Book Review: Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach

Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach

By Elizabeth Walker

There’s something just fascinating about twins. While more common than they used to be, thanks to advances in modern fertility treatments, twins – particularly identical twins – continue to captivate the mind. Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach is engrossing not only for its portrayal of its monozygotic heroines but also for the deliberate unraveling of their shared history.

The reader first encounters Ava Antipova flying back from Paris to her childhood home, a vineyard in upstate New York. She has come back to make arrangements after her twin sister, Zelda, has been reported dead in a barn fire. While Ava goes through the emotionally draining motions of organizing the funeral, talking to the police, and tending to her aging mother, she finds herself doubting the story of her estranged sister’s demise. Her suspicions are confirmed when she begins receiving emails from Zelda from beyond the grave.

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New ‘Baby Driver’ Trailer

By AI Creative Media

Cult director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is back with his much-anticipated stylish new film called “Baby Driver”, and it looks like his most ambitious movie yet. The trailer shows plenty of excellently choreographed car chases and rollicking musical soundtrack, as title character “Baby” Ansel Elgort (who starred in last three Divergent Series films, and ‘The Fault in Our Stars’) tries to get out of criminal life from Kevin Spacey’s character ‘Doc’.

A few years ago, director Wright was attached to a would-be summer Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man, but later dropped out due to “creative differences”. A few months later, he announced that ‘Baby’ will be his next film instead, which he will both write and direct. Today we get a glimpse of the fruits of his labor.

The movie had its world premiere at South by Southwest, and so far it has been getting strong reviews, with HR calling it “a sweet and speed-crazed crime film you can dance to.”

Here’s a film synopsis to give you a better idea: Talented getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. After meeting the woman (Lily James) of his dreams, he sees a chance to ditch his criminal lifestyle and make a clean break. Coerced into working for a mob boss (Kevin Spacey), Baby must face the music as a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

Baby Driver, which also stars Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx and Eiza González, rides into theaters on August 11th, 2017.

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‘Green Day’ Brings Raucus Fun At BOK Center Leg Of Tour

Green Day @ BOK Center, Tulsa, OK, March 3, 2017

By Armando

It has been 12 years since Green Day’s politically-charged “American Idiot”, an album that spawned iconic songs, won numerous awards, inspired a broadway show, and became a worldwide phenomenon. But the message of their music is as relevant as ever.

No racism, no fascism, and no homophobia,” frontman Billie Joe Armstrong protested to loud and wild crowd at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK, Tuesday night.

Green Day, which consists of Billie Joe Armstrong (Vocals/Guitar), Mike Dirnt (Bass) and Tre Cool (Drummer), is in an interesting position in today’s punk rock scene: the trio have produced a broad catalog of hits and lesser known gems over their three-decade career that speaks and adapts to political changes. On Tuesday night, Green Day mixed politics and religion, “comedy and tragedy”, old and new materials, leaving the crowd rocking, inspired and just having a great fun time. The band reciprocated Tulsa fans’ enthusiasm with an exciting and memorable night, proving they are still one of the best live acts right now.

Green Day @ BOK Center, Tulsa, OK, March 3, 2017

The band’s career-spanning set was a varied and wide-ranging collection, performing songs from major label debut, Dookie that delighted original Green Day fans, to hits from ‘Idiot’, as well as new songs from ‘Revolution Radio’ and a few surprises in between. The tour is in support of ‘Revolution’, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart when it was released in early October last year.
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Gigi Hadid, Appropriation or Progress?

By: Andrew Van Wilpe

The American fashion model, Gigi Hadid has come under some scrutiny, in recent days, following the release of the cover of Vogue Arabia’s first edition. In the black and white cover photo, the model sported a beaded veil, bare shouldered. Inside the magazine there is another photo of Gigi dressed in a more traditional looking, hot pink and fuchsia hijab.

Although, Gigi is of Palestinian decent, coming from her father’s side, she is not of the Muslim faith. The critics accuse this 21-year-old model and Vogue of religious appropriation. Her critics are upset because they believe Gigi and Vogue are glamourizing something that other women are criticized for. One critic tweeted, “So Gigi is getting praised for wearing a Hijab bc “fashion” while women who actually wear Hijab are attacked, shamed, and threatened?”

