Entertainment
Obsessed Fails to Stand Out
By Broadside Staff Writer Joshua Hylton
We all have obsessions—some of us obsess over the opposite sex, some over sports and others movies. The new film Obsessed follows Lisa (Ali Larter), a temp worker who becomes so infatuated with her boss, Derek (Idris Elba), that she drives herself to the brink of suicide in order to create a fabricated story that will tear his family apart.
The problem is that the way this movie unfolds is so artificial that you do not buy for a second that anybody is in any real danger. Doing an intelligent analysis of what would happen in real life if an actual person obsessed over you could make for a riveting film, as seen with the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction, but this fails to hit even the most basic levels.
Anatomy Studies at Fenwick
By Broadside Sex Columnist Billy Curtis
You’ve thought about it. All the dark and empty study rooms, the huge stacks of books with no one in sight and the adrenaline rush that comes with the possibility of getting caught by one of the librarians—that alone is enough reason to do it.
We’ve all heard the rumors of people having sex in the stacks or study rooms in Fenwick Library, and you know there may have been times when you walked past a study room and saw something you probably didn’t want to. But while there are some that have only contemplated or dreamt about it, there are the few, the proud, the brave, who have actually done it.
I am one of those proud few.
Students Shine in Say Goodnight, Gracie
By Broadside Style Editor Emily Sharrer
When theater professor Edward Gero met Ralph Pape in 1977 while working at a midtown New York City office, neither of them could have guessed that over 30 years and two successful careers later the two would wind up reuniting at George Mason University.
But when it came time for Gero, a decorated stage performer, to direct the GMU Players’ next production, Pape’s Say Goodnight, Gracie was a natural choice.
No T-Pain, No Gain
By Broadside Correspondent Evan Benton
Grammy award-winning hip-hop rapper and producer T-Pain worked his magic at the Patriot Center last Thursday night for Mason Day. Tickets to the concert were sold out to the general public as T-Pain put on arguably one of the most entertaining shows ever to be performed at Mason Day. Rapping, singing, dancing, even playing electric guitar, piano and drums, T-Pain performed an impressive set for the crowd.
17 Again Uses Tired Plot Line
By Broadside Staff Writer Ross Bonaime
Photo Courtesy of New Line Cinemas.
The idea of films in which the main character goes back in time or gets a chance to redo his life over again are usually based on déjà vu. We’ve seen these characters do these events once, now they must go back and do them again for a different effect.
The new Zac Efron film 17 Again gives the feeling of déjà vu, but only because we have seen this idea done before and in much better films.
Local Clown Returns to Perform
Photo by Randy Urick.
By Broadside Correspondent Evan Benton
When I used to threaten my mother by telling her I would join the circus if I did not get my way, I was operating under the impression that the saying was a meaningless one. I mean, no one has actually made good on it, have they?
Well, James McGrath didn’t run away and join the circus. He didn’t even go looking for it. The circus found him.
Racism Exposed in American Violet
Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Alfre Woodwar as Alma Roberts and Xzibit as Darrell Hughes in American Violet.
Alfre Woodwar as Alma Roberts and Xzibit as Darrell Hughes in American Violet.
By Broadside Correspondent Robert Guzman
The story of racial profiling is not an easy one to tell, but American Violet, the story of a woman falsely accused of dealing narcotics, effectively tells the tale.
At first glance you may not feel that you are affected by it, but this movie is designed not to make you think. Instead it is designed to make you feel.
The tale of Dee Roberts, played by Nicole Beharie, reflects on the real life story of Regina Kelly. Writer, director and executive director Tim Disney delivers a powerful movie in a short period of time with stunning accuracy.
Online Dating Services: Dating Aids or Dating Disasters?
By Broadside Sex Columnist Billy Curtis
Dating has been facing a pandemic in recent years. With the world becoming more technologically advanced every day, it seems that it was only a matter of time until these advances reached the dating scene. Online dating has replaced the formal introduction, text messages have replaced love notes and first impressions are based on instant message conversations rather than face-to-face meetings. When relationships are started in the cyber world, it’s hard to imagine how well they transition into the real world.
Top 5 Comic Book Series
By Connect2Mason Comic Columnist Greg Pelkofski
I know I originally said that this was supposed to be a Top 10 list, but when I came up with a preliminary list of comics that I would place on this list I only had about eight or nine. Even a couple of those didn’t deserve to be listed as one of the top series. So here are five excellent ongoing comic book series.
5. Kick-Ass – I would like to put this further down on the list but considering only five issues of this comic have come out it is hard to put it beyond anything that has been out for many more years. Kick-Ass is the story of a high school kid who, after years of reading superhero comic books, decides to become a superhero. He makes a costume, starts training and goes out on patrol in New York City. His first attempt in stopping a crime ends with him in critical care at a hospital. After weeks of healing and rehabilitation, he goes out again.
No Beer Queers: Why Alcohol is No Excuse
By Broadside Sex Columnist Billy Curtis
It has come to my attention in recent days that more and more often, an act is committed that clearly goes unnoticed by the public eye. Many joke about it; some even disbelieve its accusations. I am writing to you today to tell you the truth! A couple years ago, a friend showed me a video on YouTube entitled “Bro Rape.” This video took a great approach to this unheard crime of closeted homosexual frat guys forcing themselves upon others for sexual gains. Bringing promises of beer, GameCube, Jack Johnson and later, after the subject has been seduced or intoxicated, said ‘Bro’ goes in for the kill, possibly with a black dildo. Despite this stereotypical scenario of Bro Rape, there are many other varieties of this horrible crime. In my many years of experience with dating, sex and all of the above, I have come in contact with many closeted frat guys. The things I learned from them have at some points been beneficial to my life and in others have tortured me so.