January 21, 2004

 

Culture

e the other press ©

 

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isla es
OF THINGS

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The Best of 2003

Amanda Aikman
Culture Editor

So many good movies, so little
time in 2003 to see them all.
How can one possibly choose a
favourite between Tim Burton's
beautiful and unique fable Big
Fish, Quentin Tarantino's gory,
stylish, and hilarious Kill Bill
Volume 1, and Jim Sheridan's
endearing family saga In
America? Beats me, I didn’t pick
any one of those films. The ones
I did choose are just as good
though.

Not surprisingly, most stu-
dents are too busy during the
school year to make it to the
theatre very often—what with
all that homework and stuff. I,
on the other hand, managed to
see quite a few great films. |
guess I’m just a lot smarter and
more organized than the rest of
you. But hey, don’t sweat. it; we
can't all be me. I suggest you
keep up the good work and just
file this list away until the sum-
mer break when you head on
down to your local video store.

5. The Shape of Things
Writer/director Neil LaBute
scores again with yet another

* intelligent story of contempo-

rary love, sex, and relationships.
But unlike LaBute’s In the
Company of Men, the women get
to be mean and nasty this time
around.

4. 21 Grams

If you're looking for sunshine
and lollipops you might want to
hold off on this one. I was feel-
ing a little down one afternoon
and decided to cheer myself up
with a matinee of this film—not
my brightest idea ever. Very
gloomy, very heavy, very
“deathy.” But also very brilliant.
As usual, Sean Penn and Benicio
Del Toro give unbelievably
intense performances and
Naomi Watts is devastating as
the devastated wife and mother
who loses her perfect family.

3. American Splendor

The true story of a comic-book
artist, an obsessive-compulsive
collector, and a file clerk—who
just happen to be all the same
person. This film documents the
life of Harvey Pekar, creator of
the comic American Splendor.
The movie combines the main
narrative, which features actor

Paul Giamatti as Pekar, with
animation and both archival
and current footage of Pekar
himself. Inventive, funny, and
really cool looking—you’ve
gotta see this one to believe it.

2. Mystic River

With Clint Eastwood directing
a cast that includes Sean Penn,
Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon,
is there any way this could not
be a great film? An ominous
story of friendship, family, and
innocence lost too soon—this
provocative picture culminates
in a disturbing and perplexing
ending. I love it when that hap-
pens.

1. City of God

“Brilliant,” “a masterpiece,”
“flawless.” Get used to seeing
these words connected with this
film. Topping critics charts all
over the map, this shocking
Brazilian gem combines a flashy,
stylish visual sensibility with the
dark and violent telling of three
decades of unrest in under-
ground Rio de Janiero. Lots of
blood and drugs, what else
could you ask for?

 

 

 

9 and Caribbean

AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SOCIETY
OF DOUGLAS COLLEGE

 

 

ylas College

 

In early November, 2003 a group of about 20
students and one staff member held the first
meeting of African and Caribbean Society head-
ed by Miss Osen Pogoson. This assembly was
inspired by the vision to create cultural aware-
ness at the Douglas College New Westminster
Campus, for people of African descent to have a
voice and also to learn about their heritage. One
of the major concerns expressed was the lack of
recognition of Black History Month (February).
The ACS is willing to work with the college staff,
faculty and students to address this concern and
make sure that the campus environment is inclu-
sive and culturally sensitive.

Ultimately, ACS is a society whose goal is to
provide a comfortable atmosphere where stu-

“We have a Dream”—Introducing the first

African and Caribbean Society
At Douglas College (ACS)

dents and staff members of all nationalities can
come together, share and celebrate the culture
of Africa and the Caribbean. The members of the
society desire to instill values of pride, excel-
lence, and self-confidence through the love of
person, culture, and history.

Accordingly, we do have a dream to keep
the legacy of our history known, but in due
course encouraging a commitment to education-
al achievement, collective awareness, and com-
munity development.

If you would like to join our society and get
involved in our cause, please contact us at
604.527.5110 or via email at african_
caribbean@hotmail.com. We would like to hear
from you.

 

 

 

 

SWF seeks contributors for one-

article stands or possible long-term
relationships. Do you listen to
CDs? Attend movies, plays, or con-
certs? Read any good books lately?
If so, I'd love to hear all about it.
Be a culture writer for the Other
Press! Don’t do it for the money,
the glory, or the fame...do it for me,
your lonely culture editor.

 

 

 

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