Trailer of the Week: Black Swan

I guess Darren Aronofsky isn’t done trying to mess with our heads. I consider his 2000’s effort Requiem for a Dream the most disturbing movie of all time and by far the best piece of anti-drug propaganda out there. Seriously, they should cancel D.A.R.E., stop making those annoying “above the influence” commercials, and show kids Requiem in fourth grade health class instead. They won’t do drugs until they’re at least 30, trust me. But then you have to take into account the cost of psychiatric counseling they’ll need after seeing the movie, so I guess someone should run the numbers and figure out which option is cheaper. My vote’s still with Requiem (see the trailer here).

Anyway, his newest movie, Black Swan, disturbed me just from the trailer. Take a look at the trailer here.

After watching it a few times, these are the things that freak me out the most:

1. Natalie Portman’s mom. Played by the same actress as the teacher from Hoosiers (one of the best sports movies ever made), the part when she’s clipping Natalie Portman’s character’s nails gives me the creeps. I think Aronofsky is some sort of expert at making middle-aged women scary.

2. The fact that it’s about ballet. Typically, dance-themed movies deal with coming of age (Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, you get the picture). Funny enough, Black Swan also seems to be a coming of age tale, except more of an incredibly dark, loss of innocence/descent into insanity sort of coming of age. Speaking of which, I really hope they make Step Up 4: Your Lives and turn it into a horror movie. Cinema gold.

3. Mila Kunis. I know you’re thinking, “What’s so scary about her? Natalie Portman’s the one going nuts,” but hear me out on this. Mila Kunis does the voice of Meg on Family Guy. Mila Kunis is very attractive. Meg is horridly ugly and is the butt of everyone’s jokes for being so hideous. Mila Kunis is very attractive. This does not compute.

4. This is the first time Vincent Cassel has front billing for an American movie. For being pretty much the only good part of Ocean’s Twelve, stealing the show in Eastern Promises, and starring in a bunch of popular French films, I figured he had by now starred in at least a couple American made movies. However, a quick scroll down his IMDb page proved me wrong. This is a travesty, and hopefully Black Swan will convince Hollywood to finally embrace this guy. He’s the real deal.

5. NATALIE PORTMAN IS TURNING INTO A F***ING SWAN! Need I say more?

Basically, I’m really excited for this to come out (it’s scheduled to be released sometime in December). I know for some of you out there the part of the trailer where Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis make out is enough to make you want to see the movie, but still, if you enjoyed Inception, Shutter Island, Memento, or any movie that screws with your head, you might want to check out Black Swan when it comes out.

Oh, and did I mention that Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis make out? I did? Okay, good. Just making sure.

-Ben Neumann ‘14

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Princeton Trend of the Week: Learning By Osmosis

“The political landscape of Taiwan exemplfiesjlkldjffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff”

If there’s a line in your notes that looks anything like this (or if you laughed when you read the words “your notes”), you may share my affliction—I’m an occasional class-napper. And judging from my experience as a class-attending student (impressive, I know), there are many others like me on Princeton’s campus.

Don’t worry, I know that it’s not because you’re not interested (if that were the case, you’d just use the time to do your online shopping), or that your professor’s voice is the academic equivalent of “Rock-a-bye Baby.” You were probably just up all night working on a problem set, in rehearsal, flirting with that cute freshman…important Princetonian stuff.

And no—I won’t tell you to get more sleep. That would be pointless, and honestly hypocritical. (I’m somewhat known among friends for my all-nighting.)

But I will offer some of the tips I have learned from a varied mix of successful and horribly failed (and unintentional) attempts at catching up on shut-eye in class, or as I like to call it, learning by osmosis:

1) If you can, relegate your naps to lecture classes. Napping in seminars or language classes is NEVER a good idea…and pretty embarrassing. Especially when the teacher notices, which he/she will…trust me.

2) Two words: back corner. Get there a few minutes early if you must, but claim that seat. Much better than snoring in the teacher’s face, front and center.

3) If you feel your eyes starting to shut as you sit down, take a second to set a vibrate alarm on your phone for halfway through class (maybe more than one, if you can).

4) Sit next to a friend who will wake you up—pinch you, punch you, whisper sweet nothings in your ear—whatever works.

