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Review: 'Pooter McGraw' play hits home
▶ SAMANTHA SEXTON
@Sambiscuit
Friday night saw the opening of "Pooter McGraw is Not Dead Party," the latest University Theatre show, which was written by Padraic Lillis and directed by Peter Zazzali.
The dramedy sees the reunion of six friends from college after hearing one of their friends, who they haven't seen since graduation, suddenly passed away. What follows is a dialogue-driven story of regret, the fear of growing up and hope for the future.
"I think just about any college student can relate to this story," Zazzali said. "It's about young people trying to figure out their place in the world and realizing that time is slipping by."
One of the main themes Zazzali suggested is the thought that waiting for the future can be dangerous, given the unexpected turns reality can take.
"Every student faces the fear of uncertainty growing up," Zazzali said. "You don't really know what's going to happen and that's not something that you can prepare for."
Ethan Malin, a sophomore from Wamego, echoed that sentiment, and said one of his main takeaways was a look into what it could be like for him and his friends after he graduates.
"Nobody really tells you or prepares you for what's going to happen after college," Malin said. "Seeing the difficulties of that transition is
something that I've never really thought about and I guess a play is a good way to teach that."
The powerful and unapologetic depiction of reality for millennials hitting the workforce and dealing with the pressures of society had some audience members in tears. Victoria Kilkenny, a junior from Shawnee who played Ash, delivered a particularly gut-wrenching performance that, for a moment, left the audience deathly silent.
"Pooter McGraw is Not Dead Party" will be playing at the Crafton-Preyer Theater in Murphy Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Nov.17, 19, and again at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 20.
"It was a very passionate performance, and I enjoyed when things got a little heated in the second act." Malin said.
Bettina Bugatto/KANSAN From left, Drew Hafling as Sam, Kendra J. Hacker as Jenny, DeAngelo Davis as Pooter and Victoria Kilkenny as Ash in a scene from "Pooter McGraw is Not Dead Party."
Review: 'Arrival' is impactful, realistic science fiction
▶ GUS HUNNINGHAKE @gushunninghake
French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve has been slowly making a name for himself in Hollywood since the release of "Prisoners" in 2012. This twisted mystery-drama put Villeneuve in the spotlight, showcasing his ability to ground blunt, hard-hitting social and ethical commentary into real-life situations. His 2015 film "Sicario" did more of the same, delivering social commentary on the United States-Mexican border war and presenting it through a completely plausible story. With "Arrival," Villeneuve looks to continue his hot streak by adding in the fantastical idea of alien life, while at the same time keeping his story grounded in real life.
"Arrival" stars Amy Adams as Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist who is called on by the United States government to try and communicate with an alien race that has landed at 12 different spots around the Earth. While she makes slow progress, tensions in other nations begin to rise, making Banks' job of trying to figure out the alien's purpose on Earth harder and
harder to accomplish. With time slowly running out, the idea of a defensive attack on the aliens becomes increasingly likely, making Banks the only buffer to an impending war spread across the world.
The film goes on a surprisingly off-genre track that is void of much action and instead focuses on the dramatic and human aspects of the story. This forces the narrative to unfold at a slow pace. Some viewers may be turned off by this, but the slow burn is important to the story. It allows the characters to envelop themselves into their
Contributed Photo
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Jeremy Renner, left, and Amy Adams in a scene from "Aerial."
situation and also keeps the focus on the human aspects of the narrative. Instead of letting mindless science fiction action and violence take precedence, Villeneuve leaves that to "Independence Day" and sticks to a pace that he deems best, which keeps his themes of the power of language and the effects of loss at the forefront of the story.
and Renner has few character clichés to deal with. This allows for Renner to deliver a well-realized performance that makes him worth getting onscreen attention.
Also worth noting is Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly, an astrophysicist hired to assist Banks in learning the alien language. His character is a little underdeveloped, but there is just enough reason for him to be in the film,
Adams delivers a wonderful performance as Dr. Banks. Her role is surprisingly multi-layered, and she does a fine job of portraying the grief and loneliness that her character has to endure, along with the stress she feels in trying to make clear contact with the aliens. This is a rare science fiction film character that is so grounded in realism and human emotion that it's hard to see any acting. Adams feels more like a real person than an actress in a major role. She steals every scene she's in, and the impact of her character resonates long after the film concludes.
The film goes on a surprisingly off-genre track that is void of much action and instead focuses on the dramatic and human aspects of the story. "
From a strictly visual standpoint, this film is beautiful to behold. Villeneuve and cinematographer Bradford Young work together wonderfully to make a film that is visually awe-inspiring. Beautiful wide shots of the grassy fields of Montana where the UFO has landed inhabit the screen in the first act, perfectly setting up the scope of the film and what viewers expect it to encapsulate in its two-hour runtime. Tracking shots and close-ups add to the film's tension, which doesn't let up until the credits finally roll. In addition to this, Villeneuve keeps
the CGI to a minimum on just a $47 million budget. All of these decisions add to the harsh realism not normally seen in a science fiction story.
Although the film's narrative is pretty fluid and clear, there are a lot of questions that arise from certain key revelations made by Banks near the end of the film. Most of these questions have logical answers, but there are some that take much more time to process and figure out. Full attention is required throughout the duration of the film to fully grasp everything that happens, especially in the third act.
Ultimately, "Arrival" is the best example of how something as mythical as science fiction can be grounded in ideas and events that feel wholly human. By the end of the film, its few narrative flaws have little impact on the overarching story as a whole. Adams' impactful dramatic role, Villeneuve's increasingly reliable direction and the pulse-pounding visuals make this story a worthwhile tale to witness.
— Edited by Cody Schmitz
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