Volume 54, Issue 15 January 31, 2020 advocate-online.net
FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS
MHCC addresses the Iran conflict PAGE 2
Pens: a fountain of beauty PAGE 3
'Circles' marks the end PAGE 6
THE LIFE OF BRYANT PAGES 4-5
'Just Mercy' recieves a good verdict PAGE 7
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NEWS | OPINION
A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T
ARE WE HEADED TO WAR WITH IRAN? Chloe Collins The Advocate
It’s an urgent question: Are the United States and Iran headed to war? According to MHCC political science instructor Tom Scales, the answer is “no.” During another Historian’s Roundtable on Thursday, Jan. 30, several Mt. Hood instructors broke down the current conflict between the US and Iran. Tensions between powerful countries have always existed, and will exist, as long as the human race. However, Scales performed a cost-and-benefit analysis, and after boiling the situation down to five main issues, said he does not believe it will escalate to a war. The five reasons he lists: Self-Preservation: Iran does not want the regime change that could happen if it goes to war.
Regional Stability: Iran is currently one of the more powerful countries in the Middle East, and a war might disrupt that status quo. Regional Supremacy and Dominance: Iran has had more influence in other countries, as of late (Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, for example). Splitting its focus to worry about a war would not benefit those interests. Domestic Political Support: Concerning the U.S. tensions, the Iranian government has received a lot of backlash from citizens. The country’s leaders are striving to maintain a good public image with their people and keep them on board with the nation’s bigger moves. Ideological Aspects: Iran has been working toward less western influence in the country for a long time. A big part of getting rid of that influence is for the U.S. to withdraw
some of the troops it has had there for a long time. That will not happen if Iran goes to war with the U.S. Another important thing to remember, noted during the discussion by Sustainability, Health & Safety instructor Javid Mohtasham, whose family comes from Iran, is that the Iranian people do not hate Americans. As U.S. citizens, we see the propaganda fed to other countries for what it is, but somehow we miss the propaganda that is fed to us in order to keep us on board with our own country’s presumed agenda. If you have time, I would highly recommend watching Rick Steves’ ‘Trip to Iran” on PBS. The government of Iran and the government of the United States might have some things to sort out, but Iran people are humans, just like us. They are not our enemies.
THE RED CROSS COMES TO MHCC
Laura J. Clement The Advocate
January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American National Red Cross hosted a blood drive at MHCC on MondayTuesday, Jan. 27-28. Donating blood is an honorable thing to do, and the Mt. Hood event drew more than six dozen participants. The final numbers, from Beth St. James, account manager for the Red Cross: 73 donors who came to the Student Union produced 60 units of blood (13 donors were “deferred”), enough to help 180 hospital patients. (Each pint of blood donated can be used for up to three people.) While first-time donors may have some anxiety, the process is pretty simple. Donors are checked
in, and their health history is taken – including vital signs at the time – to make sure they have sufficient iron, blood pressure, etc. It takes 8-12 minutes to collect a pint of blood, St. James said. Afterward, snacks/beverages are supplied, including water, to help replenish calories and fluids. MHCC donors also were offered a free T-shirt for contributing. Some important rules, per the Red Cross, for anyone interested in donating in the future: A donor must be at least 17 years old (or age 16, with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Any healthy person can donate blood after waiting at least 56 days, the time needed to replenish blood levels in the donor’s body. A leading benefit administrator
and healthcare risk management company, BRMS (Benefit and Risk Management Services) also presents this interesting information in their blog: • 5 million: the number of Americans that need a blood transfusion each year • 43,000 pints: the amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada • Someone needs blood every 2 seconds • Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood • There are health benefits to donating blood, such as good health; reduced risk of cancer and hemochromatosis; reducing the risk of damage to the liver and pancreas; improved cardiovascular health; and obesity reduction.