The question from most of the critics is, “why Vogue did not choose an actual Muslim model for this cover?” It seems the issue is more about representation. Critics believe Vogue should have used a Muslim model if they wanted to avoid this controversy and wanted to promote inclusion.
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Marvel Unlimited Expands This March

New York, NY— March 3rd, 2017 – Marvel Unlimited, Marvel’s digital comics subscription service, offers members unlimited access to over 20,000 issues of Marvel’s classic and newer titles, delivered digitally through your desktop web browser and the Marvel Unlimited mobile app. With classic and newer issues added every week here are some of the amazing Marvel titles coming to Marvel Unlimited this March:


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X-MEN PRIME #1 Sets The Stage For A New Beginning – Your First Look

New York, NY—March 1st, 2017 — The RessurXion begins here. In the wake of Inhumans vs. X-Men, the Children of the Atom pick up the pieces and charge headlong into tomorrow. And it’s all kicking off in March’s can’t-miss X-MEN PRIME #1.

Featuring a collection of blockbuster creators, the next chapter of the X-Men’s saga begins in this oversized one-shot. Xavier’s dream comes full circle as creators Marc Guggenheim and Ken Lashley give fans a taste of what awaits them in X-MEN GOLD. As Kitty Pryde returns home after a long absence, the student becomes the teacher as she readies herself to lead the X-Men for the first time. Then X-MEN BLUE scribe Cullen Bunn teams with artist Leonard Kirk to take the X-Men Blue team into the Danger Room – with shocking results. Finally, Greg Pak and Ibraim Roberson re-open the WEAPON X program What secrets lie within, and why are the world’s deadliest mutants being targeted? The kickoff to the must-read X-Men titles of the spring begins on March 29th in X-MEN PRIME #1

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89th Academy Awards: Winners

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Moonlight

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Emma Stone

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Casey Affleck

Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis
Fences

Best Supporting Actor:
Mahershala Ali
Moonlight

Best Achievement in Directing
Damien Chazelle
La La Land

Best Achievement in Cinematography
La La Land
Linus Sandgren

Best Achievement in Film Editing
Hacksaw Ridge
John Gilbert

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Sins And Secrets Revealed in THE UNWORTHY THOR #5

New York, NY—February 24th, 2017 — This is it! A mystery years in the telling will finally be unfurled. Once upon a time, the God of Thunder was rendered unworthy. Not by a great and terrible foe, but by a mere whisper. At long last, the contents of that whisper will be revealed! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your look inside THE UNWORTHY THOR #5 – the senses-shattering final issue! Superstar creators Jason Aaron and Olivier Coipel bring the thunder and give fans the answers they’ve been waiting for – just HOW did the Odinson become unworthy of his magic hammer Mjolnir? Is redemption on the horizon for the fallen son of Asgard? No matter what happens next, life will never be the same for the Odinson. No fan should miss out on the blockbuster conclusion – THE UNWORTHY THOR #5 – on-sale in comic shops everywhere on March 22nd.

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‘Moonlight’ Is the Big Winner at the Indie Spirit Awards

By AI Creative Media

Moonlight was the big winner at 2017 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards on Saturday afternoon, sweeping all six awards it was up for, including best feature. Barry Jenkins, who directed and wrote the movie, won the Best Director and Screenplay trophies.

The ceremony took place in Santa Monita, California on Saturday a day before the Oscars. Comedians Nick Kroll and John Mulaney co-hosted the event which aired live on the IFC channel.

Independent Spirit Awards recognizes excellence in low-budget film-making. Oscar front-runner La La Land was not eligible as its budget was just above the $20 million eligibility ceiling.

Here is the full winners list:

BEST FEATURE – Moonlight

BEST DIRECTOR – Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

BEST FEMALE LEAD – Isabelle Huppert, Elle

BEST MALE LEAD – Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE – Molly Shannon, Other People

BEST SUPPORTING MALE – Ben Foster, Hell or High Water
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Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” receives coveted 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

By AI Creative Media

“Get Out,” a racially-charged horror thriller from Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele fame), earned a rare 100% “fresh” rating on the film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. The movie currently have 131 reviews and counting.

Mercury News calls it a “classic horror” and gave it a perfect 4/4 score, while Hollywood Reporter calls it “one of the most satisfying thrillers in several years”.

The movie is in a very rare company. To put this in perspective, no wide theatrical release garnered similar acclaim this year at this point, while last year, out of the hundreds of movies released, there were only four that scored 100%: “Things to Come (L’avenir)”, “Tower”, Only Yesterday, and O.J.: Made in America, none of which received wide theatrical release similar to Peele’s film.

Buoyed by the strong reviews, “Out” is expected to displant WB’s hit “The LEGO Batman Movie” from no.1 at the boxoffice this weekend, earning Universal/Blumhouse its second surprise hit this year after last month’s Split.

This is Peele’s directorial debut. He is best known for starring in Comedy Central series Key & Peele and MADtv. But that is most likely to change based on the critical and commercial performance of “Get Out” so far.

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