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‘Brats’ doc offers look at lives of 80s superstars

Growing up, my parents were strict about what movies my sisters and I were allowed to watch, so the only John Hughes film I had seen for a long time was a television edit of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” I wasn’t familiar with the Brat Pack until later when I was able to watch films like “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “The Breakfast Club,” and “Sixteen Candles.” While these weren’t formative films during my youth, I do have an affinity for these actors of my generation who were part of a movement toward making and marketing films for a young audience. So one of my most ...

Beyond curiosity, ‘The Watcher’ is not a must-see

M. Night Shyamalan came onto the film scene like a hurricane with his debut film, “The Sixth Sense.” The ending absolutely shocked audiences and remains one of the best movie twists to this day. Since then, his films have had mixed receptions from critics and audiences alike, but they still manage to get people to the theater — even if it’s just   to see if this is the one that turns it around. It is the same curiosity that sent me to see his daughter Ishana Shyamalan’s first film, “The Watchers.”   On the 15th anniversary of her mother’s death, ...

Glenn Powell kills it in ‘Hit Man’

Theater kids are often some of the most maligned kids in high schools. A little odd, a little dramatic, a little over-the-top. So when we watch movies with suave, gorgeous stars in them, we can forget that a lot of them are former theater kids. But every once in a while, we get the hint that these stunning people might have been perceived as something else not that long ago. This is heavily on display with Glen Powell’s character in Richard Linklater’s newest film, “Hit Man,” now streaming on Netflix.  Gary (Powell) is a college philosophy professor. He is divorced and ...

Ducain to release reimagined version of James Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’

Mon Hills Recording artist Ducain is set to unveil new music on June 11, with a captivating cover of the timeless James Taylor hit, “Fire and Rain.”   This reinterpretation marks the first release in 2024 from the acclaimed band.  “Fire and Rain” stands as an iconic piece in the American popular songbook, recognized globally as one of James Taylor’s definitive songs. Ducain’s reimagination breathes new life into this classic, infusing it with the essence of Alt-Country and Southern Rock. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts such as The Allman Bros Band, ...

Nature Connection Series kicks off at WVU Core Arboretum

Everyone is welcome to visit the WVU Core Arboretum woodland amphitheater for its Nature Connection Series talks on Tuesday evenings this summer.  Local and regional experts on a variety of nature-related subjects will give public talks at the arboretum, as part of our WVU Core Arboretum Nature Connection Series. This summer, talks will cover topics such as fish, trees, native history, moths, birds, plants, mushrooms, geology, vernal pools, forest bathing and more. These talks happen at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the WVU Core Arboretum Amphitheater, starting in June and continuing ...

Confusing tone keeps ‘Summer Camp’ from being fun

Growing up, I went to sleep-away camp every summer. The last week in July, I would pack my suitcase too full and head to an old barn for a week of music, swimming, weird awards and surprisingly good food. We would stay up too late talking and then wake up too early so we could try to get a warm shower. It was exhausting and dirty and one of my favorite parts of every summer. I hoped that sense of wonder would be recaptured in Castille Landon’s film “Summer Camp.”  Ginny (Kathy Bates), Nora (Diane Keating), and Mary (Alfre Woodard) met at a summer camp when they were kids. ...