Articles by: style

 

• The Weird World of Jared Hess: Broadside Talks with Gentlemen Broncos Director

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 9:16 pm Comments are Disabled

  Katie Robertson, Broadside Correspondent Jared Hess is an award-winning writer and director who, in just five short years, has created two blockbuster films and made a lasting impression on popular culture and the independent movie-making world, creating an unassumingly unique genre all his own. Hess, who brought us the weird world of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, has a new movie called Gentlemen Broncos opening in selected cities Oct. 30. Gentlemen Broncos tells the story of 15-year-old Benjamin Purvis, an aspiring science fiction writer, played by Michael Angarano (Lords of Dogtown). Benjamin’s mom, played by Jennifer Coolridge, sends him to a writer’s camp where Benjamin gets a chance to meet his idol in the science fiction writing world, Dr. Ronald Chevalier. Flight of the Conchords star Jemaine Clement plays the Bluetooth-wearing, novel-stealing antagonist of the film. Chevalier, in a fit of desperation, steals Benjamin’s story to submit to his publishers. The story that unfolds follows Benjamin’s misadventures to get recognition for a story that was rightfully his. Broadside got a chance to sit down with Hess to ask him about the inspiration for his new film, a surprising Ninja Turtles connection, and the danger that comes with getting too weird. […]

   

• Rock, Paper, Action: Mockumentary The Flying Scissors is Amusing, but Not Much Else

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 9:07 pm Comments are Disabled

  Josh Hylton, Staff Writer There’s a game I play with my friends. It is always spur of the moment and it always comes about when we have a disagreement, when neither my friend nor I want to get up and do something. It is initiated by one quick sentence: “Let’s go, on ‘shoot.’” That game is Rock Paper Scissors, but to us, it is more than a game. It’s a way of life. It is sacred and the loser must do what is expected of him, no questions asked. Perhaps that is why I was so amused by the new mockumentary, The Flying Scissors, a film that puts a humorous satirical spin on the hallowed game. The film follows the National Rock Paper Scissors League as they prepare for the upcoming championship where dozens of regional winners from all over the nation will compete in upstate New York with the hope of being crowned the NRPSL champion. Among the contestants are Leon Washington, played by Mike Britt, who uses vulgar trash talk to intimidate his opponents, Frank, played by Todd Susman, an aging man who has come down with arthritis in his RPS hand, making it increasingly difficult to compete, […]

   

• Movies That Rock: They’ve Got the Beat: The All-Time Best Films About Music

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 9:04 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ross Bonaime, Staff Writer Last Wednesday, Michael Jackson’s final concert opus, This Is It, was released to rave reviews and sold-out showings. On Nov. 13, Pirate Radio will be released. It’s a movie starring Philip Seymour Hoffman about DJs going out to sea to broadcast illegal rock and roll radio to ‘60s England. With this recent rise of music in movies, here are the top-ten movies about music: 10. School of Rock What would happen if Jack Black took over a private school’s music class? The film shows the educational power that all types of music can have on children and that Black would make a pretty great music teacher. 9. 8 Mile At the height of Eminem’s musical career, Marshall Mathers made his stunning film debut appearing as underground rapper B-Rabbit.  The film builds around his constant struggles until finally they burst into a breathtaking musical performance that hits viewers as hard as life has hit B-Rabbit. With “Lose Yourself,” Mathers won an Oscar for best song. 8. I’m Not There Todd Haynes decided to take a spin on typical rock biographies like Ray and Walk the Line by having six different actors play Bob Dylan in different points of […]

   

• Isolated Incident: Dane Cook to Visit the Patriot Center

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 9:01 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall, Style Editor It’s been nearly two years, but he’s back. On Nov. 6, outspoken comedian and actor Dane Cook will bring his antics back to the Patriot Center with his ISolated INcident Global Thermo Comedy Tour. Known for his outrageous observational humor, Cook has proven to be a smash hit among college students. Starting his career in Los Angeles, Cook appeared on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend in 1998. Since then, he has released five comedy albums and has toured successfully for each. In 2004, his album Retaliation was the first comedy album in nearly thirty years to climb the Billboard charts, peaking at number four. This feat put him in the company of comedy greats like Bill Cosby. He is notable as being one of only two comedians to sell out the famed Madison Square Garden. For his latest release, titled ISolated INcident, Cook performed in front of a crowd of 30 at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. In addition to his successful stand-up career, Cook is also known for his acting. He has acted in over 20 movies, starring in such films as the cult classic Waiting…, Employee of the Month co-starring Jessica Simpson, and Good Luck […]

   

• Metal Madness: Iconic Metal Bands Rock the Patriot Center

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 8:58 pm Comments are Disabled

  Chris Earp, Broadside Correspondent This Halloween, two iconic heavy metal bands made their way to George Mason University for a show to end all shows. The headliners, Dethklok and Mastodon, are both unique within the genre. The former is actually a cartoon band around which the television show Metalocalypse is based. The short comedy takes a satirical look at the metal world, poking fun at the industry and bands themselves. Real musicians record Dethklok’s music, and two genuine albums later, have amassed a large and rabid fan base. Mastodon has been an integral part of American metal for years. Since the Atlanta-based band first crashed onto the scene with Remission in 2002, their music has been evolving steadily. The product of this evolution is Crack the Skye, a concept album that fans had the pleasure of hearing played all the way through this Halloween. One of the reasons that heavy metal concerts are so much fun to attend is that the fans are so energetic. The excitement that I felt just milling about, trying to find my seat was absolutely electric. It seemed like everyone I saw was wearing a Mastodon or Dethklok shirt, and some were even dressed like […]

