White House Correspondents' Dinner Returns to Comedic Roots

4 THE CONCORDIAN theconcordian.org • February 20, 2020 Film review: “Birds of Prey” adds a fast-paced feminist film to the DC Extended Universe BY DOMINIC ERICKSON and written by Christina movie forward. McGregor graphed well, but the use the unadulterated sadism [email protected] Hodson. is both frightening and of colored backgrounds of the villain and heinous “Birds of Prey” tells the striking as the ostenta- and slow-motion ampli- threats against a child are “Birds of Prey (And tale of Harley Quinn (Rob- tious Roman Sionis/Black fies scenes and makes dangerously close to the the Fantabulous Eman- bie) after her breakup with Mask. Most of the other them fun to watch. There tasteless territory. cipation of One Harley Joker, which leaves her performances fall flat, as were, however, a handful Although it is not per- Quinn),” is a confetti can- vulnerable to both sides of the majority of the good of noticeable continuity fect, “Birds of Prey” even- non of chaotic carnage. the law. In the search for a lines belong to those two. misplacements which for tually takes flight in its hu- It’s fanatical, fun and valuable diamond sought The writing doesn’t leave a brief moment takes the mor, direction and visual fiercely female. It serves after by crime boss Roman a lot of room for the sec- viewer out of the scene, style. While the stakes are as the follow-up to 2016’s Sionis (McGregor), Har- ondary actresses to shine. such as henchmen magi- much lower in this movie “Suicide Squad,” and has ley is chased throughout Visually, “Birds of Prey” cally appearing and unde- compared to other DCEU been critically favorable the city by Detective Re- hits all the right notes, niable body position con- films’ attempts to save the - a positive shift from the nee Montoya (Perez) and especially near the begin- tinuity errors. world, the story is more reception of its predeces- vigilantes Huntress (Win- ning. Gorgeous videog- The screenplay by personal than other DCEU sor. stead) and Black Canary raphy during the film’s Christina Hodson (who films. The emotional toll The first R-rated DC Ex- (Smollett-Bell). When a rare slow parts helps bal- also wrote “Bumblebee”) of a breakup is used as tended Universe (DCEU) young pickpocket (Basco) ance the movie’s pace. falls short of satisfactory. a vehicle for manic en- film stars Margot Robbie is thrust into the danger- The fight sequences, while Elongated flashbacks dur- ergy throughout. Yan, in (who also serves as pro- ous pursuit, the women not exactly inventive, are ing the first half-hour of her second feature, gives ducer) in her second time must join forces to protect well-crafted. Yan places “Birds of Prey” were cer- a fresh feminist feel to a playing Harley Quinn, her. a focus on the characters’ tainly a stylish choice, fast, frenetic film follow- Mary Elizabeth Winstead, As far as performanc- surroundings to aid them but are unnecessary and ing friends (formerly foes) Jurnee Smollett-Bell, es go, Robbie once again rather than relying on ex- keep the story from actu- fusing to fight a freakish Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Bas- nails her role as the amoral clusively hand-to-hand ally starting until too late fiend. co and Ewan McGregor. It baddie. She is very funny combat. Not only are the into the film. Further, a is directed by Cathy Yan and her energy drives the action sequences choreo- couple of elements such as New organization celebrates Asian culture home here. That was Lar’s idea to tem people can reach out to. We “Students can get involved by BY BOBBIE-JO O’NEIL bring together Asians and people wanted to create this entity that coming to meetings and pitching [email protected] who are interested in Asian cul- would support Asian students on ideas to leadership. Leadership is ture,” he said. campus,” Yang said. trying to coming with ideas con- Throughout every school year, The founding members created Current members of ASO want nect with campus,” Bui said. the Student Engagement Office ASO to allow Asian students and to get more students involved in Another way to connect with and SGA receive and approve students interested in learning the organization long-term. Pub- ASO members is to reach out to applications for new student or- more about Asian cultures to be lic relations specialist for ASO, the members of the group outside ganizations. This year, the Asian able to come together and appre- Yuele Sium, hopes that fostering meetings. Student Organization was one of ciate those cultures. The organi- relationships between members “One way is to reach out to me those new organizations. zation looks to introduce and en- will help the group achieve this and Lars. Our emails are always The Asian Student Organiza- gage students on-campus to Asian goal. open for events and foods people tion (ASO) was started by stu- culture. “I want the organization to would like to try. We are looking dents Eh Lar, Vshin Yang and “ I was a part of the initial plan- expand by having more people for some taste testers,” Yang said. Nick Bui in an attempt to create ning for the group. We came up involved in the group, hosting Bui, Yang and Sium emphasized a space on campus for Asian stu- with the idea that we wanted a events that relate to Asian culture, that Asian Student Organization dents to come together and have place that represents Asian cul- and connecting with other groups is not just for Asian students. All a place where they can share their ture,” Nick Bui said. on campus,” Sium said. students can and are encouraged cultures. ASO looks to expand the group Students can become involved to join. The members of the orga- Yang is the vice president of the and share Asian cultures with oth- with ASO by attending the group’s nization are also open to students’ organization. er students. Members of the group events. ASO recently hosted a ideas for making connections and “All of the people on the ex- discussed expansion through re- movie night on-campus, and are ideas for events. ecutive board come from cities cruiting members and creating a planning to have more events of a Asian Student Organization where there are more people of connection with the campus. similar nature in the future. Stu- holds meetings every Thursday in Asian culture, and we were feeling “One thing that Lar and I were dents can also become involved by Fjeldstad Lounge at 7 p.m. homesick here, so Lar and I want- talking about was that it would be attending ASO meetings and talk- ed to create a space to bring our a resource as well as a support sys- ing with current members. White House correspondents’ dinner returns to comedic roots a fundraiser for college scholar- complained that a sharply anti- Thompson is currently in his BY KEVIN FREKING ships. Reporting awards are given Trump performance by come- 17th season on “Saturday Night AP NEWSWRITER out as well. dian Michelle Wolf in 2018 was Live” where he has set a record But President Donald Trump too pointed and unfairly targeted for the most celebrity impressions has skipped the dinner through- then-White House press secretary performed on the show. In 2018, WASHINGTON (AP) — Come- out his presidency and instead Sarah Sanders. he received an Emmy Award for dians are making their return to has elected to hold campaign ral- Thompson will serve as this Outstanding Original Music and the White House Correspondents’ lies. Just four days before last year’s host. Minhaj will be the fea- Lyrics and a nomination for Out- Dinner after last year’s hiatus. year’s dinner, the White House tured entertainer. standing Supporting Actor in a Kenan Thompson of “Saturday announced that administration “Kenan and Hasan are two of Comedy Series. Night Live” and Hasan Minhaj of officials would be joining Trump the most engaged and engag- Minhaj won a Peabody award Netflix’s “Patriot Act with Hasan in boycotting the dinner. ing entertainers in America. I’m in 2019 for his humorous exami- Minhaj” will headline this year’s The White House declined to thrilled they’ll help us celebrate nation of issues of domestic and dinner, which takes place April comment about whether the pres- the role of a free press in our de- global import. He was the enter- 25. ident would attend this year. mocracy,” said Jonathan Karl, tainer at the 2017 correspondents’ Presidents and first ladies have Last year’s dinner featured Chief White House correspondent dinner when he was a senior cor- traditionally attended the dinner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author for ABC News and president of respondent on “The Daily Show.” which serves as a celebration of Ron Chernow after some din- the White House Correspondents’ the First Amendment as well as ner attendees and commentators Association..

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