Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Emily Hoferer
Diversions Editor
Newswire Official Rating: 
Sofia Coppola, the third generation of a directing dynasty, has finally emerged with her first movie since the surprise success of “Lost in Translation” three years ago. Using Kirsten Dunst, another blonde darling, as the lead, Sofia tells the story of France’s ill-fated queen in Columbia Pictures’ “Marie Antoinette.”
The film starts with Marie in her home country of Austria, preparing to leave for France. Her parents, the emperor and empress of Austria, decided to marry her off when she was only 14 to the French dauphin who would later be King Louis XVI. The film follows Marie through her trials of being accepted in Versailles, her stormy marriage, her affairs, her friends, her frivolous spending and then into the French Revolution, which was the end of Marie Antoinette (as she was guillotined for treason).
Sofia Coppola’s two hour movie probably had the shortest script of any two hour movie ever. A lot of the shots were of Dunst’s facial expressions and her running through the palace. She barely spoke for the first half of the movie.
Jason Schwartzman, who played Marie Antoinette’s awkward, oblivious and shy husband Louis XVI, was perfectly cast in his role. One of Marie’s biggest challenges was getting pregnant, and Jason made the awkward bedroom scenes humorous.
While the movie covered many aspects of her life, such as her rising unpopularity with the French people and her presumed affairs (remember that Coppola has been criticized for “Marie Antoinette” not being historically accurate), the movie did a very good job of getting across the personality of Marie. She was a woman who loved her children, and she was loyal to her husband until the end.
I was completely bored with certain scenes, though. I can only watch Kirsten Dunst prance around for so long, and I felt that certain scenes were not important to the overall story.
The movie’s ending was very anticlimactic. The French Revolutionists took over the castle, and then King Louis, Marie and their children were seen riding in a carriage in an attempt to escape, and then it ends.
It’s probably the worst possible ending as well; there is an even more interesting story to tell after they are captured and Marie is tried in the French court, but this is left out.
Without a doubt, though, this movie will be in the running for “Best Costumes” and “Best Set Design” when Oscar season rolls around. The different rooms were decorated beautifully with meticulous detail in the French style of the time. Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe is a beautiful and colorful arrangement of gowns of which any girl from any time period would be completely jealous.
“Marie Antoinette” is the perfect example of a movie that could have really thrived if some different steps had been taken in the editing room and if the movie had continued to tell her story beyond her attempted escape from Versailles. But the fact is that “Marie Antoinette” is a beautiful and eye-pleasing movie, however much it lacks in plot.
Emily Hoferer
Diversions Editor
Yesterday in Tinsel Town, news broke that long time Hollywood couple Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe are separating. While they were very cute together, the news has made headlines everywhere because they were together for seven years. In Hollywood, that is a lifetime.
Their representatives say that there are many reasons for the split, as opposed to just one (so Reese winning an Oscar probably didn’t help her marriage, but it sure did help her career!). The couple have a daughter, Ava, and a son, Deacon, together.
It’s just another issue for the tabloids to tear apart. I’m sure Kate Hudson is relieved. And while this news is not as big as the break up between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston was, it’s still disheartening.
Hollywood is notorious for having marriages that last as long as a sale at Target and are as unhealthy and twisted as the idea of deep-fried Twinkies. So every time we hear another story of some famous couple “going their separate ways,” we start to think that everyone is splitting up.
Are there any couples left in Hollywood who are still married to each other?
Love and marriage may go together like a horse and carriage, but the fact is that nowadays, love and nasty divorce go together like a Hummer limo and its overpaid driver.
It’s no surprise that the growing trend in Hollywood is not to marry your boyfriend...or at least that would be the advice of people such as Tim Robbins, Oprah Winfrey and Goldie Hawn. All three of them have stayed with their partner longer than most celebrity couples have been married.
In the past year alone, Eddie Murphy has divorced his wife and Kate Hudson and her husband Chris Robinson are separating.
