Media Beat Film reviews, collection updates, and more from Media Services

Every month of the year is dubbed something strange. “National Hot Tea Month” and “National Oatmeal” month are notable mentions for January. However, there is one January observance of utmost importance – National Mental Wellness month. January is the month of new beginnings, and it’s hard to keep our promises to ourselves. Sometimes by February we have already given up. As January disappears in the rearview, we reflect on how to take care of ourselves and our loved ones in the winter months still ahead. These titles, some available on DVD, some on streaming, all contain stories showing how we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. More titles are available through Media Services to check out or stream. Unsure how? Ask a member of our staff at the desk. We love to help!

Regarding Henry (1991)

Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford and Annette Bening, tells the story of a hot-shot lawyer who has everything and nothing. While he has the job, the family, and the swanky New York apartment, he is never satisfied, and there is a disconnect between him and his family. One night, he steps out for cigarettes and is shot in the head, altering his life, personality, and temperament. Henry and his family have to navigate these new changes. Will lies and hurt tear the family apart? Or will it make them stronger than ever? Available on DVD in Media Services (click titles to go to IUCAT records).

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

A Beautiful Mind stars Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly and follows the life and diagnosis of the highly intelligent mathematician, John Nash. John Nash’s career takes off as he lands a job with the Department of Defense, he meets Alicia, and everything seems to be going well. But when Soviets attack Nash, threatening his family, he finds himself between a rock and a hard place. Not everything is as it seems in this important film that highlights mental illness. A Beautiful Mind won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture (2002). Available on DVD and streaming on the Swank streaming platform (CAS Authentication required for streaming).

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense, starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment, follows a psychologist and child duo. The films covers the aftermath of the psychologist talking down a gun-wielding patient who invaded his home. He meets Cole, a young boy who is shy and often bullied. Cole confides in Dr. Malcolm that he can see and talk to dead people, ghosts. Dr. Malcolm and Cole navigate this strange ability, learning a few things about each other and about themselves. Between Cole and Dr. Malcolm, it can be difficult to discern who is helping the other more.

The Shining (1980)

The Shining stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Jack and Wendy Torrance agree to be caretakers of a remote mountain lodge that shuts down for the winter. The Sheriff, before he leaves, warns Jack and Wendy’s son, Danny, not to go into Room 237, as they share a gift they call the “shining,” which gives them the ability to see ghosts. Strange and sinister things begin to happen. Will the family survive the winter or be consumed by the cold and the terror?

Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, follows two brothers who have to drive across the country to claim their inheritance following their father’s death. Raymond, Charlie’s estranged brother, is twice-exceptional, having both autism and Savant Syndrome. Raymond has been kept in a facility since an incident involving Charlie occurred. The two have to go cross country to get their money back while sticking to Raymond’s strict daily routines, all while getting to know each other. Will Charlie have the patience required to adapt? Or will he forego the whole thing and destroy any hope of a relationship with this brother?

Good Will Hunting (1997)

In Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon plays a humble yet arrogant custodian whose life turns around when he solves a math problem on a chalkboard during one of his shifts. After a brawl gets him in trouble, he’s legally ordered to attend classes and therapy sessions. Will must navigate these uncharted waters as every aspect of his life changes: career, identity, romance, friendships, and more. Can he change for the better or Will will always be hunting for good?

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape stars Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Juliette Lewis. Johnny Depp plays Gilbert Grape, a young grocery store clerk also serving as family patriarch after his father dies by suicide. He looks after his younger brother, Arnie, who displays signs of autism, and who repeatedly gets into trouble. Gilbert and Arnie’s mother is so overweight that she can’t leave their house, let alone take care of Arnie. Gilbert meets Becky and confides in her, but is their connection enough? Or will life get the best of Gilbert Grape?

All of these titles center around an alpha male who must learn to change for the better, mostly through therapy. All of them must deal with trauma, social reputation, and personal growth through the experience of an inconvenient truth. Regardless, they all have to open up and be willing to change, which is no easy feat considering the social pressure on males to maintain control of their emotions. Watch to find out more!

If you or anyone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, contact the National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255. For IU Mental Health Service options, go to https://go.iu.edu/4hCh.

Student blogger Abby Welch is a junior studying Media and Cinema Arts with a focus in Screenwriting. Her two minors are Spanish and History, and she hopes to be accepted into the 4+1 Masters of Library Sciences Program in spring of 2022. On campus, she is involved in Women in Media and Sigma Kappa. In her sparse spare time, she enjoys reading romance novels, writing and developing screenplays, exploring Bloomington with friends, and trying to convince her picky boyfriend to try new restaurants.

Her favorite thing about working in Media Services is choosing a film to play on the lobby monitor and having patrons sing praises about the selection upon entering!

Bahamian-American actor, film director, and diplomat Sidney Poitier is widely considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of Black cinema.  He landed his first film role playing a high school student in Blackboard Jungle in 1955, kickstarting a barrier-breaking career.  He went on to win numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, two Golden Globes, and a British Academy Film Award.  Poitier’s landmark achievement was being the first black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and in 2001 he received an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement.  Other honors he received include the AFI Life Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, a BAFTA Fellowship, a Kennedy Center Honor, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

More important than his many decorations, however, was the legacy he left behind—one that inspired an entire generation of black actors that came after him.  Part of that legacy came from his refusal to do certain roles.  Speaking to Oprah on the topic, Poitier said, “I was the most successful black actor in the history of the country.  I was not in control of the kinds of films I was offered, but I was totally in control of the kinds of films I would do.  So I came to the mix with that power—the power to say, ‘No, I will not do that.’  I did that from the beginning.… [The] films I did were designed not just for blacks but for the mainstream.  I was in concert with maybe a half-dozen filmmakers and they were all white.  And they chose to make films that would make a statement to the mainstream audience about the awful nature of racism.”*

His choice to be selective of the roles he took—to purposefully avoid demeaning stereotypes—left a powerful impact on the film industry and on the black actors who came after him.  Sadly, on January 6^th, 2022, Sidney Poitier died in his Beverly Hills home at the age of 94.  He is survived by his wife Joanna Shimkus and five daughters.  While Poitier’s life work certainly can’t be summed up into a list of five films, we wanted to share some of his most popular movies with you.  So, without further ado, here are five Sidney Poitier films that defied black stereotypes.

