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Articles by Jacob Scott Schick
Episode Two of 'Oh Hello: The P'dcast' Disappoints
This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. Kaylie: What did everyone think? Do you think it was better or worse than last week? Emily: I thought it was better, but I don’t really have any definitive reasons why. I just think I laughed more. Jacob: I also think I laughed more. Kaylie: Well, I think there were more callbacks to Oh, Hello stuff, you know … like um… the hummus. The hummus was a good part. Steven: The Columbia enrollment. Kaylie: The Social Security was a nice add-in there.
Arts Critics Mull Over John Mulaney and Nick Kroll's Podcast
This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. Jacob: I’m recording all of you. Steven: I didn’t consent to that, Connecticut’s a two-party state. I’ll sue you, I’ll sue you to court. Jacob: I’m not in Connecticut. Steven: It don’t matter, that’s where I’m domiciled. Kaylie: Hellor, Cleors. Jacob: Oh my god. Emily: Oh my god. Steven: That’s one of my least favorite things that you say. Jacob: What did you say?
There's a Better Way to Do Woods College Registration for Undergrads
As a jaded senior, I thought I had experienced every obstacle that class registration had to offer: waking up for the early pick times, getting none of my classes because of the late pick times, forgetting to save my schedule in UIS and losing TKM’s Capstone class, everything. Monday, January 13 showed me I was wrong. Over the winter break, I decided I wanted to take a class about film in the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
Robbie’s Harley Quinn Soars in ‘Birds of Prey’ – The Heights
This proves it. DC should call it quits on all of its male superheroes and just make movies starring women. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Aquaman—all absolute garbage. Wonder Woman? It isn’t perfect, but it is a great superhero movie. Birds of Prey seals the deal. Superman, Batman, Aquaman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and the rest should be rented out Sony/Spider-Man style to studios that can actually make good movies.
'My Friend Fred' and More in Singles
“My Friend Fred” – Sammy Kershaw Like many of Kershaw’s classics, “My Friend Fred” is the kind of country song that is more heartfelt than it is southern anthem for truck culture. This is a good thing. Over guitar twangs and soft backing vocal harmonies, Kershaw nearly sobs in this song over his friend’s struggles with addiction and the kind of person it has made “Fred” into.
Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen Takes Off With Help From Other Breweries
There is a pair of dragons on Brato’s logo for a reason. The newest establishment in Allston styles itself as a dual threat, a one-two punch of beer and food. And it’s a knockout. Jonathan Gilman and Alex Corona opened Brato Brewhouse and Kitchen on Oct. 26. The two men first met while working at Cambridge Brewing company, Gilman as a chef and Corona as a home-brewer turned professional.
iEdit: Arts Editor Kaylie Ramirez Queues Up Chaos
In an act of musical self-flagellation, Kaylie Ramirez, arts editor and CSOM ’20, has tried to weave together the disparate threads of some of the most radically different songs I have ever seen. “I have been listening to them recently,” she says, as if this could explain a playlist that mixes Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse, and Britney Spears (and that’s only the first three songs).
Miniseries 'Unbelievable' Realistically Presents True Plot
In 2008, a young woman named Marie reported that she had been tied up and raped repeatedly by an intruder in the night. Police responded, took her statement, and began an investigation. Over the course of the investigation, the detectives assigned to the case were unable to find much evidence, and leads were few and far between. Marie told her boyfriend, as well as two of her previous foster mothers, about the attack.
Emotion Picture - The Heights
Films have a very unique ability to play with our emotions. As the barrier of disbelief becomes more and more porous, our emotions become tied to the ones on screen. Even the bad movies, or at least the mediocre ones, can do this. Some of the most memorably intense emotions I’ve felt have been caused, at least in part, by movies. For example, tonight I saw Rocketman. An entirely adequate movie, a better version of Bohemian Rhapsody, but that’s not saying much.
Trio of BC Professors Displays Jazz Chops
Room 100 in Gasson Hall, when used for concerts, is almost exclusively scored by classical music composed by long-dead musicians from centuries past. But there are a few times that Gasson 100 changes its tune, and the Friday afternoon of Arts Fest 2019 was one of them. For half an hour, the space was transformed into a laid-back jazz club, patronized by a few people sitting far apart from each other, enjoying the music as an individual or a couple at the very most.
