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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

In a scene from Dune: Part Two, three sandworms move toward a group of people. Dune: Part Two released Friday and is the follow-up of 2021s Dune. (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

‘Dune: Part Two’ masters cinema

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | February 29, 2024

If I didn’t have to write this review, I would still be watching “Dune: Part Two.” I don’t mean that I walked out early. If I didn’t have to live my life, I would have watched it again. And again. And again. I wholeheartedly believe “Dune:...

Sam Rockwell (left) and Bryce Dallas Howard stand opposite of each other in a scene from Argylle. The new action film will leave fans bored and irritated. (Peter Mountain/Apple via AP)

‘Argylle:’ Another average attempt at action

By Lindsay Curtis, Lifestyle Writer | February 7, 2024

“Argylle” is just another action movie you’re going to forget about in a month. Matthew Vaughn, director and producer of the film, is also known for directing “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”  The film centers around...

Director Alexander Payne speaks to an audience at the premiere of The Holdovers. The films plot may seem fast-paced at some moments, but the emotional elements drive the story forward. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)

‘The Holdovers’ hits emotions, too slow

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | November 12, 2023

“The Holdovers” is essentially “Catcher in the Rye” if Old Spencer really cared about Holden.  When angsty student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) has to stay at Barton Academy over winter break, the cantankerous teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti)...

From left: Sofia Coppola, Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi pose at the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. The A24 film delves into the life of Priscilla Pressley. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

‘Priscilla’ highlights power imbalance

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | November 7, 2023

Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” feels real; and while it may be a little trim at times, the film is important, if only for the story it’s telling. “Priscilla” tells the story of Priscilla Beaulieu, a 14-year-old girl who met Elvis Presley during...

A person wears a white mask with a black hood over their head in a scene from A Haunting in Venice. The film is now in theaters and is based on the Agatha Christie novel titled Halloween Party. (Courtesy of YouTube)

‘A Haunting in Venice’ good, not necessary

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | October 18, 2023

Kenneth Branagh’s third portrayal of iconic detective Hercule Poirot creates a perfect mood for “A Haunting in Venice.” Branagh, who also directed and produced the film, perfected the Frenchman in his reprisal of the role.  After Poirot retired...

A movie poster for the film Saw X depicts a person screaming while having tubes over their eyes. “Saw X is now out in theaters and continues the franchise with more torture traps and thrilling plot-twists. (Photo: Business Wire)

‘Saw X,’ the epitome of human torture

By Sarah Rose, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | October 3, 2023

Editor’s note: This review contains spoilers and discusses source material that may be disturbing to some readers. For those who want to sit in a theater for almost two hours and witness the creativity of human torture traps, “Saw X” makes the...

Shailene Woodley (left) and Paul Dano interacting in a scene from the film Dumb Money. The movie is out in theaters and tells the story about how GameStop turned into a popular business because of normal Reddit users. (Claire Folger/Sony Pictures via AP)

‘Dumb Money’ fails to tell narrative tale it’s based on

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | September 26, 2023

While “Dumb Money” is a solid breakdown of the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, don’t hold out hope for the film to be the next “The Big Short.” In 2021, hedge fund managers decided to short GameStop stock, betting on the stock to drop. Retail...

The movie poster for Stop Making Sense, which features a man in a yellow colored suit staring into the distance. The film hit its 40-year anniversary and has been showing in select theaters across the country. (Amazon Prime Video)

‘Stop Making Sense’ makes sense

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | September 25, 2023

David Byrne, the frontman of Talking Heads, walks onto a stage with the curtain up, the back wall unpainted and covered in ladders and scaffolding. In his hand is a boombox.  “Hi. I’ve got a tape I want to play,” says Byrne.  From there,...

Movie clapperboard, tickets and popcorn over pink background.

Film review: ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor | January 11, 2022

The Umbrella Corporation is back again, this time taking over Raccoon City. “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” premiered in theaters on Nov. 24 with an all-new, younger cast.  The film is a reboot of the original “Resident Evil” film...

Empty cinema hall. View of empty white cinema screen from the upper rows of the auditorium.

Film review: ‘House of Gucci’

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief | December 21, 2021

“House of Gucci,” released Nov. 24 in theaters, is based on a true story and inspired by Sara Gay Forden’s novel “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed,” published in 2001. The crime and drama film...

Latest ‘Iron Man’ has darker edge

By David Stenger | May 6, 2013

Set aside the witty one-liners and prepare to be on your seat cheering on Tony Stark through all the mayhem and mishaps in “Iron Man 3.” “Iron Man 3” was released Friday, and it has had second-biggest opening since “The Avengers,” which also...

‘Mama’ brings chills and thrills

By Beth Schumacher | January 21, 2013

Over the last couple of years, movies of the horror genre have been failing at doing their job: scaring the audience. The latest Guillermo del Toro film, “Mama,” was released in theaters Friday. I’m happy to report, the Paranormal Activity series...