Joaquin Phoenix is no joke in new film
By Roberto Brandt,
October 17, 2019
Joker is disturbing masterpiece that you want to take your eyes off but just cant. It’s midday in Gotham city and the employees of the Ha Ha Entertainment Company vigilantly get ready for work. One employee sits staring at himself in the mirror, smearing his face in white greasepaint. Using his fingers,...
Joker: a film protaginist or a martyr?
By Roberto Brandt,
October 10, 2019
The forever infamous comic book villain The Joker has been called many things. Clown Prince of Crime, Puddin, Mr. J, Criminal, Madman...what about Martyr? The Joker is known for his unpredictability and addiction to violence, and of course, his maddening laugh. Fans look up to him as their favorite ...
Hustler film strips negative stereotypes
By Jovil Pagay,
October 10, 2019
Life can pull us in different directions, and some of those directions lead to even more struggle. Sometimes, the struggles we go through cause us to make decisions or do things we may not want to do. This is the story for some of those who choose to become exotic dancers. While in the public eye, th...
Zedd: Orbit Tour
By Ethan Alonzo,
October 3, 2019
A touch of electro, a splash of house, and a sprinkle of good vibes. What sounds like a recipe from The Powerpuff Girls is the formula DJ Anton “Zedd” Zaslavski used to create an unforgettable night. This tour comes at an interesting time in Zedd’s career. This past summer, Zedd and past coll...
13 Reasons Why scenes are triggering
By Naomi McKinnie,
October 3, 2019
Rape. Murder. Addiction. If these words strike deep in your core, then the latest season of “13 Reasons Why” could be the show for you. However, this should serve as a warning for young viewers who have experienced trauma. Some of the scenes may cause an emotional reaction to the vivid scenes d...
IT Chapter Two
September 19, 2019
A film worth the screams but lacking in the audience experience “Beep Beep Losers, Time to Float.” If you watched the box office success “IT,” then those words will raise the hairs on the back of your neck and cause you to break out in a cold sweat. These are the last words most people here...
Tall Girl: A Confusing Outlook on Adolescence
By Ethan Alonzo,
September 19, 2019
“You think your life is hard? I’m a high school junior wearing size 13 Nikes.” One of Netflix’s newest additions to their Originals lineup has had the internet in a frenzy. The recent coming-of-age film, “Tall Girl,” tries to embody what it means to grow up different from those around ...
Stolen or borrowed?
By Elijah De Castro,
September 12, 2019
In an age where instant beats and music rights have become easily accessible on the internet, an East Bay rapper claims that YBN Cordae, who recently released his solo debut album “The Lost Boy,” stole a song from him. Concord artist Klebber Machado, known as Klebb, took to Instagram with allegations t...
How the “Awkward Black Girl” changed how we see Black women on screen
By Arwa Ahmed Dahir,
September 12, 2019
The representation of Black women on television has generally lacked real experiences and depth. Typically, the images of Black women adhere to racial tropes. These stereotypes include Jezebel, Sapphire, Mammy, and the Matriarch which are heavily imposed on Black women. However, over the past few years...
Music artists thrive in the Bay Area
By Naomi McKinnie,
September 12, 2019
The Bay Area has a plethora of young, aspiring music artists who grind daily to brand themselves, and what makes them grow is the drive to get their name and talent out there. Stage presence is one way they can get notoriety and establish themselves. Places like Complex Oakland showcase young talented hip...
Benevue at Cornerstone Berkeley
August 30, 2019
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLI WESEMAN | THE PIONEER Berkeley based rock band Benvenue headlined a hometown show at Cornerstone Berkeley on August 16, 2019. Lead singer Francis Blay, guitarist Sid Slate and bassist Erik Robertson met while attending UC Berkeley and playing football for Cal. "We would stay in Bowles H...
Teaching history one kick at a time
By Ethan Alonzo,
August 29, 2019
As one of the newest additions to Netflix’s roster of Originals, Wu Assassins starring Iko Uwais, who previously starred in The Raid: Redemption, and Lewis Tan, of Iron Fist, Wu Assassins had a huge amount of potential. Sadly, most of that potential was wasted. Wu Assassins is like a love letter...
