Movie music has shown us "A Whole New World," taken us "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and offered us a bit of that well-needed "Razzle Dazzle" in a humdrum world. For everything that cinematic soundtracks have given us, we'd like to take this column to celebrate songs in film.
Recently Rick Ross has become one of the top rappers in music. Between his powerhouse guest appearances on stellar tracks like, "I'm on One" (2011) "Lord Knows" (2011) and "Monster" (2010) and being declared MTV's hottest MC earlier this week, Ross is finally delivering on his early promise and potential.
A storyline that concerns itself with unemployment, suicide, child benefit issues, marital problems and self-esteem issues seems like it could never be funny. But the Boston Conservatory Theater cast has proven otherwise. Their performance of the 2000 adaptation of the 1997 film, "The Full Monty," was a mix of touching moments and side-splitting hilarity.
For many college-age people, there exists an innate, irrepressible desire to participate in raucous merrymaking and debauchery. Individuals come together in droves to mingle, boogie and gorge themselves on copious amounts of alcohol, attempting to wash away the weighing quandaries of the concrete world if only for a few hours. But what happens when the masses become hordes that would have instilled fear into the great Greek armies of antiquity and the substances run the gamut from cheap beer to ecstasy?
After an early screening of their new film, "Project X," co-stars Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown stuck around for a question-and-answer session with some newfound fans.
Though singer/songwriters have existed for some time, it is only recently that the term "singer/songwriter" has come into fashion as a specific genre of music. Detailing a sort of folk−alternative fusion, modern singer/songwriters often produce some of the most innovative and refreshing melodies out there. Championing the singer/songwriter name is Andrew Belle, an up−and−coming artist out of Nashville who, through his unique, echoing vocals and sincere lyrics, exemplifies why this genre is one worth listening to.
When was the last time you really thought about where your food came from? Where was it, before it got to your home, the restaurant or the cafeteria? How did it get to you? How was it grown? We may try to customize our diets by "eating right" and incorporating a wide variety of foods into our meals, but that does not change the fact that our food often remains shrouded in mystery. The worrying realization that we know little about a fundamental part of our lives has many Americans frustrated and ready for a change.
Continuing with the party theme from last week, let's kindly take a minute to consider a Saturday night: a whirlwind of homework done in the afternoon with people furiously typing away on their laptops at Tisch to finish an assignment so that going out later seems all the more rewarding, then getting dressed up in party shirts and mini−skirts, slurping down … concoctions … in red Solo cups all in anticipation of "the big night."
"Modern Family" takes a satirical look at a strain of trivial problems that plague several intensely comedic families. The show's structure is unique among serial TV shows. Instead of centering on one nuclear family, "Modern Family" focuses on three chaotic households that play equally major roles in the various plots. Despite the fact that these three households have virtually nothing in common, the members are related by blood or through marriage; thus, all the characters are a part of one big, dysfunctional family.
For the uninitiated, a trip to an authentic Chinese restaurant is an exercise in both adventure and educated guessing. Enumerated dishes lack descriptions and crowd the menu. If that wasn't hard enough, many menus are printed in Hanzi, with only an ambiguous translation.
These days, it's rare to find a band that can be deemed truly and utterly original. Bands tend to fit into neat little genres, singing the same sort of generic tunes sung countless times before. Thankfully, a brilliant Brooklyn−based band by the name of Fun has stepped onto the music scene, bringing with them a fresh musical vibe much needed among the dub−step and sampling that defines the current trends. With Fun, true originality finally presents itself.
This week we turn from the world of the Cold War to the world of classical Greece with "Socrates: A Man for Our Times," by acclaimed historian and biographer Paul Johnson, who produces a brief celebration of the life and influence of the well-known Athenian philosopher. This little treasure of a biography succinctly explores the life of Socrates in classical Athens and the great philosopher's essential ideas, written in Johnson's famed accessible and engaging style.
If purposely over-the-top action scenes, a plethora of humorous interactions and attractive lead actors aren't enough to balance out a mindless plot or the ethically questionable usage of spy equipment, then "This Means War" (2012) should probably be avoided at all costs.
Sometime between the commands "please turn off your cell phones" and "enjoy the show," the director of the Lyric Stage Company said something very important: "No one has heard of this before," he said. "This is a new play."
The food at Greek Corner Restaurant is just like its decor — bright, plentiful and unpretentious. Everything from the waiters to the wonderfully aromatic, freshly made trays of baklava speaks to the cozy familiarity that makes this restaurant a great place for a relatively inexpensive meal. There were no surprises at Greek Corner, but that's no insult — the simple presentation, quick service and friendly staff delivering the flavorful Greek food one would expect from such a family-style restaurant combined for a memorable meal.
The Tufts Art Gallery is hosting "Perspective: A Selection of Projects in Print and Handmade Paper from the Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions" at the Remis Sculpture Court until May 20. The artists featured are world−renowned and come from diverse backgrounds, with 12 works that demonstrate the prestige of the Brodsky Center at Rutgers University. The pieces in the exhibition at Tufts confront a wide range of international social issues and are well worth seeing for their creativity and craftsmanship.
Winter may still cling to the Tufts campus, but Tupelo is serving up delicious food with a Southern flare just ten−minutes outside of Central Square. Located in Inman Square, Tupelo prides itself on serving Southern comfort food and adds nuance by pairing its main dishes with sides that bring out a more complex take on these classics.
