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Opinion: Taylor’s Oscar Predictions 2015

Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally posted on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 17, 2015]

The most important awards show of the season, the Academy Awards, will air this Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. You’ve seen the movies, you’ve formed opinions and now it’s time to make some predictions.

Here are the winners based on my predictions for the five major categories:

Best Picture- “Birdman”

Nominees: “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash”

While there has been much buzz about a number of films this year, you can expect “Birdman” to come out on top. So far, it has won 138 awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. “Boyhood” was a favorite early on and “American Sniper” was a box-office hit, but the writing and talented cast of this dark and quirky film has that little something extra.

Best Actor- Michael Keaton

Nominees: Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”), Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”), Michael Keaton (“Birdman”) and Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”)

This category is a tough one. Eddie Redmayne has received rave reviews (and a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award) for his role as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” and Bradley Cooper has been nominated for either Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for the past three years. Either of these talented men could take home the prize, but it’s Michael Keaton who will have that honor. He was a clear frontrunner early on, and while this seems to have slipped a bit, he has still taken home numerous awards for his performance as Riggan. This category will be one to watch.

3. Best Actress- Julianne Moore

Nominees: Marion Cotillard (“Two Days, One Night”), Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”), Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”), Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”) and Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”)

Julianne Moore has become a standout actress in recent years, appearing in both television and movies in comedic and dramatic roles. In “Still Alice,” Moore plays a 50-year-old women diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her performance is riveting and raw. Moore has been the clear winner all awards season, and while the other actresses are talented, she is expected to be the clear winner.

4. Best Actor in a Supporting Role- J.K. Simmons

Nominees: Robert Duvall (“The Judge”), Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”), Edward Norton (“Birdman”), Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) and J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”)

You may have recently seen J.K. Simmons from that Farmer’s Insurance commercial, but his performance as Terence Fletcher in “Whiplash” is receiving widespread critical acclaim. Simmons is another who has been having a successful awards season, and that should continue with an award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Academy Awards.

5.  Best Actress in a Supporting Role- Patricia Arquette

Nominees: Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”), Laura Dern (“Wild”), Kiera Knightly (“The Imitation Game”), Emma Stone (“Birdman”) and Meryl Streep (“Into the Woods”)

It’s hard not to pick Meryl Streep to win every award, but the fact is she hasn’t been the name on everyone’s lips with role as the Witch in “Into the Woods.” She’s always talented, that’s a given, but Patricia Arquette seems to be the favorite this year. The novelty of “Boyhood” hasn’t proven to be much of a success in awards season, but Arquette has been a standout, winning a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe for her performance. It is likely to be a repeat this Sunday.

To see a list of all of the Academy Awards nominees, check out the official website. Don’t forget to tune in on Sunday night at 8 p.m. to see who leaves with an Oscar.

Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage hosts poetry slam

Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally posted on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 13, 2015]

The Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage hosted a poetry slam in association with Knoxville Poetry Slam on Tuesday night.

The group holds poetry slams and open mic events every month, but Jan. 14 was their first time at the Open Chord. Because of its success, the group decided to head back for another show.

MC’s and spoken word poets Lane Shuler and Courageous, also known as I.N.K., kicked off the event with a poem of their own.

“It all started with the I.N.K.,” said the duo before opening the floor to the public. The open mic was open to all attendees who signed up before the show began. In total, 20 participants came to read their original works about topics such as love, depression and social activism.

Twenty participants participated in the poetry slam and open mic event.

One poet, Saniyah X, was inspired to perform poetry after watching Russell Simmons’ show “Def Jam Poetry” and has been performing since 2007. She performed her slam poem based on her first love called “This Equation.” She also performed an unreleased song called “Our Apocalypse” for the crowd.

“No one outside of my small circle of friends had heard that song before so it was special sharing it with the crowd,” said Saniyah X.

After the open mic portion of the show, five contestants participated in a poetry slam, a contest judged by five audience members to choose the best poet of the night. Participant Black Atticus was crowned the champion.

Freshman Alana Cooper attended the event for her Introduction to Poetry class, and was impressed by the slam.

“I had to write a poem for the class I’m in right now and just trying to follow a form, if you choose to write something more structured, is a lot of work,” said Cooper. “These people just make it look so easy even though it really isn’t.”

This second event proved to be a hit with poets and audience members alike.

“There are a lot of talented poets here and it’s nice to see us all coming together,” said Saniyah X. “I think Courageous and Lane are doing a fantastic job at waking the sleeping giant that is the poetry scene in Knox.”

The next poetry slam will be held on March 10 at the Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage. More information is available on their Facebook page and official website.

International House hosts Indian cooking demonstration

Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 4, 2015]

Students try their hand at making paneer tikka.

The International House hosted an Indian cooking demonstration as part of its India World Showcase Tuesday night.

Members of Manthan, the Indian Student Association, taught participants how to make paneer tikka, a traditional Indian appetizer. The dish contains marinated paneer, a type of fresh cheese and vegetables marinated in spices. All of the ingredients are then placed on a kebab and baked in the oven.

After learning the recipe and more about the ingredients, students headed to the kitchen to make the dish themselves. Sophomore Sabrina Sutherland volunteered to help.

“I helped put the vegetables and paneer on the kebab,” she said. “It’s delicious!”

Senior Jenny Chan, who works at the International House, was also interested by the demonstration.

“My favorite part was learning the ingredients. I didn’t even know what paneer was before,” she said.

After assembling the kebab, students waited for the dish to bake in the oven.

“I really like this henna I got and I loved eating the food,” said Sutherland.

Paneer tikka, a traditional Indian appetizer, features marinated paneer cheese and vegetables.

“It’s spicy, but good,” added Chan.

The International House will host two more World Showcases with cooking demonstrations this semester, one focusing on China later this month, and another focusing on Iran in April.

Chan says anyone interested in more events and activities at the International House should visit their Facebook page,UTK International.