Watch and listen to these 10 Valentine’s Day recommendations

“You’ve Got Mail” (HBO Max)

Journalist, writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron is a master of the romantic comedy. Ephron wrote “When Harry Met Sally,” a movie about two friends realizing they’re in love with one another. But, ew. Friends should just stay friends. “You’ve Got Mail” is a seemingly more compelling tale from Ephron that follows two business rivals falling in love with each other. The movie revolves around the romantic relationship between Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), who owns an independent bookstore in New York City, and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a bookstore chain. “You’ve Got Mail” has everything one could hope for in a classic rom-com: 1990s dial-up internet, a high-strung Parker Posey and a top notch soundtrack that includes songs like Harry Nilsson’s “The Puppy Song” and The Cranberries’ “Dreams.”

‘All Of Us Are Dead’ tells a tale of love and carnage

‘All Of Us Are Dead’ tells a tale of love and carnage

Netflix’s horror series “All Of Us Are Dead” is a thrilling, adrenaline-fueled saga of zombie chaos. Based on Joo Dong-Geun’s 2009 Korean webtoon, “Now at Our School,” “All of Us Are Dead” follows the outbreak of a zombie virus at a high school in Hyosan, South Korea. “All Of Us Are Dead” is an action-packed thriller that successfully strikes a balance between gore and the exploration of deeper themes of love, friendship and loss.

‘Euphoria’ viewers at Mount Holyoke comment on the show’s second season

‘Euphoria’ viewers at Mount Holyoke comment on the show’s second season

The second season of “Euphoria,” which drew a record-setting 2.4 million viewers when it premiered on HBO Max, has received unprecedented levels of attention from both new and returning fans. With each episode featuring dramatic twists and turns, it seems that this season is taking its characters and viewers on a rollercoaster.

‘East Meets West’ showcases photography of Tseng Kwong Chi

‘East Meets West’ showcases photography of Tseng Kwong Chi

The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum held “East Meets West: The Art of Tseng Kwong Chi,” its first event of the spring semester on Wednesday, Feb. 2. According to the MHCAM website, the museum hosted “East Meets West” to commemorate the acquisition of “Lake Moraine, Canada (Canoe Mountain, Alberta),” a black and white photograph by Tseng Kwong Chi.

André Leon Talley, editor-at-large of Vogue, dies at 73

André Leon Talley, editor-at-large of Vogue, dies at 73

André Leon Talley was fashion’s greatest moments personified. The larger-than-life stylist, writer and former Vogue editor-at-large died on Jan. 18 at age 73. His death leaves a gaping void in the global fashion landscape. He was American artist Andy Warhol’s muse and a close confidante to some of fashion’s biggest names like Naomi Campbell, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint-Laurent. He was the first Black person to grace Vogue’s masthead. In his lifetime, he worked to shape the predominantly white industry with his grandiose perspective. Edward Enniful, the first Black Editor-in-Chief of any Vogue, paid his tribute to Talley on Instagram, “Without you, there would be no me. Thank you for paving the way.”

Afrofuturist exhibitions showcase a celebration of the African American identity, past and present

Afrofuturist exhibitions showcase a celebration of the African American identity, past and present

Over the past several years, the art world has seen a significant increase in exhibits exploring the amalgamation of both past and present representations of the Black identity. According to a 2021 Axios article written by Russell Contreras, many of these include escapist art pieces that center around themes of science fiction and fantasy, also known as Afrofuturism. From banners to dresses made of paper and Swarovski crystals to multi-colored quilts, Lauren Halsey, Fabiola Jean-Louis and Bisa Butler have been steadily making an impact on the art scene through their work across various mediums. These three Black female artists all have a vision of African American identities through both past and contemporary lenses: a vision they aim to share with the world.

‘Craig of the Creek’ joins other modern kids’ cartoons in centering LGBTQ+ representation

‘Craig of the Creek’ joins other modern kids’ cartoons in centering LGBTQ+ representation

Packed with childhood nostalgia, anime references and plenty of adventure, Cartoon Network’s “Craig of the Creek” seems to have something for audiences of all kinds, including those looking to see themselves represented on screen. The series has always featured a great deal of diversity among its young characters, and recently, LGBTQ+ characters have taken center stage in a touching episode about self-acceptance.

