Author Archives: Donnell Gavin

As the warm weather makes its long-awaited return to New Haven, students wandering around late at night will observe the arrival of another familiar sight: juniors, often disguised or totally naked, participating in bizarre and mysterious senior society tap rituals. But during this undeniably unnerving time, a handful of juniors will be sleeping soundly in »

The residue of imperialism hangs over modern day Johannesburg, portrayed in stark and unforgiving detail by director Gavin Hood in his crime drama “Tsotsi.” The film, which won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, among other awards, follows the life of a young black man hoping to make ends meet in post-Apartheid South Africa. »

Only in the past several months have films about alternative lifestyles become more common. But as the genre evolves and grows into its own, it’s not surprising that filmmakers have begun to branch out, viewing the once taboo subject matter from different perspectives. While it’s no “Brokeback Mountain” or “Transamerica,” and likely won’t win any »

Most Yale students are too young to remember the original “Pink Panther,” starring Peter Sellers. Most Yale students are also too young to remember a time when people thought Steve Martin was funny. Our well-intentioned parents — and Comedy Central’s reruns — remind us that star of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles” »

In these troubled times of war and immorality, it should comfort adult entertainers everywhere to learn that, at least according to director Stephen Frears’ “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” taking off one’s clothes is a patriotic duty. While the charmingly British film occasionally slips into pedagogy on one end of the spectrum and silliness on the other, »

It is not often that horror films win awards. With that in mind, it practically goes without saying that Michael Haneke’s “Cache” is not your ordinary horror film. This French film, about a man who receives packages containing videos of himself and his family (in a decidedly less stylized manner than David Lynch’s “Lost Highway”), »

The events of Terrence Malick’s “The New World” take place over a span of several years. The movie itself feels only slightly shorter. While Malick’s attention to natural and historical details is admirable, without the pizzazz of talking animals, fairy tale endings and Christina Aguilera’s acrobatic vocals, the familiar story of Pocahontas and John Smith »

With the growing popularity of independent and foreign films as well as the increasing availability of film-making equipment, a more diverse range of actors, directors and producers have had the opportunity to display their talents on camera. Hoping to continue this trend, the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) will offer a showcase of independent films, »

While 2005 may live forever (or perhaps in infamy) as the year of the gay Western, 2006 promises a barrage of remakes, sequels and films that try to tackle the issues of terrorism and xenophobia. With that in mind, here are some of the best, worst and most anticipated films of the coming year. Poseidon »

While some may find the aging cast uncomfortably reminiscent of high school substitute teachers in leather pants, director Chris Columbus has captured the dynamic (if sometimes outrageous) spirit that made Rent a favorite on Broadway. In agreeing to make Rent, Columbus was confronting a musical written by Jonathan Larson that debuted in 1996 but is »

This article has been corrected. You may view this article’s correction here. While it may offer viewers a glimpse at the balding former New Kid and convicted arsonist Donnie Wahlberg, there is very little humor or irony in the unmitigated gore-fest that is Darren Lynn Bousman’s “Saw II.” While the first amusing, if gratuitous, installment »

Since high-tech animation became popular in the mid-1990s, the genre of children’s movies has become more cinematically realistic as technology advances. Wielding a rebellious army of giant ravenous bunnies and vividly colorful clay, British favorites Wallace and Gromit (created by Nick Park) present the silly, but essentially charming, “Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” Simply charismatic to »