CAMPUS LIFE

DECEMBER 2, 2021 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 118, ISSUE 26 We are thankful for films

HUNTER FRIESEN

Film Critic

Thanksgiving is always a time of year where we celebrate gratitude, something that we don’t do enough these days. As a film critic, I share as much of the blame as everybody else. My process usually consists of watching a film, passing judgment on it, and then moving on to the next thing. It’s an all-consuming routine that doesn’t leave any room for taking a step back and seeing the bigger picture. So, in an effort to absolve my past sins, I’ve written about what I am thankful for in the five films I saw over Thanksgiving break.

I’m thankful that the rest of the cast of “House of Gucci” was able to save the film from Jared Leto’s terrible performance. It’s mind-boggling that his offensively bad turn as Paolo Gucci is netting some serious Oscar buzz, especially compared to the great work by his fellow castmates. Ridley Scott (who’s having a great 2021 with this and “The Last Duel”), mounts the film with the self-seriousness one would expect, which may disappoint those looking for a bit of eccentricity. No matter, the sprawling story of love, power, and betrayal is handsomely crafted and engaging, with Lady Gaga proving that her performance in “A Star Is Born” was not a stroke of beginner’s luck.

I’m thankful for Will Smith’s electric performance in “King Richard,” which saves the film from being just your average sports biopic. The story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams has to include their father, Richard Williams, who could be viewed as either a parent pushing his children to be the best or a tyrant that used others to place himself in the spotlight. The film takes the stance of the former, which could be guessed based on the title and Smith’s producing credit. But the lack of a complicated take on the character doesn’t detract from what Smith accomplished on-screen, which will surely net him his long-overdue Oscar. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene Williams, who holds her own as she goes toe-to-toe with Smith in the harder-hitting scenes.

I’m thankful that LinManuel Miranda gave musical theatre fans their version of “Avengers: Endgame.” After years performing and writing songs for films, the “Hamilton” creator has stepped into the director’s chair for “Tick, Tick… Boom!” which tells the tragically short life story of Broadway writer/composer Jonathan Larson. Miranda has stacked his cast with a bevy of Broadway talents, many of which go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Andrew Garfield leads the pack as Larson, bringing panicked energy as he attempts to jumpstart his career with a show that’s consumed most of his life. By depicting the turbulent creative process, Miranda has made a film that is a love letter to all those that have poured their hearts and souls into their work.

I’m thankful to Kenneth Branagh for utilizing the pandemic to direct his first great film in 25 years. The famed British thespian took quarantine as an opportunity to write and direct “Belfast,” his autobiography about his upbringing in the titular city during the 1960s. Despite being about a specific time and place, Branagh’s film tells a universal story with sweet simplicity. There’s true passion behind every frame and performance. It’s not a perfect film, but it hits nearly every emotional beat it sets out to accomplish, with much of the credit going to the incredible cast, especially the discovery of the young Jude Hill.

I’m thankful to Pablo Larraín and Kristen Stewart for revamping the biopic genre with “Spencer.” For those that are fans of “The Crown” and the usual crop of English royalty biopics (“Elizabeth,” “The Queen,” “The King’s Speech”), “Spencer” will be quite the wild ride. Opting for claustrophobic camerawork and a haunting score by Jonny Greenwood, Larraín’s chamber piece tracks Princess Diana’s ungodly struggle to survive for three days on holiday with the royal family. Stewart may as well have written her Oscar acceptance speech along with preparing for this role, as there isn’t an ounce of her presence in this truly transformative performance.

Courtesy / Tribune News Service

Film critic Hunter Friensen reflects on what he is thankful for within films.

FROM THE NI ARCHIVES New Commons to be ready for fall term Rooms are planned to give atmosphere of home

Editors Note: This article was originally printed Aug. 18, 1933 in the College Eye. New and old students arriving on the campus this fall will be the first to enjoy facilities of what will probably be the finest and most completely equipped student recreational building in the country. The newly completed Commons building which is to be ready for occupancy September 11, is the result of months of intensive planning on the part of administrators, and experts in the field of architecture and interior decoration and furnishings.

The building is a two-story structure of red brick with stone trim, 160 feet long and 115 feet wide. It is located south and west and is joined to the west wing of Bartlett hall, women’s dormitory. Looking at the building from the south, the new student will see a low, artistic structure which has along its face a terrace with tiled floor and wrought iron railings.At the center, directly over the first floor and opening out from the large student lounge on the second floor, he will see a balcony sixteen feet wide and 150 feet in length. The new structure, which is expected to become the central gathering place and recreational headquarters for all students, both men and women, has as its central unit a sequence of two expansive rooms. The very heart of the building is this unit composed of the student lounge, main lobby, recreation hall, and the mezzanine lounge.