Collaboration Thrives in Chamber Music Society Concert
After years of annual Arts Fests, Christmas performances, fall and spring showcases, winter concerts and everything in between, it seems Gasson 100 has become the de facto venue for live music performances. And where better? The large space has a wonderfully classical atmosphere, seemingly pulled out of a cathedral and (mostly) stripped of its iconography.
'Booksmart' Provides New Generational Anthem With Class
Olivia Wilde is not new to the world of directing. She’s been at the helm of music videos and short films for years. But with Booksmart, it’s different. It’s a directorial debut on every front, except technically speaking. And she knocks it straight out of the park. Booksmart is a sweet, uplifting, hilarious, and soaring generational comedy.
'Dumbo' Live Action Remake Far Inferior to 1941 Original
While I didn’t pay any money for my tickets to Dumbo, I did buy a Coke slurpee from the AMC Boston Common concessions counter—which is, as a brief aside, the least urgent place I have ever patronized—so I had a financial stake in this movie being good.
ALLEGED LESBIAN ACTIVITIES OPENS A LESBIAN BAR ON STAGE
Image courtesy of Last Call In the face of increasingly fewer lesbian and dyke bars in Boston, the show recreates the rare space with the help of community elders First in New Orleans, Last Call’s Alleged Lesbian Activities comes to Boston to examine the closing of lesbian bars through theater.
Peele Ponders American Ideals in Horror Movie 'Us'
Let’s get this out of the way right at the start. Is Us better than/as good as Get Out? Well, no. But it doesn’t have to be. Us is a great movie, and a fantastic horror movie. So, just like Get Out, go see it. In theaters. Now. Now that that’s over with, Us is Jordan Peele’s newest production from his studio Monkeypaw Productions (which has a killer credit logo), following his directorial debut of Get Out. And like Get Out, Us is a horror film interwoven with social satire.
'Five Feet Apart' Doesn't Do True Storyline Justice
Five Feet Apart is A Fault in Our Stars with less kissing in the Anne Frank House. If that’s not enough to deter you, you’ve already seen this movie. But if you’ve made it this far in the review (a whole two sentences), you’re either a glutton for punishment or related to this reviewer. Either way, settle in, Mom. Five Feet Apart starts, as any great movie should, with moralizing voice over narration.
'Once' Brings Irish Folk Songs to Boston
Instruments aren’t usually what people think of when they picture musicals. Good, bad, or otherwise, it’s mostly flashy costumes, soaring lyrics, and ostentatious dance numbers (think: Grease, Mamma Mia, West Side Story, or even Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark). Once is a very different kind of musical—its costumes are muted, its cast is small, and all of the actors on stage double as the orchestra. This novel approach to the medium works in Once’s favor.
'Paddleton' Finds the Mundane in Mortality
In the face of death, routine is a comforting thing. The greatest change that can occur in someone’s life is its end. But we can take the sting out of it by refusing to change anything. Michael (Mark Duplass) and Andy (Ray Romano) do the same thing every day. Their workday is mundane—Michael waving to Andy as he drives by every morning. They come home, and they spend the afternoon playing paddleton—a paddle ball-like game they made up.
'Lorena' Fails to Answer Key Questions about Bobbitt Case
Lorena, the true-crime docuseries, stakes its claim on the idea that it will finally tell the other side of the story. Instead of the media circus of tabloid journalism that defined the Bobbitt case in the early ’90s, Lorena would take a clearer look at the incident. But more than that, it would explain the cycle of abuse that drove this crime. Yet, for the first 10 minutes, we don’t hear Lorena speak. And when we do finally hear her, it’s a recording from 25 years ago.
Exhibit Focuses on Minority Culture, Political Climate
Carney’s 203 Gallery hosted the Multiformity Exhibit last week, showcasing the interplay between culture and societal ideology. This exhibit featured the work of local artists, including Ruth Belmont; Zhanna Cantor; Rocky Cotard; Brian Hoffman; Darren M. Lerhily, associate director of Boston College Media Technology Services; LVF//LVX; Jessica Tranvo; Kim Triedman; and Celine Lim, photo editor for The Heights and MCAS ’20.
