Girlfriend, a Heart-wrenching tale of Unconventional Love

In his first full-length feature film “Girlfriend,” director Justin Lerner explores the tense, heart-wrenching relationship between two struggling, small town friends-turned-unconventional-lovers. As a young man with Down syndrome, Evan Sneider (played by himself) attempts to rid his status as the town’s outcast. When Sneider confesses his affection for longtime crush Candy – a single mother with emotional baggage of her own – it leads to an eccentric romance filled with hope and heartbreak. Viewers will leave the theater with a renewed appreciation of the joys and sorrows of mankind’s most revered emotion: love.

“Girlfriend,” the first U.S. feature-film starring a person with Down syndrome, explores the disability (characterized by the presence of an extra copy of genetic material on the 21^st chromosome, usually resulting in some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth) with pure, blunt sensibility. Viewers do not sympathize for Sneider as an individual with this mental handicap, but as someone struggling to find love and companionship – something that all humans face at some point in time. Although in his mid-to-late-20s, Sneider – with his thin-rimmed spectacles, light freckles, and bowl-trimmed haircut – is a man trapped in a youth’s body, trying to break into the world of adulthood.

The film introduces the close relationship between dependent Sneider and his hardworking mother Celeste (Amanda Plummer) as they try to make ends meet earning meager wages at the local diner. With the sudden death of Celeste ten minutes into the film (unfortunately ridding the plot of what promised to be a powerful character) Sneider finds himself alone with an unexpected inheritance left in his mother’s will. He then attempts to pursue the town’s stunning troublemaker Candy, played by Shannon Woodward (“The Riches”). Sneider still perceives Candy as the cute, bubbly girl that he knew back in high school. But now, with her dull, sunken eyes and pale complexion, Woodward conveys the look of a youth tarnished by the demands of single parenthood and a dangerously jealous ex-boyfriend. When Candy and her son get evicted, they shack up with Sneider, who eventually gives them his entire inheritance to help pay off their debts.

Viewers grimace when acquaintances, portraying themselves as true friends, take advantage of Sneider’s innocence. Although Candy feels unworthy of Sneider’s compassion, she takes his money and allows him to believe that she is his girlfriend, going as far as taking a bath in front of him. Candy’s ex-flame Russ, played by a fiery Jackson Rathbone, fabricates a bond with Sneider in order to elicit personal information about Candy. The role-playing and deception lead to an abrupt plot-twist, allowing Sneider to transform his image as an incompetent, handicapped figure into the lone hero of the film. Candy finally acknowledges the goodness of Sneider as a friend and potential lover.

The film lacks in one critical area; Sneider, Woodward, and Rathbone exhibit the zest and fervor of their individual characters and personalities, but lack enthusiasm when it comes to the chemistry amongst each other. The uncomfortable encounters between Sneider and Candy as a “couple” seem forced on Woodward’s part. When Candy finally gives in to Sneider’s sexual desires, the audience is left with a sense of awkwardness rather than cinematic closure. It is although she is performing a personal duty rather than making love (the film never divulges in such physicality, hence has no rating). Woodward’s sense of detachment speaks of her portrayal of Candy – a woman drained of physical and mental love – but so much so that her character becomes unlikeable rather than pitiful. Closure is somewhat restored right before the credits roll, when Candy grasps Sneider’s hand in an act of union. Whether romantically-driven or a symbol of friendship, Sneider seems content with the outcome.

Sneider, the breakout star at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, carries the film through the intensity of his crisp, unblinking eyes. They transmit the trials of an innocent youth who wants nothing more than to do good for his loved ones. Sneider fully embodies his real life struggles with Down syndrome and successfully conveys them onto the big screen – viewers cannot help but shudder when Sneider sheepishly confides to Candy, “Sometimes I wish I could escape my body.” Sneider portrays the off-camera chemistry between actor and director brilliantly onscreen. When Sneider’s emotions reach a breaking point and it seems his behavior towards Candy may lead to extremes, Lerner provides a sort of shocking suspense without going overboard on the drama. Sneider soon learns to react to such rash instincts and desires of the heart; a pitfall of human nature exposed vividly and triumphantly onscreen. 

In “Girlfriend,” Lerner strips Sneider of his exterior innocence, providing a morally complex and authentic character anyone with a history of emotional compassion can relate to. It goes to show just how powerful the functioning of the human heart can be.