The Defiant Ones (1958)

The Defiant Ones tells the story of two convicts escaping a work gang, John “Joker” Jackson (Tony Curtis) and Noah Cullen (Sidney Poitier).  Forced to work together to attain their freedom due to the chains that bind them, the two must overcome their race-driven hatred for each other in order to elude their captors.  The film was nominated for 21 different awards, including the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for both Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier, making Poitier the first black actor to receive the nomination.  While he lost the Oscar this time around, Poitier won the BAFTA award for Best Foreign Actor.  The Defiant Ones also took home the Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.

A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Based on the 1959 play by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun follows the Youngers, a Black family living in poverty, as they struggled to decide what to do with a $10,000 life insurance check.  Poitier was praised for his portrayal of Walter Lee Younger in the film and received the Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for the role.  In 2005, the United States National Film Registry, in association with the Library of Congress, selected the film for preservation due to its cultural and historical significance.

Lilies of the Field (1963)

In Lilies of the Field, based off a book of the same name by William Edmund Barret, ex-G.I. Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) “stumbles upon five German refugee nuns in Arizona and helps them build a chapel.”**  The film was widely praised by critics and won numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.  Poitier similarly won the Golden Globe for best actor and was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Foreign Actor.  In 2020, the film was also selected by the United States Film Registry for preservation at the Library of Congress.

To Sir, With Love (1967)

While waiting for an answer about an engineering job, immigrant Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) takes a teaching position at North Quay Secondary School in London’s East End.  He treats the rowdy students with his own brand of discipline, insisting they treat each other with respect.  While not as appreciated by critics as well as some of his other films, To Sir, With Love is often considered a Poitier classic.

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Philadelphia homicide detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) reluctantly finds himself working with racist police chief Gillespie in Sparta, Mississippi, to solve the murder of industrialist Philip Colbert.  Tibbs and Gillespie soon find they have to work to overcome their prejudices in order to find the killer and bring him to justice.  In the Heat of the Night was widely praised by critics and experienced general success.  While Poitier himself received no awards for his role, he was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe, and the film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

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*“Oprah Talks to Sidney Poitier.”  O, The Oprah Magazine (October, 2000).  17 January 2022, https://go.iu.edu/4h0d

**Summary credit to the film’s IUCAT entry

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Kathryn Edom is a composer and aspiring music librarian in her second semester of IU’s MLS (Library Sciences) program.  She previously attended Sacramento State University and University of Oregon where she received her BM and MM (respectively) in music composition.  On top of her courses, she currently juggles three different library jobs, and in her limited spare time, enjoys reading, writing music, playing Animal Crossing, and watching Oregon football.

The end of finals is almost near, which means nothing can stand between you and feeling festive! From SNL alum Will Ferrell to classic characters like the Muppets, this list has something for everyone. We recommend enjoying these movies with a roaring fire and mug of hot cocoa for maximum coziness.

Home Alone

“When eight-year-old Kevin McCallister’s family rushes off on a holiday trip to Paris three days before Christmas, they accidentally leave the youngster behind to deck the halls with a barrage of booby traps to keep out a bumbling pair of burglars who have discovered that this tough little tyke is home alone.”* Shot in the Chicagoland town of Winnetka, Home Alone is a classic take on an extraordinary Midwestern Christmas. It reminds us to count carefully and take home security very seriously.

Stream via Feature Films for Education (IU users only, authentication required) or check out the DVD in Media Services. All titles contain links to the IUCAT record for the film.

A Christmas Story

“In 1940s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie dreams of his ideal Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot carbine action air rifle. But when gruff dad and doting mom regularly respond with “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie mounts a full-scale Santa-begging campaign. He encounters a slew of calamities from snowsuit paralysis to the dreaded tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole gambit.”* Set in Hammond, Indiana, and filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, this movie is another tale of a not-so-ordinary Midwestern Christmas. It taught us about bundling up, soap poisoning, and enjoying Christmas with our families.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

“’Tis the season for love, laughter, and one of the most cherished stories of all time! Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Academy Award winner Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, 1999, The Cider House Rules) gives a performance that’s anything but ‘Bah, humbug!’ as greedy, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge. One fateful Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Together with kind, humble Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog) and his family, the Spirits open Scrooge’s eyes—and his heart—to the true meaning of Christmas. Filled with original music and dazzling special effects, this restored and remastered 20th Anniversary Edition of The Muppet Christmas Carol will become a holiday tradition your family will treasure all the days of the year.”* Our favorite puppets star in one of the greatest Christmas stories ever told. The Muppets’ silly humor works alongside impeccable acting to make this film a heartwarming classic.