5) If all else fails, and you feel that you need to stay awake, there’s always the energy drink. I personally recommend Red Bull shots (not tasty, but quick and mostly painless).

Wakey wakey!!

-Nava Friedman ‘13

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An Insider's Guide to the Dining Halls

In the battle of the dining halls - WuCox vs. Whitman? Rocky/Mathey vs. Forbes? - it can be extremely difficult to determine which dining hall around campus is the best option for your eating experience. Some dining halls cater to specific needs better than others, and that’s where “Intersections” comes to the rescue! Here is a quick and dirty guide to which dining hall will best fit your specific taste:

The Vegetarian / Vegan: Wu/Wilcox boasts the most options for vegetarians and vegans around campus. There’s a fully-stocked salad bar with the typical iceberg lettuce, olives, mushroom, tomatoes, and carrots that can be found at all dining halls. However, there are also some great twists on the traditional Caesar salad, even making non-vegetarians fill their plates with the deliciously healthy choices. As a flexitarian (vegetarian on certain days), I love eating the sweet tofu, peas and tomato mixture, as well as the tomato and mozzarella cheese chunks mixture. When you want to lose that Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior 15, hit up WuCox for sure.

Chipotle lover: I have to admit I am slightly disappointed that the nearest Chipotle to campus is about a half hour away. But Tex-Mex lovers, have no fear! Whitman dining hall almost always features a Mexican bar at lunch and dinner. Choices include tacos and soft shells, along with fillings like black beans, chicken, beef, mixed corn, and salsa. Sometimes Whitman goes even a further to include chili-type soups, complete with tortilla chips to put in the soup. Who needs Chipotle?

The fancy restaurateur: For those who enjoy the true experience of eating out, where complex dishes are pre-made to order, Rocky/Mathey is the way to go. You'll see platters of grilled chicken served with sauteed vegetables, and salmon fillets with asparagus spears lined up blissfully alongside them. Word on the street is that there was even steak one time. I wouldn’t put it past the chefs at Rockey/Mathey. So for those who want to pretend to eat on Nassau, Rocky/Mathey is the place to be.

Chocolate die-hard: Forbes has a chocolate fondue foundation. That’s all that needs to be said.

“I scream for ice cream!”: Every dining hall on campus. And that’s why Princeton is the best university in the nation.

-Sophia Deng ‘14

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Music Q & A: Josh Ritter

Though he didn’t pick up a guitar until he was 17, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter has quickly made a name for himself as a leading Americana artist. His music straddles the line between folk and rock, and he has been compared to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul Simon. Ritter’s sixth album, “So Runs the World Away,” was released this spring to positive reviews. Ritter will perform a solo acoustic show at McCarter Theatre on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Before he comes to campus, Street sat down with Ritter to discuss what he brings to performance and songwriting.

Your performance on Wednesday will be a solo acoustic show, without the Royal City Band, who usually backs you up. Will you be altering your set list or the songs themselves?

JR: Well, the songs don’t change, which is the great part about playing solo. I always consider myself a solo performer first. I think it’s really good to do it — it keeps you sharp. It’s pretty much like when you go to a steak restaurant and you order steak and they just bring it out to you on a plate and that’s it. That’s what I think about the solo stuff. If the songs don’t stand out solo, they don’t stand out in a band — you can’t hide. I really love it. I love playing solo.

Do you feel like the other band members in your group have a big influence on your music?

JR: They do. They’re tremendous musicians and they’re good listeners. They’re listeners to lyrics, and for that reason it’s good for me.

Are your lyrics necessarily important to you in the exact way they’re written? Are the words just interesting things that pop into your head, or do they have deep emotional significance?

JR: I think it’s funny because a lot of writing is caring about what you say, but also being cold-blooded about it. You have to really care about what you say but you have to willing to change it as well. And to work all day writing something and then playing it for someone and realizing you don’t like it and then you can’t let it survive, you can’t let it live. Some songs you have to put down. And it’s important to do that.

But then the other part of writing is that you have to be willing to accept your inspiration coming from anywhere. It never comes from the same place. For a song like “To the Dogs or Whoever,” that’s a song where I just realized I liked a bunch of words; I realized I had to let go of any kind of storyline or anything. It’s very different from, for instance, “Girl in the War,” where images are important and specifically important.