for the students by the students Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins
Sports Editor [Position Open]
Associate Editor Omar Saradi
Opinion Editors Omar Saradi
News Editor Chris Barney Arts & Entertainment Editors Kurt Larson Eli Rankin
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Photo Team Bethy Fallgren Landon Spady Fletcher Wold
STALKING AWARENESS MONTH
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Cherilyn Nederhiser
Lead Public Safety Officer, MHCC Public Safety Department January 2020 marks the 16th anniversary of National Stalking Awareness Month. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, rates of stalking among college students are higher than in the general population. Over half of female victims and a third of male victims are stalked before the age of 25. People of any gender can be stalked. More than 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men will be stalked in their lifetime. Stalkers usually target people they know, acquaintances, family members, ex-romantic partners, or sometimes, total strangers. Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior (course of conduct) directed at a specific person that causes fear. Many stalking victims experience being followed, harassed or the subject of vicious rumors, nasty texts or emails. They can receive unwanted gifts, be monitored or threatened, using various forms of GPS technology, and some even have their accounts hacked. Yet, despite the numbers,
due to the terrible psychological and emotional impacts victims experience, many fail to report it. Victims are constantly looking over their shoulders, feeling alone, scared and vulnerable. This does not need to happen! Stalking is a crime in Oregon, and in all 50 states, but it can be difficult to recognize and connect the dots when the events appear to be singular in nature. The reality is, the vast majority of victims tell friends or family about the stalking, first. Therefore, we all have a role to play in identifying stalking, intervening when necessary and supporting victims and survivors. If you know of anyone being stalked, on or off campus, and in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. If you want more information, or need help, please contact the MHCC Counseling Department at 503-491-7432 (Room 1152 on the Gresham campus) or the MHCC Public Safety Department, 503-4917310 (Room 2330). Learn more at: https://www. stalkingawareness.org/ Let’s stop stalking in its tracks. And, remember: If you see something, say something.
Eli Rankin | The Advocate
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OPINION
JANUARY 31, 2020
THE LOST ART OF FOUNTAIN PEN WRITING
Brad Le
The Advocate Few people in the United States are ever exposed to fountain pens, but they stand as a tool that is especially useful for students. Of course, in the day of technological convenience, it is strange to suggest putting an abnormal effort investing into what may seem to be an anachronistic tool. However, studies continue to support the suggestion that handwriting improves memory. And most importantly, it is still a good idea to brush up on the use of tactile writing, as opposed to typing. But what, really, is a fountain pen? Simply, a pen that has a reservoir of ink, is refillable, and generally uses
water-based inks as opposed to the oil-based inks that ballpoints use today. Historically, the first pens were quill pens, which required an animal quill (feather) and a bottle of ink at the ready. The problem was that while the quill was the primary tool of nonverbal communication, it was inconvenient to carry both the ink bottle and the quill. This led to the invention of the fountain pen. Over time, the fountain pen became the standard that people would use until BiC introduced the BiC Cristal – one of the bestselling pens of all time. Fountain pens are best known as the predecessor to the current ballpoint pens that most people know, and use, today. While most people might recognize the fountain pen as a “calligraphy pen,” it is technically incorrect to refer to a fountain pen as a calligraphy pen, as the nib (metallic writing tip found on all pens) of calligraphy pens are disposable, and don’t use water-based inks. If fountain pens are so good, you might ask, why were
they replaced? In short, it is because fountain pens do have disadvantages. First, they are less than ideal for air travel as the rising air pressure causes the pen to leak. Second, because they are refillable, fountain pens are seldom designed to be disposable. This can cause problems if the user carrying one is prone to losing pens, and because they have higher upfront costs. Lastly, it is important to keep the cap in the pen when not using it, as the ink dries up even faster – especially compared to ballpoints. While fountain pen advocates will say there are specific models designed to counter one of the three disadvantages, they are either expensive – even among fountain pens – and lack variety. Of course, with the disadvantages also come other advantages. While the upfront fountain pen costs are higher than ballpoint pens, inks for fountain pens are very affordable and downright cheap, especially if bought
in bottles. A luxury bottle of fountain pen ink (example: Pilot Iroshizuku) costs 20 cents per refill, while a more affordable brand (example: Noodler’s Inks) costs almost 7 cents per refill. In contrast, a cartridge refill for Pilot G2s (No. 1-selling pen in the U.S.) costs $1.50 per refill – an 8 times difference between a luxury bottle of ink and a ballpoint cartridge. There also is a wider variety of ink colors, from classic black and blue inks to exotic yellows. browns, and grays, all up to your discretion. In addition to colors, fountain pen inks can have special properties – from improved water resistance, inks with glitter, inks that shine only under UV light, to laserproof (Yes: laserproof!) qualities. Lastly, fountain pens can accommodate many writing preferences. Do you prefer a finer, or broader, line? A smooth pen or a tactile pen? A large pen or a small pen? Fountain pens can accomodate all of those choices. And because fountain pens use water-based inks, even midpriced fountain pens have a
On the cover: A collage of web photos taken at different stages of Kobe Bryant’s lifetime.
