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Author Archives: Joe Hagen
Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
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The Great Gatsby |
Opens: May. 10 |
0 stars |
Review by Joseph Hagen
With a rich 1920s landscape to play within, a very capable list of actors, an award-winning visual director, a hip soundtrack, and material that everyone is required to read in high school, The Great Gatsby has all of the ingredients of pure filmmaking genius and against all odds, grasps failure from the jaws of success.
It is hard to know where to start when a movie is such a big failure in so many different ways as is The Great Gatsby. Based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, screen writer and director Baz Luhrmann hacks apart, distorts concepts, over-stylizes visuals, makes poor choices with music, pulls bad performances from good actors and transforms quality material into long-winded pretentiousness.
A lack of quality conceptual decision-making haunts Luhrmann’s film making process. It is unclear if Jay Gatsby, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is a mysterious figure that no one has ever seen, or the most popular person in New York. Is he plastered in the headlines of every newspaper or is he a hermit that stays locked up in a corner room of his palatial mansion? Instead of being a cool, sexy, smart and mysterious war vet, Gatsby is transformed into a lovesick puppy dog with little wits and a lack of Don Draper (from Madmen) “cool.”
Across the board, this film reduces and distorts classic literary characters and their relationships to their lowest denominator. Daisy, played by Carey Mulligan, is depicted (oddly) as a love torn sap of a woman with a little of the selfish ignorance that embodies America during the 1920s. From the beginning, her relationship with Gatsby has all of the cheese of a romantic comedy and progresses into a nonsensical mash-up of lost opportunities for conveying REAL depth and a commentary for the time period.
Another poor choice is beginning and ending the film with long-winded voice-overs from the un-voice-over-worthy voice of Tobey Maguire, the film not only stumbles out of the gate, but trips 30 minutes before the end and is the visual and auditory equivalent to nails on a chalkboard by the final three minutes. These silly sequences yielded more laughter than the attempted visual “candy.”
If you are a bibliophile, this film will be unsatisfactory and quite possibly infuriate you. If you are a person that has never read the book and has no idea what it is about, this film will be so boring and silly that you will possibly be infuriated. If you are prone to motion sickness (as I am), this film might make you physically sick with its fast zooms and cheesy visuals and quite possibly infuriate you.
A complete disaster The Great Gatsby is an example of unfocused film making, unnecessary visual effects, silly music choices and a lost opportunity at conveying classic material to a modern audience.
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Most Common First Names on MyMajors
One weird thing I like to do is look at the “List of most popular given names” … I am a naturally opinionated person, so I am always ready with a quick thumbs up or down for every name on the list!
This got me thinking, what are the most common names on MyMajors.com?
1. Jessica
2. Ashley
3. Sarah
4. Amanda
5. Emily
6. Michael
7. John
8. Lauren
9. Jennifer
10. Brittany
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Kirbi Fagan 2012 COVER CONTEST Winner
Kirbi Fagan, a senior at Kendall College of Art & Design, Grand Rapids, Mich., understands how to promote herself. As a matter of fact, one of her weekend courses examined the Artists as Brand. This class looked at using social media, Facebook fan pages, personal pages and Twitter. To promote herself in the Creative Outlook Magazine cover contest, Kirbi took to that social media and all the avenues to share her art. “I have lots of friends who moved my art forward as well as my family. They are great advocates,” she says.
Her piece, Air Boss, received the most votes for the Creative Outlook Magazine cover contest. “When I was creating Air Boss, I wanted to create an image of a hero that had storytelling qualities. When paging through books on historical aviation I became very interested in the imagery. I wasn’t as interested in the planes as I was the people who flew them. I am very enthusiastic about nostalgia and Americana images. I used vintage photos to helps me come up with the planes. I always use people I know in my paintings, Air Boss himself, is a good friend of mine who I distorted to add character. The title Air Boss was inspired by a conversation with my grandpa, who has been building an airplane in his garage on Lake
Michigan since I could remember.”
