SIX REVIEWS
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Little Women BY MEGAN BORMANN Greta Gerwig’s new motion picture hit the big screen on December 25, 2019. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, and Meryl Streep, Gerwig’s retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale goes in a modern and feminist direction. The casting of the characters reflected the thoughtfulness and brilliance of Gerwig’s interpretation. Saoirse Ronan’s performance as the strong-willed and creative Josephine March brought a new kind of liveliness and ferocity to the character. One cannot forget Meryl Streep as Aunt March, bringing a dry, comedic twist to a character who is often represented as a mean old woman. Streep brings heart and redemption to a woman who is just trying to make sure the March sisters thrive in the lives they choose to make for themselves. One of the most notable performances in the film was Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Amy March. Pugh was able to take a character who is often portrayed in a negative way and make her into a character that audiences could empathize with. Instead of telling the story in chronological order, Gerwig flashes back and forth between the past and present. Through the film’s lighting effects, the audience was able to distinguish between the glowy, golden memories of the past and the gloomy, harsh reality of the present. Although Gerwig’s film is not the first adaptation of Alcott’s creation, it is refreshingly modern and provides the audience with new ideas and female role models to look up to.
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Vampire Weekend Medhane, Lerado, at a Bernie and MAVI Sanders Rally At the Whole Music Club
In Cedar Rapids, IA
BY KINGA MOZES
BY HANNAH DOVE
Earl Sweatshirt’s influence was evident in all of the artists at The Whole on January 31, yet they were able to craft their own distinct sounds. Before MAVI performed, Medhane hypnotized the audience with his raw, deep voice and unflinching eye contact. His skin glowed blue as he paced between bodies, rapping about his struggles with mental health on tracks like “Affirmation #1.” It was refreshing to witness someone focused not only on telling his story but also on truly connecting with those listening, unafraid of any darkness that lingered between the bars. Local rapper Lerado was more playful, characterized by his monotone and glasses. He jumped into the audience to crowd surf. At its core, rap is poetry. Few demonstrate this better than MAVI, whose performance transported the crowd to a sun-scattered spot in the grass. Trickling piano loops set the tone for the track “Eye/I and I/Nation,” in which he philosophically reflected on black pride. Despite the absence of hooks in his songs, he kept the audience entranced. A biology student at Howard University, his intellectual lyricism was on display during the track “Self Love,” with lines like, “Clasp the windows to my soul/smoke thicken grab my mental by the throat.” Although his music is somber and meditative, he turned up the energy for “EL TORO COMBO MEAL,” and no one could resist nodding along to the beat. It’ll be challenging for the Whole to book artists as bold as these in the future.
Ever since Bernie Sanders’ first go at the presidency in 2016, Vampire Weekend has consistently shown him support. The night began with a performance by singer-songwriter Lissie Maurus, mirroring Fleetwood Mac grooves with an oddly patriotic cover of Paul Simon’s “America.” The eagerness for Vampire Weekend’s performance became palpable as hype beasts Michael Moore, Representative Ilhan Omar, and Dr. Cornel West gave way to the man of the hour, Senator Bernie Sanders. The atmosphere was similar to being in church—quite an unorthodox political rally. Though one of the political pundits joked about how “some of you may only be here for Vampire Weekend,” it didn’t feel as though Vampire Weekend was the main act—they were an opener for Bernie. However, that feeling quickly faded as Vampire Weekend burst into an acoustic version of “Harmony Hall” and the crowd surged forward in a frenzy as hot and bothered as one can get in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mixing together old hits such as “Walcott” along with new bops “Gold Rush” and “This Life” off of their latest album “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend managed to fit a snapshot of each of their albums into an hour, with a lightning round including deep cuts “California English Pt. 2,” a song from the Peter Rabbit movie, and a cover of “The Boys Are Back In Town.” Though Iowa is a cursed state, the power of Bernie Sanders and Vampire Weekend may be the only thing that can drag me back again.
FEB 17 - MAR 2
