Acting: 5

DECEMBER 12, 2019 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27

FILM REVIEW ‘Marriage Story’ hits home with

HUNTER FRIESEN

Film Critic

“Divorce is like a death without a body.”

With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce in America, this quote from Noah Baumbach’s new film now rings truer than ever.

Debuting on Netflix, “Marriage Story” centers on the relationship between Charlie and Nicole Barber. Charlie is an emerging New York theatre director and Nicole is a revered actress who’s followed him on the stage for the last decade. The good times are over now and the couple is in the process of divorce, with their eightyear-old son, Henry, caught in the middle.

The couple first decided to part ways amicably, but over time things got messier with lawyers and a sudden move by Nicole to Los Angeles. Now on opposite coasts, the two sides must bear the immense strain of splitting up while still trying to keep some semblance of their family together.

Directing: 4/5

The 10th feature from Baumbach (and second for Netflix), the unfolding of “Marriage Story” takes several cues from its stage theatre setting.

Numerous scenes play out in long, uninterrupted takes as characters move around the space, delivering monologues aimed at the audience just as much as they are at other characters. The blocking of each camera and character movement is superb as it allows scenes to flow with grace and deliver their maximum effect.

Accenting Baumbach’s work behind the camera is an orchestral score from legendary musician Randy Newman. The score calls back to Newman’s similar work in “Toy Story” as the mood swings back and forth from playful to somber.

Writing: 4/5

A writer first and director second, Baumbach’s screenplay contains both unparalleled honesty and authenticity. The film opens with Charlie and Nicole saying what they love about the other, only for it to be revealed that it’s all part of an exercise assigned to them by their divorce counselor. This perfect establishing scene and many others work wonders at making us feel for their relationship and connect it to our experiences, both good and bad.

Being as this is a semi-autobiographical film for Baumbach about his earlier divorce, you may fear that bias would be present. Luckily, Baumbach isn’t interested in taking sides. He may give Charlie a little more of the benefit of the doubt, but overall he paints a balanced picture where both the features and flaws of each character are on display.

And despite the depressing subject matter, the film is still able to be quite funny as comedy gets weaved throughout. This is usual for Baumbach, who uses humor as an addition to the drama

laughter and tears

Tribune News Service

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson star in “Marriage Story,” directed by Noah Baumbach and released on Netflix on Nov. 6. The film received a 96 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. rather than a clean break from it.

Acting: 5/5

Playing Charlie and Nicole is Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, respectively. Each of them is amazing on their own and will deservedly be showered with awards this season.

They each have their big individual scenes and one grand, one together, but where they each make their money is in the little scenes between the big ones. A small facial movement here

or special line delivery there goes a long way in developing who they are and what they stand for.

Laura Dern is also great as Nicole’s no-nonsense lawyer, Nora. Dern has made a name for herself as tough characters, and she continues that here with a fierce, commanding performance.

Alan Alda and Ray Liotta play Charlie’s two lawyers that have two very different styles that complement each of their acting strengths. Alda is the gentler and presentable one when compared to Liotta’s more hostile and brash demeanor.

Overall: 4/5

Never before has a film been so pleasantly depressing and genuinely funny at the same time. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, or you’ll do both at the same time. By the time the credits start rolling, you’ll have been on a journey with not just these characters, but also with yourself.

DECEMBER 12, 2019 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27

ALBUM REVIEW SingPins dazzle in debut album

CECILIA MITCHELL

Copy Editor

“SingPins A Cappella” is the first album released by UNI campus organization SingPins, a small auditioned ensemble within the Varsity Men’s Glee Club. The record includes 10 tracks, both live performances and studio recordings, amassed between the years 2017 and 2019. I found this album to be an instant classic. It’s exactly the kind of record you want to have in your collection to sing along with during road trips, or to spin when you’re feeling nostalgic about your college days in the years to come.