'Seven Deadly Sins' Exhibit Explores the Nature of Vice
The darker sides of religion always seem to be the most interesting. There are only so many ways that one could depict the saints, the Virgin Mary, Jesus, or happier scenes from the Torah and New Testament. But there are countless ways that artists have captured the dark and obscure aspects of demons, fallen angels, hellspawn, magic, and the occult. In Paradise Lost, Lucifer is the only one with any personality. Light illuminates all, but darkness picks at our curiosity. What lurks beneath the gloom?
SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS
Cast of Small Mouth Sounds. Photo by Nile Scott Studios. Director Bevin O’Gara Speaks About Play With No Talking For a play in which the characters aren’t allowed to speak, Small Mouth Sounds says a lot. The play, by Bess Wohl, follows its characters on a comedic and poignant journey in self-reflection and mutual understanding at a spiritual retreat. Director Bevin O’Gara, a Huntington Theatre alum, is returning to Boston—this time at SpeakEasy Stage—to work on Small Mouth Sounds.
HOME ALONE WITH THE BOSTON POPS
Photo by Stu Rosner. Courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Q&A w/ Kevin McDonald and two high school chorus members On December 29-30, the Boston Pops will perform the score to the Christmas classic movie Home Alone in sync with the film on screen at Symphony Hall. The Pops will be joined in the performance by members of the Wellesley High School chorus. DigBoston spoke with Kevin McDonald, the director of the Wellesley chorus, and two of his students, Lindsay Heffernan and Kevin Mahoney.
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Web-Slings Among Best of Superhero Movies
Let’s get this out of the way early. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best (if not the best) animated movie of the year. Its only real contender for quality and originality is Isle of Dogs, and it’s mostly apples and oranges at that point. Either way, this movie is fantastic and deserves awards. But more importantly, it deserves audience acclaim (it has all of the critical acclaim it could possibly desire by now).
BRICKBOTTOM FOUNDERS SPEAK
Pioneering Somerville artist live/work co-op celebrates 30th anniversary Approaching the block of buildings from Chestnut Street, all you can see are five stories of basically identical windows amid levels of concrete. Stripes of color run along the sides, framing the official entrance to 1 Fitchburg St in Somerville. What isn’t immediately clear, unless you know what you’re looking at, is that this is the entrance to the Brickbottom Artists Association.
AMOC BRINGING FRESH NOTES TO OPERA AT AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER
Matt Aucoin and Zack Winokur. Photo by Liza Voll. When most people think of opera, they imagine a red-faced, sweating man or woman on stage, belting out unintelligible lyrics. Think Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in “What’s Opera, Doc?” or maybe even Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep in the eponymous biopic). While much of opera isn’t this, it does carry the burden of its stereotypes in common conception.
GRINCH STEALS CHRISTMAS AND SHOW IN WANG THEATRE MUSICAL
GRINCH STEALS CHRISTMAS AND SHOW IN WANG THEATRE MUSICAL December 5, 2018 By JACOB SCHICK Leave a Comment Photo of Gavin Lee as the Grinch and Mackenzie Jane Mercer as Cindy Lou by Jordan Bush ★★★★☆ Since 1957, when the original Dr. Seuss book was published, people have been enamored with the furry green grouch who hates the holiday season. So much so, in fact, that the word “Grinch” has come to refer to someone who resembles the character in temperament, if not in shape.
"thank u, next" Video Borrows from 'Mean Girls'
Garnering over 73 million views on YouTube in the three days since its release, Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is quickly becoming a cultural touchstone. The music video draws from a number of classic romantic comedies (and Mean Girls, which isn’t really romantic, but is certainly a comedy). In rooting itself in established properties of the past, “thank u, next” ensures its staying power. Often, content that pulls from pop culture quickly becomes dated.
ALL BARK, NO BITE IN AKA THEATRE’S IN THE FOREST, SHE GREW FANGS
Kira Compton in In the Forest, She Grew Fangs ★★☆☆☆ Once upon a time, there was a play. And in this play, presented by Also Known As Theatre, there was a girl. And a forest. And a grandmother. And a wolf. Stephen Spotswood’s In the Forest, She Grew Fangs, directed by Kelly Smith, tries to play off this classic scenario. A girl who wears a lot of red meets a wolf, deep in the forest.