Fiona Apple's Emotionally-driven Return

After a seven year hiatus, Fiona Apple is back to offer a rather spectacular and mind-bending lyrical experience with her fourth studio album, The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.

The extravagant title itself prepares listeners for what lies in store with the 10-track exploration of life and romance – a musical experiment compiled of expressive piano and drum compositions paired with soulful and sometimes eerily-raw vocals. Simply referred to as The Idler Wheel, Apple mixes heartbreak with humor, unrestrained emotion with vigorous and thrilling truths, to contrive an untraditional album of art and soul that bubbles over with poppy beats and catchy lyrical wit.

Fiona Apple first won acclaim with her 1998 album Tidal, which included the hit single “Criminal.” Lyrically upfront and heavily piano-driven, Apple has since become more vocally complex and instrumentally experimental in her most recent album, with the help of her new producer and touring drummer Charley Drayton.

On the album’s opening track “Every Single Night,” Apple offers a glimpse into the inner turmoil of her psyche, struggling with the  ongoing confliction that “Every single nights alright/Every single nights a fight/With my brain/I just wanna feel everything.” This message holds a strong undertone throughout the entire album – Apple invites her fans to experience the inner workings of her mind and motivations no matter how scattered, dramatic, or conflicted they may appear. Listeners must prepare themselves to enter into a musical domain where questions go unanswered and stories go unfinished, but where a pure sense of lyrical reconciliation and peace still subsists at the conclusion of each track. Apple’s smooth, often jazzy vocals clash with the harsh, loud, and sometimes unnerving instrumentals, but combine together as a skillfully-crafted artistic experience. (Also be sure to check out the bizarrely brilliant video for “Every Single Night,” where Apple dons an octopus hat and serenades a grass bed full of snails).

In the song “Daredevil,” Apple seems to scream the lines “Seek me out/Look at, look at, look at me/Wake me up/Give me, give me, give me what you got.” Such brutal emotion and blunt honesty solidifies Apple as a lyrical energy not to be reckoned with. She forces her audience to not only listen to the beauty of each lyric, but to take heed of the emotional angst, confusion, and truth that lies within each word. Even so, Apple still remains vocally controlled and strong throughout, exemplifying her maturity and power as a musical artist as well as a poet. Some other tracks to take notice of are “Werewolf,” “Periphery,” and “Valentine.” The piano/drum combination blended

Apple has always been recognized for her powerful and soulful vocals, and with this album her talent has only grown more so. It seems she has more control over her voice, which gives her the chance to explore new instrumental territories and deeper lyrical meaning. Apple is finally ready to take on her life obstacles and demons, and with The Idler Wheel she allows her fans to tag along for the tumultuous ride.  

BU Welcomes RAD back to FitRec

“Defensive stance!” barks BUPD Sergeant Jefferey Burke, holding up a faded red punching bag with the word “Macho” stamped in zigzag letters across the front.

“No!” shouts COM Senior Amy Mahlar as she bends her knees and raises her arms, connecting her right balled-fist and the bag with one powerful “swoosh.”

Welcome to RAD class, a self-defense program offered exclusively to female students at BU’s FitRec. Founded in 1989 RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) teaches women the basic skills and safety techniques to defend themselves against male aggressors. BU offered the course at FitRec from 1999–2001, when the program was cut due to budget concerns. Now just a decade later RAD is back. Although off to a somewhat slow start, Officer Burke prepares to teach the young women of BU the art of self defense hands-on.

“The problem this semester was a late invitation after most students had already picked their schedules,” says Officer Burke, referring to RAD’s hasty addition to the 2011 University Class Schedule just a week before registration for spring semester.

Results of such last-minute planning for the rebirth of RAD at FitRec show at Monday’s 10 a.m. class, where only four young women enter the back court and sit timidly cross-legged in a small circle. Of the four Mahlar, with her curly bronze hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, appears the most enthusiastic, already flipping through her RAD manual to check out today’s lesson.

Interested in the RAD program but unable to join any of the three night courses offered at BU, Mahlar, Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Student Union, began talks in September with Warin Dexter, director of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (PERD). Plans to incorporate RAD class back into FitRec commenced soon after.