Kirbi attended high school at the Plymouth Canton Educational Park in the Detroit area. She credits her art teacher Clevell Koon for inspiration and the drive to take “lots” of art classes in high school. “I took basic drawing, photography, painting, graphic design and an Advanced Placement course that became an independent study. I didn’t discover illustration until college.”
Kirbi says her paintings are meant to be something different to any viewer. “The great part of art is that it can spark a memory or another image. I want people to bring their own ideas to my work.” She praises a strong drawing background.
“Throughout high school, I ex-posed myself to other arts, like music and theater that still inspire me today. I looked at art in books, online and visited local galleries. I really struggled in math and science. Art class was the first place where I felt I fit in among other creative, like minded students. The greatest thing I gained from mak-ing art in high school was learning that I loved to make art. High school sparked my love for art and design and there, I was strongly encouraged to move forward in the arts.”
Kirbi serves as the president of the Kendall Painting Club where the group has participated in the Grand Rapids Art scene, Art.Downtown, and other art festivals. She was recently hired by Square Peg Events. During an earlier Kids ArtFest, she served as a live artist demonstrator. Now she is finding artists to work in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum for the event. Kirbi chose illustration for her major because she likes to tell stories through her work. “I like the idea of working for a client and having my work used as a commercial product. When I graduate I will be pursuing a job in creating art for book covers, greeting cards, magazine spot illustra-tions and illustrations for learning products. My absolute dream would be to illustrate book covers for a pub-lishing company.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Kira Lindsay 2012 Performance CONTEST Winner
Kira Lindsay, a junior at El Segundo High School, near Los Angeles, Calif., scored the most votes in the Creative Outlook Magazine’s performance contest with If Only You Knew.
“The song started out as a love song to a guy, but it turned into a song about people feeling accepted. I have been the weird theater kid. I see people who are lonely and I wanted to reach out. I wanted to let them know that they are not alone. Even as a child in elementary school, I was that weird theater kid. I get when people are lonely and feel left out. I want people to see how great they are and hope they can be appreciated, far above looking at the flaws,” she says.
So Kira knew her original song had some strength and individuality even as she was writing it. “It took me a couple of weeks to write the lyrics. I had school and other activities. When I was happy with everything, my dad has the video and recording equipment to make the video.” The video is full of images of isolation, but also of hope, she says. “I was determined to see this through. My dad plays guitar and my mom plays the flute. My older sister plays piano. It was only right to give this a try.”
Kira says she has singing since she could speak and her mom says even before that. “I was Annie in my first musical. I think I was 10, almost 11. I was getting ready to go into fifth grade. Singing has always been my passion. So far, I have been in 16 musicals. They are definitely what I love most. I am aiming for a career in musical theater. I want to be on Broadway!”
Kira’s musical career has been with the El Segundo Youth Drama Program, an active community theater program. “They are my family. Kristie Rutledge was my director for years and I really believe that without her guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today. She made sure we put on some amazing musicals.”
Kira balances her courses at school along with her art. She is taking English 11 honors, pre-calculus honors, Spanish 3, U.S. History and Chamber Choir. “I spend time rehearsing for the plays. Plus I take jazz and ballet at Legacy Dance near us. At school, I am an orientation leader for freshmen. We help the freshmen connect to events so they are less afraid of high school. When I get a free moment, I also babysit.” She recently won an essay contest and placed first in the 2011-2012 El Segundo High School PTA Reflection Contest in the literature category.
As for the future, Kira plans on attending a community college for two years and then transferring to a college or university known for its musical theater program. “Singing is my life and I couldn’t imagine not being able to sing. I do it more than talking. Truthfully, I love everything artistic; I love writing, dancing, acting, writing poetry and songs. I even paint. I took an art class at high school for fun and fell in love with acrylics. I think I bought out an arts store and all the canvases. I like art deco and painting people, but not necessarily perfect. I even entered the cover contest.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Christian Alzate 2012 COVER Contest Finalists
Christian Alzate, a senior at Piscataway Township High School, a four-year public high school in Piscataway Township in Middlesex County, N.J., values art and the talent to see the world with an artist’s eyes. “An artist looks at things with more than one perspective. Art is another way to give voice to an issue or situation in life.”