Elf

“A human baby accidentally ends up at the North Pole and grows up among the elf community. Buddy, as he comes to be known, knows that he’s ‘special’. When he’s 30, Buddy learns from Santa that he’s really a human. He decides to go in search of his father, to find out where he belongs. He walks to Manhattan and is immediately run over by a cab. His father at first rejects him and Buddy ends up in a department store where other elves are working. But all the while, things are looking bad for Santa Claus. When Santa crashes his sleigh in Central Park, it’s Buddy’s moment to shine.”* SNL alum Will Ferrell delivers an outstanding performance in one of his first major roles outside the comedy show. Full of iconic lines, the film gave us the quotes, “I love smiling. Smiling’s my favorite!” and “Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad!”. Turn on Elf for timeless holiday laughs.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

“You Better Watch Out! He’s green… he’s mean… and he hates Christmas! The Grinch is a bad-tempered hairy green creature, who lives inside a cave atop Mount Crumpit, overlooking the village of Whoville. As the Whos of Whoville frantically prepare for their yuletide celebrations, The Grinch decides to put a stop to Christmas once and for all and steals all their presents and decorations on Christmas Eve…only to finally come to learn that the true spirit of Christmas goes much deeper than tinsel and toys. The hilarious Jim Carrey spectacularly brings The Grinch to life in this magical live-action comedy which is based on the wonderfully quirky and well-loved book Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.** This green monster has taught generations the true meaning of Christmas. The Grinch’s antics almost stop Christmas, but not before one small Who helps him grow a heart. This movie will deliver on the laughs and the “awws”, making it a hit for the whole family. KN

Student blogger Kate Naughton is a new Media Services student staff member who joined us this semester. She is studying marketing.

*Summary credit to the film’s IUCAT entry. ** Summary credit to Amazon

In preparation for staving off any boredom over Winter Break, we’ve compiled a list of winter-themed horror movies from the Media Services collection. Happy Holidays, whether you spend them in tranquility or bracing for jump-scares. Our hope for one and all is that nothing about semester’s end is more frightful than these films!

The Lodge, 2019

This 2019 Swedish film starts with the classic winter horror premise of being snowed in. In this case it is a family stranded in a rural lodge with no means to contact the outside world. As the number of strange and inexplicable events keeps increasing, the stranded family does their best to survive.

Black Mountain Side, 2014

A group of archaeologists on an expedition to a remote Canadian outpost get stuck with no way to contact anyone for help after uncovering a 14,000 year old artifact. On top of the psychological effects of solitude and isolation, the team also grapples with odd occurrences centering around the artifact.

Misery, 1990

This early 90s film was based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. After a car crash, a famous author gets help from a nurse who takes him back to her house for medical care. She just so happens to be a fan of his work and decides that she wants to keep him with her in her house to write new stories for her.

Gremlins, 1984

A teenager named Billy gets some interesting new pets for Christmas known as mogwai. He has three very strict rules to follow regarding their care. The mogwai trick Billy into breaking the rules so they can transform into the titular Gremlins and wreak havoc across the city.

Let The Right One In, 2008

Let the Right One In double dips in genres through a central plot of young love that ties into the supernatural horror elements of the film. This Swedish film focuses on the odd relationship between Oskar and Eli, two children in 1982 Blackeberg, Sweden, and their unique methods for dealing with the local bullies.

30 Days of Night, 2007

This supernatural horror film takes place in the rural northern town of Barrow, Alaska. Every year this city gets 30 days straight without sunlight which creates one long 30-day night. Unfortunately, a blizzard sweeps through the town and knocks out all forms of communication. With the town in a month-long polar night and without communications a pack of vampires decides to take advantage of the buffet.

Krampus, 2015

The titular Krampus is a festive demon from German folklore who was summoned by accident to the Engel family holiday celebrations. Krampus works his way through the family and punishes its members for losing their “Christmas Spirit”.

Dead Snow, 2009

A group of Norwegian medical students get an undead surprise while out on a ski trip. This comedy horror film follows the students as they try and escape Zombified Nazis who are trying to ransack and destroy the town.

Black Christmas, 1974

Black Christmas is a seasonal slasher through a sorority house. A winter storm snows in a group of Pi Kappa Sigma sisters. Unfortunately for them a serial killer who lived in the house prior to its sorority days has escaped from prison the same night and wants his old home back to himself.

The Shining, 1980

The psychological horror film The Shining follows the Torrance family who are the winter caretakers for a remote hotel out in the mountains. However, in addition to the Torrances, the hotel is host to a number of sinister presences who torment the father, Jack Torrance, and drive him to a violent madness. CR

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Student blogger Cas Regan (she/they) is a Junior at IU in the Earth Science B.S. program with minors in Chemistry and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition to classes and working for Media Services, they are also the VP of the Beekeeping Club at IU and spend their free time caring for the club’s hives at IU’s Hilltop Gardens.

Editor’s Note: Spring 2022 will find the IU community immersed in Korean culture through Korea Remixed, a semester-long celebration of “the artists, writers, performers, and thinkers who make Korean culture integral to global culture in the 21^st Century.” Learn more by clicking on the link above, and let the Korean titles in this blog post serve as an appetizer for the smorgasbord of events to come in the spring.

It has been almost two months since the wildly popular Netflix show Squid Game, a South Korean production, was released. Alongside the many K-dramas featured by Netflix, here are ten shows/films similar to Squid Game. Some are made in Korea, others elsewhere, but all explore themes of adversity, humanity, and resilience. Among the titles below, those with clickable links are available for checkout at Media Services or through IU online streaming services (the latter requires two-step authentication).

Tower of God

Twenty-Fifth Bam had been alone his whole life until he met Rachel. After Rachel disappears in a veil of light, Bam follows her, vowing to ascend the Tower in hopes of meeting her again. However, the Tower is a dangerous place full of ancient secrets, fearsome monsters, and nefarious humans. Each floor is protected by an Administrator who puts the daring challengers through grueling tests that will push them to their limits.

