Leisure

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

Leisure

Beautiful Creatures magically makes teen angst appealing

Supernatural forbidden romance has probably never seen better days. Undoubtedly left hungry after the conclusion of the Twilight films, the powerful demographic of teenage girls can look forward to the screen adaptation of yet another young adult series fitting this remarkably marketable description. Beautiful Creatures, though certainly designed for that target audience and following a familiar formula, is a respectable guilty pleasure.

By February 14, 2013

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Critical Voices: Bullet For My Valentine, Temper Temper

Certain musical styles require an opposition. Without the necessary grit and disgruntled listeners criticizing bands through thinly veiled smug superiority, genres like rock ‘n’ roll, particularly metal, would simply have faded from this world. The Welsh group Bullet for My Valentine turns in such a direction with its fourth studio album. Lacking an edge, Temper Temper fails to live up to the expectations set forth by the bloodied hands on the cover and emerges a confused, uninteresting LP.

By February 14, 2013

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Critical Voices: Otis Taylor, My World is Gone

Whether describing joblessness, discrimination, or even just problems with the old lady, the blues have long been a means of dealing with tragedy. It’s only natural, then, that Otis Taylor uses the blues to tell the story of another group with a history of hardship: Native Americans.

By February 14, 2013

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Paper View: Families torn apart, literally

The world is chock-full of competing theories. Is evolution or intelligent design behind the origin of mankind? Was ‘N Sync or the Backstreet Boys the superior boy band of the ‘90s? Does the Leo’s smell come from cleaning detergent or divine intervention? But no theories are more hotly debated than the meaning behind hit dramas—Lost, anyone?—and AMC’s comic book adaptation The Walking Dead is no exception.

By February 14, 2013

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I Knew You Were Treble: Mainstream indie, Folk yeah!

As I sat in my living room anxiously watching the Grammy’s, I could not help but marvel at the number of independently-labeled musicians nominated for the category of Best New Artist. Just last year, indie artist Bon Iver went home with that coveted award, much to the dismay of fans of Nicki Minaj and Skrillex. A decade ago this trend toward nominating indie artists would have been nearly impossible. So what does this trend suggest? And why is it occurring?

By February 14, 2013

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Live from Bulldog Alley: It’s a weekend of ImprovFest!

This weekend, the Georgetown Improv Association presents its 17th-annual ImprovFest, an event that brings improvisational comedy troupes from across the country to Georgetown for two nights of unscripted comedy. In terms of content and style, anything goes, but laughs are guaranteed.

By February 7, 2013

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Side Effects follows prescribed path

Jude Law could use a little Rogaine, but his acting chops in the new psychological thriller Side Effects make up for this slight but noticeable aesthetic blemish. The prescription pill takes center stage in this taut film, serving up a frightening scenario that could keep even the drowsiest Prozac user up late at night.

By February 7, 2013

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Restaurant Review: Protein Bar

Having gone to bed way too late to be waking up at 6:45 a.m., we were both pretty groggy as we headed toward the Rosslyn GUTS bus at the start of our early morning journey to Protein Bar’s Penn Quarter location. A quick metro ride to Gallery Place (a trip that most Georgetown students know very well) and a two-block walk brought us to our destination: Protein Bar, a small café nestled at the corner of 7th and D St. that prides itself on creating interesting and fun, high-protein, low-fat dishes.

By February 7, 2013

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Critical Voices: Frightened Rabbit, Pedestrian Verse

Pedestrian Verse marks the fourth major studio release for Scottish quintet Frightened Rabbit, and proves to be their most carefully contrived album to date, delivering what devotees have come to expect: darkly poetic songwriting that manages to be both blunt and nuanced. Frontman Scott Hutchison draws once more from his seemingly bottomless well of woe to craft intricate lyrics that convey great emotion without coming across as self-indulgent.

By February 7, 2013

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Critical Voices: My Bloody Valentine, m b v

Hope—though mostly false—and occasional outbursts of fury have accompanied Dublin alt rock outfit My Bloody Valentine on a 12-year journey to a third studio album. In spite of over a decade of production, the quality of the LP was never in question; MBV delivers a hauntingly fascinating album that occasionally breaks off into seemingly absurd yet exhilarating stylistic development.