Christian spends much of his time, immersed in art. This year, he is taking Advanced Placement Studio drawing art, which he describes as more technical with the aspects more detailed and the exploration of a wide range of art mediums. He has served as an assistant for drawing and painting class and has added photography design class this year. It’s five art classes this year, he says. Last year, he took other challenge classes such as honors English and sociology.
He joined the yearbook staff and hopes to use his photography skills. “I also helped set up the art show. Most of what I have done in school has been around art,” he says. Christian submitted one abstract art piece titled Cosmopolitan and four photos. His image of his friend Marina captured hundreds of votes. “The photograph was taken for the magazine for a fresh face. I have photographed friends for portraits. I try to learn from all walks of life; I like the diversity among my friends and Marina is from Brazil. To me, a beautiful portrait empowers people and I wanted to empower Marina. I love black and white photography. I am self-taught, but I adore the idea of black and white mixed with digital imagery.”
Christian has been part of the Rutgers Future Scholars Program since middle school. Christian created some of the T-shirt designs for the program which helped raise program funds. “I am always building on my portfolio and hoping for scholarships,” he says. Christian has also worked at Elijah’s Promise, an area soup kitchen. Plus he created a small film raising awareness for healthy eating and green living that was presented to the school.
As for the future, one of his main options is to attend Rutgers University. As part of the scholarship program, he can attend on a full ride. His other option is Pratt Institute. Christian wants to study marketing and advertising. He wants to be involved in more commercial work. “My art will be with me for the rest of my life,” he says. Art has also been his emotional outlet as well. “I used to be bullied in middle school and art has been a solace. I have been encouraged by my visual arts teacher Dorothy Amme. She tells me not to be afraid to explore different mediums. She’s also been so strong in sharing the values of art and its importance to life.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Joann Shih 2012 COVER Contest Finalists
Joann Shih, a junior at Mission San Jose High School, a public, co-educational, four-year secondary school located in the Mission San Jose district of Fremont, Calif., entered three oil paintings for the Creative Outlook Magazine cover contest. Her image of the Palace of Fine Arts took in hundreds of votes. The San Francisco structure has been part of the visual landscape for almost 100 years, including a run as an art exhibition venue. Joanna promoted her contest artwork by e-mailing her works and the link to the cover contest to her friends and relatives.
Joanna, studies with Jian Wu, a Chinese artist who came to the United States to study western art and eventually received his masters in fine art from the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. “I began painting at the age of 15,” she says. “The weekly classes with Jian Wu are private and so much fun. I have been taking lessons for two years. My parents also draw and my mom studied graphic design in Taiwan.” Joanna started with charcoal and moved to oil painting. Most of her still life works take about two months. The completed work hangs in the family living room.
At school, Joanna is part of the American Cancer Society Club which raises money for cancer awareness and research. The annual events include hosting an annual breast cancer week and actively participating in Relay for Life and other cancer walks. She is also part of MEDCORPS, a student organized health service club. “I also attend monthly lectures at the local hospital. I am interested in being a surgeon.”
During the school day, Joanna sticks with a rigorous course schedule. She takes three Advanced Placement classes and two honors. The full course load includes chemistry, statistics, pre-calculus, English, biology and a six class in United States history. Joanna, who is still researching colleges and universities, wants to study biomedical sciences. “I want to stick with my art. It will be a hobby even if I go into medicine. It is a way to relax and a way to redirect yourself from daily stresses and find yourself again.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Cerisse Gabion 2012 Performance CONTEST Finalist
Cerisse Gabion, a senior at Oxford Academy, Anaheim, Calif., a seventh through twelfth grade college preparatory public school, has had the advantage of being part of a strong choir program thanks to the school set-up. She’s currently a Show Choir member. She even worked with guest clinicians Lisa Freidrichs, choral director at Rancho Bernardo High School, and Dr. Rebecca Lord, lecturer and Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of California-Los Angeles Herb Alpert School of Music. As the Master Class soloist, she sang Only Hope, originally sung by Mandy Moore for the movie A Walk to Remember. The song also ended up as a choice for the performance contest for Creative Outlook Magazine.