And who could forget the reality TV curse? MTV lovebirds Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey broke up, as did Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro. Two time Oscar winner Hilary Swank divorced her husband Chad Lowe. So is Oscar a bad omen for marriages?
Divorces are practically taking over. Sara Evans had to quit “Dancing with the Stars” to put all her attention and energy into getting a divorce. Is it encouraged to get a divorce in Hollywood?
Well, I don’t encourage it! So I’m going to give out gold stars to five couples who have been together as long as or longer than Reese and Ryan, and who I think will actually stay together...not that I’m an expert or anything.
Either way, I’m sure the only happy people from the results of a divorce in Hollywood are their divorce lawyers.
Briana Hansen
Calendar City Editor
What would you do if your son was at home, crying all alone on the bedroom floor because he’s hungry, and the only way to feed him is to sleep with a man for a little bit of money and his daddy’s gone…oh, wait. That wasn’t my question at all. That’s just lyrics from a socially-conscious pop culture song from a few years back.
My real question is what would you do if you suddenly found yourself $400 richer by simply telling a couple of jokes in front of a small crowd? Buy a yacht? Well, my friend, that yacht and all the subsequent debt that would come from such an outrageously expensive and irrational purchase can be yours if you win the second annual “Last Muskie Standing” competition sponsored by Xavier Players.
Due to the popularity of the show “Last Comic Standing,” and Brockman Hall’s 2005 class-wide competition, which garnered a huge response, the Xavier Players undertook the project for the first time last year to make the competition campus-wide.
The participants are asked to perform three to five minutes worth of material in one of two preliminary rounds at Ryan’s Pub. The participants are scored by a panel of judges according to the creativity of the material, its originality, the crowd’s response and their overall performance.
The top three winners from each preliminary round are then sent to the final round which takes place in the Gallagher Student Center Theater in the spring semester. In addition to the top three winners from each preliminary round, there are two “wild card” spots reserved for the next two highest scores from either preliminary round.
The finalists are then asked to prepare eight to 10 minutes worth of material for the final round. The panel of judges, using the same rubric as in the preliminary rounds, scores and ranks each performance. The runner-up earns a respectable $100 while the first place winner takes home $400 and the title of Xavier University’s Last Muskie Standing.
Like the Mr. Muskie competition, winning disqualifies you from participating the next year, so the competition is filled with fresh faces.
There is still plenty of room to participate if you are at all interested. To guarantee a spot, sign up on the sheet at the box office outside the theater in the Gallagher Student Center Theater. You can also show up at the box office a half hour before the show to see if there is any space available to perform that night. A list of rules and regulations is also available outside the box office next to the sign-up sheets.
The competition is open to all students who have any desire to showcase their talent or maybe just get some much-needed attention. The first preliminary round will take place at 8 p.m. this Thursday, in Ryan’s Pub. If you cannot make that date, you can participate in the next preliminary round also at 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 also at Ryan’s Pub.
Emily Hoferer 
Diversions Editor
The Student Organization of Latinos is hosting “Dia de los Muertos.” Come join them and learn about the Hispanic culture and their tradition of remembering the dead. The event will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 in the GSC atrium.
Open Mic Night
If you are a singer, musician or just like to listen to spoken word, SAC has just the thing for you! Come out to “Open Mic Night” and showcase your talent or just watch. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last until 10:30 p.m. on Friday in the GSC fireplace lounge.
Evening of Opera
Xavier’s Music Department presents an evening of Mozart Opera including scenes from Cosi fan tutte, Die Zauberflote, Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro. Performances are Friday and Saturday in the GSC Theater. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for the public.
“Black Gold” Screening
Come and be enlightened as you take a look into the $80 billion coffee industry, where the spoils of overpriced lattes rarely reachethe pockets of the farmers. The free screening will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 3rd in Kelley Auditorium.
Hard `N Phirm
Take a break from studying and laugh your head off with these hilarious comedians. The event will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8th in the GSC atrium.
