✓
REVIEW
movie review //'THE INFORMANT!'
Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
The movie, based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald, tells the true story of corporate climber Mark Whitacre (a chubby Matt Damon). He's a pathological liar and his lying eventually leads to his sort of (but not completely) inventing a price-fixing scam involving his company, ADM, for which he plays informant to two FBI agents (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale).
Director Steven Soderbergh is a man of diverse tastes and talents. He's done everything from mainstream heist movies (the Ocean's 11 franchise) to arthouse experimentation (Bubble) to epic biopics (Che parts one and two). Soderbergh has earned a lot of respect in the film world and rightly so. But even he couldn't make The Informant! (out now in theaters) a truly entertaining movie.
Whitacre's story is certainly an interesting one, full of corporate greed and intrigue. It tells well (for a more condensed, fast-paced version of the story, check out This American Life's episode on Whitacre, "The Fix is In"). But, unfortunately, it just doesn't film well. The art direction and cinematography are great but, even with the addition of Marvin Hamlisch's goofy score, it just
isn't enough to make up for characters who just aren't that interesting.
The Informant! isn't a bad movie. Its heart is in the right place, and the story it tells (at least conceptually) is intriguing. But one can't help but think it might have worked out better as a documentary, or some looser form of narrative that required less dramatic creativity. As it is, much of the movie just ends up being kind of flat.
★ ★ ★ // ABBY OLCESE
music review // YO LA TENGO — 'POPULAR SONGS' KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption. (MATADOR)
Yo La Tengo have been a band longer than I've been alive. This is their 12th album in the 25 years of their existence and when you think about that in the terms of the music industry, that's a lot — it's more than double how long the Beatles were together. In a place of one-hit wonders, singles and "Yo-imma-let-you-finish-buts," 25 years is an eternity for a simple indie band such as Yo La Tengo.
When you think about it, though, they aren't really a simple indie band anymore. Their sound has developed over the years to incorporate so many intricacies of so many genres that they aren't simple at all.
When I first went through the album, I thought that it wasn't different from their other material and that they hadn't really developed any more. Well, they don't have to. Their sound has so much to offer in so many different facets that remaining the same for them is being innovative and different. 1970s-funk string parts, nasty garage rock guitar, disjointed electro-beats ... all of it comes together yet again in a composition by the incredible versatility of this band.
Despite all of this variation, none of the songs seem out of place or uncomfortable. All of the songs are branded with that same label of Yo La Tengo that you've come to expect.
The long and short of it is, this band is aging. Yet somehow, just like Mick Jagger's leather pants, they haven't lost any of their luster.
// LOGAN NICKELS
KJHK Station manager and rotation DJ
DO WHAT YOU LOVE.
Discover how you can launch an exciting and REWARDING CAREER in the HEALTH AND WELLNESS FIELD. MTTI-WellSpring is NOW ENROLLING for its accredited hands-on programs in MASSAGE THERAPY and PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING.
MTTI WELLSPRING CENTER FOR NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS CALL US AT 785-856-3903 OR VISIT WWW.MTTI.NET
LOOKING FOR FREE LEGAL HELP?
landlord tenant disputes lease review // DUI fake ID// MIP notary // consumer protection income tax assistance
Call us today! 785-864-5665
LSS
LEGAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
312 Burge Union 844-656-5045 Joaquin, Directed.
SENATE
book review // L.A. CANDY — LAUREN CONRAD reading.it's not just for textbooks,you know.
If you're looking for a tasty treat to add flavor to a boring night, try picking up L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad.
Now I know what you're thinking, "Why would I want to read a book by an ex-reality show star turned wannabe author?" As crazy as it seems, Conrad's book is actually entertaining.
Though the book cover displays Conrad's name noticeably larger than the book title, when cracking open the book it becomes obvious that it has an undeniably addicting quality that has you reading this book cover to cover.
Conrad uses her personal experience to write a book about two fictional girls who go from recent high school graduates to reality TV stars in only a few months after moving to Los Angeles.
This book gives readers an insider's look at the life of a reality TV star. Conrad gives readers a look at the initial interview, the shooting process and the variation of the end product of the show from the actual reality that took place.
Surprisingly there are not many similarities between L.A. Candy and The Hills. Conrad keeps the book clean of any retelling from the hit reality shows Laguna Beach and The Hills, both in which she starred.
There are some similarities between Conrad and Jane, the main character of her book. Jane is a petite, blond girl-next-door type who receives an internship with a top event planner skipping college and heading straight into the work force. Jane is a little naive and seemingly always falls for the wrong guy.
The best part about this book is the cliffhanger ending that is an obvious tip that a sequel is coming soon. Though I'm still debating with myself whether Conrad actually wrote this book herself, *the book still leaves the reader salivating for the next drop of Conrad's L.A. Candy.*
// AMBER JACKSON
10
01
09
22