“The main reason I began advocating for the RAD class is because of the many instances of petty crime that I’ve heard happen among peer groups and friends,” says Mahlar.

A statement validated by Officer Burke, who confirms as of mid-February three incidents of women reporting restraining orders against men to the BUPD. With on-campus crime on the rise, Burke, a certified RAD instructor since 1992, finds it important that women are aware of the skills offered through the program.

“Although in most cases men are able to exert more physical strength over women, it’s important that women know how to protect themselves when approached in such situations,” says Burke. “We don’t teach women how to fight, because in most cases the man will win. Instead we teach them how to react, because it’s something that a macho male would never see coming.”

And this is exactly how Burke and his BUPD partner Officer Dean conduct the following week’s class – as potential assailants unwilling to show any mercy towards their victims.

The four young women take a brisk two-lap jog around FitRec’s basement gym and line up at center court, prepared to review the skills from last class. Upon Officer Burke’s command “Defensive stance!” the four timid girls sitting quietly at the start of class last week metamorphous into a group of powerful, headstrong young women. They automatically bring their left arms up to protect their faces and place their right arms down at their sides, ready to attack. They go over blocking and striking motions, including a powerful swing called the Hammer Fist, then move on to kicks and knee strikes.

Following review Officer Dean introduces a one-minute exercise where he “attacks”
each girl from all sides with two hand-held punching bags, mimicking an actual male-aggressor situation.

“It might seem pretty scary and intimidating at first, but imagine how much scarier it is in real life. You won’t believe how long a minute can last,” says Officer Dean, who stands over six-feet tall and weighs over 250 pounds.

Officer Dean addresses the girls, letting them know that if they can escape from him, the chances of them getting away from an actual attacker are definitely higher.
The girls soon learn the seriousness of the drill when Officer Dean overcomes his first victim, Mahlar, in a flurry of aggressive thrusts and loud daunts.

After the mere four-minute long exercise that leaves each girl breathless, Mahlar and sophomore Lauren Fragoza discuss the importance of always looking your attacker in the eye, something BUPD Officer Diane Smith drilled into their heads last class.

“Look down one second to check where you want to hit the guy, and he could overcome you in an instant. I learned that today the hard way,” says out-of-breath Fragoza as she takes a sip of water.

Both girls agree that this hands-on experience makes RAD a successful self-defense program, since minor things like keeping your eyes focused are what come into important play in actual assault situations.

Mahlar admits that swinging at a stationary punching bag is a lot easier than striking at one attached to the thick, swinging arm of Officer Dean.

“Hopefully these young women will never have to face such a dangerous situation in real life, but if they do, they’ll know how to handle themselves because of what they’ve learned in this safe environment,” says Officer Dean, with drops of sweat dripping down his dark forehead.

The positive reaction to hands-on self defense amongst the students motivates Officer Burke to get the word out to more college females. Although RAD obligations fall on the backburner when it comes to more-pressing BUPD issues, like dealing with actual on-campus crime, Burke hopes to increase promotion at popular student hangouts including the GSU. He considers it a good thing that RAD FitRec classes are scheduled in the morning, since most on-campus mischief takes place at night. Burke has yet to miss a class because of any outside BUPD duty.

Even with a busy schedule, Mahlar manages a shout-out to the RAD program on the Student Union’s website to help increase awareness. In blog-esque fashion Mahlar signs off, “While we can’t account for the unpredictability in life, we can do our best to arm ourselves against it.”

Rock 'N' Roll with a Dose of Country Punk

With Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, Social Distortion's seventh album released for the first time through Epitaph Records, frontman Mike Ness delivers a large dose of pure country blues that adds a unique twist to the band's traditional punk rock sound.

Ness' rough, gritty vocals that popularized catchy choruses on past hits including “Ball and Chain” and “Story of my Life” lend a more mature yet still fun and feel-good vibe on Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes. Ness attempts to expand his musical knowledge and skill and succeeds in modifying Social Distortion's raw, hardcore punk sound (which has defined the band since its formation in 1978) with a smoother, rockabilly touch. On the album's fourth track “Diamond in the Rough,” Ness combines the somber tale of one man's life hardships with a deep guitar melody and a strong, rhythmic drum backbeat. Rookie drummer David Hidalgo, Jr. does a superior job of maintaining former drummer Adam “Atom” Willard's fast-paced tempo and does not miss a beat when it comes to preserving Ness’ golden skill on the Gibson Les Paul. On the song “Bakersfield” Ness again gives off a country music feel by transforming the song into an emotional folktale still supported by a solid punk rock sound heavy with guitar riffs and solos.

On Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes Social Distortion successfully captures the soul and heart of blues without letting go of their punk rock roots; it is country without the cowboy boots and southern drawl, it is rock 'n' roll without the groupies and late night drug busts. Ness is not afraid to enter new musical territories with this album, using female backup singers on many chorus lines instead of relying on his own vocal transitions. The upbeat choir, personified on the track “California (Hustle and Flow),” adds to the overall country-rock feel, similar to Kid Rock's 2007 Rock N' Roll Jesus.

The sound of Social Distortion greatly transforms and expands with Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes but does not altogether change. Ness, inspired by a short solo career in the late 1990s where he focused mainly on the country genre, imbues this newfound talent focused on bluesy lyrics and style into the band's overall punk rock mentality. The end result is a tasteful combo of raw, punk attitude with just the right amount of laidback, southern comfort.

It seemed as though Mike Ness was about to plunge Social Distortion in the same whirlwind of destruction as Guns N’ Roses’ frontman Axl Rose (with his failed attempt at redemption with 2008’s Chinese Democracy) given the new album’s ever-changing release date, originally scheduled for 2007. Instead, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes represents a band able to combine different musical sounds and genres with crisp precision and craft.

The Monmouth still set to sell even after Building Setbacks

MANASQUAN – Realty and sales in southern New Jersey may be struggling due to the current state of the economy, but that is not going to stop PRC Homes from building on to the “penthouse” style apartments at The Monmouth condominiums near Point Pleasant, NJ, according to Vice President of Sales and Marketing Greg Lentine.

The Monmouth, a luxurious condominium complex that caters to the 55-plus community, has listings of apartments ranging from $800,000 to $1.5 million. There are six residences in each of the eight buildings, each approximately 4,000 square feet with a private elevator, fine hardwood floors, marble and tile kitchens, and broad private terraces and bedrooms. There is a community club house that offers many utilities for residents, including two private pools, a gym, a billiard room, and an outdoor 18-hole golf course.

“Our product is so original and unique, that it can only fit to satisfy a small group of people,” said Lentine, whose construction firm, PRC Homes, owns The Monmouth. “It caters primarily to an older, upper class society with people who typically don’t live at the apartments year round.”

Many setbacks have delayed the final construction of The Monmouth since its initial development in 2001, which should grow to include over 10 condominiums. Although the present economic crisis constitutes for a large part of these troubles, some smaller, more personal events have also curbed profits.

“One of the big economic problems that our community at Monmouth faces now is that the community went bankrupt,” said Lentine. “Our original building constructor died after construction began, and now it’s hard to find the right people to fit our market place in the state of the economy.”

Although people nationwide are cutting back on expenses in order to cope with the recession, Levine does not believe this will affect The Monmouth’s overall production and sales.

“It’s like a triangle,” said Levine. “Only a small percent of rich people who wish to own a home in that area [the Jersey Shore] are at the top. We just have to find those people. The original building plans are still in progress and there should eventually be over 10 building complexes.”

PRC Homes is implementing some changes in future construction, however, to offer a number of residences at more affordable prices. At least three more buildings will join The Monmouth in the upcoming months, and the apartments will be 2,000 square feet instead of 4,000. These apartments will be placed on the market at prices lower than The Monmouth’s original median selling price of $1 million.

“It really just depends on the situation though,” said Levine. “We just had a man buy out three complexes for over $3 million. He plans to put in a personal dance floor and bar.”

Many of the finished complexes at The Monmouth are already off the market, and according to Levine, offers and interests are still coming in.

“As the saying goes, ‘if you want to sell pink elephants at 10 cents apiece, you need the pink elephants, and you need the people interested in them to have 10 cents,’” said Levine. “What I need to find are those few people interested in my ‘pink elephant’ who are still able to afford it during this financially difficult time.”