As he confronts Headon, the Administrator of the first floor, Bam learns that he is an “Irregular,” someone who was not chosen by the Tower but was able to enter it on his own, an extremely rare event inside the Tower. Regardless of this revelation, however, his path forward is clear. Be it wealth, power, glory, or even reuniting with Rachel, all desires will be realized at the top of the Tower.

The Hunger Games

Each year, in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol, the ruthless capital of the nation of Panem, forces each of its twelve districts to send a boy and a girl—the “Tributes”—to compete in the Hunger Games. Both sanctions against the population for rebelling and a strategy of intimidation on the part of the government, the Hunger Games are a national televised event during which tributes must fight each other until death. The sole survivor is declared the winner.

The young Katniss, 16, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the competition. She finds herself facing over-trained adversaries who have prepared all their lives. All she has is her instincts and a mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, who won the Hunger Games years ago but is now nothing more than an alcoholic wreck. To hope one day to return home, once in the arena Katniss will have to make impossible choices between survival and her humanity, between life and love.

Escape Room and Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (sequel)

In Escape Room, a group of teenagers is abducted and forced to solve a chain of deadly logic puzzles. If they succeed, the surviving teens enter the next themed room (a bank lobby, a picturesque beach, a New York City side street), and hopefully advance to freedom. In Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, two of the previous movie’s players must complete a new series of escape room-style puzzles. The presence of this pair of former competitors—Zoey (Taylor Russell) and Ben (Logan Miller), both of whom survived the first Escape Room—immediately establishes this new movie’s emotional stakes, because nobody wants to relive the same nightmare twice. Photo credit: Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. Wikipedia.org. 19 November 2021, http://www.impawards.com/2021/escape_room_tournament_of_champions.html

Alice in Borderland

In Alice in Borderland, deadbeat Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) has no job and little ambition to do anything with his life other than play video games and hang out with his friends. One day, while he and two of his besties are goofing around in the famously busy Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, they cause enough commotion to attract the attention of the cops. They hide in a bathroom until the coast is clear, but, when they emerge, they find Shibuya completely deserted, along with the rest of Tokyo.

With no idea what’s going on, the group follows signs instructing them to go to a game arena. They arrive and learn that whatever alternate reality they’ve entered has at least one rule: They must participate in a series of games, or they will be killed. That may sound like a blast to Arisu, except these competitions have all the absurdity and deadly trappings of the video games he loves, and he won’t be playing them from the comfort of his couch. With no choice but to compete, Arisu must fight to survive and team up with others who’ve found themselves stuck in this strange world. Otherwise, it’s game over.

Battle Royale

Departing from two decades’ worth of domestic and personal dramas and returning to his roots as Japan’s maestro of mayhem, Kinji Fukasaku has delivered a brutal punch to the collective solar plexus with one of his most outrageous and timely films, “Battle Royale.”

This film is based on first-time novelist Koshun Takami’s phenomenally successful dystopian fiction (made even more popular when adapted to a manga) about a sinister game that forces kids in junior high to kill or be killed over the course of three days on a deserted island. The object of unprecedented controversy in Nippon, the film has racked up huge B.O. since its mid-December opening, preceding its international premiere in L.A. at the American Cinematheque’s tribute to the helmer and a slot in the Rotterdam fest.

I Saw The Devil/Akmareul Boatda

On a dark road, taxi driver Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik) comes across a scared female motorist stranded in a broken-down vehicle. He pulls over—but not to help her. When the woman’s head is discovered in a local river, her devastated fiancé, Kim Soo-hyeon (Lee Byung-hun), a trained secret agent, becomes obsessed with hunting down her killer.

Once he finds Kyung-chul, things get twisted. After brutally beating the murderer, Kim lets him go free, and a demented game of cat and mouse begins.

Circle

Darwin’s Game

High school student Kaname Sudou receives an invitation from a classmate to play Darwin’s Game, a mobile game he has never heard of. However, as soon as he opens the application, a green snake suddenly pops out from his phone screen and bites his neck, leaving him unconscious. Waking up in the infirmary without any signs of a snake bite, he is told by the school to take the rest of the day off. Although he is puzzled by what has happened, he dismisses the surreal experience as a hallucination and boards the train home.

Unfortunately, his curiosity gets the better of him and he uses the application once again. As the application appears to be just like any other battle game, Kaname breathes out a sigh of relief and decides to start his first match. However, the pleasant surprise is short-lived, as his in-game opponent unexpectedly appears right in front of him and attempts to hunt him down with a knife.

As he desperately runs for his life, Kaname puts two and two together and realizes that Darwin’s Game is not an ordinary game, but rather, it’s a brutal fight for survival.

Future Diary

Lonely high school student Yukiteru Amano spends his days writing a diary on his cellphone, while conversing with his two seemingly imaginary friends Deus Ex Machina, who is the god of time and space, and Murmur, the god’s servant. Revealing himself to be an actual entity, Deus grants Yukiteru a “Random Diary,” which shows highly descriptive entries based on the future and forces him into a bloody battle royale with 11 other holders of similarly powerful future diaries.

The last person standing is designated the new god of time and space. Yukiteru must find and kill the other 11 to survive. He reluctantly teams up with his stalker, Yuno Gasai (who also possesses such a diary). She takes it upon herself to ensure his safety. But there’s more to the her than meets the eye: she might have other plans for her unrequited love…

Gyakkyō Burai Kaiji

Owing to an increasing debt, Kaiji Itou ends up resuming his old lifestyle. One day, while walking on the street, he stumbles upon Yuuji Endou, who is hunting Kaiji due to the money he owes to the Teiai Group. Unaware of this, Kaiji eagerly follows Endou, hoping for a chance to participate in another gamble, but soon finds out the loan shark’s real intentions when he is kidnapped.

