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The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Movie & TV Review

Lead actors Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are already receiving award nomination buzz for their performances in "Wicked." (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Wicked’ is a spellbinding musical success

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist December 6, 2024

Jon M. Chu's "Wicked” (2024) is a grandiose and gorgeous movie musical, following students Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on their journey from enemies to friends — then back to...

"Gladiator II" is Ridley Scott's 29th directorial project. (Photo courtesy of MoviePosters.com)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Gladiator II’ is a sequel that packs a punch

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist December 6, 2024

Director Ridley Scott returns to Rome in glorious form with “Gladiator II” (2024), crafting an action-packed and sophisticated film that looks at the corruption of power and the importance of legacy. The...

"Remember the Titans" features a powerful performance by lead actor Denzel Washington, as well as an early breakout role by Ryan Gosling. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Remember the Titans’ is an enduring football classic

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist November 22, 2024

Rivalry Week is upon us, and the all-important 160th football game is right around the corner. There is no better time to review one of my all-time favorite sports movies: Boaz Yakin’s emotional and...

Ralph Fiennes is already receiving award-season buzz for his role as Cardinal Lawrence in “Conclave” (2024). (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Conclave’ beautifully blends all star cast with intense setting

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist November 15, 2024

With “Conclave” (2024), director Edward Berger crafts a riveting, thought-provoking and character-driven film that does not shy away from the politics that it vehemently depicts. The film, set in...

The director's cut of "Kingdom of Heaven" adds a new layer of sophistication to the film. (Photo courtesy of rogerebert.com)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ director’s cut brings film to greatness

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist November 8, 2024

Hollywood studios and their executives have long interfered with the creative visions of many esteemed filmmakers, causing many films to be released in incomplete forms. Sometimes, the director's vision...

"The West Wing" remains a poignant political drama 25 years after its initial release. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘The West Wing’ still governs television drama

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist November 1, 2024

Election Day is right around the corner, so I thought there was no better time to review my favorite television show of all time: Aaron Sorkin’s intelligent, impeccably written and emotionally driven...

"Rosemary's Baby" received two Academy Award nominations, including a Best Supporting Actress win for Ruth Gordon. (Photo courtesy of rodgerebert.com)

Cinema with Sam: Rosemary’s Baby is a horror genre touchstone worth the hype

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist October 25, 2024

For the past three years, my mom has been begging me to watch Roman Polanski’s 1968 horror classic “Rosemary’s Baby.” In preparation for Halloween next week, I finally got around to watching the...

Luca Guadagnino's "Queer" (2024), blends the director's creative direction with an all-star cast. (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Queer’ is another filmic success for Luca Guadagnino

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist October 11, 2024

I was lucky enough to see Luca Guadagnino’s new film “Queer” (2024) at the New York Film Festival for its U.S. Premiere this past weekend. Based on William S. Burroughs’ novel of the same name,...

"Megalopolis" is preceded by highly touted Coppola films, such as "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now." (Photo courtesy of IMDb)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Megalopolis’ big money went to little use

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist October 4, 2024

I had the opportunity to see legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s new film “Megalopolis” (2024) this past weekend in the immersive IMAX format. Starring Adam Driver, the film follows genius...

"Batman: Caped Crusader" features well-loved characters like Batman and Harley Quinn. (Photo courtesy of Batman Wiki)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ brings new feel to classic series

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist September 27, 2024

Sept. 20 was National Batman Day, celebrating the 85th anniversary of Batman's first appearance in the comics all the way back in 1939. This past summer, Amazon Prime Studios paired up with legendary...

"Rings of Power" serves as prequel series to the beloved "Lord of the Rings" franchise. (Photo courtesy of ScreenRant)

Cinema with Sam: ‘Rings of Power’ season 2 soars in quality

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist September 6, 2024

Last week, Amazon Prime Video released the three-episode premiere of season two of its original series “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.” The show stars Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo and...

"Alien: Romulus" is a summer blockbuster continuation of the iconic supernatural horror franchise. (Photo courtesy of IMDB)

Cinema with Sam: Sam’s summer media binge

By Sam Cohen, Movie Columnist August 30, 2024

After a relaxing summer spent watching some great media and entertainment, here are five of my favorite movies and TV shows that I saw: Alien: Romulus Written by Rodo Sayagues and directed by Fede...

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