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smoother flow than the most expensive ballpoints can achieve. To summarize, I believe that most students would stand to benefit from what a fountain pen offers. Its longterm cost effectiveness and ability to match an individual’s writing preferences means that the experience of handwriting improves notably for those willing to commit the time to understanding how to use one. If you are a student who does not fly regularly, are not prone to losing your items, and can remember to keep the cap on your pen when using it, then a fountain pen may be good choice for you, as the advantages are most likely useful for your lifestyle.
The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.
Gage Linhares Broadcast editor Gage Linhares is the lead editor for the Advocate’s broadcast section. His passion for music keeps him motivated and on the lookout for new sounds. He is a proud, first-year MHCC broadcast student who will be a part of the last graduating class before the program is phased out. An aspiring sound engineer, he is dead set on doing whatever it takes until his goals are met.
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NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
AMERICA SAYS GOODBYE TO THE GOLDEN #24 Parrish Chang
People are pointing fingers and blaming the National Transportation Board (NTSB). Sunday morning at 9:45, However, they retorted saying America lost one of the greatest that the incident was on the pilot. athletes of all time. Whenever there is a a VFR case Kobe Bryant, whose NBA career it then lies on the pilot to make a lasted 20 seasons, died Sunday at 41 judgement if the flight is safe or not years of age, along with eight other Even if everyone didn’t watch people. He was a small forward and basketball, they knew who Kobe point guard for the L.A. Lakers who Bryant was, and most knew of retired in 2016 and until recently his story as he gained fame in the held the third-place record for NBA. The day after he died, it the most career points scored seemed as if the country as a in NBA history. whole took time to mourn for Bryant and his No. 24 the man it had lost. Bryant was jersey became an inspiration to a family man and would often athletes around the globe, and put others before himself, said others, due to his work ethic those who knew them, adding and story of reaching the top. to the hurt. The details of his death By Wednesday, the talk of and the crash are still being planning a memorial service investigated by the Federal began between his family and Bureau of Investigations. city and Laker officials, looking On Sunday morning, at many options. They believe Bryant and his 13-year-old so many people from L.A., and daughter, Gianna, departed from across the country, will from the Catholic church that want to attend this service, they attended to take her to the the Staples Center where Kobe Mamba Academy basketball played so many years isn’t big camp that he had co-founded. enough – there is talk of an They took the helicopter that outdoor stadium ceremony. Bryant often used which was No firm plans were set by often flown by Ara Zobayan. press time for The Advocate, There were eight passengers Web photo but details are expected soon. total, including local college First responders sift throught the wreckage of the helicopter crash that claimed nine lives on Sunday. Meantime, the Portland baseball coach John Altobelli, Trail Blazers will play in Staples his wife, Keri, and his basketball to manually use the instruments said he kept saying to himself, “Get not killed from the explosion of the tonight (7 p.m. on ESPN) against playing daughter, Alyssa; mother in the aircraft they are piloting. some altitude” while following helicopter. If they were destined the Lakers, taking the court for the and daughter Sarah and Peyton Although Zobayan had held a the sound of the helicopter for 20 to die it was lucky that they died first time since the tragedy. It will be Chester; and Mamba Academy commercial flight license since seconds until the sounds stopped. a quick and painless death rather another emotional event. coach Christina Mauser. They were 2007, he had not obtained clearance The sound of fiberglass shattering then perishing from the explosion.