The huge recreation hall is 49 feet wide and 90 feet long, and is designed for spacious comfort and beauty. It will be the center of college life during the coming years, and will be scene of many a student program of entertainment. At one end of the room is a stage with entrances from the outside hall. This stage is to be used for many formal and informal activities.

Decorative color effects such as have already delighted the eyes of students on the campus during the summer and are bringing exclamations of praise from all who see them are one of the outstanding features of the new structure. Walls of ivory with antique effect, modernistic silver leaf scroll effects overhead, and doors and woodwork of graduated colors from blue to old rose to deep mahogany red are the characteristics of the main recreational hall. These colors picked up in the draperies of the room are carried over in matching tones in the main lobby which in turn has its color characteristics graduated to harmonize with those of the main student lounge. The large lobby is to be richly carpeted and formally furnished. Above is the mezzanine floor with tiny balconies overlooking the recreation hall on one side and the student lounge on the other. Both the main lobby and the mezzanine have hardwood floors to match those of the recreation hall and can be easily cleared of furniture to facilitate overflow crowds at dances on special occasions.

Adjoining the lobby on the side opposite from the recreation hall is a large student lounge. This room, 21 by 75 feet, with a huge fireplace of either end, carries out aGeorgian architectural scheme of decoration. Green walls and old ivory woodwork, green damask draperies simply hung against the ivory of the woodwork and the lighter green of the walls, and the same colors picked up in chair coverings, carpet designs, wall hanging, floor screens, and Georgian mirrors over the two fireplaces are all planned to give the lounge the character of a formal but comfortable living room.  See COMMONS, page 5

Courtesy / Rod Library

The Commons opened on Sept. 10, 1933. This article features the new facility.

COMMONS

continued from page 4 The planning of the furniture in the student lounge has been arranged in such way as to provide different center of recreational activity. In one corner will be open book shelves with comfortable chairs, arranged around the huge fireplaces at either end to form two other units. Still other groupings will be those for music, cards, writing and tea.

French doors open out from the main lounge onto the terrace which looks directly south to the campanile and is connected by another door to the fountain room. At this end of the terrace, in mild weather, will be painted steel furniture and gay sun umbrellas where students may gather.

The main entrance to the building from the southeast and north leads through a hallway to either the second floor and the social rooms or to the lower floor where the dining rooms are located.

On the main floor is a lounge for women faculty members, with a small kitchenette adjoining where tea preparations may be carried on. This spacious room reverts to the classical in decoration, with informal draperies and furniture giving the room a unique character.

The faculty men are also to have a lounge located on the main floor. The knotty pine paneled walls and the decorations of this room will form the background for heavy oak furniture of a masculine type upholstered in clear tones of red, green, brown, and blue leather. These tones in turn are reflected in the colors of the carpet and draperies.

A small lounge on this floor will furnish the intimate atmosphere for college organizations and guests of the college organizations and guests of the college who may wish the privacy of a room of this type for various gatherings.

Two activities rooms, one decorated and especially arranged for groups of women students, and the other especially outfitted for meetings of men’s organizations, are located one at each end of the mezzanine lobby on the second floor. The activity room for women’s organizations is to be furnished in maple, whereas the furniture for the men’s room will be antique oak.

The east wing of the building is devoted to an administrative unit composed of offices for the Women’s League, Student Council, and those who will administer the social program. Here, in addition, are located the post office and telephone exchange for those who live on the campus. In the east and west wings on the main floor are suites of retiring rooms for men and women. Here, too, are rest rooms and check rooms for guests.

Dining rooms at either end of the first floor will accommodate dormitory girls to the extent of making it possible for the to carry on a program of social education in connection with the dinner meal. Faculty dining room add a guest dining room, each seating 50, and tastily decorated are so located that they can be reached not only from the lounge on the floor above, but directly from the outside as well.

DECEMBER 2, 2021 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 118, ISSUE 26

Courtesy/ Rod Library

In 1966 UNI enclosed the south terrace of the Commons. The work included enclosing and extending the south terrace, connecting three dining rooms and installling a new kitchen.

Finals destressing activities

NI Archives

As the end of the semester comes closer that means finals. If you’re feeling stressed UNI Student Wellness Services has your back with de-stressing activities. The activities this semester will be hosted in the Maucker Union Ballrooms Dec. 6-8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, puzzles, inspirational rocks, coloring, animals and a labyrinth.