Oscar Review

The Oscars Need Fun
by junior Matt Noble and sophomore Jason Kelly

For the past month, talk of the Oscars has laden the airwaves. Drones of national news syndicates repeatedly provide us with the “newest” developments regarding the Academy Awards. However, apathy sets in following weeks of speculation, rumors, and predictions.

If the NFL waited a month between conference championships and the Superbowl, the buildup of the season would lose momentum, and indifference would set in. The point being, when a single event is hyped and dragged out for nearly 8 weeks, it loses some of its anticipation.

Additionally, the Academy fails year after year to produce an entertaining event. Three hours of ads, bowties, and bad jokes leaves an audience wanting… something… anything.

Dear Academy, cut the time between nominations and awards to two weeks, the ceremony to an hour, and keep the dialogue less stuttered than The King’s Speech.

Oscar Winners — Update

And the awards keep rolling...

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale -"The Fighter

Best Original Screenplay
"The King's Speech"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Social Network" - Aaron Sorkin

Best Animated Feature
"Toy Story 3"

Best Supporting Actress
"Melissa Leo"

Best Cinematography
"Inception"

Best Art Direction

"Alice in Wonderland"

Night of... Oscar Predictions

Collegian Freelancer and freshman Hayden Smith gives us his Oscar predictions.


For Best Director I predict that if The King’s Speech or True Grit wins best picture their respective directors will take home this prize as well.

Since the release of Black Swan Natalie Portman has been leading the buzz for Best Actress but I wouldn’t count out Nicole Kidman.

Most critics agree that Colin Firth has the Oscar for Best Actor in the bag.

Newcomers usually do well at the Oscars and because of this Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit is my pick for Best Supporting Actress.

For the Best Supporting Actor it’s a close call between Geoffrey Rush and Christian Bale. Something tells me however that the King’s Speech will dominate the night and ensure Rush a win.

Best Original Screenplay will come down between the King’s Speech and Inception. I have a hunch it’ll be Inception.

Best Adapted Screenplay will likely go to The Social Network though I don’t think it’s the best of the lot.

By the Numbers

Best picture nominees:
1. King’s Speech — 12 nominations
2. True Grit — 10 nominations
3. The Social Network — 8
4. Inception — 8




Who are your top picks?

Sartorialist, Director's Cut

Visiting Professor of Classics Eric Hutchinson told us he didn't have anything interesting to say on style. We disagreed. Here's what he said about his look, pipe-smoking and his ideal ensemble.

(Marieke van der Vaart/Collegian)

When asked his style, Hutchinson said: "Frumpy," "more traditional," "Rummage chic," "Brown and out." Our favorite: "Old man trapped in young man's body."



He carries his newest pipe in a zipped leather pouch. That doesn't mean he doesn't have another one close by. "This one's my lawn-mowing pipe," he said of the pipe on the right. Hutchinson said he started smoking more than 10 years ago. He doesn't have a style icon, per se, but he does remember an old photograph of his grandmother's father, who's smoking a pipe while holding her.


His ideal outfit? "Chinos, comfortable shoes, wool socks, and button down shirt, and bow-tie and sports coat." His favorite article of clothing? The leather jacket his wife gave him.

Quote of the day, however?

"I did have a student on an evaluation say, 'Wear more brown,' so I figured I'd take him up on that."

Director's Cut Sartorialist

This week's sartorialist featured Alex A., a freshman from Plymouth, Minn. We met Alex A. on the steps of Central Hall on a Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. He came dressed in head to toe in matching shades of green.


Jacket — Lacoste. Shoes — Lacoste. Alex said he draws inspiration from 80s tennis players.

"My mom dressed me since I was a kid," he said, "and she instilled sophistication into my style. Even in preschool, my mom had me in penny loafers and khakis."

(photos Marieke van der Vaart/Collegian)

To read more of Alex's thoughts on style and what he plans on wearing to his wedding, pick up this week's copy of the Collegian.

— compiled by Rachel Hofer

Dark Side of Oz

(all photos by Sally Nelson/Collegian)

Collegian freelancer, freshman Sally Nelson, went backstage at a concert on Saturday for the band, Echoes of Pink Floyd, tribute to the rock and roll band and the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz."

Pink Floyd cover band reveals the 'Dark Side of Oz'


The cover band “Echoes of Pink Floyd” lives up to its name.

During the laser light show in Jackson on Feb. 5, Echoes’ performance had moments of brilliance when the hall sounded more like a concert from the 1970s rather than the 2010s.

The energy charged hall reverberated with music so similar to the original band that, at moments, listeners could hardly tell it was a tribute band.

Freshman Harris Wells, who attended the show, was surprised by the authenticity of the band’s vocals.

“Recreating Pink Floyd’s instrumental sound is a much easier accomplishment than recreating the vocals,” said Wells.


Before the show began, the audience eagerly yelled “Pink Floyd forever” and whistled loudly in anticipation.

Over 1250 enthusiastic fans burst into uproar when the band played the first note of “Speak to Me.”

Lights flashed after and "The Wizard of Oz" played on a circular screen behind the band.



The first half of the show featured Floyd's album, the Dark Side of the Moon played over "The Wizard of Oz." After Dorothy listens to the Tin Man’s heartbeat and the heartbeat plays at the end of the album, the band took an intermission. When they came back on stage, they played various Pink Floyd songs off other albums.


Some synchronicities between the film and the album were surprising. The two appeared to interplay closely many times but one of the most striking moments occurred when the song “Money” started and Dorothy walked into the colorful world of Oz.

Kaleidoscopic lasers proved to be one of the most striking elements in the show. Using six laser projectors, Echoes’ shot lasers above the heads of the audience, brilliantly illuminating the arched hall.


“The lasers were pretty psychedelic,” said senior Anna Wiley.

At the conclusion of the show, the audience burst into applause yelling for an encore until the band walked back on stage to perform several songs, including the legendary “Another Brick in the Wall (Pt 2)” off of the album “The Wall.”

The Michigan band truly paid Pink Floyd an echoing tribute.



To find out more about the band, go here.

Sartorialist behind the scenes

Senior Rachael Erichsen and junior Garrett Robinson talked to the Collegian about their style this week. Here's the director's cut of their shoot.


She wants to be a costume designer. He loves history and the romance languages. Here's what they had to say about fashion.

Robinson's style icons include his dad (but 20 years ago) and history professor Harold Siegel. He loves good tailoring, corduroy, and ascots. If he's outside, chances are he'll be smoking a pipe.

She's inspired by gypsies and loves texture. Erichsen said she'll go into fabric stores and just touch everything. Her recent splurges include her purple velvet blazer and ice skates she bought off Ebay.

(photos Marieke van der Vaart/Collegian)

On each other: "We enjoy each other's style," Robinson said.

Style advice: "Wear what you like," Erichsen said.