Media Reviews

Her

Written and Directed By Spike Jonze

BY HENRY CONNOR Whether you have just gotten out of a relationship, are feeling lost in your emotions or you simply want something to watch, the film “Her,” available on Netflix, is definitely worth it. Taking place in a near future Los Angeles, we follow a passionate, yet lonely, man named “Theodore Twombly” who takes on the life of writing other people’s personal letters for them. Played by the phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix who had just won his first Oscar last year for his brilliant performance in “Joker,” his performance in this film is just as good, if not better. After suffering from a divorce with his wife Catherine, Theodore decides to purchase an operating system with artificial intelligence designed to be a virtual assistant. After choosing the voice to be female, the operating system gives herself the name of Samantha. As Theodore and Samantha bond with one another and learn and grow with each other, he slowly starts to convince himself he is falling in love with her, and they begin a relationship.

The strange yet beautiful part of “Her” is how it explores emotion. The film may feel weird at times, and a you may feel a bit uncomfortable, but at other times, something different happens. You feel for Theodore, and you get lost in this fake relationship just as much as he does. There is a sort of danger to technology that this film reminds us of. Dressed in the color of bright red, normally symbolizing strong passion and love, it’s clear from the start that Theodore stands out in this world as those around him wear very bland and mute colors. Theodore is full of life and love, and yet he gets trapped. He gets trapped in this illusion. This illusion of love. He is lost in his past, regretting the mistakes he made with Catherine and what he could have done differently, and Samantha is his way out. He can talk with Samantha and open up to her like he can with no one else. The sad truth is that deep down he misses the human connection he made with Catherine because he understands that his relationship with Samantha will never be the same.

As humans, we are always looking for a meaning in life. Before Theodore meets Samantha, he feels like he has lost this meaning he once had. Spike Jonze is trying to show us the truth about love and about our modern society. We have fallen into the trap of our technology and how it is keeping us from interacting with one another. Theodore is introverted and therefore fell into this exact pattern. The good news is that there is always hope for us, and people like Spike Jonze to help guide us. If you haven’t given “Her” a watch yet, please give it a try. Even if the plot turns you off, it is definitely worth the watch.

Artwork By Lucas B. Connor

Rebecca

Directed By Ben Wheatley

BY RIA LOWENCHUSS “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” These words open the hauntingly lovely “Rebecca,” a nightmare-inducing thriller disguised as a Jane Austen-esque whirlwind romance. Based on the 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier and directed by Ben Wheatley, “Rebecca” is full of breathtaking cinematography and fittingly gorgeous costumes. The strong-standing cliffs, grand estates and winding mountain roads make watching this movie feel like a holiday for the eyes. The story follows the narrator as she falls quickly and wholly in love with a mysterious English gentleman still reeling from the death of his first wife. This narrator is never given a name, instead forced to be Mrs. de Winter throughout the movie. Although seemingly innocent, this fact illuminates a key theme of this movie: love without knowledge and without truth. Throughout the story, the main character blindly follows Mr. de Winter, never giving a second thought to actuality or her true needs. This shows that love can be dangerous when not punctuated by truth and balance. Beautiful and thrilling, “Rebecca” is an engaging and suspenseful film that is a joy to watch. Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas give stunning performances with emotional and hard-hitting acting. The ending falls a bit flat, compared to the rest of the movie, but overall this is a wonderful film. “Rebecca,” at its core, is a cautionary tale that warns against the biggest mistake: choosing blinded love over reality.

Keep It Moving

By Joey Bada$$, Nas and Gary Clark Jr.

BY LEWIS PERRY Two of New York’s greatest rappers, Joey Bada$$ and Nas, teamed up on a melodic and upbeat new single in “Keep it Moving.” Knowing the two rappers fanbases, there was no need to advertise and hype up the song, showing why it was announced a week before its release on Oct. 15, Static Selektah managed to get Nas and Joey Bada$$, as well as Gary Clark Jr., on a track that thrilled the rap community, combining two generations of New York hip-hop. Nas and Joey each have two of their own verses, as well as Joey rapping the Chorus. The soul inspired beat from Static Selektah really maintains a solid progression throughout the whole song. The beat includes guitar from Gary Clark Jr., mixes from Selektah himself and a sample from “Walk on By” by Jonathan Davis. Nas and Joey delivered as great as expected, being some of the best lyricists from their time periods in hip-hop. The song transitions from verse-to-verse effortlessly without the need to repeat a chorus. The blend of old and new school New York rap allows this song to have a great connection and harmonization between Joey and Nas. “Suede Pumas back when I was chargin” is Nas referring to a popular shoe model from when he was much younger in New York. Joey and Nas go hand-in-hand in what sounds like a conversation between the two in the entirety of the song. Joey says, “I got a lot of love and respect for my OG’s” giving a nod to Nas, clearly one of his greatest influences.

Wrapping up the song, the outro includes a guitar solo from Gary Clark Jr., combined with the fantastic Soul beat that provides for a captivating ending the to song. While Nas and Joey could have had longer verses, the song ultimately comes out noteworthy and does not disappoint. If you are a person who enjoys old-school inspired rap music, definitely give this song a listen.