“Every year, the honors choir participates in a master class,” she says. “I learned so much from the UCLA choir director. I gained confidence from that experience and her advice. It was nerve-wracking, but so rewarding.”
In youth theater, she was an ensemble cast member in The Wizard of Oz and Aladdin with the Brea Youth Theatre and a dancer for All Shook Up with the Buena Park Youth Theatre. She serves as a piano accompanist for her church.
At school, she is a member of Friends of Hope which hosts events like homecoming and prom for students of Hope High School, a school for special needs students. She’s a member of National Honor Society and plays flute. Cerisse planning on majoring in computer engineering and computer science. I want to continue with music; it really helps keep me balanced. I figure I will get a minor in music.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Brittany Howk 2012 Performance CONTEST Finalist
When Brittany Howk uploaded her performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the Creative Outlook Magazine performance contest, she was finishing her second semester as a senior at Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Ariz. In early September, she was entrenched in the world of college freshman at Arizona State University.
During that last semester, Brittany was one busy young woman. She was one of the lead spellers, Olive Ostrovsky, in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for a local community college production and then Olive Madison (the female Oscar Madison) in the female version of The Odd Couple at Gilbert High School. She even donated her hair as part of the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.
“I sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow because I wanted to do something that would show a different side of my voice, as well as a different take on the song. The song also applies a lot to what I am going through in life, with my dreams being hard to reach and transitioning into a new phase of my life!” She credits her high school drama teacher Rachel Rosen and her voice teacher Traci Jones for her skills and ability to perform.
Now as a freshman at Arizona State University, she is involved in the theater program. She has even added ballet at the university and jazz at CounterPoint Studio of Music and Performing Arts. “The dance is newer. I have been told I am a strong mover, but this is different.” Outside of school, she is in two glee clubs. “Performing is an experience and a feeling you don’t get anywhere else.”
Read Creative Outlook NOW! | Request info from these schools & enter to win a $500 Scholarship
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Movie Review: Argo
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Argo |
Opens: Oct. 12 |
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
Review by Joe Hagen
Argo, the story of a CIA “exfiltration” agent tasked with getting American hostages out of the Iranian revolution, is a wonderfully paced, perfectly shot and fantastically acted film. An all-star cast spearheaded by actor/director Ben Affleck, Argo brings grit and honesty to a story that needed to be told.
With Academy Award caliber acting from talents such as Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and a show-stealing Alan Arkin, each actor brings the perfect balance of intensity and humor. Most notable is the performance of Arkin, who plays an absolutely hysterical Hollywood producer recruited to provide an alibi for the CIA. With so many moments of tenseness, Arkin’s performance of Lester Siegel allows the audience a chance to breathe, reflect on the levity of the events unfolding, and possibly most importantly, laugh.
Showing directorial flashes of brilliance in The Town, Affleck brings a maturity and vision to Argo. Using the right combination of flecks on the screen, sepia tones, tight camera shots, props, and a spot-on soundtrack, Affleck shows that he appreciates the larger conceptual themes at play in his storytelling.
With a fantastic “don’t say more than needs to be said” screenplay by Chris Terrio, it allows Affleck the freedom to explore the visual richness of the Iranian culture and gives a subtlety to the depth of each character. By flipping your pre-conceived notions about the film, Terrio allows a wonderful story to be told in a simple, straight-forward way.
Argo is an intense, emotional, funny story told in a complete and satisfying way. Top-notch actors combined with spot-on technical film-making that ultimately delivers a compelling and important story that is worth watching.
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MyMajors Mobile App featured on CNET!
From How to load up on apps for back-to-school season
by Roger Cheng on CNET.com
“MyMajors is another great app for college students or high school students interested in thinking about their next move. The app is a student assessment tool that helps students figured out what major and which college to attend. The app includes a quiz, and also enhances the marketing material from participating college. It also provides a handy list of email, phone, and text information for each college, making actual communications a snap.”
Other GREAT apps that are featured are Evernote, Doubletwist, Pocket and iTunes U! Read the complete article on CNET here
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