The Advocate
flying over Burbank, California, where the foothills surrounding Los Angeles get higher than normal. The pilot stopped and hovered due to a dense fog that was in the area. It was so thick that the L.A. police called for all their helicopters to land. After hovering for 12 minutes, Zobayan decided to continue with Bryant’s flight. When pilots face fog and weather that hinders vision, the are required
to fly under instrument flight rules. And although he had clearance that morning to fly around Burbank and Van Nuys, he was not given blanket clearance to fly farther through the fog. A local resident later told reporters that he heard the helicopter and began to wonder what a copter was doing in this thick fog and why it was so low. Being the father of a pilot, the man
filled his ears as the engine fell silent. After the resident reported the crash, first responders were able to get near the crash site; however, due to the resulting fire it took them longer than expected to reach the wreckage. There were no survivors, and soon, the news would cause devastation across the country. The cause of death for all 9 of the victims was head trauma and were
LOCAL BALLERS RESPOND TO THE TRAGEDY “I THINK EVERY PLAYER WILL BE AFFECTED BY IT. EVERYBODY WILL DEAL WITH IT IN THEIR OWN WAY. KOBE, WHETHER HE WAS A PEER OR A CONTEMPORARY, LIKE HE WAS WITH TREVOR (ARIZA) OR CARMELO (ANTHONY) OR HE’S AN IDOL OR AN ICON TO SOME OF OUR YOUNGER PLAYERS, HIS IMPACT WILL BE FELT BY EVERYBODY.” – TERRY STOTTS, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS HEAD COACH PA G E 4
KOBE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MOTIVATION. EVEN JUST MATCHING HIS INTENSITY.”MHCC’S DAVION STRINGER. “I GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA AND PLAYED A LOT OF GAMES TRYING TO BE LIKE KOBE.”MHCC’S JAHVILLE COLLINS.
“IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKES YOU SICK TO YOUR STOMACH. IT’S BIGGER THAN JUST OUR HEROES AND PEOPLE WE LOOK UP TO DYING. IT’S DEEPER THAN THAT. IT’S PAINFUL.” – DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
EDITORIAL
JANUARY 31, 2020
KOBE’S IMPACT AND HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON Kobe Bryant left his mark on the game of basketball, a mark that reaches around the globe and into every country. To say that he was a basketball player, or even an Olympic athlete, is selling him short. He was a superhero for a whole generation that wanted to be as great as he was. In his long and triumphant career, Kobe stayed with just one team: the Los Angeles Lakers. His dedication to the franchise and his winning mentality is a rare trait that m o s t players try to imitate. If you w e r e n ’ t a fan of his during his career, it’s most likely because he was always winning and beating the team you were rooting for. But when he announced his retirement from basketball, that was the moment every sports fan collectively agreed that he was a rare breed and his that impact on the game transcends basketball. He was a once-in-ageneration athlete, and we may never see another cultural icon as great as him, K o b e Bryant whether it’s the player or the person.
The most tragic fact of Kobe’s passing was that he was only in the beginning of his post-retirement career. He had just won an Oscar for
a n
animated movie based on his love for basketball, and he started the Mamba Sports Academy that trains adults and children in sports and athletics – this is where Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, played, and where their helicopter was headed on Sunday. Kobe’s second career
was being a family man and a mentor to his daughters, and to other NBA players and athletes across all different sports, all over the world. Looking back on it, the entire world saw a teenager come out of high school and into the big leagues, then we saw him cement a place of g re at ne ss within the sport he loved, and then watched as he played until his body gave out. His No. 24 has been a symbol that all young athletes follow, or know. The number is a motivator to say that anyone can make it in the sports industry if they work hard enough; the road to his stardom was never easy. We were supposed to see something similar with Gianna; Kobe was going to be her mentor and she was going to do great things of her own. She wanted to carry on his legacy in
the WNBA (women’s professional league) and create one of her own, and he was enthusiastic about it. In sum, Kobe was one of America’s greatest celebrities and his influence has touched the hearts of many and he is the reason why we have some of the NBA players we do now. He started a movement for the young athletes, and he gave them hope for their futures. Even if you weren’t a sports fan, you knew who Kobe Bryant was – you have, at least, shouted “Kobe!” when trying to throw a scrap of paper into a trash can. This is one of the biggest deaths America has gone
through in a while. Death is one of the only things that are certain in life, as it does not discriminate, but Kobe’s seemed different. The Monday after his accident, the country took a collective moment of silence for the legend we lost that day. He died at age 41, and his daughter, at age 13. And so the final message he had sent us was to live your life to the fullest, because it could end at any time, in a flash. Live your life how you want and live with no regrets. If you want to do something, then do it, or work until you can it if it’s currently out of reach. Life is short and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Live every day as if it were your last.
