The advent of cinema was a liberating experience. Men and women alike were given keys to this new medium, allowing for female filmmakers like Lois Weber to make statements through her work. However, as film became more lucrative and industrialized, filmmaking became a boys’ club. By introducing major production companies and restrictive content laws,  few female filmmakers were able to slip through the cracks, creating an imbalance in the stories being told.  

Judas and The Black Messiah, one of the most anticipated releases of 2021, premiered in theaters and on HBO MAX on February 12th. This biographical drama centers on the betrayal of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in late-1960s Chicago, at the hands of longtime party member William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), an FBI informant. I was deeply moved by the screenwriting, cinematography, and above all, the acting. While there are numerous stellar performances, such as Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, the standout performance was Lakeith Stanfield as William O’Neal. While Stanfield does not play the lead in many of his most well-known films, such as his roles in Sorry to Bother You, Get Out, Dope, and Uncut Gems, he always manages to leave an impression on me whenever I watch him.  

Community was one of those shows that I knew I had to watch but never had the time to. While quarantine wasn’t good for much, It did give me the chance to finally watch the 2011 sitcom I had heard so much about. While the show may not have the sizable fandom of other sitcoms from the same era such as The Office and Parks and Rec, it does have a very passionate fanbase and is considered to be extremely underrated by fans and critics alike. After finishing all six seasons, it definitely stands out from any other sitcom I have ever watched, but in a good way.

Writers and artists at The Stargazer love entertainment media, so we go through a lot of it. Want to know what we’ve been watching/reading/playing recently? Interested in what we have to say about it? Check out What’s in Our Orbit.

From Battleship Potemkin to The Pursuit of Happyness, the labor film is a genre that continues to resonate deeply with audiences. Conceived by Jane Fonda after interacting with a group of women office workers, 9 to 5 captures the oppression and rage that women in the workplace feel. The 1980 film features Dolly Parton in her first film performance as Doralee, Jane Fonda as the jumpy new employee, Judy, and Lily Tomlin as the cynical and sharp long-time employee, Violet. Their boss, Mr. Hart, becomes the object of hatred for the crew after his consistent belittling, harassment, and malice reaches a peak. In an alcohol-fueled smoke session, the three women giggle over how they would “get” the boss if they had the chance, all of which play in the film like scenes from Looney Tunes.  

I think it’s fair to say that 2010 was a simpler time for most of us, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was definitely a part of that simpler time for me. I remember watching my friend play the game on his Dell PC and eventually taking Scott on his epic journey to defeat Ramona’s evil exes for myself.

Check out your horoscope and what it means for what you should watch this month! Some available in our DVD/Blu Ray library, some through free streaming to FSU students, and some available through other streaming services online!

"Movies that you can watch once and understand entirely — that is the type of movie that I don't really like. However, if you are able to understand 70 to 80 percent of what's being relayed, and there's still some percentage left that would allow for your own interpretation . . . that's the type of movie that I do like. There might be a certain part that you don't quite understand, but there is a portion that rests in your heart." - Satoshi Kon

Writers and artists at The Stargazer love entertainment media, so we go through a lot of it. Want to know what we’ve been watching/reading/playing recently? Interested in what we have to say about it? Check out What’s in Our Orbit.

“In order to show you how a big symphony orchestra is put together, Benjamin Britten has written a big piece of music, which is made up of smaller pieces that show you all the separate parts of the orchestra.” As these words come from a small record player in the Bishop household, members of the family are introduced in Wes Anderson’s 2012 film, Moonrise Kingdom. This focus on composition is all too fitting for Anderson, whose films are defined by a composed, iconic appearance.