The first track is an a cappella arrangement of the lively Billy Joel classic, “For the Longest Time.” It’s

CABARET

continued from page 1

Secondly, “Cabaret” is a chilling manifestation of the death of 1920s society and political culture that is shattered by the Third Reich’s rise to power. Soon after, Cliff is shown fleeing Berlin without Sally.

At its core, “Cabaret” is modeled after Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories,” but the Broadway musical’s foundation is drawn from John Van Druten’s play adaptation of the aforementioned novel.

However, the production’s transformational journey did not end there. In over 50 years since the musical’s debut, developments can be seen in the conspicuousness of Cliff ’s bisexuality, the addition of several musical numbers and a new, nightmarish take on the ending of the musical (which this particular production chose to adapt).

Credit is due to TheatreUNI for being brave and skillful enough to pull hard to go wrong with such a standard a capella song choice, and the SingPins did the classic piece justice. “Alleluia,” the next piece, features beautiful, precise harmonies within a familiar sacred text.

A fun arrangement of “Death of a Bachelor,” the 2015 hit from Panic! at the Disco, comes third in the setlist. The piece has a dignified beginning and gets progressively more vibrant throughout. The next song is a live cover of Irish-American folk rock band The Elders’ 2003 track, “Men of Erin.” I was especially impressed with this piece; the SingPins exhibited superb tone quality and dynamic control.

The fifth song on “SingPins A Cappella” was made famous by the 2012 off the ending sequence they chose. As the musical came to a close, the audience grew sickeningly silent as they realized the curtains of the Kit Kat Klub had disappeared, leaving in its absence a thin and wiry frame. The orchestra had left the bandstand, and the cast was nowhere to be seen.

As the Emcee flowed down the set’s stairs in for one last time, a song reminiscent to the musical’s opening tune, “Willkommen” could be heard once again. Speaking directly to the audience, the Emcee asked, “Where are your troubles now? Forgotten? I told you so. We have no troubles here. Life is beautiful — the girls are beautiful — even the orchestra is beautiful.”

By reprising the same, lighthearted song that the audience was exposed to at the beginning of the musical, it is made evident how much has actually changed in the atmosphere.

As the Emcee reached center stage for the last time, the lights highlighthit movie, “Pitch Perfect.” “Bright Lights, Bigger City/ Magic” was the arrangement sung by The Treblemakers, the fictional male a cappella group in their finale performance. A mash-up cover of CeeLo Green’s and Bruno Mars’ respective songs, this track is somewhat overdone, but I have no complaints regarding the SingPins’ performance. Their rendition is upbeat and the singers seem invested in their delivery.

A live recording of the traditional Scottish melody “Loch Lomond” comes next in the setlist. While the SingPins’ rendition is beautiful, I noticed that there was some unflattering variation in the vowel delivery in this piece. “Loch Lomond” is one of my favorite folk songs,

LINDY RUBLAITUS/Northern Iowan

Cecilia Mitchell reviews “SingPins A Capella,” the first release from UNI’s auditioned a capella ensemble.

and I whole-heartedly believe ed the barbed wire hidden in the wireframe, and the flashy Kit Kat Klub sign rose into the rafters, replaced by infamous the “Arbeit Macht Frei” (translating to “work sets you free”) sign from the entrance of Auschwitz. He slowly unzipped his overcoat to reveal the striped suit worn underneath, denoting him as a concentration camp prisoner. The lights went down as two enormous Nazi banners billowed from the ceiling.

Suddenly, sirens could be heard, along with a German train conductor. Those who had previously been waiters and waitresses for the Kit Kat Klub had become Nazi officers.

As sirens blared and guests were brusquely ushered out of the theatre, they walked through a hallway filled with Nazi imagery from fascist Germany, as well as pictures of modern antisemitism in the United States.

According to Osatinski, this was no mistake. The musical lends itself to culit should be performed in a Scottish accent. It sounds like some SingPins members delivered the piece that way and some did not, making the tone quality sound off. There are also some discrepancies in their onsets and offsets.

