The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 20

February 2, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 6 Arts & Entertainment Most anticipated movies of 2021 The year of 2020 was unlike any other. So much was taken away from us, including the release of so many movies that had to come to a halt during their production due to the pandemic. Many movies either got completely cancelled or had to extend their release dates. However, with this loss also came a win: more movies coming out in 2021. Below is a list of the most anticipated movies most should be very excited to see this year. Malcolm and Marie (Feb. 5, Netflix) Everyone’s favorite former Disney Channel star, Zendaya, is on the big screen in this upcoming film. The story revolves around an actor and his girlfriend and how their relationship will be put to the test in the days following the recent release of his newest movie. The project has a unique spin for a modern movie; it’s a full length movie that only covers the events of a few days, and it will be entirely in black and white. Eternals (Feb. 12, Disney+) Another action-packed movie series coming from the Marvel Universe is about a group of immortal beings and how they have shaped the world into what it is today. The movie is jam packed with stars, including Kit Harrington, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani and Harry Styles. Black Widow (May 7, Disney+) Everyone loves The Avengers. Focusing exclusively on her and her story, this will be Consumable masterpieces: An in-depth review of the French film “La Haine” Every once in a while, as artists, we get into slumps and look for some good “food” to digest and turn into inspiration. At times, we come across pieces of art that are truly masterclasses for their own respective mediums. If you’re looking for good eats in the art world, we’ve got something for you. I present to you the French cult classic “La Haine” (French for hate) by director Mathieu Kassovitz. This poignant piece gained its notoriety for exploring police brutality and racial injustice within the suburban slums of France. Here’s a breakdown of how “La Haine” completely leans all the way into the medium of film and takes advantage of it to tell a riveting story: The plot Kassovitz sets up the story with three friends, one of Middle Eastern descent, one of African descent and one of Jewish descent, which are three majorly marginalized groups in France. These three characters are perfect vehicles to drive the story as we follow them through the streets of the “cité” where they live. Kassovitz wrote “La Haine” as an exposé on what shape the anger between the police and the less fortunate was taking at the time. Through the eyes of these troubled youths, we see police brutality, blatant racism and how hate breeds more hate. The writing is an evergreen, shining light on issues and current events that take place all over the world, including, but not limited to, By: Neha Simon Contributing Writer By: J. L. Glasthal Contributing Writer Black Widow’s first standalone movie. Scarlett Johansson is reprising her role of Black Widow as the movie follows the story of her past and the issues she has faced. Newer faces like Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz will also be appearing in the movie -- and we finally get to find out what happened in Budapest. Candyman (Oct. 16, theaters) This new horror movie will be about the terrifying character that has haunted many of our childhoods: Candyman. It starts out with a skeptical researcher teaming up with another researcher to study the history of common superstitions. Before she knows it, she soon begins to be followed by a mysterious man. Wicked (Dec. 22, theaters) Another iconic musical is being made into a movie, but there are no complaints here. “Wicked” will bring us back to Oz and let us see the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. Of course, the leading ladies will be Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel, reprising their roles as Elphaba and Glinda. Don’t Look Up (2021, Netflix) “Don’t Look Up” is a political satire movie. It is most anticipated not for the plot, but rather, the cast, which includes Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchette, Timothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and somehow, even more A-listers. It will be streaming on Netflix this year, however they have not set a date for the release quite yet. The Day the Music Died On Feb. 3, 1959, at the height of their careers, American rock and roll legends Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, as well as their pilot, Roger Peterson, died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa as they were doing a 24-concert tour in the Midwest. In observance of their deaths, Feb. 3 has been designated The Day the Music Died. Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper were among the top artists of their generation: the 50s. However, these musicians are still recognized today for their work in the industry. Continue reading below to learn about what these rock and roll legends were best known for. Buddy Holly CharlesHardinHolley, knownprofessionally as Buddy Holly, was, according to Biography, “the biggest star of the bunch, known for such hits as ‘That’ll Be the Day’ and ‘Peggy Sue.’” Holly was a pioneering figure in the world of rock and roll music in the mid-1950s, with a style that was influenced by gospel music, country music and rhythm and blues. He was born to a musical family and decided on professionally becoming a musician when he opened for Elvis Presley -- three times -- in 1955. While Holly died at the young age of 22, he is regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass and drums. Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Richie Valens Richard Steven Valenzuela, known professionally as Richie Valens, was anAmerican singer-songwriter and guitarist of Mexican descent. Valens was considered a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, a style of rock music that derives from Mexican culture and themes, and a Spanish-speaking rock and roll pioneer. Adapted from a Mexican folk song, Valens is best known for his song “La Bamba,” which is still commonly played today and has been covered by a variety of artists including Los Lobos and was the title track for the 1987 film of the same name. While Valens died at the young age of 17, he lives on through his music and continues to inspire Hispanic individuals who are interested in pursuing music. The Big Bopper The third musician to be killed in the unprecedented plane crash was American musician, singer, songwriter and disc jockey Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr, better known as The Big Bopper. The Big Bopper was known for his compositions “Chantilly Lace” -- still considered a timeless rock song -- and “White Lightning.” He was also known for his country- flavored rock and roll style. The Big Bopper was 28 years old when he died. Don McLean’s “American Pie” While Feb. 3 is regarded as The Day the Music Died because of the deaths of these legendary musicians, their deaths actually inspired more music to be written and produced. In 1971, Don McLean, an American singer-songwriter, released a song titled “American Pie,” which was partly inspired by the deaths of Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper. According to James E. Perrone in his book “Smash Hits: The 100 Songs That Defined America,” “American Pie,” a folk-rock “cultural touchstone,” is a song that has, as the words suggest, touched the hearts of many listeners. While McLean did not confirm suspicions that “American Pie” was partly inspired by The Day the Music Died, he said in an interview in 1978 that the song was sort of autobiographical, presenting an abstract story of his life. Regardless of the song’s origins, when McLean sings, “Something touched me deep inside / The day themusic died,”many individuals remember the musicians and pilot who died Feb. 3, 1959, keeping them alive through music. riots in response to unjust enforcement of the law. Visual storytelling The film is edited in black and white, which is not only a stylistic choice, but can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the subject of the movie. The lack of color adds to the coldness of the city and isolates the topic via stripping away colors that would normally pop out. The cinematography is where this movie really finds its strengths. The plot alone is smart, but the visual storytelling to couple it is what makes this piece a genius work of art. The use of Dutch angles, slow motion, dolly zooms, dolly forwards and camera pans create a sense of tension as the film builds up to its climax. One shot in particular has one of the main characters in the foreground watching gun violence happen in the background. The set up for this shot is both clever as it is intuitive for expressing as much information and emotion in a single shot as possible. “La Haine” is a masterclass in cinematography, shot organization and composition. I strongly recommend studying the camera work in this piece if you’re interested in film. Where to see it The main sites you can find this film on are Amazon Prime and on print via The Criterion Collection. This is definitely a certified buy for any film enthusiast’s DVD or Blu-ray library. The best way to truly get a good artistic meal out of something is to try it. By: Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY R. PEREZ A collection of American Rock artists