The Plank - Arts
“Mank” overcomes shortcomings with notable performances
Directed by David Fincher and starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Charles Dance, “Mank,” one of Netflix’s newest films, tells the story of the creative process of Herman J. Mankiewicz as he creates the great movie Citizen Kane.
Breaking down the 2021 Oscars
The Oscars are a once-a-year event presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that recognized the finest in film making in the past year. This year’s ceremony will take place on April 25 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Opinion: In 2021, it’s time to bring back the Batman Arkham series
Before the 2010’s, licensed superhero video games had an infamous track record of being poorly thought out cash grabs. However, their reputation was turned around when “Batman Arkham Asylum” was released to critical acclaim in 2009.
Celebrating music: Grammy Awards preview and predictions
One of the great escapisms during the pandemic was music.
Millions of people turned to their favorite artists and albums for comfort. Artists themselves found solace in music, producing new records and songs in an effort to retain normalcy and connect with their fans.
Opinion: Improvements make “NBA2k21” almost a slam dunk
Released on Sept. 4, 2021, the Current Gen version of “NBA2K21” is developed by Visual Sports and 2K sports. There’s also a Next Gen version of the game that is only accessible for PS5 and Xbox Series X, but this review focuses solely on the Current Gen edition that can be played on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and PC platforms.
Father Tom Lucas S.J. ’70 to give lecture on the arts and Jesuit tradition
Back at Jesuit High School Sacramento for the first time in 50 years after becoming the pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Father Tom Lucas S.J. ’70 will be the guest speaker at the school’s 2nd Annual President’s Ignatian Lecture on Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Opinion: PlayStation 5 has its ups and downs, but has innovative features that bring a new level of immersion to players
Released on Nov. 12, the PlayStation 5 is the newest and most powerful gaming console from Sony. With so many other competing consoles on the market, however, it can be difficult to decide if Sony’s new platform is worth the costly price of admission.
Opinion: “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” builds upon its predecessors, but still has some shortcomings
Released by Activision and created by Treyarch, “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” uses the usual Call of Duty style of having three game modes: Campaign, Zombies, and Multiplayer. It also comes with a fun addition from the previous “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Game,” Warzone.
“Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” features captivating story and ending
A launch title for the PS5 that can also be played on the PS4, “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” generated a lot of excitement ahead of its Nov. 12 release. The game is an “expansion” of the highly praised “Marvel’s Spider-Man” with the campaign length estimated to be 12 hours long, roughly half of the first game.
“Among Us” emerges from pandemic as the newest social crave amongst teenagers
“Among Us” came out more than two years ago, but has only now become a mainstream sensation. First released on June 15, 2018, the game has peaked this year with 438,524 concurrent players solely on the video game service, Steam.
“Tenet” wins some battles, loses war
“Tenet” is an action-packed yet thought-provoking film directed by Christopher Nolan, which stars John David Washington, Robert Pattison, and Elizabeth Debicki. This mind-bending action thriller follows a secret agent (Washington) and his trusted friend Neil (Pattinson) as they try to prevent Sator (Kenneth Branagh) from starting World War III.
Jesuit Drama prepares for online fall play in remote settings
For the Jesuit High School Sacramento community, much has changed due to the pandemic. While academics and athletics look notably different, another part of Jesuit that has been forced to make adjustments has been Jesuit Drama. The program has gone from in-person shows and rehearsals in the Black Box theatre to Zoom meetings, and performances over live streams.
Fahey’s Film Reviews: There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood can be viewed with a Netflix subscription or rented on Amazon Prime for $3.99.
The pursuit of prosperity and power led to the boom of the American economy, but it was not without its corruption. The period epic There Will Be Blood directed by Paul Thomas Anderson comments on this through the ambitious and fervently-driven oil miner, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis).
The Role He was Born to Play
“Could you do anything else?”
This was an important question posed to Riley Shanahan ’10 in a New York City Starbucks many summers ago when he was still a student at Jesuit High School Sacramento.
A Home on the Stage
The transition to Jesuit High School Sacramento for many freshmen is a crossroads for self-discovery and change. For Kevin Sheahan ’20, the Black Box Theater is the place where he found his passion and voice.
Fahey’s Film Reviews: 1917
Update April 16, 2020: Right now you can stream the movie on Amazon for $5.99 or on Youtube for $3.99.
Trench warfare is a hellish nightmare, and Sam Mendes’ film “1917” captures that terror and anxiety with its harrowing long takes and immersive set design. Yet, where visuals and sound prevail, the story declines.
Fahey’s Film Reviews: Parasite
Update April 16, 2020: Right now you can stream the movie on Amazon for $3.99 or for free if you have a Hulu subscription.
Everyone knows the famous saying “the grass is greener on the other side.” This proverb, however, is challenged by Korean director Bong Joon-ho in his film, “Parasite,” which pits the different classes of society together in his darkly comedic thriller.
Ode to social justice
Jesuit High School Drama’s fall play, “In the Matter of Scott Daniel Warren, or Scenes and Fragments about a Play in the Desert,” challenged a complex reality, leaving an impact on its audience.
The show, which touched on aspects of immigration, blended Catholic social justice teachings, contemporary influences, and real accounts. Centered around the prosecution of Scott Warren, who provided aid to two migrants, the play dissected the intent behind Warren’s actions.
Jesuit’s fall play dramatizes social justice
With a keen awareness for topical events, Jesuit High School Drama presents “In the Matter of Scott Daniel Warren, or Scenes and Fragments about a Play in the Desert,” a company-written play that explores and grapples with the realities and morality of immigration.
Preparation for the play
Each year, Jesuit High School Drama puts on two shows in the Black Box Theater — a fall play and a spring musical. Production for each of these shows requires hours of dedication from actors and technicians to create polished and memorable performances.