‘Invictus’, Rugby and Learning to be the Captain of your Soul

The opening scene is enough to replicate the social ambiance of the time period to the audience. There is a group of young black boys playing soccer on a field with a high, dilapidated metal fence and children wearing what could be called clothes, though their “clothes” are rags. On the other side of the road, a group of Caucasian boys play rugby on an emerald green lawn in sparkling white uniforms. Their coach remarks on Mandela’s release as, “Boys, remember this is the day our country went to hell.”

On the other hand, the general consensus is that Mandela is there to unite the bitterly divided country during his first term in office. On one side, there are the black compatriots who have been oppressed and disenfranchised. On the other, there are white Afrikaner nationalists who want to keep hold of system that repressed their fellow countrymen. He attempts to amalgamate South Africa upon the split of social values and issues of human injustice by transforming the horrid Springboks rugby team into national heroes. More

Don’t stare too hard at ‘Goats’

The film is about reporter Bob Wilton(Ewan McGregor) at a ho-hum newspaper and who is fed up with the dullness of his life. After interviewing a local man claiming to be a former “psychic soldier” and his wife leaving him for an one-armed man, Wilton jets off to the Middle East in search of his next big story. Wilton is convinced he should produce stories as a war correspondent, but is often left behind. One evening at a hotel restaurant he encounters Lyn Cassady(George Clooney), a strange figure who says he’s part of a secret U.S. military wing called the New Earth Army. This unit is described as “warrior monks” who fight war with their minds by using psychic abilities, can pass through solid walls and stop goats heartbeats by staring at them. Are you lost yet? More

‘Pirate Radio’: The Ship that Rocked

The story begins with Carl(Tom Sturridge) arriving on the Radio Rock ship because he had been expelled from his school for smoking cigarettes and marijuana. He claims his mother sent him there to try a different way of life with his Uncle Quentin(Bill Nighy). He meets a ragtag crew who DJs twenty-four hours a day from the ship, including the ship’s cook, Felicity(Katherine Parkinson), who plays a lesbian. Carl bunks with a man called Kevin, who is nicknamed Thick Kevin(Tom Brooke) because he doesn’t process information that quickly (Kevin wore an Easter bunny costume to Christmas dinner). This is a coming of age story for Carl who learns about rock ‘n roll and loses his virginity(while it was being broadcast live). More

‘Precious’, A Harlem Gothic Story

The film follows the journey of Claireece “Precious” Jones(Gabourey Sidibe), an overweight sixteen-year-old African-American living in Harlem in 1987. She lives in a life no one would desire. She’s pregnant with the second time by her absentee father. Her home life is very turbulent because she has to wait on her mother(Mo’Nique) who smokes like a chimney and watches television all day. Precious is abused emotionally and physically by her mother, who at one point makes Precious eat macaroni and fried pig’s feet because she is unsatisfied with the meal. More

More Than a Zoo Story

Posted on 26 October, 2009

The University of Missouri’s Corner Playhouse transformed into a scene from the late 50’s for this past weekend’s performance of Edward Albee’s two one acts The Zoo Story and The American Dream. While both vary greatly in style, they both focus in on disillusions with idea of the American dream. More

‘The September Issue’ is a Fashion Do

Posted on 24 October, 2009

Director R.J. Cutler brings to the screen the hectic, dramatic and often heart breaking process of the creation of the famous September issue of Voguemagazine. “The September Issue” follows the chilly Anna Wintour and flamed-haired Grace Coddington, the Creative Director of American Vogue, through the streets of London, New York and Paris in the development of the magazine… More

Citizen Jane Film Festival

16-18 October 2009

The Citizen Jane Film Festival, hosted by Stephens College and Ragtag Cinema, is a celebration of women in film, and aims to bring together female filmmakers from around the world who use their art to make their voices heard. All weekend, Ragtag hosted screenings of films either by or about women, as well as many workshops and panel discussions about issues that women in film deal with.

I Know CoMo brings you a look at some of these events. If you saw any of these films, we would love to hear what you thought so please feel free to comment. Also, if you saw something that we missed, we would definitely like to hear about that, too.

Say My Name, directed by Nirit Peled, about women in the hip-hop industry.

Bright Star, directed by Jane Campion about the live and romance of the poet John Keats.

$9.99, an animated film by Tatia Rosenthal about the meaning of life (there are six, actually).

A collection of experimental animation, presented by artist and animator Jo Dery.

A panel discussion with some of the women behind the films at Citizen Jane this year.

An Intimate Session with Barbara Hammer, a look into her experimental techniques of short documentaries.

Lemon Tree, the story of a courageous Palestinian woman defending her way of life.

Sunshine, a documentary about single motherhood.

Older Than America, a suspense drama challenging the cultural genocide of Native Americans.

Cold Souls, a metaphysical comedy about soul extraction and trafficking.

You’re Pretty Mediocre, Charlie Brown

Posted on 25 September, 2009

At first glance, Columbia Entertainment Company’s bright, cartoon-like sets and costumes should in turn make their performance of “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” a glorious evening filled with Charles Schultz’s humor and wit. However, through this production not only is the humor lost, but composer Clark Gesner’s lyrics are not pleasing [...] More