The seventh song on the album is an arrangement of Jon Bellion’s 2016 hit “All Time Low.” This cover is very well-executed; the dynamic contrast adds interest and they hit the repetitive consonants accurately. What could have been a muddled, hard-to-understand rendition is crisp and clear and I was impressed by the SingPins’ take on contemporary pop music.

Next, the SingPins gave their rendition of the romantic Elvis Presley classic “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Their slow, methodical version features complex, haunting harmonies. The arrangement they chose takes some unusual turns with the familiar piece, and I appreciated the unexpected in this track.

The 1980 song “Seven Bridges Road” by Eagles is the ninth number on the record. A live version backed by a guitar, this track is the only accompanied piece on the album, which I found very fitting for the classic rock standard. This song is a rousing, Americana tune enjoyable for listeners of any demographic.

The SingPins close their

tural and political criticism that can be applied to the modern era. “Cabaret” is widely considered to be a conceptual musical due to the dual structure found between the actual storyline and outof-place musical numbers. This duality allows for the musical to add on to what is happening in the plot.

In Osatinski’s Director’s Note, she writes, “Across the United States in 2019 and 2020, many theatre companies are producing ‘Cabaret.’ Like UNI, these companies recognize the very real parallels between Germany in debut album with a cover of the infamous Blue Swede track, “Hooked on a Feeling.” I found the beginning unexpectedly fast, but the classic cover gained appeal as it continued. The variation in dynamics and complexity throughout the piece added interest, but the singers did not sound as emotionally invested in this song as they did in others.

[‘SingPins’ A Capella’] is a must-buy in the name of Panther Pride and the enjoyment of musical expertise.

CECILIA MITCHELL

Copy Editor

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, and as a soon-tobe UNI alum, I think it’s a must-buy in the name of Panther Pride and the enjoyment of musical expertise. I am impressed by the clever craft of the setlist; “SingPins A Cappella” features a wide variety of genres in a song order that flows effortlessly. The SingPins’ vocal performance is technically excellent. There are very few notable or even noticeable errors in this record. The UNI community should be very proud to have a group as talented as the SingPins on campus.

1929 and America in 2019.”

Between outstanding performances from Hynick as the Emcee and Bailey as Sally, along with the clear intent to connect modern America to the rise of Nazi Germany, UNI’s “Cabaret” left the audience feeling like the floor had dropped from beneath them. The “it can’t happen here” mentality depicted in the musical is a dangerous way of thought, and this show was a crucial reminder to audience members about the dangers of complacency on social justice issues.

COURTESY PHOTO/TheatreUNI

DECEMBER 12, 2019 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27

MEN’S BASKETBALL Panthers trample No. 23 Buffaloes on the road

PATRICK HANSEN

Sports Writer

The Panthers have been rolling through their competition so far this season, turning heads after finishing last season with a 16-18 record. Fast forward nine months, the Purple and Gold are off to a 9-1 start with a top 25 upset over Colorado under their belt. This Monday, questions were warranted about how the Panthers would do on the road with taking on No. 23 Colorado, paired with if the amplified elevation is something that can be prepared for. Head coach Ben Jacobson noted, “Not really. We played at New Mexico a couple years ago, we played at Denver a cou

COLIN HORNING

Associate Sports Editor

A heartbreaking loss would perhaps be the best way to sum up the UNI women’s basketball team’s loss to Creighton University last Sunday in Omaha, Neb.

After winning their first five games, including statement victories against the University of Missouri and the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Panther women dropped two

