09

Mar

KU students reflect on “The Artist” best picture win

University of Kansas students give their takes on this year’s best picture winner, “The Artist.” Individuals praise and critique the film and offer thoughts on the Academy Awards themselves.

Days after announcements of this year’s Oscar winners, specifically the best picture winner “The Artist,” KU students offered their personal takes on the Academy Awards.

This year, the French film “The Artist” stole the spotlight, taking home five Oscars including best picture, and becoming only the second silent film in the Academy Awards’ 83 years to score the coveted award.

The film also won Oscars for male actor in a leading role, direction, musical score and art direction.

Casey Bear, a junior from Baldwin City, Kan., said she was pleased when she heard the film won best picture, especially because of its off-beat qualities.

“I think it’s really cool that they brought back all those classic aesthetics,” Bear said. “It’s cool that something that’s not completely computer generated can still win an Academy Award.”

Bear was referring to the signature style of “The Artist,” which broke the usual Hollywood mold with its black and white presentation and lack of dialogue.

But, despite all of its hype, some students were not thrilled with “The Artist” win.

“I heard it from at least four people that I had to go see this movie and then I wasn’t impressed,” said junior Marit Ehmke of Amy, Kan.. “I was kind of bored in the middle and I remember feeling anxious for it to be over.”

Ehmke added that she still felt the film was good but it didn’t deserve all of its awards.

“I thought the plot was a little contrived and predictable,” she said.

For some students, the plot was the last thing on their mind.

Senior Kyle McRae of Iola, Kan., criticized the Academy Awards, saying decisions on nominees and winners are too political and bureaucratic.

“The Oscars have a history of having movies that in popular opinion should win an award that don’t,” McRae said. “It seems something else has a play in it.”

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17

Feb

KU students talk media depiction of Big Tobacco

LISTEN TO THE STORY.

NICHOLAS RENARD, host/reporter:

From The Kansas View in Lawrence, Kansas, I’m Nicholas Renard.

Variance Films’ new documentary “Addiction Incorporated” describes the tobacco industry’s decision to market a more addictive cigarette. When questioned on the matter, University of Kansas students side with tobacco companies.

More than 30 years ago, Philip Morris International tasked researcher Victor DeNoble with finding a healthier substitute for nicotine. When his research instead yielded a more-addictive ingredient, Philip Morris added it to the recipe.

As he weathers the winter cold to enjoy a cigarette, JT Hammons, a 22-year-old senior from Valley Falls, Kan., says healthy or not, companies are interested in profits.

Mr. JT HAMMONS: They’re in the business to make money and so of course they’re going to go with something that’s more addictive and more healthy. You can’t really make a healthy cigarette regardless of what you do, you know, you’re still having smoke in your lungs.

RENARD: Hammons says addictiveness levels of cigarettes are irrelevant to him. He says he smokes them for his own reasons and believes others share similar logic.

Mr. JT HAMMONS: People are gonna smoke regardless of whether or not it’s healthy for them or not, obviously, Most people know it’s not healthy for them and they do it, they do it anyway. They just don’t care.

RENARD: He adds that media coverage of smoking’s risks doesn’t dissuade all smokers and instead may cause more people to light up for the sake of rebellion.

Bret Province, a 22-year-old senior from Oswego, Kan., echoes Hammons’ sentiments, adding that restrictions on addictiveness are unnecessary.

Mr. BRET PROVINCE: I think that there should be some sort of regulation but until that happens, I don’t see a problem with any product. Any product can be like that. Video games are addictive – “World of Warcraft”. I mean, they market it to where people play and play and play and spend money. So, it’s just like any other product.

RENARD: Province also disagrees with sin taxes and says we have no way of drawing the line amongst goods.

Mr. BRET PROVINCE: The government is talking about possibly putting some restrictions on sugar levels and basically put a sin tax on sugar. I mean, just because sugar is bad for you and kind of an addictive substance I don’t think that gives them the right to sin tax something. It’s ridiculous.

RENARD: Jennifer David, a 21-year-old junior from Hays, Kan., says that media’s presentation of tobacco’s risks will deter non-smokers under 18, but won’t sway older smokers.

Ms. JENNIFER DAVID: I think how media projects tobacco, whether we call it cliché or not, still affects how you see pop culture and what’s appealing.

RENARD: This is Nicholas Renard, The Kansas View.

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03

Feb

Lawrence residents respond to 3-D proliferation

A University of Kansas film professor on Thursday said 3-D cinema is on the decline and will not become industry standard.

In response to media speculation of whether Martin Scorsese’s recently nominated 3-D film “Hugo” is worthy of an Academy Award for Best Picture, KU assistant professor of film and media studies Robert Hurst said “3-D has nothing to do with it.”

“I’ve seen five or six films in 3-D, some good, and some wretched,” he said. “The technology and visuals don’t matter, only the story.”

Hurst said the recent surge in 3-D film releases is a fad and more about getting viewers to the theater than reinventing film-making fundamentals.

“This is Hollywood’s third 3-D go-around and no one is interested anymore,” he said. “3-D won’t become standard; nobody wants glasses for television.”

According to Jon Kelly, house manager of Hollywood Southwind Cinema in Lawrence, ticket sales for 3-D are steadily declining.

“If a movie is only in 3-D most people wait to see it on video,” Kelly said. “Luckily, up-charged tickets even out the decrease in ticket sales.”

Kelly thinks most viewers don’t like spending an extra $3 at the box office or find the necessary plastic glasses uncomfortable.

He added that logistics and cleaning procedures for glasses make extra work for the staff and the theater’s 3-D projectors are under a Sony warranty prohibiting unlicensed repairs.

“I personally won’t watch 3-D movies,” he said. “No one wants to see 3-D anymore and I’m taking pay cuts.”

Some individuals are unchanged by the 3-D phenomenon. Margarita Caulfield, a KU senior majoring in political science, said she will always prefer it to 2-D.

“I’ve seen a few 3-D films and they’ve all been great,” Caulfield said. “But most of my experience comes from I-Max theaters.”

Caulfield echoed Hurst’s thoughts on 3-D’s worthiness of a Best Picture award and said “it depends on the film’s plot”, however thinks 3-D will set the industry standard.

“I think eventually it will set the standard, but for now it works better for cartoons.”

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