Opinion

REVIEW: ‘The Batman’ is a long, dark success

  Prior to its release, “The Batman” seemed destined to be another attempt from DC Comics to distinguish themselves from Marvel. From the casting of Robert Pattinson as the titular crimefighter to director and co-writer Matt Reeves’ dark vision for Gotham, “The Batman” seemed to be further demonstration that DC is seemingly more focused on telling individual, more creatively risky stories rather than establishing grand multiverses. This time around, it still works mostly in their favor. Generally speaking, the film doesn’t deviate much from what we’ve come to expect a “Batman” movie to contain: some sort of villain with a grand plan to expose a larger evil within Gotham. Oh, and Batman is in the middle of all of it. 

Comics February 28, 2022

REVIEW: 'The Power of the Dog' seethes with deliciously soft tension

  Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog'' is a masterful and visually rich film. The story, sometimes a slow build, is propelled along by incredible acting and interesting character dynamics.  Released last November, this film has well-earned its 12 Oscar nominations. Campion made history by being the first female director to be nominated twice for the Best Director category. At the time she received her first nomination for Best Director in 1996, she was only the second woman to have ever been nominated for the award. The movie is a tense, simmering tale of a rancher, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch), and his antagonistic relationship with his brother’s new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). 

REVIEW: ‘Drive My Car’ is a smooth, emotional ride

  With “Drive My Car” being both a foreign language film and having an almost three-hour runtime, it checks off two boxes that a large number of successful Oscar-hopeful films have had in the past few years (like “Parasite,” “Roma” and “The Irishman”). But to say that “Drive My Car” is merely a combination of previously successful elements would be almost an insult as Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film seems to defy all definition and explanation. Even with a runtime of almost three hours, “Drive My Car” never lets off the gas. Hamaguchi has slowly been making waves throughout the indie film scene ever since the 2015 film “Happy Hour” garnered him international attention.  

Comics February 21, 2022

REVIEW: ‘The Worst Person in the World’ revives the rom-com

  Writer and director Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World” finally received a wide-release in the United States on Feb. 4 after dazzling movie fans and critics alike at its premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. After having the chance to watch the film for myself, it’s no surprise why Trier’s slick, stylish and subversive film has won over the hearts and minds of so many viewers. The opening montage thrusts the audience into the chaos and confusion that is confronting our main character, Julie, and many other 20-somethings all around the world. Initially, Julie is studying to become a surgeon. 

LETTER: Climate change must be addressed

  Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that the world faces today. Since the industrial revolution, the levels of carbon dioxide have been increasing at an alarming rate. Those high levels of CO2 have been affecting the global climate and as such, the temperature has been steadily rising. Most of the world's hottest years have occurred in the last 10 to 15 years. Many facts show that climate change is a real problem that should be addressed. As a result of the ever-changing climate, the world is slowly losing its ice sheets. The ice sheets in Greenland lost about 197 gigatons of ice in 2019. From 1979 to 2006, (there) had been a decline in the mass of those ice sheets.

Comics February 14, 2022

REVIEW: Examining a graceful yet turbulent relationship in ‘Normal People’

  This review has spoilers for “Normal People”  When news of a television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s superb Ireland-set novel “Normal People” hit my ears, I first thought they could never do the book justice. But when it was released in April 2020, the two main characters’ on-and-off relationship proved me wrong and displayed a master class in understanding power dynamics and how easily your soulmate can slip through your fingers. The show tells the story of Connell’s (Paul Mescal) and Marianne’s (Daisy Edgar-Jones) relationship from high school until the end of college, as the two frequently break up just to get back together again when they realize they can’t be without each other. 

REVIEW: ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ is a cathartic viewing

  This review contains spoilers A quintessential viewing this Valentine’s season is Michael Gondry’s 2004 sci-fi romance “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” which argues that even the most painful aspects of our relationships are worth remembering. The film follows Joel, played by a woefully sad Jim Carrey, after he realizes his ex-girlfriend Clementine, charmfully played by everyone’s favorite love interest Kate Winslet, used a medical procedure through the company Lacuna to erase all of her memories of him. He then tries to cope with his feelings of anger, grief and residual love.  The film adopts a nonlinear narrative: it begins where it ends and bounces back between the present and Joel’s memories of the past. 

Ask the Editors: Relationships edition

  Burnt out with the dating scene? Ex won’t leave you alone? General relationship anxiety? Have no fear, the Daily Lobo editors are here to answer all of your most pressing questions on love and relationships. Zara’s advice Q: Is it okay not to have been in a relationship before being in college? A: It’s more than fine to have not been in a relationship before college. There are a myriad of reasons someone wouldn’t want to date in high school, but at the end of the day, it’s your life. It’s important to respect your own boundaries, especially in regards to intimacy. 