“THE LAST MESSAGE KOBE HAD SENT US WAS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST, BECAUSE IT COULD END AT ANY TIME, IN A FLASH.’’
Eli Rankin | The Advocate
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‘CIRCLES’: MAC MILLER’S FAREWELL GIFT Omar Carrillo The Advocate
Two years after his death by overdose in 2018, acclaimed artist Mac Miller’s unreleased last project, “Circles,” has finally been released. To say the anticipation was great is quite the understatement. It has been understood for some time now that Circles would, at last, continue Miller’s project-spanning vision that began with the release of “Swimming,” his fifth studio album, which debuted just over a month before his untimely passing – the idea being a multiple-part musical experience: “Swimming in Circles.” This reality of an artist never being able to fully appreciate their complete work only serves to make the truth even more tragic and more important for the 26-year old rapper/singer’s admirers. Knowing that Circles has finally come presents itself with quite a bittersweet understanding, for a couple of reasons. For one, apparently Circles was not meant to be the concluding chapter to this saga. It was meant to be a middle act in a proposed trilogy of records, the ending to that trilogy being one we will never truly get to hear. It is also impactful to listen to
Circles and slowly come to accept that Miller’s voice has officially reached its limit, purely substancewise. All that we have of his work (unreleased or otherwise) is what there will ever be. There will never be new verses of impressive wordplay or honest introspection. No new, creative wellsprings from behind an iconic smile. Circles is a sad play-through for these reasons and for others more straightforward. It contains some of the more painfully direct and solemn lyrics Miller has spoken behind a microphone, and has a production style often melancholy sonically. Having the hindsight of knowing just how his story ends makes many moments on the album that much more heartbreaking. It is uncanny and so unfortunate how well he often seems to foreshadow his own passing and its circumstance. “Some people say they want to live forever, that’s way too long, I’ll just get through today,” he writes on the second track, “Complicated.” It should be acknowledged that while Circles is indeed one of the more touching works in Miller’s discography, it is also arguably the least directly raunchy and unhinged.
It brings into question just how much of his true intent was realized, after all. Could he have intended this? Certainly. Likely, even. But one must remember that ultimately his recordings were compiled by colleagues and loved ones, not Miller himself, and they theoretically may have had a different view of what they wanted his legacy to be. Something to consider, at least. It also should be said that Circles feel noticeably less diverse in song structure and style from track to track than what has been present in Miller’s other albums. Perhaps this was a sacrifice made to better emphasize its emotional cohesion. Regardless, Circles has done its creator incredible justice, indeed. Though a departure from his usual rap-focused vocal delivery, it doesn’t make this delivery any less impactful and it doesn’t make it feel any less legitimate, either. Circles is a Mac Miller artwork, through-and-through. Something that offers more to love for a devotee, yet also a delightful and welcome surprise, is a concept so hard to come by, but it is here. And how lucky are we indeed to feel him here, still, even after all this time.