Given that Kaiji is unable to pay off his huge debt, the Teiai Group instead sends him to work in an underground labor camp. He is told that he will have to live in this hell for 15 years, alongside other debtors, until he can earn his freedom. His only hope to put an early end to this nightmare is by saving enough money to be able to go back to the surface for a single day. Once he is there, he plans to obtain the remaining money needed to settle his account by making a high-stakes wager. However, as many temptations threaten his scarce income, Kaiji may have to resort to gambling sooner than he had expected. RW

Student blogger Richard Wu began working in Media Services this year (2021). Richard is a pianist, and his focus at Indiana University is music. This is his first Media Beat blog post.

As a long-time fan of horror, spooky season has always been one of my favorite times to watch movies. All of the horror classics just resonate so much harder near Halloween, and I always try to make it through as many of my favorites as I can. One of the films I never skip is Tobe Hooper’s infamously gruesome 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I believe Hooper’s iconic film still reigns as the scariest movie ever made, and so I decided to take a look back on what made the movie so great.

For those who have not seen it, the film follows a group of friends in their 20s driving through the sparsely populated fields of Texas. Two of the friends, Sally and Franklin, are brother and sister and want to visit the grave of their grandfather. On the way they run into a strange hitchhiker who attempts to stab Franklin before they throw him back on the road, an event that kicks off a much further descent into strangeness and terror. After stopping to look for the old grave, each of the friends runs into a crazed killer named “Leatherface,” who along with their family attempts to turn each of these people literally into dinner…

Especially for the 1970s, the concept is very twisted, and the film still has this gross and uneasy quality to it decades later. A big part of the effect of the film is related to its production. In addition to being an acclaimed horror film, Tobe Hooper’s movie is also an iconic staple of the indie-film scene. Produced with a small crew and miniscule cast, it is incredible what they managed to pull off. The production conditions were infamous for terrible heat, disgusting props, and lots of fighting between the cast and crew under these undesirable conditions. However, this low-budget and intense production is arguably part of what helps translate to screen the gritty, underground quality which makes this film all the more scary.

The no-name actors, the unnervingly specific and strange set design, and handheld grainy camera work all combine to give the film this strange realistic quality. At times, the movie almost makes you feel like you have found some long-lost footage, and this—combined with the opening title card that gives the idea that these events may be real—make the events that transpire all the more disturbing. It all leads up to a final shot that will be hard to get out of your memory once you see it, one of several iconic, terrifying images in this timeless horror classic that every fan of scary movies must see. JG

Janzen Greene joined the Media Services staff this semester (Fall 2021), and this is his first Media Beat blog post. Janzen studies media and film here at IU and is a welcome addition to the Media Services staff.

The best things in life have four legs and a tail. We’ve rounded up five canine-centered movies available at Media Services. Spoiler alert: all of these movies have happy endings. So, this list of films is perfect for a feel-good movie night and a break from midterms!

Isle of Dogs

Lady and the Tramp

The Secret Life of Pets

101 Dalmations

“Pongo and Perdita have a litter of 15 dalmatian puppies. Cruella De Ville takes a fancy to the puppies and tries to buy them from their human owners, Roger and Anita. Cruella wants to get hold of those puppies, as well as more puppies, to make herself a lovely dalmatian skin coat. Cruella hires some thugs to kidnap the puppies and hold them at an abandoned mansion. Now Pongo and Perdita must use an animal communication system to help find all the puppies.”*
See the original Cruella de Ville in full fur-covered form. 101 Dalmatians sees animals trying to save the day, outsmarting not-so-bright humans along the way. It’s the perfect feel-good movie for a night in. Photo credit: 101 Dalmatians Poster. Digital Image. Disney. https://movies.disney.com/101-dalmatians-1961

Dogs and More Dogs

These titles and more are available for checkout at Media Services in Wells Library. For streaming video options, check out the Films On Demand platform, which provides IUB patrons free access to over 3,000 documentaries related to dogs! (CAS Authentication required.)

And in case you are wondering, we’ve got movies for cat people, too! Checkouts are free to IUB students and faculty, so stop by for a free movie night. Click Here for directions and hours. KN

*Quotes are from each title’s IUCAT summary. Click the title link for any item to learn more and check item availability.)

Student blogger Kate Naughton is a new Media Services student staff member who joined us this semester. She is studying marketing.

The other day I came across the documentary, Women Art Revolution (W.A.R.), in the Browsing Documentaries section of Media Services. This sparked my interest: What other films do we have that celebrate female artists? My question led me from the Browsing Documentaries and into our Teaching and Research collection, which holds a significant number of titles, both documentaries and fiction films, depicting the lives and artwork within the diverse community of female artists/feminist art. The department also has a number of streaming titles on this subject available, which can be viewed from any location by anyone with IU login credentials.

Reflecting for a moment on the emotional, political, and socio-cultural poignancy that a single painting may contain, these films explore the erasure and belittling of women’s art in a world that has traditionally elevated male works but ascribed “hobbyism” to those from female creators. While the art world has come a long way since the early-mid 20th century, these problems still persist and are reflected in the consistent devaluation of female-created art, the study of which reaches back into the 1970s era of second-wave feminism and Linda Nochlin’s revolutionary essay, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?”, an illustrated breakdown of which can be found here. This 2005 New York Times article further explores disparities between men and women artists in the art market: The X Factor: Is the Art Market Rational or Biased?*

Below is a look at a few of the titles available through the Media Services department which celebrate and explore the field of feminist and women’s art: a true feast for the mind and the senses. Enjoy!

