After hitting theaters on Friday, Nov. 11, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” proves an instant success for the MCU franchise. An unsurprising verdict, the sequel follows the fan-favorite “Black Panther,” which broke theaters in 2018 with its very-needed inclusion of an African MCU superhero. “Wakanda Forever” now pays tribute to late actor Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa) whilst introducing a new Black Panther in his place.
A romantic drama set along the English coast, the stylistic setting and poignant performances found in “My Policeman” leave audiences with a beautiful message about finding love and coming to terms with our innermost identity.
While films like “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Blonde” have captured most of the anticipation for films in the past month, one that’s slipped through the cracks is David O. Russel’s “Amsterdam.” With a cast consisting of Christian Bale, John David Washington, Margot Robbie, Chris Rock, Robert DeNiro and even names like Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift and Zoe Saldana, how could it go wrong? As viewers will come to see, very quickly.
Despite the recent drama stirred among the cast of “Don’t Worry Darling”, Olivia Wilde’s newest feature remained an anticipated release. With the director of “Booksmart” and a star-studded cast behind it, it seemed to guarantee excellence. However, the final product is not quite the powerhouse thriller that moviegoers anticipated. The film’s disjointed writing falls apart by the conclusion, failing to capitalize on its own potential.
Annamarie Geosits, Photography Editor
• September 24, 2022
As Olivia Wilde prepares for her sophomore feature film directorial debut with “Don’t Worry Darling,” she aspires to match, or even surpass, the extremely positive audience reaction from her first feature, “Booksmart.” However, despite Wilde’s artistic credibility, the discourse following the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, both public and critical, primarily concerns the drama between the main cast and director rather than the content of the film. Although there is no specific person to blame for the complete mess that was this film’s premiere, the different scandals all lead back to one common factor: Olivia Wilde herself. Although she could be to blame for the spectacle, one can't help but wonder if it would all be as big of a deal if the director was a man.
Whether in theaters or on streaming platforms, this summer had a lot to offer when it comes to great entertainment. After spending summer break away, The Seahawk decided to take a look at some of the films and TV we were unable to cover. Staff writers Anna Ford, Bradley Earnshaw, Eriq Dixon and Lanie Padgett have compiled a list of the best of the summer, each with a summary and spoiler-free review.
"Along For The Ride” is a heartfelt adaptation of Dessen’s novel that pulls at our heartstrings to tell a passionate coming-of-age story about spiritual independence. Wilmington and its sibling towns help bring the film’s setting to life while capturing lighthearted teen culture. The film is one of the better YA films in recent memory and one that paints a vivid picture of North Carolina.
“The Northman” is a masterful film for Eggers that showcases his capabilities with a greater budget than his previous works. Despite going from A24’s niche distribution to major studio backing from Focus Features, Eggers maintains the artistic flourishes that made his first two films worthy of acclaim. This film is an unforgettable experience that will stay with viewers for some time after watching.
Eriq Dixon, Emma Geiszler, and Boyce Rucker
• April 7, 2022
After a week of being in April, The Seahawk decided to take a look at a few of the films, TV shows and albums we did not cover during March. Staff writers Eriq Dixon, Emma Geiszler and Boyce Rucker reflect on some gems from the past month, determining in these mini reviews whether the experience was worth it.
On the weekend of March 25-27, the Black Arts Alliance (BAA) held the 18th annual North Carolina Black Film Festival (NCBFF). From student shorts to feature length movies, the NCBFF hosts a wide variety of films from artists around the world. Recent years have brought challenges for the festival, to say the least. With Hurricane Florence in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, this year saw the festival’s in-person return with a great turnout.
The Seahawk’s staff writers Eriq Dixon and Boyce Rucker share their own predictions for the 2022 Oscars. Being impassioned film-watchers, their dialogue promotes the deservance of respective films, performances, screenplays and their cultural significance. They focus here on the “Big Five” award categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) and Best Director, in making their predictions.
“Deep Water” is an underwhelming and unfulfilling thriller that offers no suspense or closure. It’s hard to invest in when its characters and story fall flat. The film drowns in mediocrity as it fails to capitalize on the opportunities to make it strong, particularly in Affleck and de Armas.
