Polanski’s ‘Ghost’ a haunting thriller
In recent months, much more attention has been placed on director Roman Polanski’s legal troubles, stemming from his rape conviction of a minor in 1977, than on his work as a filmmaker. With the release of “The Ghost Writer”—the film Polanski was working on at the time of his arrest—the director presents another great movie […]
‘Hot Tub’ feels just right
Based on the title “Hot Tub Time Machine” alone, you can instantly recognize you’re about to witness a movie that doesn’t exactly take itself seriously and is more than willing to immerse itself in all the kitsch its premise entails. Thankfully, this intentional silliness does not end with the film’s opening credits. Instead of simply […]
Being ‘Intrepid’
My family bought The Intrepid for my Dad’s 50th birthday so he could live out his seafaring fantasies. A Sunfish, the 13-footer is not meant for ocean waves. It is the type of boat used on camp lakes and ponds to teach children to sail. We christened it “The Intrepid” after some large schooner in […]
Inaugurating the Indie Louies
Brandeis will experience not one but two independent film festivals this month, with the first of the two, the Indie Louies, kicking off its inaugural festival this weekend. According to the festival’s organizers, the festival’s mission is pretty straightforward. “We’re people who like watching movies and making movies,” said Indie Louies committee member Oren Nimni […]
Inaugurating the Indie Louies – And the nominees for Best Film are…
Aiden Own A short film written and directed by Ben Harel ’12, chronicles a few potentially life-altering days in the life of Aiden (Arun Narayanan ’10), a disaffected young man past what he dubs his “point of return.” When he runs into his old third grade crush, Eve (Emily Griffin ’10), he faces the prospect […]
Brandeis alum Nelson Figueroa ’98 waived by Mets, joins Phillies
Brandeis alum Nelson Figueroa ’98 is on the move again. After being designated for assignment by the New York Mets on Monday, the 35-year-old right-hander was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Figueroa had previously pitched for the Phillies in the 2001 season. In Philadelphia, Figueroa will be expected to help patch […]
On the cutting edge of film: BTV’s latest projects prove to be most professional yet
Arun Narayanan ’10 is one tired guy. He’s been up since 4 a.m. editing a short film for IndieLouie, a 48-hour film challenge, and now that he’s started, there’s no turning back. Sure, the clock in the Brandeis Television office and his body are telling him to go to bed, but his inner man on […]
Bike Bloom
Bicycle parts sprouted from the ground and trees alike yesterday on the walk from the Shapiro Camus Center to Usdan as part of Students for Environmental Action’s (SEA) event “Bike Bloom.” The blooming bikes, accompanied by signs reading “put the fun between your legs” and “burn fat not gas,” were meant to remind students that […]
Showing some ‘Skin’: Brandeis Asian American Student Association puts on a fashion show
NBC’s Thursday night lineup may have taken significant hits in the last decade, but upstart “Community,” currently in its first season, has proven that NBC might be able to get a bit of its bite back. Similar in aesthetic to recent sitcoms, a great deal of “Community”’s humor derives from the self-referential use and acknowledgement […]
The hype is ‘Justified’
FX’s newest drama, “Justified,” which premiered on March 16, takes viewers on a journey through the “Dirty South,” where the gun-slinging cowboys and outlaws of the West are alive and well. The show follows Deputy United States Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) as he returns to his hometown in rural Kentucky, a move which occurs […]
Greengrass’ film is in the ‘Zone’
No film dealing with the war in Iraq has done well at the box office. Hollywood has certainly tried, but film after film—think of “Brothers,” “The Messenger,” even “The Hurt Locker”—has failed to attract an audience. Americans collectively don’t appear to be interested in seeing the evening news play itself out at the multiplex. Director […]
Farewell act: Senior Leonard Bernstein Scholars bid goodbye to Brandeis
I walked into Slosberg Music Center last Sunday, and the distant sound of chamber music hit my ears. The doors to the auditorium were shut, and the hall was empty except for the greeters. Uh-oh. Timidly, I asked, “Is there a concert at four o’clock?” “No, it started at three.” Apparently, the two groups set […]
Will Bedor ’10 heads to Nationals, four women earn All-Northeast Honors
This weekend epeeist Will Bedor ’10 will be breaking new ground. For the first time in his career, he has qualified for the NCAA Championships, which will take place at Harvard University Thursday though Sunday. “I’ve always been very close every year, I’ve always missed it by one or two spots,” Bedor told The Hoot. […]
Baseball drops a pair, claims a win Thursday
The Brandeis Baseball team returned home seeking a revival. After slogging through nine games in Texas and Florida to start the season–a span in which they went 2-7–the Judges climbed to a 10-9 walk off win in their home debut last Thursday against Bridgewater State (6-4). The Judges would continue the New England segment of […]
Softball finishes strong week after earning first ever national ranking
The softball team earned a national ranking for the first time in Brandeis history last week. This week, they finished strong, winning the first game of a double header against Lasell College while finishing the second game in a 2-2 tie since ti was called after six innings due to darkness. Commenting on the Judges […]
Dowling digs new art installation
Groundbreaking for the large-scale public artwork commissioned by Brandeis for the Festival of the Arts began Wednesday outside The Rose Art Museum. The work by Michael Dowling will be in the form of an elaborate copper fountain and will be completed in time for the Festival of The Arts, which begins April 28. Dowling has […]
‘Monologues’ discuss touchy subject
I have to confess that I was initially less than enthusiastic about attending this year’s production of playwright Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” which was staged last weekend to packed audiences in the Shapiro Campus Center Theater. Not possessing a vagina myself, I thought that I would feel out-of-place and that I simply wasn’t in […]
Gaining more than we bargained for
If you attend college, chances are you’ve heard about the “freshman 15.” Though some say it’s just a myth, for many college students the freshman 15 is a very real problem. What else could we expect? With unlimited access to junk food at anytime of the day, it’s no wonder that some college students are […]
Five women runners represent Brandeis at NCAA tournament
Five members of the Brandeis women’s indoor track and field team traveled to Greencastle, Indiana last weekend to represent the Judges in the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships in the distance medley relay and the high jump. Suzanne Bernier ’10 qualified for the high jump at the Reggie Poyau Invitational at Brandeis in January when […]
Chapin and Hollins honored
Forward Terrell Hollins ’10 from the Brandeis men’s basketball team along with women’s basketball guard Jessica Chapin ’10 have been honored by d3hoops.com this week when they were named to the Second Team All-Northeast Region. In addition, the New England Women’s Basketball Association named Chapin first-team All-New England, the second time the NEWBA has named […]