Friday, July 31

Movie review: ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ paints visual poetry woven with incisive critique

“Moonlight” was only the beginning for director Barry Jenkins. Almost two years after his second feature film’s best picture win, Jenkins’ name has resurfaced in the Oscars conversation following the release of his highly anticipated new film “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Adapted from James Baldwin’s 1974 novel, the film is a delicate period romance and a poignant depiction of racial injustice that showcases Jenkins’ penchant for poetic visual storytelling. Read more...

Photo: (Courtesy of Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures)


Ryan Gosling joins panel discussion on Congolese resistance to Western exploitation

Ryan Gosling stepped behind the camera to contribute toward the nonfiction book “Congo Stories.” Actor and now photographer Gosling was joined by co-authors John Prendergest and Fidel Bafilemba and afterward author Chouchou Namegabe for a panel discussion hosted Monday afternoon at the Fowler Museum. Read more...

Photo: Authors John Prendergest, Chouchou Namegabe and Fidel Bafilemba, alongside photographer Ryan Gosling, discussed their collaborative project at the Fowler Museum: a nonfiction book entitled “Congo Stories.” (Mia Kayser/Daily Bruin staff)


Q&A: Designer shares inspiration behind innovative costume designs for ‘Holiday Sauce’

Two green pig heads complete an outfit in “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce.” Accompanied by severed elf fingers, the attire’s goal is to showcase the negative aspects of the holidays in the show. Read more...

Photo: Taylor Mac will perform in “Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” in Royce Hall on Friday and Saturday. Machine Dazzle designed the two outfits for the show, using objects like pig heads and elf fingers.(Courtesy of Little Fang Photography)


UCLA lecturer compiles centuries of LA perspectives in ‘Dear Los Angeles’

Albert Einstein and F. Scott Fitzgerald come together in the pages of David Kipen’s book. The two icons were among the many whose letters and diary entries appear in “Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542 to 2018.” Published on Tuesday, Kipen’s book assembles personal accounts from dwellers or passersby who traversed the city. Read more...

Photo: David Kipen, a UCLA Writing Programs Lecturer, wrote “Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters,” a novel that published Tuesday. Kipen compiled letters and diaries by Los Angeles dwellers and passersby in the work. (Courtesy of Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times)




After Dark: ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ screening 1-Ups other cult classic experiences

Los Angeles’ blend of midnight movies, cult screenings and historic theaters offers late-night scares and childhood nostalgia back in the theater. Join columnist Nina Young as she attends different cult screenings each week to find out why audiences stay out so late after dark. Read more...

Photo: Columnist Nina Young first viewed “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” with her father eight years ago. Since then, the film has become a comforting background track while she cooks, showers or studies. While attending a screening of the film, Young danced in her seat to the film’s garage-rock-band score. (Joe Akira/Daily Bruin staff)