Do you write your lyrics with your audience in mind?

JR: When I started, I started playing open mics, and open mics are a really good way to start thinking about how a song affects an audience. When I started making records I kind of went at it from “performance first” — that is, a record should be a collection of moods. One mood all the way through never holds my attention. When everything is dark and dreary or when everything is just a joke, it becomes monochromatic. I really enjoy the shows where I see somebody taking on a full spectrum of emotions, and I feel the same way with albums. That’s why I feel like while I may write a lot of different songs, there’s only a spot for so many of a certain type on a record. But that’s what great about it: If you’re really honest with yourself, there’s some songs that do that better than others, and some where maybe it’s good to hold on to them and let them wait until the next time (kind of a “Put me in, coach” sort of thing).

What goes into constructing your albums and putting the songs together?

JR: An album is your chance to show that you’ve been spending your time doing what people give you money to do. It’s your responsibility not to be the same every time. Whatever the charm that you have that makes people listen and makes your music what it is — you have a responsibility to stay true to that while cutting free and going someplace else. People want to hear some of the songs they’ve heard before, but your career and your art won’t progress if you become afraid of playing new things. That’s your responsibility, and a record is like that as well. It’s like when you’re standing on the edge of the dock and you’re about to jump into the cold lake. You know it’s going to be one way or another — maybe it won’t as bad as you think, or maybe the shock will be incredible — but it will be exhilarating no matter what. Putting out a record is kind of the moment that I think most people who make music for a living become pretty addicted to — that great moment of delivery.

A lot of your songs use religious imagery or references. What role does religion plays in your music?

JR: Religion is a set of rules, but what people actually believe is what’s fascinating to me. That’s never an easy thing to quantify. It’s one of the most freeing things to write about because our culture has religious images everywhere. For some reason in our pop music it’s not there — it’s like a desert for that — when it’s almost like a universal language.

Earlier this year you went on tour with your wife, Dawn Landes, who opened for you. What was that like?

JR: The ideal job with the ideal woman.

This interview was conducted, condensed, and edited by Daily Princetonian Street Staff.

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Albums of the Month: September 2010

Indie: “The Suburbs” - Arcade Fire

The hype for Arcade Fire’s new album, The Suburbs, had been building all summer, but, for once, the album still manages to impress wary listeners, even with all the inflated expectations. Inspired by his youth in the Houston suburbs with brother William Butler, the front man, Win Butler, layers an anguished voice full of yearning on top of pulsing grooves in “Modern Man.” While certain parts still envelope the listener in the band’s characteristic grand, orchestral sound, Arcade Fire has opted to be more restrained and bare in this album centering on middle class malaise. Nevertheless, the album is filled with beautiful melodies and spiritual introspection, and has been lauded by many critics as their “masterpiece.”

-Grace Ma ‘14

Electronic: “Cheese” - Stromae

Parles-tu français? If you said oui, pay close attention. I want to tell you about Stromae, a Rwandan-Belgian electronica rapper who’s taken all of Europe by storm but is, as of yet, completely unknown in this country. He’s like a hybrid between Kanye West and Jacques Brel – a suave iconoclast with a formal education in music theory and provocative existential lyrics delivered with a French accent thicker than Pepé Le Pew’s. His first single, “Alors On Danse”, was released over a year ago, but remains at the top of a majority of European charts for its infectious rhythm and vibe. Other highlights of his debut album “Cheese” are the angsty “Te Quiero” and the religious-rave song “House’llelujah”. This album is hard to define – it’s like a Congolese salsa instructor’s first time as a DJ at a Jersey Shore rave. Give this entire gem of an album a good listen, but if ABBA makes you dread anything dubbed Europop, at least find Kanye West’s remix of “Alors On Danse” released last month. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

-Michael Bennet ‘14

Hip Hop/Rap: “I Am Not a Human Being” - Lil Wayne

Whatever reviewers of Lil Wayne’s new album, “I Am Not a Human Being,” will say, the real appeal to the album is simple: It’s Lil Wayne! From jail! Actually rapping! No more of that so-called rock music on “Rebirth”- this is real rap. For his millions of deprived fans, that’s enough. But for everyone else, it doesn’t hurt to say that the music is actually pretty damn good.