   

• Tuesday Jams: Baby Grand Takes the Stage at Jazzman’s

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 8:56 pm Comments are Disabled

  Chris Earp, Broadside Correspondent Happy to get out of the October drizzle, I ducked into the warmth of Jazzman’s. Not many people were there, save for some film students taping the show and a couple of coffee drinkers. It seemed that the only people intently eyeing the “stage” (which was simply the corner opposite the entrance) were directly related to the event in some capacity or another. For those who don’t know, every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., the Program Board hosts a “jam” at Jazzman’s, a coffee shop located on the ground floor of the Johnson Center at George Mason University. I took a seat close to the PA and glanced around, trying to find someone affiliated with the Program Board. I finally identified her after hearing her talking to the film students. Interdisciplinary Studies major Sho Roberts, a Mason grad student and first-year member of the Program Board, happily explained the idea behind Tuesday Jams. “The idea is basically to give students a relaxed environment that they can hang out in and support local music. We alternate who plays weekly; first we’ll have an open mic type setting, then we’ll feature a [Mason] student, and finally we showcase a […]

   

• Getting in the Halloween Spirit: Local Attractions Offer Wide Array of Options for Halloween Revelers

  Lifestyle October 27, 2009 at 3:17 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall, Style Editor Who says Halloween is just for kids? While the kids might be the ones who get to dress like superheroes and not get laughed at, college students can have just as much fun. George Mason University, Washington, D.C. and the northern Virginia area have several events planned for Oct. 31. If you’re looking for something to get you and your pals into the Halloween spirit, check out these events, both on campus and off: On Campus For those who want to have some holiday fun without leaving campus, Mason has Halloween covered. On Oct. 27, Mason Housing will be providing mini pumpkins for students to paint. The event is open to everyone. On Oct. 29, the Northern Neck dorms will play host to a Halloween party. The event will feature prizes for best dressed and scariest costumes. For those who prefer to rock out on Halloween, Mason is offering a little something for the metal head in all of us. On Halloween night, cartoon metal band sensation Deathklok will be sharing the stage with Mastodon at the Patriot Center. Tickets are on sale now and are available for $35 and can be purchased at the Patriot […]

   

• Repeat Offenders: Six Overused Halloween Costumes You Should Avoid

  Lifestyle October 27, 2009 at 3:13 pm Comments are Disabled

  Julia Harding, Broadside Correspondent Every year, college students are faced with the challenge of choosing a costume for their Halloween adventures. Unfortunately, most students continue to make the same mistakes over and over again: Wearing the same ridiculously lame costumes from years prior. Halloween is the best holiday to show off uniqueness, so people should take advantage of it instead of wearing the same attire their best friend wore last year. To help out, Broadside is here to talk about which costumes to avoid this year. Unless, of course, you want to be part of the average, boring and ultimately lame agenda. Here’s a list of the top three most overused, annoying costumes for men and women. Men Pimps: Really, guys? Do men actually think that this is appealing to women, even on a night of fun? Sorry gentlemen, but your grills and pimp cups aren’t much of a turn-on for the ladies. Seriously though, this is definitely one of the most overdone costumes because every man who wears this outfit is obviously out to stroke his own ego. Perhaps men think that their cheap, bedazzled pimp canes are an extension of their manhood. The answers to why men degrade […]

   

• Dress Up on a Dime: Look Ghoulish Without Breaking the Bank

  Lifestyle October 27, 2009 at 3:09 pm Comments are Disabled

  Gabriella Leone, Broadside Correspondent Halloween costume prices can be just as scary as the holiday, but with some do-it-yourself tips you can have an original and affordable costume this year. The first place to look is your own closet. Be creative! Look at what you have and try to put something together. For example, if you want to be Michael Jackson this year, you probably already own some key pieces. Black pants, black flat shoes, a simple white t-shirt and white socks are items that can typically be found in your closet. Now all you need is a metallic glove, a flashy black jacket or blazer and a black hat. You can pick all these items up at a costume or thrift store for around $30 and jazz them up with glitter glue. You can even be Thriller-era Michael Jackson with red pants and a red jacket or vest, two items that you can get for a total of $30 if you look at department stores like Kohl’s, Macy’s and Sears. The Joker is a popular costume, and an easy one, too. Instead of buying purple pants and a blazer, wear a dark suit with a green shirt and dark […]

   

• The Terrifying 10: Our list of the Scariest Movies of All Time

  Lifestyle October 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ross Bonaime, Staff Writer As Halloween rolls around this week, it is time to reflect on a yearly mainstay of the season: the scary movie. While Saw VI comes out with its latest iteration on how to convolutedly kill people within a ragged plotline, I implore you this Halloween to check out some of the films that are actually frightening. With that, here are the top ten greatest scary movies. 10. Let the Right One In Vampires may have regained popularity with Twilight, but this Swedish film did it much better. Oskar is a kid who falls in love with Eli, a little girl who moved in next door, and just so happens to be a vampire. The film succeeds by not glorifying vampirism and showing how horrifying and lecherous being a vampire truly could be. 9. The Blair Witch Project This low-budget handheld horror film redefined how easily movies can be made and just how terrifying a movie with a small budget about three friends lost in the woods can be scarier than the typical big-budget horror fare. Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity – say thank you. 8. The Sixth Sense Remember when M. Night Shyamalan was being called the […]