By Blake Penfield, Student Writer People always are coming up to me and asking, "How can I be sure that I have a soul?" Just constantly. It's ridiculous. Well, now I have an answer for them. If you can sit through Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist without smiling, then you have no soul. Remember those John Hughes' movies from the '80s? Ferris ... [Read More…]
‘Traitor’ offers doses of humanity
By Blake Penfield, Student Writer Nazis and dinosaurs. Here we have two groups of people (Nazis are people, too) who always are portrayed as villainous, conniving sadists in film. In fact, with the exceptions of Schindler's List and The Land Before Time IXXVIII, I cannot think of one film where a Nazi or a dinosaur is portrayed as a real, feeling ... [Read More…]
Movie goes on ’88 Minutes’ too long
By Blake Penfield, Contributing Writer You know the last apple in the carton at the store? It's all gross and bruised. That's about the horticultural equivalent of the movie "88 Minutes," which was actually filmed and finished in 2005. Israel and a few other countries actually got DVD releases of the film before TriStar decided to pick up the ... [Read More…]
‘Best Picture’ nominees put forth great cinematography, acting skills
By Blake Penfield, Contributing Writer 'There Will Be Blood' Showcasing some of the finest performances in recent film history, the stirring and epic "There Will Be Blood" is a force to contend with this Oscar season. Who would have thought the story of an oilman's search for wealth could be so beautiful? Boasting an impressive eight Academy ... [Read More…]
‘There Will Be Blood’ unapologetically bloody
By Blake Penfield, Contributing Writer Beware: children and pregnant women may not want to attend this ride. It's not crude. It's not crass. Instead, it's a portrait of the sickness that hides in humanity's heart. Perhaps no other picture in the last year provides such a gut-wrenching, beautifully dark, obtusely blunt and deliberately unapologetic ... [Read More…]
Third Rock ice cream parlor closes Abilene locale
By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor ACU students who want customized homemade ice cream will have to travel across town to Cold Stone Creamery as the fate of competitor Third Rock Creamery remains unknown. The space-themed ice cream parlor and coffee shop on Judge Ely Boulevard closed its doors in November after a decline in business. "Everyone ... [Read More…]
Death Cab signs with Atlantic, makes financial ‘Plans’
By Mitch Holt, Opinion Editor Death Cab for Cutie "Plans" Atlantic Records 77/100 (Good, worth buying) Death Cab for Cutie has covered so much musical ground in its five album career but has never ventured far enough away from the indie pop rock that its fans love to love for them to establish skeptics among these listeners. The band's fifth ... [Read More…]
‘Pride’s Crossing’ offers retrospect on life’s opportunities
By Mitch Holt, Staff Writer "Pride's Crossing," a theatrical production about the dilemma-filled life of an aged woman, will open Thursday in Fulks Theatre, followed by two weekends of shows. One of the most prevalent themes in "Pride's Crossing" is the idea that life brings opportunities, said Jessica Patterson, musical theatre major from ... [Read More…]
‘Room Noises’ avoids sophomore slump
By Mitch Holt, Staff Writer Eisley's "Room Noises" is a solid album. A follow up to their debut EP, the album is a relaxing cacophony of darkly bright music laced with the beautifully eerie voices and melodies of Sherrie and Stacey DuPree. Eisley toured with Coldplay last year and gained a large fan base along with a record deal with Warner Bros. ... [Read More…]
Elvis lives: Costello a great ‘Delivery Man’
By Mitch Holt, Staff Writer As the '60s ended, when Beatlemania was reluctantly coming to an end and our parents' hair was losing a few inches, music took a backseat to rehabilitation clinics and tie-dye burning festivals. During these years of musical rebuilding, a delightful little music scene was forming across the Atlantic in the heartland of ... [Read More…]