With ‘Valentine,’ Snail Mail produces a masterwork of indie rock

Although you wouldn’t guess it based on the title alone, American singer-songwriter Snail Mail’s second album, “Valentine,” mostly covers love just as it begins to spoil. During the titular song, which is also the opening track on the album, Snail Mail, whose real name is Lindsey Jordan, sings, “So why’d you wanna erase me, darling valentine?”

Jordan has always sung about heartache. Her previous record, 2018’s “Lush,” features songs about unrequited love and rejection. Heartbreak is a common theme for many musicians, but both albums are masterworks of indie rock because of their ability to exhibit that experience in entirely new ways, sonically and lyrically.

‘Spencer’ is a hauntingly beautiful film plagued by poor dialogue

From her very first line — “Where the fuck am I?” — the Princess Diana depicted in Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín’s historical drama “Spencer” is established as gritty and unwilling to hold back. Scenic shots showing Diana driving disoriented in the English countryside make it clear that the Princess of Wales, played beautifully by Kristen Stewart, is lost. Literally, but also in spirit. As Diana gazes around at her surroundings, she asks a passerby, “How could I get lost in a place where I used to play?” This question epitomizes the tragic but heavy-handed dialogue that persists throughout the rest of the film. While “Spencer” features a stellar performance by Stewart, an appropriately eerie soundtrack and artful cinematography, the movie suffers greatly from a script that relies on cheesy metaphors and allows little room for subtext or interpretation from the audience.

Students watch Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ era ‘Begin Again’


When Mount Holyoke News asked to hear from longtime Taylor Swift fans regarding the recent release of “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Addie Ray ’22 came dressed the part, sporting a black t-shirt featuring seven or eight images of the American singer-songwriter collaged together in bright pink wash. The many Swifts peeking out from beneath Ray’s open denim jacket hailed from all the distinct musical eras that have defined Swift’s career. Swift has re-invented herself and her music countless times, but the Nov. 12 release of “Red (Taylor’s Version)” signaled the re-invention of an old fan favorite.

A steely Lady Gaga drives the plot of ‘House of Gucci

If the American crime film “The Godfather” and the daytime drama “Dynasty” had a high-fashion, campy lovechild, it would be director Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci.” Filled with a star-studded cast and impeccable costumes, the movie explores the tragic but true past of the Gucci family and their struggle for control of the fashion empire in the 1970s. Based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 book of the same name, the film follows the book’s subtitle: “A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour and Greed.” While the cast gave a stellar performance, their acting could not save the storyline, which got diluted by the introduction of unnecessary subplots.

80 years later, ‘Citizen Kane’ retains public interest

80 years ago, a bizarre event occurred in Hollywood: a major Hollywood studio gave complete creative freedom to Orson Welles, a young man directing his first feature film, allowing him complete dominion over nearly every aspect of its production. The brainchild of that freedom is Orson Welles’ 1941 American drama film, “Citizen Kane.”

In a landmark contract with RKO Pictures, one of the biggest film studios in the United States at the time, Welles received a 25 percent cut of the film’s profits in addition to full control over production. Welles would go on to receive an Academy Award nomination in 1942 for Best Actor for his role in the film as the titular character, Charles Foster Kane. Though 80 years have passed since the film’s release, “Citizen Kane” has managed to stay relevant in modern discussion for both its cinematic innovation and social commentary.

Parquet Courts performs music from new album at Gateway City Arts

The stage at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke was littered with instruments last Friday night as members of the crowd waited for American rock band Parquet Courts to perform.

Parquet Courts was the lead act of the night, following an energetic performance by the indie-rock band Public Practice. During their set, Public Practice played several songs from their debut full-length album, “Gentle Grip.” Parquet Courts, accompanied by Public Practice, are on tour to promote their recently released seventh album, “Sympathy for Life,” which came out on Oct. 22.

Though both bands are based in New York City, Parquet Courts has a history with Massachusetts, as bassist Sean Yeaton is from the state. While on stage, he joked about visiting Herrell’s, a well-beloved ice cream store in Northampton. Though it would be easy to attribute the sold-out venue to the band’s regional connection, the music and the thrill of live performance was more than enough to carry the show.

‘My Name’ tells a dark tale of revenge

After the viral success of the Korean thriller series “Squid Game,” Netflix dropped another show in the same genre on Oct. 15 called “My Name,” a dark and gritty revenge drama that strives to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Riddled with suspense and packed with powerful performances, “My Name” has a compelling plot filled with enough carnage and secrets for thriller enthusiasts to walk away feeling satisfied.