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4 out of 5 stars
GETTING A HANDLE ON THE BEAST OF ANXIETY
Ash Espinoza The Advocate
Have you ever been overwhelmed or stressed out by something that should be minimal but it just feels like it’s seconds away from causing you to panic? Had trouble sleeping, even though you constantly feel exhausted or drained of all energy? I have, and it’s not fun at all. Whether we know it or PA G E 6
not, we have felt some type of anxiety. Maybe it’s sweaty palms before you’re supposed to give a presentation, constantly worrying over nothing or even a sudden bout of irritation that comes out of nowhere. Anxiety: It seems like such a small word but that word holds so much tension and meaning behind it. When some people hear it they automatically recoil, as if just the word alone will cause the world to implode. Yes, at times it can feel like, or even be, a scary word but in reality it’s a part of our vocabulary; even if every one of us has not dealt with it, we all know someone who has. “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have
recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns.” (source: American Psychology Association.) If you do have anxiety or feel like you might, here are a few tips in order to pull yourself from the brink of either a full-blown attack or causing yourself enough mental stress that you end up with a migraine: • Take a deep breath. For me it’s the best way to slowly calm my racing heart and thoughts, especially for those moments when I feel like I’m overwhelmed. • Listen to music. I always keep my earbuds within arm’s reach because sometimes a deep breath doesn’t work and the beat of the song helps me focus my mind and slowly I can pull back into reality. • Drink cold liquids. A cold glass of water can bring you back to reality more than you think it can. It’s almost like a beacon, the
chill taking you by surprise and refocusing your brain. • Meditate. Now, this is for the moments where it’s not as bad, but that doesn’t mean your anxiety attack is good!. Meditation is a good way to make you focus on something other than the problem, and to relax your muscles and your mind. •Take a nap. This isn’t the most extreme way of handling it, but it’s a start in my eyes, for me an attack can often leave me feeling dead on my feet and just mentally drained. So, a nap really helps when I can get one in. A bonus that also helps me is I’ll either push in my earbuds or switch on my speaker and turn on YouTube, then put on heavy thunderstorm sounds as relaxing background noise. It works really well and I definitely recommend it! • Share. If all else fails, talking to a trusted friend or adult is
always a good option. I’ve learned that sometimes talking about it can help rid myself of the stress, and working together, a solution can be found . Anxiety isn’t fun, by any means, and often it can cause people to close in on themselves and exclude them from situations of all kinds. But it does and will get better, with time. It’s not instant improvement, but it does get better. I hope these tips can do someone good. Even if you don’t have anxiety these tips are still good to follow in order to maintain good mental health for yourselves and those around you. Never let your mind tell you that it’s okay to stress and panic over any situation, because your mental health is just as important as your physical health and you are truly important!
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JANUARY 31, 2020
‘JUST MERCY’ LEAVES POWERFUL IMPACT Daniella Young The Advocate
I remember watching the trailer of the movie “Just Mercy” and instantly wanting to see it. At first glance, it looked like a really powerful and impactful movie. It’s a drama, based on a true story that outlines the life of lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who fights for the rights of innocent African Americans who are wrongly convicted of crimes and facing death row. The movie portrays Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan) as a noble and strong individual who doesn’t give up, even when the going gets tough. This film really made me think about law enforcement and how accurate or inaccurate evidence or a witness’s testimony can be sometimes. I had never really thought about how strongly this can influence whether someone ends up convicted, or not. Stevenson also founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization in Montgomery, Alabama, that assists prisoners who may have been convicted of a crime wrongfully and provides legal representation. He had the goal of promoting justice in the legal system and doing everything in his power to free those who are wrongly
convicted. The movie outlines the story of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) and how he was wrongly convicted of the murder of 18-yearold Ronda Morrison and sentenced to death
because of his testimony. After multiple trials and attempts to get a retrial, McMillian is at last granted a new trial by the state supreme court, and the charges are dropped. He had been on death row for six
row in the 1988 trial, primarily based on the false testimony of a witness, Ralph Myers. Myers claimed that he saw McMillian commit the crime; the movie hints that officers and law enforcement influenced him, since he received a lighter sentence for his own crime
years. In Stevenson’s plea for McMillian in this last trial, he emphasizes that the evidence held against the defendant isn’t supported, and there is little confirmation that he committed this crime. We also see there are witnesses
who were with McMillian (elsewhere) during the time and day of the crime. This is an emotional and heartfelt film, and it showcases the feelings of McMillian and his family as they go through these experiences. I also enjoyed the costumes and set designs in the film. They were well chosen and connected to the scenes and real-life events that took place. Just Mercy also reminded me of the civil rights movement and how that was a tough time in history for African Americans. Although there have been many positive developments over the years, there are still improvements that can be made. This movie’s ending is inspiring, but the events that take place were tragic and unfortunate.