-Trap Yates ‘14

Pop/Rock: “Maximum Balloon” – Maximum Balloon

Do you like TV on the Radio? The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s? Well it won’t make a difference if you don’t, because TVOR member David Sitek’s new project, with all its vigorous creativity and contributors is an animal of its own species. Released September 21st, Maximum Balloon’s debut album featuring Sitek and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s offers a different perspective with each track. One moment, you might hear a bit of Chromeo, while another might drown you in airy female vocals a la Goldfrapp. When it comes down to it, Maximum Balloon might not change your life, but it’s absolutely a lot of fun.

-Lisa Han ‘13

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Fashion Trend of the Week: Ankle Boots

As summer weather briskly turns to fall, Princeton students must adjust their wardrobes to the new temperatures. Gone are the days of miniskirts and flip-flops, and girls welcome the new weather so they can show off their new knit dresses and this week's fashion trend: ankle boots.

Ankle boots are taking over campus. After being modeled first by students from overseas, this trend has quickly spread to a broader group of girls in the Princeton population. Not only do they look fabulous with that new sweater-dress you bought at J. Crew, but they will keep your feet cozy as you make the trek from the Street to your dorm at 4 AM on a Saturday night.


Suede and studs are definitely in-style this fall, so booties featuring these two styles are definitely a good choice. Leather styles are also quite chic, but are not very practical for wearing around campus. Dark neutrals and black are the most popular, but there is definitely something to be said about choosing ankle boots that are a little more unique. However, if you go for some brightly colored boots, make sure they are the center of your ensemble, not the afterthought.
Celebs are even sporting their ankle boots. Erin Wasson’s black scrunched ankle boots looked fabulous on the red carpet, while Jessica Alba and Nicole Richie wore theirs in a much more casual setting. On campus, ankle boots aren’t worn casually yet, but think about trying them with a pair of tight jeans to replace your UGG boots. It’s not the wintertime just yet! So instead of breaking out the UGGs in the beginning of October, invest in a pair of ankle boots for the coming months—this is definitely not a trend to pass up.

- Lisa Fierstein '14

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Pearls of Wisdom: A Compilation of Prince Comments

Article: Where’s the Orange and Black?

If we’re just basing it on the number of comments on the article, Princeton students definitely have lots to say about our football team. Amid the many vitriolic 5-paragraph essays, complete with thesis, primary source, and conclusion, defending the fact that students DID have face paint, we found these little gems of truth, proving that a few words could go very far.

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Posted by Peems

I sweat, bleed, excrete, and egest Orange and Black.

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Posted by RAWRist

Yo... I was painted up for the game. My fat rolls were tiger stripped. My mother and your mother would have cringed.

Tmi, dude.

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Posted by G-Ro

Wow. We come from a very open nation where people are free to express their opinions without fear of repercussion. But upon reading this article, I am forced to call into question the securities guaranteed First Amendment. Some people really need to be censored and their verbal diarrhea forced into the privacy of their own head.

Yup, my first thoughts exactly after I read this article seemingly about football tailgate, yet with so many implications for the fundamental nature of American’s right to free speech…

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Posted by elder

What's this? RAWR has been impugned? Call the councils together. Sharpen the sticks! Light the fires! Drum tum tum tum. Drum tum tum tum.

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Anonymous

A Princetonian envious of DUKE! Ha!

Just made a Duke student’s day…

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Of course, in the middle of the fray, there is Bob Turkey, who would’ve led the wave of support, if only he had been in the right place…

Yeah, I couldn't find the Prince tailgate anywhere. What's up with that?

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Posted by Get Over Yourself Already

The fact that Princeton students have the peculiar habit of "sipping beer from styrofoam cups" instead of spraying it all over each other is because the latter behavior isn't integral to football fandom - it's just a waste of beer. And Princeton students are too smart to waste beer.

We are so practical!

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Posted by lax

The truth is no one here knows how to tailgate, unless they are members of the men's lacrosse team. Everyone else sucks.

We formally apologize that not every one of us can be a lax bro…

-Grace Ma ‘14

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