The show follows Yoon Ji-Woo (Han So-Hee), a high school student who enlists South Korea’s top crime boss, Choi Mu-Jin (Park Hee-Soon), to help her unearth the truth about her father’s underworld connections and avenge his recent murder. The series then details Ji-Woo’s path to joining the police department’s narcotics division as a mole for Mu-Jin. As Ji-Woo enters into the police force and maintains connections with leading figures in the police agency, she also tries to hide her true identity from her work partner, detective Jeon Pil-Do (Ahn Bo-Hyun).

Netflix’s ‘Night Teeth’ review: a bloody awful film with very little bite

Netflix’s ‘Night Teeth’ review: a bloody awful film with very little bite

In Netflix’s new original vampire thriller film, “Night Teeth,” viewers meet the main character, Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), a broke college student whose future goals include succeeding as a music producer and buying his grandmother a house. Benny’s fairly average life, defined by writing academic papers for his classmates and skateboarding around his hometown, takes a turn for the worse when he begs his older brother, Jay (Raúl Castillo), who works as a chauffeur, to let him play the role of driver for one night. From there, Benny begins chauffeuring Blaire (Debby Ryan) and Zoe (Lucy Fry), a pair of sultry vampire friends interested in attending several lavish parties in Los Angeles with the intent of wreaking havoc. While “Night Teeth” shows promise by showcasing a star-studded cast — Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry and Megan Fox, to name a few — and attempting to feature chemistry between star-crossed lovers Benny and Blaire, it falls flat, mainly due to its nonsensical dialogue, lack of exciting action and unimaginative scenes that are in desperate need of some plot twists.

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra’s Monster’s Ball returns to campus

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra’s Monster’s Ball returns to campus

On the rainy night before Halloween, the Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra welcomed its first in-person audience since March 2020 to the 11th annual Monsters’ Ball. The balcony of Chapin Auditorium was practically filled to the brim with attendees, most of whom dressed up in Halloween costumes for the occasion. Instead of wearing traditional concert attire, the musicians also donned Halloween costumes, dressing up as Spider-Man, the Duolingo owl, a butterfly, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and the protagonist from the 2019 folk horror film “Midsommar” — to name only a few.

In ‘Fabulation,’ FMT department expands cast and storytelling diversity

In ‘Fabulation,’ FMT department expands cast and storytelling diversity

For one Black student in the Mount Holyoke film, media and theater department, it was “a dream to be able to work on a play like this and design for actors who looked like her,” visiting lecturer Michael Ofori said. The FMT department held performances of its production of American playwright Lynn Nottage’s “Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine” from Oct. 21 through 24. This was the department’s first in-person production since the beginning of the pandemic, and the performance was held in Rooke Theater, with seating at 75 percent capacity.

Twilight Renaissance rekindles interest in vampire romance genre

When the creators of the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” posters wrote the tagline, “The Epic Finale That Will Live Forever,” it seems as if they were anticipating the thriving fan culture that the franchise would retain almost a decade after its final installment first premiered in movie theaters.

The Twilight Saga refers to a series of five vampire romance films, all of which are based on American novelist Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling books of the same name. Although “Breaking Dawn,” the last installment of the Saga, first premiered in theaters in 2012, in the past couple of years, fans have flocked back to the series with the excitement reminiscent of seeing an eagerly anticipated midnight premiere. Book Riot defined this cultural phenomenon, often called “The Twilight Renaissance,” as a period where people are “once again making fan art, sharing memes and discussing the series’ impact after a dip in popularity during the mid-2010s.”

‘No Time to Die’ taps into sentimentality, saying goodbye to the longest-running Bond

‘No Time to Die’ taps into sentimentality, saying goodbye to the longest-running Bond

“No Time to Die,” the latest James Bond installment, is surprisingly emotional for an action film. The movie, which is the final Bond film to star Daniel Craig as the titular character, ups the sentimentality beyond the norms of the spy thriller genre in a fitting goodbye to the longest-running Bond.

The movie follows in the steps of classic Bond films and expands on what a Bond film can look like. “No Time to Die” opens with a scene that imitates a familiar sight from previous Bond movies — Bond, accompanied by a beautiful woman, driving his iconic Aston Martin DB5 sports car through a small European town. In these opening shots, the film nods to similar scenes in the Bond tradition, which can be found in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and “Goldfinger,” to name a few

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