JACOB POTTER

The 2019 fall semester has been one to remember for UNI Athletics with Drew Foster visiting the White House, a historic Hall of Fame ceremony, a quarterfinal Panther football team, NCAA Tournament berth for UNI volleyball, 9-1 start for men’s basketball, 6-3 women’s basketball team and much more. “What’s important this early in the season is what we’re doing as a Panther family,” men’s basketball head coach Ben Jacobson said. ple years ago, so we’ve taken a handful of these trips where you’re playing at that altitude and there’s just not a lot you can do for it.” The Purple and Gold started out the game with a sixpoint lead, but the Buffaloes quickly responded and kept the game close throughout the first half. Both teams shot the lights out in the first half with UNI taking a 33-32 lead heading into halftime. As the second half went under way, the Panthers got hot quick, claiming their largest lead of the game with 11 points just a couple minutes into the half gaining the 44-32 lead. However, with 10 minutes left the Buffaloes came back to straight over Thanksgiving break in Las Vegas. Looking to get back into the win column, they battled down to the wire against Creigton, ultimately falling by the score of 57-54. Sophomore guard Kam Finley led the Panthers in scoring with 16 points off the bench and went 3-4 from three. She was the only Panther in double figures on the night, followed by guard Karli Rucker and cen The semester started with a near upset of No. 21 Iowa State by Panther football, followed by the 2019 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony that inducted the 2009-10 Sweet 16 team. The success across all sports continued as Jessica Heims won gold for track and field in Peru.

Football

The semester started with the Panther football taking the then No. 21 Iowa State Cyclones wire-to-wire in a 29-26 overtime thriller. Although the Panthers fell short, they moved on to an 8-4 regular season record, followed by taking down No. 10 retake a 55-53 lead. Coming down the final stretch, the game remained close with the two teams trading off the lead ten times before A.J. Green hit a clutch three-pointer with one minute left to play, tying the game at 76. As Colorado took the ball down the court, Spencer Haldeman came up with a big steal that resulted in a layup to put the UNI ahead 78-76 with 45 seconds remaining. The Panthers were able to finish off their night with a 79-76 upset over Colorado, the Panthers first win over a ranked team since 2016. Additionally, with basketball legend Bill Walton calling the game, the team had the coveted opportunity to meet the two-time NBA champion and ter Megan Maahs with eight points each. Creighton outscored UNI by three points in the first quarter and by one point in the second to take a 32-28 lead heading into halftime. The third quarter saw the Purple and Gold outscore the Blue Jays 18-7, taking a 46-39 lead into the final frame. However, the home advantage helped Creighton bounce back and hold UNI to just eight points in the South Dakota State to move to the quarterfinals. After grinding out a 13-10 upset over the Jackrabbits, UNI has a showdown with No. 2 James Madison set for Friday night on ESPN2 with the possibility of rain in the forecast. “Let it rain, we’ve dealt with seeds [not receiving a seed], we’ve dealt with snow, so let it rain,” head coach Mark Farley said. “We’re all having fun just to be here.”

Volleyball

After a slow start, Panther volleyball heated up for a final record of 24-11 and 17-1 in conference play. Following hosting the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, the Panther women received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers received the coveted opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages, but ultimately fell to the University of Missouri. Nonetheless, the 2019 season was one for the record books with head coach Bobbi Petersen elapsing 500 career wins, and becoming the alltime wins leader in UNI volley

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

former MVP. There was plenty of quality entertainment for Panther fans, such as Walton’s fascination with Panthers, saying, “Panthers can jump 20 feet from trees.” There were also many other memorable quotes like, “Austin Phyfe, not to be fourth. The Blue Jays ended the game on a 12-0 run, leading to a hard-fought 57-54 victory. The win moved the Blue Jays to 7-2 on the year and dropped the Panthers to 5-3, losing their third straight game after a 5-0 start. The Panther women bounced back in a big way on Tuesday night against another Omaha opponent— the University of NebraskaOmaha. Four Panthers ball history, passing her former coach Iradge Ahrabi-Fard’s record of 503 wins.

Men’s basketball

The 2019-20 Panthers are off to a hot start at 9-1 after recently taking down No. 23 Colorado 79-76 on the road. For their upset and 9-1 record, the Panthers were on Sportscenter and cracked college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman’s top 25 ranking, coming in at No. 25. The Panthers continue this memorable season after visiting the Colosseum in Rome this summer, playing in Cancun recently and taking down a top 25 team.

