Entertainment peaks during holidays
With the holidays approaching, the entertainment landscape will be littered with new offerings. Though not all are festive in nature, each hopes to capitalize on a time when the weather turns bitter and daylight becomes scarce.
But most importantly to us, it’s the first time a full night’s rest will be achieved. Though snow may blanket some of our homes, we’ll need something to do as our first-semester worries melt away. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a longer version of Best Bets that goes right into the holiday season.
Thanksgiving break
For the soon-approaching Thanksgiving break, movies are hitting on issues that can appeal to a vast majority of the population.
“Milk” is the best choice for the holiday. It’s is a hard-hitting biopic about Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn), the first openly gay man to be elected to a public office in the United States. The movie goes into the private life of Milk, which other documentaries and movies didn’t dare touch. With a star-studded cast including Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna and James Franco, it will not disappoint.
There have been rave reviews for the history-based epic, “Australia” which co-star two real Australian-born citizens, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. And when they say epic, they mean it. It’s said to still be in editing, but it will be around three hours long.
But for those who just want to take a break from stuffing their face on Thursday and fighting the shopping crowds on Friday, “Four Christmases,” may do the trick.
A light-hearted comedy about a couple, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, the film follows them as their holiday flight to Fiji is canceled during the Christmas holiday. This means they are forced to visit their families instead--far, far away from any island paradise.
An album that is set to release days before Thanksgiving is sure to entice a lot of listeners.
The Killers upcoming album “Day & Age” is a good combination of their first two extremely different albums. While their first album “Hot Fuss” was a purely pop sound and their second, “Sam’s Town,” was gritty and earthy, this mixes the two with just enough of each. With the band originating in Las Vegas, the album is sure to be a big, glamorous show for listeners.
Winter break
Though the few days off for Turkey Day are glorious, winter break is the true goal, with three weeks of no homework, home-cooked meals, and holidays.
With this time off comes more time for movies with old friends and time to yourself.
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” is getting the most publicity and seems to be the most unique and interesting movie being released during the break. Brad Pitt stars as Benjamin Button, a man who ages backwards. He is born old and slowly changes into a child, which leads to many challenges in love, friendships, and within himself. It’s a script that had been floating around to directors, but the premise was thought to be too hard to portray on the screen. With precision CGI effects, it was finally taken on, and it seems to be a surefire way for Pitt to receive his first Academy Award nomination, and possible statue win, for best actor.
The other two contenders for the season include “Bedtime Stories” and “Revolutionary Road.”
Adam Sandler stars in the family-centered comedy “Bedtime Stories.” Sandler plays a hotel handyman who tells bedtime stories to his niece and nephew, but when these stories start coming true, he has to find a way to survive. It’s perfect for younger siblings or relatives who may come to visit.
“Revolutionary Road” re-pairs the duo from “Titanic,” Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, to play a young couple in the 1950s. They have to deal with the personal problems of feeling unfulfilled with their plush lives in the suburbs, while also raising their two children. With frustration constantly growing, the couple has to learn to cope or make the decision to let each other go.
With three weeks of CD releases to sift through, one stands out as my favorite.
“Call & Response: The Remix Album” by Maroon 5 is sure to satisfy more than just the band’s loyal fans. The album takes the songs of Maroon 5 to other artists and gives them the chance to put their own spin on the songs. Artists who contribute include Mark Ronson, Pharrell Williams, Cool Kids, Of Montreal and Sam Farrar (Phantom Planet).
