SPORTS EDITOR – SOPHIA KUSSEL
ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON NOV 24, 2022
Soon, St. Mary’s classes will conclude with a frenzy of stressed-out students, which means finding something to pass the time until the holidays are over is imperative. Besides the pressures of classwork, it is no secret that a tremendous amount of stress occurs during what students can only describe as a festive fever dream. Reading is a fulfilling activity— but leafing through a paperback requires actual cognitive effort on the reader’s part—which is what many try to avoid after combating grueling finals. However, the comforting glow of the silver screen allows audiences to sit back and soak up the perfect distraction without having to lift a finger or use a brain cell. With winter break on the horizon and the holidays breathing down the necks of the tired and stressed, a healthy dose of mind- numbing entertainment could do the body good. So, The Rattler Newspaper has curated four films that have, or will, hit the theaters and are ready for streaming.
1) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
It’s official. Marvel Studios has given the blockbuster hit Black Panther a much-anticipated sequel. Directed and written by Ryan Coogler, “Wakanda Forever” begins with Wakanda’s king, T’Challa, dying—throwing the Kingdom’s fate into uncertainty as bureaucratic outsiders attempt to strip Wakanda of its natural resources. Specifically, the highly sought-after Vibranium. Naturally, our heroes, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje, are tasked with protecting their nation during its period of turmoil.
The film initially began development in 2019, but unfortunately, Marvel’s had to delay the project due to the untimely death of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, who unfortunately passed away from colon cancer on Aug. 24, 2020. Regardless, Disney decided to distribute the film on Nov. 11 of this year, having already grossed an impressive 400 million worldwide. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is available for streaming on Disney Plus and is currently in theaters.
2) She Said
Directed by Maria Schrader, “She Said” is a far more controversial film compared to others on this list, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth the watch.
This film is based on the true events surrounding the journalism that ultimately uncovered the shocking allegations surrounding Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein. The film follows the story of the New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor as they begin the descent into learning about the decades of sexual abuse and intimidation that have been allowed to run rampant in Hollywood. Surprisingly, the original intent was to publish the biographical drama as a book in 2018. However, they decided to scrap the publishing in favor of a film, ultimately releasing it on Nov. 18, 2022, in the U.S. by Universal Pictures.
3) The Menu
Mark Mylod, an Emmy winner for his directing in the popular drama Shameless, directs another fantastic film, The Menu. “High- end” cuisine is weird; there is little question about that. Whether it’s a live baby octopus or the liver of a duck forced to overeat with a funnel, the world of gourmet dining will go where others fear. It was a matter of time until someone came around to make a horror movie about the bizarre world of food snobbery. The film follows the wealthy couple Margot and Tyler. The young couple is pursuing the most exclusive, downright stupid cuisine money can buy—it just so happens that the Hawthorne, a high-end restaurant located on a remote island in the middle of nowhere, hosts such an experience. Julian Slowik, runs this bourgeoise diner. He is an eccentric celebrity chef with a passion or molecular gastronomy, the art of fine dining and torturing his guests with the unlimited powers of groupthink. “The Menu”, also released on Nov. 18, 2022, is a Horror/Comedy. The film is already being nominated for awards, specifically in the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best Original Score in a Horror Film, which is unsurprising as the composer for the film is Colin Stetson. He also wrote the scores for “Heredity,” “Color Out of Space” and the 2022 “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” “The Menu” is currently playing in theaters and will release on HBO for streaming in the coming weeks.
4) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery “Glass Onion” is a standalone sequel to
its 2019 predecessor, “Knives Out”. This film is written and directed by Rian Johnson, who also directed the space opera “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The film is yet another murder mystery party charade hosted by a suave billionaire. The murder mystery party starts as a simple game hosted by tech billionaire Miles Bron until someone gets murdered by an unknown assailant. That’s when the detective and party guest Benoit
Blanc is on the case, à la Tim Curry’s Clue. Lying, murder, backstabbing and humor make the Glass Onion a light watch for any occasion. The film will have a one-week limited theatrical release on Nov. 23, 2022, and will release afterward on Netflix on Dec. 23, 2022—as Netflix purchased the rights to two “Knives Out” sequels, “Glass Onion” being one of them.
If someone is a student, a teacher or just needs a break from all the chaos that the holidays bring, hopefully, the immersion in film can calm them, or at the very least, give them something to relax with.