Women’s basketball

The Panther women got off to a 5-0 start after a big 78-73 road win against Missouri and an 88-66 rout of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Panthers now sit at 6-3 after playing in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving and recently dominating Omaha 81-45.

Wrestling

After crowning their first national champion since 2001 in Drew Foster, the “Panther Train” is looking to win a team

confused with Barney [Fife],” “Ben Jacobson is outstanding” and “Northern Iowa’s fantastic.” Up next, UNI will enjoy the heat in Phoenix, Ariz., taking on Grand Canyon University on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Panthers go 1-1 in Nebraska against Creighton, UNO

on ESPN3. scored in double figures on the night, led by Rucker’s 19 points. UNI also shot 51 percent from the field, and held UNO to only 29 percent shooting and just 41 points overall en route to an 81-45 domination. The Panthers will return home on Sunday, Dec. 15 against IUPUI before playing their next four games on the road with Missouri Valley Conference play starting Jan.

SEMESTER IN REVIEW Semester recap: White House visit, HOF, playoff runs and more

Sports Editor

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

3 at Drake University.

Courtesy Photo/RANDY PUGH

title this season. Seeing Foster become one of 10 national champions and visiting the White House for his historic achievement serves as valiant motivation for the 2019-20 Panthers. Looking forward, Panther football looks to make it to the FCS semi-finals, No. 13 UNI wrestling seeks another strong season, along with Arch and March Madness on the horizon for both UNI basketball programs and much more.

DECEMBER 12, 2019 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27 SUDOKU ONE SUDOKU TWO

Finals are coming up. Take a deep breath & try to relax. Use this to color some stress away!

CROSSWORD

Across

1 Super silly 6 Gum balls, e.g. 10 Surgery memento 14 “Once more!” 15 MLB family name 16 Voice mail signal 17 Result of overexposure in the field? 19 “Yeah, that’ll never happen” 20 Actress Mendes 21 Brewpub orders 22 Fencing blades 23 Blitz by a linebacker 26 Ill-fated Ford 28 Result of carelessness in a locker room? 33 Hot rod 36 Cellist with multiple Grammys 37 Sales pro 38 Picks from a lineup 40 Champagne label word 41 Sighing contentedly 45 Salve 49 Result of excessive practice in calligraphy class? 51 Cloud, as of gnats 52 Title Mozart valet who married Susanna 56 “__ Health”: Quiet Riot album 58 Hops hot spot 61 Laundry hamper 62 Greek Cupid 63 Occupational concerns such as 17-, 28- and 49-Across 66 Balmy 67 Free speech org. 68 Sampler wisdom 69 Eyelid irritation 70 “That’s enough” 71 Dancer cohort 4 Second-oldest Kardashian sister 5 Formula __ auto racing 6 Winged stinger 7 Ski resort near Snowbird 8 Complete one exercise segment 9 Space heater? 10 Utterly shock 11 Grow slack, as a poorly tied knot 12 Novelist Tyler 13 Classic autos 18 “Correctomundo!” 22 Standard Oil brand 24 Former U.N. leader Hammarskjöld 25 NFL periods forced by ties 27 Susan of “L.A. Law” 29 Hawaiian garland 30 Triage MD 31 Portent 32 Diplomat’s need 33 “Do I need to __ you a map?” 34 Fanny 35 Difficult H.S. class covering U.S. or world events 39 Round Table title 42 “I’m the culprit” 43 “Cryptonomicon” novelist Stephenson 44 Dog’s “I’m warning you!” 46 ‘90s trade pact 47 “Yuck, tell someone else!” 48 Fuel efficiency stat 50 Kiss 53 The “A” in James A. Garfield 54 Narrow hilltop 55 Initial stage 56 Kitty cries 57 Middle proof word 59 Fit 60 Avoid like the plague 63 Uppercut target 64 Efron of “Baywatch” (2017) 65 Hubbub

Puzzle answers on page 8

DECEMBER 12, 2019 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 116, ISSUE 27

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