Wahlburgers' showcases love and food
By Staff Writer | January 30Most reality shows appear scripted and dramatic, but the new A&E television show, "Wahlburgers," is honest, heartwarming and entertaining.
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Prof shows promise in debut story collection
By Staff Writer | January 30Imagine a bridge that's rumored to have only an entrance. You don't believe it, so you move under the arch, through the amber-lit tunnels. And as the next opening appears you laugh at those silly rumors, only to find you're back where you started: late, annoyed, and in disbelief.
Springsteen debuts his 'High Hopes'
By Staff Writer | January 22How often do we hear the phrase "high hopes" in the same sentence with "New Jersey"? That's right. Rarely, if at all. Yet, with Bruce Springsteen's latest album "High Hopes," released Jan. 14, we've finally been given the chance.
Jack Ryan' revival plain but interesting
By Rebecca White | January 22Jack Ryan has been one of Hollywood's most successful characters since 1990, when Alec Baldwin starred in the first film adaptation of the Jack Ryan series from the Tom Clancy novels. A number of actors have since tackled the role, including Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck, but now it is Chris Pine's time to shine in the latest installment, titled "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," that opened on Jan. 17.
Cop comedy drives nowhere
By Staff Writer | January 22Car chases, explosions and comical antics combine to create an entertaining, but dull and predictable plot to the movie "Ride Along." Directed by Tim Story and starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter and John Leguizamo, "Ride Along" hit theaters on Jan. 17.
New life lessons in 'Girls'
By Emily Balan | January 22The third season of the popular HBO series "Girls," starring creator Lena Dunham, is back! For those not clued in, "Girls" is about four women in their early 20s who live in New York City and try to navigate their lives in the real world. The show focuses on themes of friendship, love, maturity and how they all evolve on a journey of self-discovery.
Students make service trip to Jamaica
By Michelle Foti | January 22Waking up during the winter in New Jersey has a lot of us wishing we lived in a warmer climate.
Justified' returns with successful formula
By Staff Writer | January 22Season five of "Justified" returned Jan. 7 to its regularly scheduled programming every Tuesday on FX. I, for one, have never seen a full episode, let alone a whole season. However, people with very similar tastes in television to mine are constantly raving about "Justified."
English prof's short stories span the globe
By Staff Writer | January 22Dr. Nathan Oates knows more than a little about short stories. As a creative writing professor at Seton Hall, he teaches his students the work of the masters while helping them hone their craft. As a writer, he's had numerous pieces published in prestigious literary magazines. Now, his expertise has taken his literary career to a whole new level.
Dr. Oates has first story collection published
By Staff Writer | January 22Dr. Nathan Oates knows more than a little about short stories. As a creative writing professor at Seton Hall, he teaches his students the work of the masters while helping them hone their craft. As a writer, he's had numerous pieces published in prestigious literary magazines. Now, his expertise has taken his literary career to a whole new level.
Devil's Due' yet another forgettable horror movie
By Staff Writer | January 22Demonic horror flick "Devil's Due" opened on Jan. 17, demonstrating yet again that decent films in this genre are few and far between. Long gone are the days when the likes of "The Shining" and "The Exorcist" proved that the horror genre was more than just cheaply produced, poorly scripted film ventures.
Enlisted' serves up a few laughs
By Staff Writer | January 16In the first five minutes of Intelligence, created by Michael Seitzman, we see a lone figure trekking the Himalayan mountainside interspersed with flashbacks. We find out the figure's wife, a CIA operative, had betrayed the agency, and he is on a search for her. Armed men capture him and, while being questioned, he displays extraordinary mental capabilities, from deciphering personal relationships of strangers to opening locked doors. This gives way to an exciting chase and action sequence.
Chicago P.D.' hooks viewers
By Rebecca White | January 16The spinoff of the NBC hit "Chicago Fire," titled "Chicago P.D.," premiered on Jan. 8 on NBC. The show centers around a crooked cop with a soft side. I went into this show knowing nothing about "Chicago Fire," so I was out of the loop when it came to character development.
Intelligence' is genius twist of crime drama
By Emily Balan | January 16In the first five minutes of "Intelligence," created by Michael Seitzman, we see a lone figure trekking the Himalayan mountainside interspersed with flashbacks. We find out the figure's wife, a CIA operative, had betrayed the agency, and he is on a search for her. Armed men capture him and, while being questioned, he displays extraordinary mental capabilities, from deciphering personal relationships of strangers to opening locked doors. This gives way to an exciting chase and action sequence.
Killer Women' deserves to be killed
By Staff Writer | January 16"Some men just need killing..." and maybe "Killer Women" does needs to be killed too. I'm all for female-dominated casts like with "Desperate Housewives," "Girls," and this season of "American Horror Story: Coven," but there is something about "Killer Women" that just doesn't make me love or even like it.
August: Osage County' a raw look at dysfunctional family
By Staff Writer | January 15Grandma Violet is a vitriolic pill popper. Mom Barbara and dad Bill can't get along. Aunt Karen is engaged to a pervert. And first cousins Ivy and Charles are in love with each other. The Westons of "August: Osage County" are not exactly a pleasant bunch, to say the least.
Abstract art exhibit opening reception in Walsh Gallery Jan. 23
By Michelle Foti | January 15When you walk into the Walsh Library, prepare to see many different colors and shapes among different scales and compositions. Certainly there is no discrimination here of any sort, especially in the realm of creativity.
American Hustle' yet another hit for David O. Russell and cast
By Staff Writer | January 13With all of the hype surrounding David O. Russell's latest directorial vision "American Hustle," anything less than a stellar performance by cast and crew would be considered a failure, especially considering all of the successes he has had in the past. However, the hype proved to be well worth it thanks to an all-star cast and superb plotline.
Drama increases as 'The Carrie Diaries' reaches season midpoint
By Michelle Foti | January 13Romantic sparks are flying high and ceasing just as rapidly. The fashion is hot. The drama is heightened, but surprisingly the hair hasn't. Season two of "The Carrie Diaries" is just what fans are looking for.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' is exhilarating thrill ride
By Emily Balan | December 22The second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," prequel to the popular "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is a sensory overload. The IMAX 3-D version is insane - flying arrows and gold coins pop off the screen while an amazing score sets the tone of the scenes, all the while rattling your body to the core. Visually scenes are so fast-paced, and the camera shot is so zoomed-in, that you really work hard to see exactly what is happening.