OPINION: Zara’s Zodiac: February love horoscope forecast

  It’s February, which means love is in the air … Or is it? Venus and Mars, the astrological signifiers of love and sex, will be in the pragmatic and ambitious sign of Capricorn for the remainder of the month. Here’s what that means for the respective signs. Aries February may be tense, romantically-speaking, for Aries. There could be some conflict between your career or public identity and the way you approach partnerships and romance. You should remember not to overwork yourself and neglect interpersonal needs in the process. I see Feb. 19-20 as being a particularly important time to be sensitive to this balance as the moon travels through Libra.

REVIEW: ‘The Love Hypothesis’: an electric read

  This review contains spoilers Over the past few months, “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood has taken booklovers on TikTok by storm, and for good reason. The novel is filled to the brim with clichés that I love and proves that, when done right, the fake-dating trope can be adorable. The novel follows Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith as she begins fake-dating “antagonistic and unapproachable” (Olive’s words, not mine) professor Adam Carlsen, and pure chaos ensues. She does this to prove to one of her best friends, Anh Pham, that she is really and truly over her ex-boyfriend so Anh can feel more comfortable entering a relationship with him. 

LETTER: Exempting all SS Income from tax won’t help seniors who need it most

  Social Security has done a remarkable job keeping the vast majority of seniors out of poverty. Those seniors who still live in poverty should receive more help from the federal and state governments. But exempting all Social Security income from taxation won’t deliver one penny of help to our low-income seniors. What it will mean is the state will have less money to support the programs and services that matter most to our communities. Most seniors earning low incomes — and even many earning middle incomes — are already exempt from paying income tax on their Social Security benefits. 

LETTER: Grad union calls on UNM to better COVID-19 enforcements

  Dear President Stokes, Provost Holloway and Regents of the University of New Mexico, The omicron variant of SARS-COV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, has caused a surge of cases several times higher than ever seen before during the ongoing pandemic. This has severely impacted our community by placing an enormous burden on healthcare facilities including the University hospital where some of our members work and have clinical placements. Additionally, a large number of students and employees are currently unable to participate in regular activities due to infection.  We insist that UNM act to protect graduate workers and other employees of the University as well as the students that we teach. 

Comics February 7, 2022

REVIEW: ‘The Fallout’ delves into the invisible effects of school shootings

  This review contains spoilers “The Fallout,” the feature directorial debut of seasoned actress Megan Park, premiered at last year’s South by Southwest film festival to critical acclaim. Jan. 27 saw the film’s release to wider audiences through HBO Max, and while the story minorly lacks some character development, Jenna Ortega’s compelling performance as high school student Vada lets “The Fallout” beautifully tackle trauma in the face of tragedy. The film centers on tomboy Vada and resident influencer Mia’s (Maddie Ziegler) journey through the aftermath of surviving a school shooting after the two hid together in a bathroom stall during the gunman’s spree. 

REVIEW: Mitski’s ‘Laurel Hell’ cuts with pure, silver fury

  Mitski’s sixth studio album “Laurel Hell,” released on Saturday, Feb. 4, is a distant, synthy opus that looms over its listener, leaving behind an unshakeable lingering dread. It is Mitski to the highest degree. Coming out of a nearly three-year hiatus originally intended to be a permanent departure from music, this album is about Mitski’s tumultuous, fraught relationship with her own career. As a long-time fan, it’s completely heart-shattering to listen to. It’s tinged with regret, or perhaps total ambivalence, to the fame she’s garnered through her work.   One of the most effective tracks for me was “Valentine, Texas.” It starts off gently before suddenly erupting into rapturous instrumentals, similar to the opening tracks of “Texas Reznikoff” and “Geyser.” 

REVIEW: 'Passing' explores the delicate and the dangerous

  Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut “Passing” deftly explores the ways in which we craft beauty out of race, class, gender expectations and the innermost desires that bubble beneath the surface within us all. Released on Netflix on Oct. 27, “Passing” is based on a Nella Larson novel of the same name which follows Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga), two Black women in 1920s New York who are able to “pass” as white. Irene lives her life as a Black woman, while Clare is married with a child to a white, virulent racist who is unaware of her true heritage.

LETTER: Native communities need legislative action to end predatory lending

  It is urgent that the legislature and Governor Lujan Grisham enact House Bill 132 (Rep. Herrera, Speaker Egolf, and Rep. Garratt) during the 2022 session to reduce the maximum annual interest rate on small loans from 175%, one of the highest rates in the nation, to 36%. This issue is personal to us, as the burden of predatory lending does not fall evenly on all New Mexicans.  Even though Native lands make up less than 10% of the state’s geography, 64% of predatory lenders in New Mexico operate within 15 miles of our reservation communities. It is our families, friends and neighbors who get caught in the cycle of insurmountable debt created by the high interest structure of predatory loans.