Streaming Titles

Women Artists: The Other Side of the Picture (53 mins)

Where are the works of the great women artists? Why are there so few represented in museums? In this provocative program, respected artists such as Doris McCarthy, Judy Chicago, Joyce Weiland, and Jane Ash Poitras—in combination with curators, art historians, and the Guerrilla Girls—discuss the dearth of women’s artwork in major galleries and examine the poignant social history of women in the fine arts, a story of suppression, marginalization, and omission. The film spotlights the effort of the National Museum of Women in the Arts to balance that one-sided picture of artistic achievement.

African Art and Women Artists (17 minutes)

This program focuses on the Kenyan Elizabeth Orchardson-Mazrui. Rooted deeply in African soil, her art comments on life, particularly the contradictory and often hypocritical attitudes of African society toward women; her teaching at the university champions the concept that African art is a valid academic discipline, that African art is intrinsically different in being part of life rather than (as in Western art) a separate element.

The Artist Was A Woman (53 minutes)

The history of Western art has few examples of great women artists. This documentary uncovers the works of some gifted women, while exploring why talent such as theirs was overlooked. We learn that women were denied admission to art school, or if admitted, not allowed to study the human figure. Also, male art historians did not take their work seriously, denying them the recognition they deserved. Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt, and Georgia O’Keeffe bear witness to the fact that talent knows no gender. Jane Alexander reads from letters and diaries and Germaine Greer provides wry social commentary.

Latin American Women Artists 1915-1995 (27 minutes)

Surveying some of the most under-appreciated art of the 20th century, this program documents a groundbreaking exhibit of work by Latin American women at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The video opens up the world of these bold and sensitive visionaries, illuminating their accomplishments, their impact on artists outside their own countries, and the relationship between cultural and artistic identity. Featuring the work of legendary painters Frida Kahlo and Maria Izquierdo—as well as living artists Fanny Sanin, Soledad Salame, Elba Damast, and many others—the program reevaluates notions of mainstream and margin in the contemporary art world.

DVD Titles

Invisible Women: Forgotten Artists of Florence (30 minutes)

“Florence Italy, is the birthplace of some of the world’s most celebrated artists, scientists, and architects — from Michelangelo and Leonardo to Brunelleschi and Galileo. Yet little is known of the women artists who once painted there. A center for female creativity for more than five centuries, Florence hosts innumerable works by significant women painters from the Renaissance onward. Though these masterful paintings rival the art of their great male contemporaries, they are often unseen by the general public. ‘Invisible Women’ sheds light on these groundbreaking women artists and their virtually unknown works. It also points to the rediscovery and restoration of these works as the guiding forces behind rescuing the art of Florence’s forgotten women artists” (Description from DVD container.)

The Desert is no Lady: Women Artists and Writers of the Southwest (45 minutes)

Women artists and writers discuss the influences of Southwestern culture, geography, and demographics on their work, particularly focusing on the Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo cultures.

Conjure Women (85 minutes)

This documentary explores the artistry and philosophy of four African-American women: choreographer/dancer Anita Gonzalez; performance artist Robbie McCauley; photographer Carrie Mae Weems; and musician Cassandra Wilson. It includes interviews with these women and shows their works and performances and is intended to challenge assumptions about African-American culture.

W.A.R. Women Art Revolution (83 minutes)

An entertaining and revelatory “secret history” of feminist art, !Women Art Revolution deftly illuminates the under-explored movement through conversations, observations, archival footage, and works of visionary artists, historians, curators, and critics. Starting from its roots in the 1960s antiwar and civil rights protests, the film details developments in women’s art through the 1970s and explores how the pioneering artists created the most significant art movement of the late 20th century.

When you think of women artists, who comes to mind? There is a documented phenomenon of “serial forgetting” of women in creative fields, characterized by an invisibility that recurs generation after generation, even when attempts are made to document women artists, their work, and their history. If you have a favorite woman artist, or you know of other great films about women artists, let us know in the comments! SB

Sarah Bull is a student staff member in a number of departments at Wells Library, including Media Services.

*This linked article may appear behind a paywall. If you are affiliated with IU, you can set up a free account and access the content by clicking here.

As both a lover of film and music, I consider myself generally knowledgeable when it comes to film scores.  Of course, one can hardly have a discussion about film scores without bringing up one of the most famous film composers in modern history:  John Williams.  Everyone knows his most famous works, like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park, but the sheer number of projects Williams has done over the course of his career is astounding, and some of them often get the short end of the stick.  Here, I hope to shed light on some of these scores, which I feel deserve more credit than they often receive.

The Cowboys (1972)

This 1972 John Wayne film has all the makings of a true Western, and John Williams’s score is certainly no exception.  The film was admittedly met with mixed reviews.  It won the Best Theatrical Motion Picture “Bronze Wrangler” from the Western Heritage Awards, but received varied reviews from critics, some of whom questioned the way the film portrayed boys becoming men.¹  Despite the criticism, however, one thing that the film was consistently praised for was its score.  The sweeping strings and triumphant brass lend to a distinctly Copland-esque sound, perfect for any American Western.²

Superman (1978)

In 1978, Richard Donner directed one of the first films in a genre that has now taken the world by storm:  superhero movies.  His version of Superman, starring Christopher Reeve in the title role, was praised both critically and commercially.  The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original Score, and won the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.³  While the “Main Title March” certainly gets its fair share of performances at John Williams concerts, the rest of the score does not get the attention it deserves.  From the delicate strings and twinkling celesta in “The Fortress of Solitude,” to the quirky and off-kilter tuba solo in “The March of the Villains,” and the beautiful soaring melodies in “The Flying Sequence,” some of the lesser-known themes definitely deserve more credit than they often receive.

