Friday, July 4

Album review: ‘UNLOCKED 1.5’ is the intergalactic remix sequel nobody asked for

Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats prove the sequel will never be as good as the original. As the second collaborative album between Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, “UNLOCKED 1.5” serves as a cosmic-sounding complement to their 2020 release “UNLOCKED.” The almost-identical track list of “UNLOCKED 1.5” is a lo-fi electronic reimagination of the previous album, featuring new verses from several artists like Benny the Butcher, Joey Bada$$ and Smino. Read more...

Photo: (Courtesy of Loma Vista Recordings)



Q&A: Kelly Marie Tran discusses Asian representation in ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

This post was updated March 7 at 4:52 p.m. Kelly Marie Tran is redefining what it means to be a Disney princess in 2021. The alumna stars as the titular warrior princess in Disney’s latest animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon,” which releases Friday in theaters and through Disney+ premiere access. Read more...

Photo: (Left to right: Courtesy of Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images, courtesy of Disney)


UCLA film student draws on Filipino heritage in thesis project ‘Beauty Queen’

From medical school to film school, Myra Aquino’s journey is rooted in her Filipino heritage and passion for the arts. In 2020, the UCLA MFA film student received one of the six grants awarded by the Caucus Foundation for Producers, Writers & Directors, which helped her complete her thesis film “Beauty Queen.” The foundation also selected Aquino as this year’s first-place Gold Circle winner, providing her with a $60,000 Panavision camera package rental and highlighting her film at the Caucus’ virtual 38th Annual Awards Gala on March 4. Read more...

Photo: UCLA MFA film student, Myra Aquino, pays tribute to her Filipino heritage and family through her thesis film, “Beauty Queen.” (Antonio Martinez/Daily Bruin)


Book review: ‘Klara and the Sun’ beautifully presents robot’s quest to understand humanity

Beginning with a gentle pull, “Klara and the Sun” ends with a powerful yank on readers’ heartstrings. Released March 2 by the Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, “Klara and the Sun” takes the classic science fiction trope of artificial intelligence running rampant and weaves it into a very human story of love and companionship. Read more...

Photo: (Courtesy of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)