The Avenue: Movies and TV - The Independent Florida Alligator

The 91st Academy Awards will air Sunday Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

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The Avenue reviews the 2019 Nominees for Best Picture

By Lindsey Breneman | Feb. 20, 2019

On Sunday, Feb. 24, the 91st Academy Awards, an event that has been fraught with controversies for its past few iterations, will decide the most noteworthy films of 2018. After #OscarsSoWhite in 2015, the subsequent boycott of many artists in 2016, the “Moonlight” and “La La Land” blunder in 2017 and the hyper spotlight on the #MeToo and “Time’s Up” movements last year, the Oscars lacks a host this year for the first time in three decades.

Christian Bale’s performance manages to make one of the most notorious figures in modern politics a sympathetic human being.

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‘Vice’ has the power to humanize Dick

By Sara Han | Feb. 20, 2019

”Vice” is about power. It’s a dark comedy biographical movie about how Dick Cheney rises to become one of the most powerful, yet problematic, vice presidents of U.S. history.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper‘s chemistry in ‘A Star is Born’ could warm even the coldest of hearts.

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Gaga and Cooper shine in ‘A Star is Born’

By Vanessa Blankenship | Feb. 20, 2019

“A Star Is Born” is the fourth Hollywood version of this tragic tale: Two talented musicians fall in love thanks to their undeniable chemistry on stage.

Bohemian Rhapsody attempts to share the story of the life of music legend and frontman to music group Queen, Freddie Mercury.

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‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ rocks the big screen

By Tranelle Maner | Feb. 20, 2019

The retelling of Freddie Mercury’s life may be the champion of the box office and Oscar night.

This dramatic adaption of true events is especially salient today. It also gave Spike Lee his first two, well-deserved, Oscar nominations.

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’BlacKkKlansman’: unveiling a true story and how it still relates today

By Tranelle Maner | Feb. 20, 2019

A black man uses his white colleague to help him infiltrate and breakdown the Ku Klux Klan during the 1970s — sounds like almost everything could go wrong.

Chadwick Boseman put on a phenomenal performance as Black Panther in the 2018 blockbuster.

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“Black Panther”: The superhero we needed

By Alex Camargo | Feb. 20, 2019

“Black Panther” is one of Marvel’s successful films of 2018. The film brings the world of “Blank Panther” to life — allowing viewers to experience Wakanda with it’s incredible culture and futuristic technology. Perhaps more importantly, it gives black audiences the chance to finally see a powerful superhero who looks like them on the big screen and achieve roaring success.

“The Favourite” follows cousin Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) who are now in competition.

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Was this your “Favourite” film of 2018

By Tranelle Maner | Feb. 20, 2019

Tied with “Roma” for the most Oscar nominations this year, this historical drama depicts the age-old tale of family members battling to be the most loved and the best.

The black-and-white choice for ‘Roma’ made the film even more beautiful without being overstimulating audiences.

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Netflix’s ‘Roma’ gives the production company legitimacy in the art field

By Jackie DeFreitas | Feb. 20, 2019

Shot in black-and-white and in panoramic style, “Roma” is a cinematic masterpiece that makes its ten Oscar nominations well deserved. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the Mexican director of “Gravity” (2013) and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004), “Roma” follows the story of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a live-in maid for a white, upper middle-class family in the Mexican city of Colonia Roma.

Although the story is extremely problematic, Mahershala Ali, who played Dr. Don Shirley, and Viggo Mortensen, who portrayed Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, both had phenomenal performances.

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When white people romanticize our histories we get films like ‘Green Book’

By Lindsey Breneman | Feb. 20, 2019

After years of slowly diversifying the Academy, “Green Book” seems to be the pick of the remaining faction of old white men. The film is “based on true events” in the story of an acclaimed black musician’s tour through the Deep South with a racist white driver who changes his attitude toward race during the journey.

”The Proposal” is the first rom-com on this list, because Sandra Bullock gives an intriguing performance as a career-driven woman forced into a relationship for her immigration status, which is quite different than most romantic comedies and makes this film particularly hilarious.

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Rom-coms for the most hilarious and romantic Valentine’s Day

By Tranelle Maner | Feb. 13, 2019

It’s Valentine’s Day week and everyone is in the mood to add a little bit more love to their lives. Whether you’re in a relationship or not, romantic comedies are an integral part of our average media consumption. So, as you figure out how to spend time with the people that you care about the most, including yourself, take the time and watch a good movie or two about love and life.

”Dynasty” was renewed for a third season on Jan. 31. The high-brow drama is a reboot of the popular 80’s soap opera.

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Series Review of the Week: Netflix's 'Dynasty'

By Tranelle Maner | Feb. 6, 2019

A show produced by The CW Television Network is getting a new wave of viewers thanks to its Netflix upload, which brought a new audience into an old storyline.

The five different iterations of the famous web-slinger in "Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse" perfectly encapsulate the essence of the hero with spectacular performances from the entire star-studded cast.

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‘Into The Spider-Verse’ is a cinematic triumph

By River Wells Alligator Staff Writer | Jan. 24, 2019

There are so many things I could say about “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

Hulu's “Fyre Fraud” and Netflix’s “Fyre” both analyze the failure of the outrageously popular luxury music festival on the Bahamian island Great Exuma in 2017.

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Fyre Fest vs. Fyre Fraud

By Tranelle Maner | Jan. 24, 2019

Which documentary really ignited the flame in viewers?

Guidance is executive produced by fMichelle Tractenberg. She also starred as the original guidance counselor in the first season.

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Series review of the week: Hulu’s ‘Guidance’

By Tranelle Maner | Jan. 18, 2019

This Awesomeness TV drama explores the complications of high school when huge scandals occur.

Wong Fu Productions spoke at AASU's first ever film festival.

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What happened at AASU’s first film festival

By Tien Le | Jan. 15, 2019

Wong Fu Productions came to speak for $9,000.

“Yappie,” a series about young Asian professionals and their exploration of social and racial issues, will be screened at FilmFest and three cast members, Philip Wang, Jennifer Le and Jessica Lin, will be in attendance.

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Asian American Student Union’s First Film Festival

By Sara Han | Jan. 8, 2019

The AASU will host Wong Fu Productions and screen student films in the Reitz Union this weekend.

Netflix's new series "YOU" asks: What do you do when the nice guy is actually a psycho?

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Series review of the week: Netflix’s ‘YOU’

By Tranelle Maner | Jan. 8, 2019

This new psychological dramatic thriller begs the question, “What would you do for love?” as our seemingly meek main character Joe goes to extreme and deadly lengths to be with the woman he loves.

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Series review of the week: “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”

By Tranelle Maner | Nov. 8, 2018

There’s a new witch in town, and Sabrina is flying onto everyone's Netflix watchlist.

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Series Review of the Week: “Dancing Queen”

By Tranelle Maner | Oct. 11, 2018

What may appear to be the Netflix’s version of “Dance Moms” proves to be an enlightening look into the life of a dance teacher and drag superstar.

'Sisters' follows the lives of three women whose lives cross at the junction of family and fate.

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Series Review of the Week: Netflix’s “Sisters”

By Tranelle Maner | Sep. 27, 2018

The Netflix drama follows the lives of three women who have all hit a roadblock or plateau in their lives.