Empire of the Sun (1987)

Released in 1987, Empire of the Sun tells the story of Jamie (Christian Bale), a young boy who faces incredible struggles during the Second World War.  As a whole, the movie is considered one of Spielberg’s more underappreciated films, and John Williams’s score is no different.  It was nominated for many awards, including several Oscars, but only won three (Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, and Best Musical Score) at the 42^nd British Academy Film Awards. Having only just recently discovered this score myself, I can’t understand how I’ve never come across it before.

Williams’s quintessential soaring string melodies are certainly present, but it is the angelic sound of the children’s choir (a sound not usually found in other Williams scores) that sets it apart for me.  This is a score that I will most definitely be adding to my regular listening.

Hook (1991)

Hook is a film that is close to my heart.  This sequel to the classic Peter Pan story tells of an adult Peter (played by the late great Robin Williams) who has forgotten who he is.  Captain Hook, looking to draw his old nemesis out of hiding, kidnaps Peter’s children Jack and Maggie.  Peter then embarks on a journey of rediscovery as he returns to Neverland in order to rescue them.  The film experienced box office success but mostly negative reviews from critics, and Spielberg himself has admitted it’s certainly not one of his best.⁵  But despite some of its criticism, the score is one of the film’s highlights.  The main theme has all the whimsy and fanfare needed for any fantasy adventure, and some of the softer themes in tracks like “Remembering Childhood,” and “You Are the Pan,” have enough soulful melodies to melt any heart.  Hook is, by far, one of my favorite John Williams scores, and definitely worth a listen for any fans of his music.

Sabrina (1995)

This 1995 film, starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, and Greg Kinnear, is a remake of a film by the same name released in 1954.  The film did not fare well at the box office, and received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom compared it unfavorably to its predecessor.⁶  Despite the film’s failings, John Williams’s score does not disappoint.  The heavy use of piano and hint of 1950’s cool jazz creates a feeling of intimacy appropriate to the film.  Even still, Williams can’t resist the swelling string melodies that make his music soar.  Regardless of whether or not you like the film, the score definitely deserves more recognition.

Amistad (1997)

The Patriot (2000)

The Terminal (2004)

This 2004 film tells the story of Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), who becomes trapped inside John F. Kennedy International Airport after being refused entry to the country, and his home country Krakozhia is taken over in a military coup.  The film was generally well-received by critics and the public as a fun, feel-good movie, and Williams’s score is similarly light and cheerful.⁹  The clarinet solos littered throughout add an air of mystery and playfulness.  The clarinet features so prominently in this score that Williams later released a solo clarinet piece “Viktor’s Tale,” featuring music taken from the film, and Spielberg insisted that clarinetist Emily Bernstein, who recorded all the solos, be listed in the film’s end credits.¹⁰  If you’re looking for a mysteriously playful score to listen to, make sure to add this one to your list.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Based off of Arthur Golden’s book by the same name, this film tells the story of Japanese Geisha pre-World War II.  The film received mixed reviews, partially influenced by controversy regarding the casting of three Chinese actresses in the leading roles.  It was also criticized for Westernizing and misrepresenting Japanese culture.¹¹  Regardless, the score is a true masterpiece, with solos by famous violinist Itzhak Perlman and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma only adding to Williams’s epic musical storytelling.  No matter how you feel about the film, if you consider yourself a true John Williams fan, this score is a must-listen.

War Horse (2011)

Yet another Spielberg/Williams collaboration, War Horse was adapted from a 1982 novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo.  The story tells of a young British boy and his horse, who is later bought by the British Army for the ensuing conflicts of World War I.  It was generally well received by the public and critics alike, and has been characterized as a cross between Saving Private Ryan and E.T.¹²  Williams’s accompanying score is both playful and heartfelt, soaring in some places and heartbreaking in others.  Speaking personally, I have only seen the movie once, but I have listened to the score countless times and will surely listen to it again countless more.  I strongly encourage you: don’t miss out on this hidden gem. KE

Honorable Mentions:

Home Alone (1990)

Schindler’s List (1993)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Kathryn Edom is a composer and aspiring music librarian in her first semester of IU’s MLS (Library Sciences) program.  She previously attended Sacramento State University and University of Oregon where she received her BM and MM (respectively) in music composition.  On top of her courses, she currently juggles three different library jobs, and in her limited spare time, enjoys reading, writing music, playing Animal Crossing, and watching Oregon football.

Sources:

¹”The Cowboys.”  Wikipedia.  25 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowboys

²”About John Williams’ The Cowboys Film Score.”  Parker Symphony Orchestra.  20 April, 2016.  https://parkersymphony.org/john-williams-the-cowboys

³”Superman (1978 film).”  Wikipedia.  30 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_(1978_film)

⁴”Empire of the Sun (film).”  Wikipedia.  18 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_the_Sun_(film)

⁵”Hook (film).”  Wikipedia.  2 October, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_(film)

⁶”Sabrina (1995 film).”  Wikipedia.  23 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_(1995_film)

⁷”Amistad (film).” Wikipedia. 2 October, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amistad_(film)

⁸”The Patriot (2000 film).”  Wikipedia.  23 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Patriot_(2000_film)

^9,10 “The Terminal.”  Wikipedia.  18 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminal

¹¹”Memoirs of a Geisha (film).”  Wikipedia.  1 October, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha_(film) ¹²”War Horse (film).”  Wikipedia.  30 September, 2021.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Horse_(film)

For those unfamiliar with the term, the gender-queer community includes anyone who does not identify as male or female, but rather as another gender entirely, such as agender/genderless, nonbinary, intersex, genderfluid, etc. They are generally considered to fall under the transgender umbrella.