By February 7, 2013

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Under the Covers: Caution: Anti-Fragile

Georgetown student: congratulations, you are on the right track! On your way to being Mr. Secretary of State, Ms. President, Mr. Non-Profit Manager, (or more likely) Mr. Consultant. You’re absolutely right—that summer internship you snagged will endear you to the right people to land a slightly above-entry-level job after graduation, so in 10 years, your salary will be high enough to pay off your law school debt and fund a social life in your off hours.

By February 7, 2013

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Reel Talk: Cinephiles return to the Oscars

The 2012 Academy Awards sucked. Despite Billy Crystal’s resurrection as host, the nominees (Midnight in Paris, Hugo, The Artist) didn’t possess the characteristic gravitas or ambition you’d expect from the candidates for Hollywood’s highest honors. But the tide has turned, and 2013’s high-caliber Oscar nominees are set to engage in the most nerve-racking Academy Awards show in recent memory.

By February 6, 2013

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Resolved: Energy Kitchen proves burgers can be healthy

Hamburgers are my kryptonite. During my senior year in high school, I vowed that I would not eat red meat. But, lo and behold one day at a family picnic, I stumbled upon a juicy hamburger and caved. So of course when I heard about the opening of Foggy Bottom’s new burger joint, Energy Kitchen, my heart skipped a few beats.

By January 31, 2013

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Quartet overcomes off-key moments

The feel-good movie about retirees making the most of their twilight years has practically become a genre in itself, one that has seemed to reach an apex recently with the release of Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Hope Springs, that Meryl Streep flick involving a week of old-age marriage counseling and its accompanying awkwardness. Though sure crowd-pleasers for the senior contingent, these films rely a little too heavily on predictable carpe diem tropes to pass the test of time for younger generations. Quartet, Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, however, manages to avoid such pitfalls.

By January 31, 2013

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Wake and First Bake

Of the few things worthy of a 7 a.m. wake-up, the new bakery and coffee shop First Bake at parent restaurant Farmers Fishers Bakers is one. I discovered the shop one sleepy, misty morning walking down to the harbor for some coffee and a quiet study spot.

By January 31, 2013

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Smithsonian’s Nam June Paik puts the “vision” in television

There’s something to be said about the guy who coined the term “Electronic Superhighway” before Facebook was around to help you keep you in contact with your roommate.

By January 31, 2013

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Critical Voices: Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob

An indie act’s transition into the mainstream is often fraught with risk, the familiar accusation of “selling out” typically bubbling to the surface before you can say, “radio single.” Treading this pop-laden path deftly is a daunting task, one that Canadian twins Tegan and Sara, unfortunately, fail to achieve as they make a deliberate effort to infuse more pop and electronic influences into their sound.

By January 31, 2013

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Critical Voices: Ducktails, The Flower Lane

Albums seldom take the form of a holistic work—from the cover art to the music—in a culture geared toward chart-topping singles. This idea of a whole product at times proves detrimental if treated as an end in itself. Real Estate guitarist Matt Mondanile’s solo project Ducktails, for instance, delivers a fourth studio album with a clear focus on unity of the LP without the benefits that often accompany such strategies. In spite of solid production and an aura best described as pleasant, The Flower Lane falls short of memorable.

By January 31, 2013

Leisure

Paper View: Hardly a trivial pursuit

As a young child, I can fondly remember rushing to finish my dinner and guzzle down my glass of milk to get in front of the TV. “Finish your veggies, Keaton,” my mom would say as I shied away from the mound of asparagus, “and then you can go watch television.” But unlike other seven-year-olds eager to catch the latest episode of Even Stevens or Hey Arnold!, I was stoked about my half-hour daily trivia session with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!.

By January 31, 2013

Leisure

Loose Cannon: Beer is good, people are crazy

After the physical stress of 11 days of straight boozing that is add/drop week, my body was in some serious pain. I had clearly had around 15 too many Hot Chicks and not nearly enough sleep. I knew that the only thing that could make me feel like a human being again was a serious detox, but I wanted my detox to be something cool, trendy and obviously not something anyone else had done before. (Because if anyone else had ever done it, I would be just like every other unimaginative soulless pre-professional Barbour coat-wearing Georgetown student.)

By January 31, 2013