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5 out of 5 stars
‘THE GENTLEMEN’ DEALS WITH THE DEVIL’S LETTUCE Kurt Larson The Advocate It’s 2020, and everyone’s favorite Tarentino wannabe is back at it with yet another action-comedy, crimethriller film. Presumably tired of working on live-action Disney remakes and questionable retellings of popular children’s stories, Guy Ritchie has returned to tread on his favorite stomping grounds with his latest movie, “The Gentlemen.” Of course, if Ritchie’s previous cockney crime films are anything to go by, you can be sure the men in this movie are anything but gentle. If you are familiar with Ritchie’s’ early work, the plot of The Gentlemen will sound quite familiar. Taking place in modern-day London, the story follows Mickey Pearson (Mathew McConahaughey), an American expatriate in control of the United Kingdom’s illegal marijuana trade. Having reached a point in his criminal career where he has achieved everything he wanted, Pearson decides it’s time
to hang up his hat and sell his business. But once word of his retirement reaches the streets, several enterprising criminals and interested parties begin to scheme behind the scenes, in classic Ritchie fashion. Suffice it to say, The Gentlemen is a yet another cockney crime-comedy very much in the spirit of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch.” But after such a long departure from the genre that brought him into the spotlight, how does Ritchie’s latest film stand up? If you are looking for the quick answer, the movie is a lot of fun, with enough action and quick dialogue to entertain even the most sour of people. The longer answer is that this movie, is not up to the same quality as Ritchie’s earlier works in the genre. Primarily, the film suffers somewhat from its use of in media res (Latin for a story/plot starting “in the middle of things”), as well as an overabundance of characters. Unlike Snatch or Lock Stock, The
too much attention is given to style instead of cohesive pacing. This issue becomes even more exasperated with the extensive cast. As always, Ritchie’s characters are suitably charismatic and quippy, but this movie has a habit of introducing one too many witty, cockney mobsters, and at too quick a pace. This results in a lot of fun, but also somewhat underutilized characters. Colin Farrell, for example, plays an Irish boxing coach to a gang of youthful chavs (lower-class individuals trying to dress up, in poor taste) who incite the motivating incident that sets off the plot for the rest of the Web photo film. But outside of the few Gentlemen is too frenetic and crucial events which require his quickly paced to do a proper job of character’s presence, Farrell doesn’t managing its various plot strands. get to do much. This storytelling technique, Speaking of not doing much, which Ritchie has made the film’s other two protagonists, synonymous with his work, still played by Hugh Grant (Fletcher) functions as a fun and intriguing and Charlie Hunnam (Ray), spend way of manipulating the plot the majority of the movie eating structure of this film. Unfortunately, steaks and sipping whiskey as
Fletcher narrates the story to Ray. Fletcher does this under the guise of a screenplay that not so subtly describes all the information necessary to blackmail Ray’s boss, Mickey. While this tactic acts as an interesting plot device, it occasionally feels like Ritchie uses it, and the character of Fletcher, as an opportunity to insert his opinions on filmmaking, rather than having them act in service to the story. Those moments are fleeting, but on the whole, this movie feels as if it’s trying too hard to be clever at times. This is especially evident in the dialogue. Ritchie’s dialogue has always been a bit faux Tarentino, but The Gentlemen ups it to a level that feels just a little too tryhard on occasion.
4 out of 5 stars
PA G E 7
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ADVOCATE POLL WE’RE IN THE FIRST MONTH OF 2020. HAVE YOU KEPT UP WITH YOUR NEW
YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?
Landon Spady The Advocate
The Advocate’s Player of the Week and Sixth Man honors go to Jahville Collins. The freshman guard brought urgency and hustle off the bench to help the Saints go up by one with a few minutes left in a 103-96 loss to Portland Community College on Jan. 22. He is the type of player any coach would want on their team. He added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots against a tough PCC squad. The Saints did not go down without a fight.
Parrish Chang | The Advocate
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