Just like individuals of any gender identity, gender-queer people choose the pronouns that they feel suit them best. Their pronouns could be gendered pronouns, like she/her or he/him, or gender neutral, like they/them. There are also neopronouns such as xe/xem/xyr or ey/em/eir, that are gender-neutral pronouns created for those who do not feel the pronoun options available are applicable. Any combination of pronouns can be used based on what someone decides suits them best. For example, I’m agender and use a combination of she/they pronouns, which means anyone referring to me can use they/them and she/her pronouns as well as “female” or gender-neutral honorifics (Mx., Ms., etc.).

Below I have compiled below a guide to some of the media titles we have here at IU Bloomington that have canonically gender-queer characters whose identities are acknowledged on screen.

TV Series

Good Omens (2019)
Pollution, they/them & Crowley, he/him

Neil Gaiman, one of the authors of the book that the TV series Good Omens is based on, has confirmed that all the angelic and demonic characters are nonbinary. In the TV series, this is mainly shown through the recurring character Pollution and a main character Crowley, who are both acknowledged as nonbinary within the context of the series³. Pollution uses they/them pronouns as well as the he/him honorific Sir². Crowley uses he/him pronouns, and has a fluid gender presentation across the series, meaning that the gender he chooses to present himself as changes depending on how he is feeling at that particular time.

The Good Place (2016-2020): Janet, she/her

Janet, one of the main characters in The Good Place, identifies as genderless/agender and uses she/her pronouns^2,3. Janet’s identity is frequently acknowledged on-screen, generally when she corrects those who misgender her by mistake. The most common occurrence of this during the series is when she reminds other characters that she does not use any gendered terms to refer to herself (e.g. “woman”, “girl”, etc.), and that she identifies as genderless, a fact that is not negated by her use of she/her pronouns.

Star Trek Discovery (2020): Adira Tal, they/them

Feature Films

The Kings of Summer (2013): Biaggio, he/him

John Wick 3 (2019): The Adjudicator, they/them

The third John Wick film has side character The Adjudicator who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. The Adjudicator is played by actor Asia Kate Dillon who is nonbinary as well and also uses they/them pronouns. Dillon has also portrayed several other gender-queer characters in media including Val(entina) Romanyszyn on the animated show Gen:Lock who is gender-fluid and changes their pronouns and name depending on their current gender presentation, and Taylor Mason on the TV series Billions who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns³.

XXY (2007): Alex, she/her

The main character of the film XXY is a teenager named Alex who is intersex and uses she/her pronouns¹. The film focuses on Alex’s experience with questioning her gender identity before the surgery her parents scheduled to have her “male” sex organs removed⁶.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001): Hedwig, she/her

Hedwig, the titular character of the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, identifies as genderqueer and uses she/her pronouns^1,2,3. The film takes place after her botched gender change surgery that didn’t fully remove her “male” sex organs, hence the “Angry Inch” in the title⁷. Her actor John Cameron Mitchell, who also doubles as the writer/director of the film, described Hedwig in an interview as “more than a woman or a man. She’s a gender of one”⁷, as Hedwig considers herself to be beyond gender.

Video Games

Borderlands 3 (2019): FL4K, they/them

IU Resources About Gender

The LGBTQ+ Culture Center at IU has a house on campus for in-person discussions, programs, etc. Through the house they have a library, which is comprised of films and books related to the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, they have compiled a list on their website of resources at the local, state-wide, national, and international level, as well as resources they’ve created regarding education and support for a wide variety of LGBTQ+ matters, including gender identities.

Culture Center: https://lgbtq.indiana.edu/

Resources Compilation: https://lgbtq.indiana.edu/resources/index.html

Sources

¹“Other-Gender Representation in Film.” iMBD. 19 Jun., 2012. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls009788538/

²”Nonbinary Gender in Fiction.” Nonbinary Wiki. https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Nonbinary_gender_in_fiction#Movies

³ “List of Fictional Non-Binary Characters.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_non-binary_characters

⁴Kenny, Lisa. “A Short(ish) Guide to Pronouns and Honorifics.” LinkedIn. 26 Jan., 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shortish-guide-pronouns-honorifics-lisa-kenney

⁵Gaiman, Neil [@neilhimself]. Twitter. 14 Jul., 2019. https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1150428978475409408

⁶”XXY (2007).” iMBD. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995829/?ref_=ttls_li_tt

⁷Ouzounian, Richard. “John Cameron Mitchell to Host Hedwig and The Angry Inch Sing-Along in Toronto.” Toronto Star. 18 Jun., 2014. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/06/18/singalong_hedwig_and_the_angry_inch_comes_to_lgbt_film_fest.html

⁸Stevenson, Leo. “Gearbox Confirms that FL4K is the Franchise;s First Non-Binary Character.” PowerUp Gaming. 15 Aug., 2019. https://powerup-gaming.com/2019/08/15/gearbox-confirms-that-fl4k-is-the-franchises-first-non-binary-character/

Student blogger Cas Regan (she/they) is a Junior at IU in the Earth Science B.S. program with minors in Chemistry and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition to classes and working for Media Services, they are also the VP of the Beekeeping Club at IU and spend their free time caring for the club’s hives at IU’s Hilltop Gardens.