Favorite Christmas Classics Countdown

It’s every holiday-enthusiasts’ favorite time of year. Houses are lit up in multi-colored lights and store windows are full of cardboard-boxed wrapped presents and decorated Christmas trees. Turn on the television, and every-other channel is sure to be playing its 20th rerun of the movie Elf or Home Alone. One of the best things about Christmas is the classic films, from the heartwarming tales of A Christmas Carol and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to the more humorous stories of Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation and Christmas with the Cranks. Here is a list of the some of the must-sees this holiday season, and others that aren’t worth skipping an extra day of present shopping over.

Elf – Starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, this is a more recent holiday movie that definitely makes the cut for a cute Christmas tale that people of all ages can enjoy. If Ferrell hopping around the streets of New York in a tight green and yellow elf suit isn’t funny enough, his one-liners and childlike enthusiasm over Christmas and Santa Clause will have even the biggest Scrooge chuckling. Appearances by Bob Newhart as Papa Elf and Zooey Deschanel as Buddy’s love interest add an extra dose of good entertainment.

A Christmas Carol – Even after tons of remakes, the 1951 British version of Charles Dickens’ novel is the only one really worth watching. (Okay, maybe the 1981 made-for-television movie starring George C. Scott isn’t so bad either). First released as Scrooge and later rereleased in the U.S. as A Christmas Carol, the film follows a grumpy old man Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Alastair Sim) as he is visited by three Christmas spirits over the course of one night to help him realize the true joys of family, friends, and Christmas. In the end, when Scrooge runs ecstatic throughout the streets and buys a huge Christmas feast for Tiny Tim and his poor family, it makes one realize the importance of Christmas doesn’t lie within lavish and expensive gifts and knickknacks.

Surviving Christmas – This isn’t one that usually makes list, but Surviving Christmas, starring Ben Affleck and Christina Applegate, is a great comedy-mixed-holiday film. Drew Latham (Affleck), a wealthy New York advertising executive, hires a middle-class family for $250,000 to take him in for the holidays when he realizes that he is doomed to spend Christmas alone. Latham drags the already struggling Valco family through Hell as he attempts to live his fantasized childhood Christmas through hired actors and expensive excursions. In the end, like any other holiday classic, Latham learns a valuable life lesson of love and family, just as the Valco family comes together and learns the same.

What not to watch this holiday season is any Lifetime or Hallmark Channel original movie. Not to be mean, I’ve given these movies many, many tries, they just simply aren’t very good. Maybe they are nice to have on in the background as the family is decorating the tree while simultaneously listening to Christmas music, but other than that they just don’t make the cut. What’s the word, not trying to be harsh, but corny? That probably sums up every one of these films in a single word. Just stick with ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas countdown, that is the best way to catch some of your favorite Christmas classics all this December.

Glory Daze not much of an Animal House

Previews for TBS’ new sitcom Glory Daze gave viewers hope that entertainment focused on the crazy, disgusting yet wildly hilarious frat boy lifestyle has not entirely burnt out since the successful 1978 comedy Animal House staring John Belushi. Unfortunately, Glory Daze, which premiered on TBS November 16, does not quite provide the same laughs reminiscent of the whiskey shooting, junk food devouring Belushi.

Yes, Molly Ringwald classics of the 1980’s like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink make for great movie nights. A 21st century sitcom that attempts to follow the comedic journeys of five horny college freshmen that want to pledge a fraternity in 1986, not so much. With the poofy hair, awful clothes, and one-hit wonders playing in the background, Glory Daze does provide for a good one hour walk down memory lane for those that went to school in the 80s. The biggest problem is, the plotline seems too unoriginal to make for anything worthwhile. Five college guys in hormonal overdrive, trying to make a name for themselves among the upperclassmen frat boys and any members of the opposite sex, tends to wear out after a few prime episodes.

The acting proves superior – self-proclaimed jock Brian (played by Hartley Sawyer) with his rather odd “intimate” issues dealing with his girlfriend and sports idols along with a cameo by Brad Garrett make for some good smirks.

Glory Daze hits the spot when it comes to the overall fraternity stereotype of embarrassing initiations and outrageous situations dealing with the “awkward freshmen.” So far, that is the only thing it has going for it.

Not all hope is lost. Glory Daze does provide a few good laughs and a fun look at college years past. But if producers hope to increase ratings and secure a second season, the nonstop comedy should intermingle with some actual drama and “real life” in the storyline to supply a reason for viewers to keep watching.