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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

A boy and a girl stand next to each other overlooking a valley. Millie Bobby Brown stars as a warrior-princess in her new Netflix film "Damsel." (Netflix under Fair Use)

‘Damsel’ is just OK

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 21, 2024

Millie Bobby Brown’s newest film “Damsel” was released on Netflix March 8 and has been gaining traction on sites like Letterboxd – with 164,000 logged views on the site since the film’s release. “Damsel” follows Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown),...

Big Love is a play performed by NIU's School of Theater and Dance. (Sarah Rose | Northern Star)

‘Big Love’ showcases a harrowing representation of marriage

By Sarah Rose, Managing Editor | April 16, 2023

The scene is set: A summer evening on a villa terrace on the Italian coast. As the stage sits undisturbed in silence, three young women enter the room screaming, disrupting the only moment of peace the audience will get.  On Friday, NIU’s School...

An alternative cover of Lana Del Rey's new album "Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd" containing a  photo of Del Rey with her thumb in her mouth. The album is a turning point, hitting new emotional depth in a more quiet, quaint style.

Lana Del Rey’s new album is her most personal one yet

By Sarah Rose, Managing Editor | March 28, 2023

“Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” is a reflection of the rawness that is the human mind. Lana Del Rey’s newest album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” was released Friday. Three singles, “Did...

Keanu Reeves, star of "John Wick Chapter 4" at the Los Angeles premiere of the film. Reeves returns in the titular role for a film that is surprisingly great.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ succeeds in a flooded market

By Daniel Massa, Lifestyle Writer | March 27, 2023

Editor’s Note: The following piece contains spoilers for “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which is currently in theaters. “John Wick: Chapter 4” is the ultimate personification of the action genre in Hollywood amidst an oversaturated sea of superhero...

Screenshot from "Pizza Tower" with Peppino Spaghetti sitting in his pizzeria. "Pizza Tower" is a platformer with a retro style and fast graphics.

‘Pizza Tower’ serves up a compelling retro platformer

By Daniel Massa, Lifestyle Writer | March 22, 2023

“Pizza Tower” is a charming and exhilarating callback to 2D platforming games of the ‘80s and ‘90s that doesn’t cut corners — only slices — wherever it potentially could with its design. “Pizza Tower” is a fast-paced 2D platformer...

A screenshot of the "Shadow and Bone" page on Netflix. The show's second season came out Thursday.

New season of ‘Shadow and Bone’ honors the books

By Sarah Rose, Managing Editor | March 22, 2023

All hail the Grishaverse, and all hail our queen and sun summoner Alina Starkov.  The long-awaited second season of Netflix’s original series “Shadow and Bone” was released on Thursday. The show is adapted from the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy...

A screenshot from the television series "Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster." The show turns away from looking at Fogle, choosing to look at smaller figures in the case.

‘Jared From Subway’ is unfocused, unnecessary

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | March 20, 2023

The latest in a seemingly never-ending procession of bombshell true-crime documentaries is “Jared From Subway: Catching a Monster.” The three-part docuseries will shock and appall its viewers but ultimately leave them feeling confused and disappointed. Jared...

Actor O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Director Elizabeth Banks on the red carpet during the World Premier of "Cocaine Bear."

‘Cocaine Bear’ is exactly what it sounds like

By Anika Haley, Lifestyle Writer | March 6, 2023

My expectations for “Cocaine Bear” were not high but that black bear sure was. I went into “Cocaine Bear” thinking it would be a bad survivalist movie that takes itself far too seriously. Then, in the end, the viewer would learn everything...

The cast of "Life is a Dream" during the University of Arkansas performance of the play on stage.

‘Life is a Dream’ questions being born into honor

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | February 13, 2023

Pockets of chatter filled the Sally Stevens Players Theater. Director Stanton Davis’ voice could be heard just above the crowd, telling a performer’s partner that “she’s a little badass.”  With the lights dimming, a figure in a red robe...

Co-creator and Co-writer Bill Lawrence, Actors Christa Miller and Harrison Ford and co-creator and actor Jason Segel during the premiere of "Shrinking."

Jason Segel gets brutally honest in new Apple TV+ show ‘Shrinking’

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | February 6, 2023

The first two episodes of the new comedy series “Shrinking” premiered on Apple TV+ on Jan. 27.  Created by Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs,” “Cougar Town” and “Ted Lasso”), Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”) and Jason Segel (“Forgetting Sarah...

Long curving rows of red theater seats with a dark background.

Film review: ‘M3GAN’

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | January 24, 2023

Editor’s Note: This review will contain spoilers, so read with caution. The first few weeks of January, at least in the film industry, are when studios drop the movies that didn’t turn out well. These weeks are the garbage dump of the film calendar...

The three members of boygenius (from left) Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus standing at a photoshoot in 2018.

boygenius lives up to their name with new singles

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | January 24, 2023

Indie-phenoms Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker released three new singles under their shared name boygenius.  “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry” and “True Blue” are the lead singles for their upcoming project titled “the record.”  After...