Schick: A Farewell to Arts & Review
I don’t remember what it was like not to do this. I used to think that life was like a movie. That we were all the heroes of our own story. And in a way, it is. Life has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Things build, or they fall apart. And at the end, the movie is over. Like life. But I was wrong to think that. A movie can be watched over and over. You can fast forward and more importantly, rewind. You can’t do that with life.
THE RIGHT WAY TO DO SLAPSTICK COMEDY IN THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG
Scene from The Play That Goes Wrong ★★★★☆ After drinking and spitting out scotch (read: paint thinner) for the fourth time, Thomas Colleymoore (Robert Grove) shouts—for the fourth time—“Good God! I needed that.” It seems that The Play That Goes Wrong is just what the audience needed. A chance to laugh, even guffaw, at a show that’s equal parts smart and idiotic. From the very start, The Play That Goes Wrong is fully committed to the joke.
'Ralph Breaks the Internet,' Fun, Family-Friendly Feature
It’s been a year of sequels for animated Disney movies. The conglomerate-owned studio Pixar released the long awaited second chapter of The Incredibles 2, and now, just in time for Thanksgiving break, Walt Disney Animation Studios (Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia) has released Ralph Breaks the Internet, the sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph.
'Fantastic Beasts' Sequel Covers Bare Plot With Magic of Wizarding World
While the characters in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald cast spells like “avada kedavra” or “stupefy” on each other, the movie is weaving a subtler magic on the audience. Or perhaps it’s a curse. The sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them casts a spell of nostalgia on its viewers, from the very start.
A Forward Look at Fall Films
For my penultimate column as arts editor for The Heights, I have chosen to write about something I can never spend enough time talking about: movies. We are wading through Oscar season. It’s one of my favorite times of year. I don’t get to see as many movies as I would like during the academic year (it’s like school is “important” or something), but Oscar season means that Winter Break is almost upon us.
THE SALONNIÈRES AIMS FOR BITING CRITIQUE, HITS DATED COMMENTARY
It’s easy to see what the set of The Salonnières is trying to do. It’s an opulent room filled with ornate couches and chairs—Renaissance paintings hung on the walls. But the most striking aspect of this set, designed by Katy Monthei, is its boundaries. The room is set on a raised stage and walled by thin gold bars rising out of the floor to meet at a point on the top. It looks like a birdcage at the Greater Boston Stage Company.
An Artistic Question of Vulgarity
t’s not often that you see art depicting penises and vaginas around Boston College. It might even seem shocking to read that sentence. How could one be so vulgar? That’s exactly what Isabel Cole, MCAS ’19, is trying to explain. he applied psychology and studio art double major from Needham has been working on a series of pieces depicting these kinds of images. Cole’s inspiration for her artwork comes from the ’60s civil rights movement’s protest posters.
Breakdancing, Music Impress at JCBC Culture Show
The Heights Room of Corcoran Commons was filled to the brim with eager attendees—friends and passersby—for Japan Club’s Culture Show. On a small raised stage, an evening of art, music, and dance took place. The Japan Club kicked off the show with an introduction. The show was built around the plot of Your Name. This animated movie follows two teenagers who find themselves switching bodies with each other, apparently at random.
KEITH LOCKHART ON HALLOWEEN AT SYMPHONY HALL
This Halloween, the Boston Pops will perform the original score of the classic Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho in sync with the film on screen at Symphony Hall. DigBoston caught up with Pops conductor and musical director Keith Lockhart ahead of this very special event. Why did you decide on Psycho for this year’s Halloween performance? Is there something particular about the score that stood out to you? Well, Psycho is such an iconic horror film that it’s almost become a stand-in for the entire genre.
A Column About Halloween Movie Columns
Every week I strive to write a column. Sometimes it goes better than others, as I learned when one column got picked up by a Marvel fan site and blew up my inbox. But it’s an endless cycle. I try to come up with ideas while sitting in class. I write list after list of column ideas, just to discard them all when I finally sit down to write the damn thing. What should I write about? How can I be topical and current without just simply regurgitating the opinions of others?
Gabbie Hanna Debuts Spooky "Monster (Reborn)" Video
Just in time for spooky season is Gabbie Hanna’s new music video, which stretches across two of her songs, “Monster” and “Monster (Reborn),” linking them together. While this makes sense given the plot of the music video, it does pad the runtime a bit too much. Coming in at 5:14, “Monster / Monster (Reborn)” is a pretty long video. By the three-minute mark, viewers will likely be tired of the story, and of the song.
