and passed, yet directors Ethan... Read more

By November 16, 2018

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Rodarte: A Walk Through the Mulleavys’ Garden

Rodarte’s place in the National Museum of Women in the Arts is fitting; women started the fashion company of the same name, and its designs are for women. The exhibit... Read more

By November 15, 2018

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Serious and stunning, Our Class leaves viewers questioning the truth

Throughout Professor Derek Goldman’s adaptation of the acclaimed Polish play Our Class, actors turn to the audience and ask a simple question: “What was I supposed to do?” This query... Read more

By November 15, 2018

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Critical Voices: The Black Eyed Peas, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1

The Black Eyed Peas have changed quite a bit in the 20 years between their debut in 1998 and their latest release, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1. Initially defined... Read more

By November 14, 2018