Over the past two months, the online #FreeBritney campaign has gained considerable traction on social media. Britney Spears has previously made headlines for her hit singles and sold-out tours, as well as her turbulent personal life and relationship with fame. Now, fans have brought under scrutiny the pop star's conservatorship arrangement, expressing concern for her well-being and self-autonomy as well as rallying for her to be “freed.”
On July 3, Disney released the much-anticipated filmed version of the smash-hit musical “Hamilton” to its streaming platform Disney Plus. The film, originally slated for theatrical release on October 15, 2021, presents a live-capture version of the musical using footage from two original cast performances back in 2016.
Imagine a world where police wear face masks, not to protect themselves from a virus, but to hide their identities from the public. This is the case in HBO’s series “Watchmen,” adapted from a comic book of the same name. HBO made this show free to watch without a subscription from June 19 to June 21, the weekend of Juneteenth.
Last week, Northampton Arts Council announced that it will be distributing aid from its COVID-19 Artist Relief Grant to 120 local artists and cultural producers. An official press release stated that the council had raised $29,000 and redistributed $11,000 from its budget to the relief fund, which was initially announced in April.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser made headlines last week as she commissioned a large-scale street mural in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. On the morning of June 5, 35-foot-tall yellow letters spelling out “Black Lives Matter” were revealed on 16th Street in front of Lafayette Square. Alongside the mural, black-and-white signage designated two blocks of 16th Street as “Black Lives Matter Plaza.
On Friday, April 24, Lionsgate Movies streamed “Dirty Dancing” (1987) on YouTube as part of a fundraising effort for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. The foundation, according to its description on YouTube, “is dedicated to helping workers throughout the motion picture industry and is currently providing financial assistance to theater employees furloughed by the COVID-19 crisis.”
From March 5 to March 8, Rooke Theater was transformed into the scene of one of the most infamous murders in American history. “This explosive ride of a story is driven by propulsive rock music,” Michael Ofori, the director, wrote. Lizzie the Musical tells the story of the infamous Borden murders that took place in Massachusetts in 1892. The actors — Sophie Schweik ’23, Zara Malik ’21, Emma Chaffee ’22 and Kylie Levy ’21 — each produced phenomenal vocals. This production was especially fitting for Mount Holyoke College due to a central gay romance between two characters and the emphasis of abuse survivors’ voices, like Lizzie was.
To Netflix, nothing seems to parallel the perils of adolescence like telekinesis and murder. Eleven blows up things with her mind in “Stranger Things,” the repercussions of murder become clear in “The End of the F***ing World” and countless attempted and successful vengeance plots unfold in “The Politician.” Netflix’s new story of teenage angst, “I Am Not Okay with This,” isn’t as big and bold as these other examples. It’s not flashy and it doesn’t involve high-speed chases, which might put it closer along the lines of the trials of average, non-bloodthirsty, teens of the “Everything Sucks.” In true Netflix style, “I Am Not Okay with This” does still involve telekinesis, daddy issues and a distinct murder.
In the wake of the 92nd Academy Award Ceremony, in which no women were nominated for the Best Director category, many were outraged at Hollywood constantly overlooking female direction. Critics of this latest Oscars snub were quick to post to social media and speak to journalists, many echoing similar sentiments: that women can direct movies just like men. “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” proves this statement wrong: women direct movies both differently and better than men.
At first, Amherst College’s Stirn Auditorium — this year’s location of the 2020 Five College Film Festival — was almost empty, save for a few students chatting about last-minute preparations. The only indication I was in the right place were the programs on the front table and the festival flyer on the auditorium projection screen. But soon, people started pouring in, filling the air with a sense of artistic pretentiousness and a kind of off-beat humor that only 200 film students could produce.
Released Feb. 21, “Call of the Wild,” starring Harrison Ford, traces the journey of Buck — a large Saint Bernard — as he and Harrison’s character, John, explore the Alaskan wilderness in the height of the Yukon gold rush. The film is a heartwarming adventure from start to finish; one that beautifully captures the spirit of Jack London’s novel of the same name.