HICKEY AND THE HABIT
Originally from Charlestown, filmmaker and anti-opiate activist Johnny Hickey launched his career with his writing and directing debut Oxy Morons in 2010. Over the past two years, he’s been working on a new project, the psychological horror The Habit, which stars local celebs including MTV reality show favorite Chris “CT” Tamburello and other Real World cast members from Greater Boston.
'Invisible' Finds Simplicity in the Everyday Hustle
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people that we pass by every day. We don’t take much notice of them, whether they are dressed for business, leisure, or hard physical work. Everyone lives in their own small bubble, taking a passing fancy only in those who catch their eye. Tena Štivičić, in her play Invisible, attempts to capture the threads that connect the seemingly disparate lives at either side of the social and financial stratosphere.
Schick: 'Oxy Morons:' A Real Boston Movie
Until this week, I thought I understood what a Boston movie was. Boston movies are so ubiquitous in the film industry that they are almost a genre all on their own. They all feature establishing shots of the city, tracking shots of “real Bostonians,” an emphasis on family and loyalty, and—most importantly—the accent. This phenomenon is so well-known, it’s the subject of an entire Saturday Night Live skit called “Boston Accent.” I had seen them all, too.
Speaking With the Cast of A24's 'Mid90s'
It’s pretty clear that comedians seem to have some amazing and incredibly serious stories lurking deep in their hearts. Bo Burnham amazed everyone with Eighth Grade. John Krasinski scared audiences with silence in A Quiet Place. Bradley Cooper, famous for The Hangover series, brought fans to applause and tears in A Star Is Born. Now it’s Jonah Hill’s turn. In the powerhouse comedian’s writing and directing debut, he has written a love letter to ’90s skating culture.
New England Classic Editors Speak on 'DazQuest' Creation
Check your nightly news, because there’s a new craze that all the young people are doing. It’s not rainbow parties, or new emojis. No, this is something bigger—and perhaps more detrimental to the fabric of our society here at Boston College. Brought to you by three editors of the best publication on campus—The New England Classic (NEC)—is yet another way to sit in a class and learn nothing. This past Wednesday, DazQuest was finally released.
'DazQuest' Sees Steve Addazio in Interactive Fanfiction
When I received an email from the New England Classic with the subject “DazQuest Press Copy,” I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had spoken with the game’s co-creators, but you never really know what you’re going to get until you’ve spent some time playing the game. The press copy came in the form of a zip file whose capacity for viruses Google was unable to scan. Would the New England Classic have sent me a virus instead of the video game we had spent 90 minutes discussing?
Screaming at Streaming Services
So every week for a long time, I’ve been setting up the budget of stories for the arts section of The Heights. This includes perusing the events calendar for McMullen exhibits and Robsham plays, as well as sorting through the mess that is it the OrgSync calendar to see what dance teams are doing, or whether an a cappella group is having a show. But as I’m sure is very clear by now, the arts section also writes about things that aren’t going on at Boston College.
Within Melancholia, 'A Star Is Born' Shines Bright
A star is born. From nothing, a cold and empty lacking, there comes a sudden light. A sudden warmth, a life so bright it’s blinding. Where there was nothing, something now is. And it’s beautiful. A star born from nothing. But a star isn’t born from nothing, is it? In that dark and lonely space, there was something before that star. There was something that had enough pressure, enough energy, enough force and momentum to create that star, tearing it into existence.
'Venom' Injects Audiences With Disappointment
If Venom was smart, it might have made more subdued and nuanced nods towards a very interesting part of the human condition. Many people carry their own dark passenger, a hidden demon or parasite that is capable of lashing out in anger or violence or fear. We might have subconscious conversations with it, seeking mastery of it and of ourselves. Yet, we do not always win this battle. For one reason or another, be it environmental or internal, we give in to our darker desires. And it feels good.
Crowds Crocodile Rock All Night at Elton John Concert
It’s sad to say, but the great (and knighted) Elton John is on his last ever concert tour. The pop rock powerhouse got his start with his first album, Empty Sky, in 1969, and he’s ending it with a world tour that is equal parts amazing and pangingly sad. The artist isn’t even gone yet and it feels like he’s left us too soon. But for now, fans across the country and the world have one last shot at seeing the star perform live.
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