OUDaily.com | Laron Chapman

COLUMN: Combat finals week anxiety with these festive films

December 12, 2011 | 0 comments

It is that time of the season. No, not the holidays, but a different cause for celebration: the end of the semester. I have created the perfect holiday diversion to keep your spirits high and your anxieties low, sprinkling some festive optimism on top of a likely stressful week. READ MORE

Celebrate the season with these family-friendly films

November 29, 2011 | 0 comments

The holidays came early for many moviegoers over the festive Thanksgiving break. From singing puppets to epic adventures through cinematic history, there was and still is plenty of lively family entertainment to appease even the most eclectic crowds. READ MORE

'Twilight' saga mirrors purity, warns teens of sex

November 16, 2011 | 1 comment

Multiplexes around the world are sure to be jam-packed with loyal fans in honor of the premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1,” the fourth installment of the popular “Twilight” series, Friday. If you take away the supernatural elements, the “Twilight” films are essentially cautionary tales for teenage girls about the dangers of premarital sex and teenage pregnancy. READ MORE

COLUMN: Depp ventures into Caribbean again with 'The Rum Diary'

October 28, 2011 | 0 comments

If Terry Gilliam’s insanely entertaining “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” were complemented with a fluid, coherent narrative it would look something like Bruce Robinson’s equally affecting “The Rum Diary.” Those seeking a bizarre and twisted yet ultimately transporting diversion will soak up this film like a tropical cocktail. READ MORE

Halloween tricks and treats

October 27, 2011 | 0 comments

What Halloween would be complete without frightening films, creepy costumes and terrifying tunes? Here are a few! READ MORE

Halloween events come a week early

October 20, 2011 | 0 comments

As cooler temperatures settle in and fall begins to take form, students are likely contemplating their own unique costumes for Halloween and anxiously anticipating all the activities the festive holiday has to offer. READ MORE

Remakes prevalent in current cinematic landscape

October 19, 2011 | 0 comments

Rather than focusing their energies on creating fresh, unique and exciting new films, contemporary filmmakers would rather tread over familiar territory in hopes of capitalizing on the success of their predecessors. More times than not, avid moviegoers watch their beloved works get dismantled, giving new viewers a watered down version of once savory, potent cinematic treats. READ MORE

Beat the stress with these food, movie and music suggestions

October 18, 2011 | 0 comments

It is that time of the semester, the loathsome half-way point, when students are likely swamped with daunting midterms that threaten to shake up their once joyous lives. Well, not to worry, faithful scholars, for The Daily created the perfect antidote to remedy your mounting anxieties, reward you for your strenuous efforts and help you survive until the holiday break. READ MORE

Netflix service snafu leaves Sooners torn

October 11, 2011 | 0 comments

Faulty management and inconsistent pricing by Netflix Inc. are persuading some students and faculty to find alternatives to the previously booming DVD-by-mail and Internet-streaming service. The company now faces heated backlash from once-loyal subscribers who are choosing more affordable rental alternatives. READ MORE

Dolly Parton still draws crowds of loyal fans

October 10, 2011 | 0 comments

The great Dolly Parton performed in Tulsa’s BOK Center Saturday night to promote her new album “Better Day,” reminding those of her infectious personality, big hair, elaborate wardrobe, spunky tunes and a career in country music spanning more than 40 years. READ MORE

Unique films impress at annual Manhattan Short Film Festival

October 3, 2011 | 0 comments

What do a failed bank robbery, a haunting urban legend, an abandoned baby, a comical misunderstanding and a pair of missing teeth have in common? They all describe films screened this weekend at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art as part of the 13th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. READ MORE

Design devils bring printmaking exhibition to campus

September 30, 2011 | 0 comments

Artists Justin Storm and Lenore Thomas, the collaborative printmaking duo of “Satan’s Camaro,” will showcase their exhibition of screen-printed work from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the Lightwell Gallery of the School of Art & Art History. READ MORE

Oscar season heats up as the weather cools down

September 20, 2011 | 0 comments

For those of you contemplating how to amuse yourselves for the next 88 days or so of Oscar season, you will be relieved to know that the fall season has plenty to offer in way of cinematic entertainment. READ MORE

'Lion King 3D' to revisit big screen Friday

September 16, 2011 | 0 comments

The film, theatrically released in 1994, will be shown in 3D but has undergone no other changes. The film teaches young viewers friendship, manhood, perseverance and acceptance, said Wesley Jackson, film and media studies senior. READ MORE

'Contagion' offers suspenseful, timely entertainment

September 12, 2011 | 0 comments

Shot in a gritty, documentary-style fashion, Soderbergh’s “Contagion” sizzles with relentless authenticity. Every scenario unfolds in a logical, perceptive and focused manner. READ MORE

Cinema mirrors our cultural fears, neuroses

September 9, 2011 | 0 comments

Cinema has the power to move us, to inspire us, and to comment on the behaviors and beliefs of our society. It serves as an invaluable medium for extracting penetrating insight into the human psyche and the ever-changing aspects of our culture. Two sub-genres that effectively adhere to this notion include “the zombie film” and “the vampire film.” READ MORE

Looking back on August's best cinematic experiences

September 7, 2011 | 0 comments

Entertainment-wise, the month of August served as the most enjoyable month for movies. Provided below is a list of the most memorable entertainments offered for the month of August. READ MORE

'Apollo 18' fails to live up to its potential with cheap thrills

September 6, 2011 | 1 comment

Despite a couple of unsettling sequences, “Apollo 18” squanders its potential in exchange for a few cheap thrills. READ MORE

'The Help' downplays the potential cultural contributions of minorities

September 1, 2011 | 1 comment

While “The Help” appears to depict the hardships thousands of African-American men and women endured during the ‘60s in Jackson, Mississippi, the film glosses over its racial themes, stripping away the authenticity of the environment in favor of appealing to a mainstream audience. READ MORE

Summer movies promise entertainment

May 9, 2011 | 0 comments

Most audiences go to the movies to escape the stress and monotony in their busy lives, to be entertained and to cherish Hollywood’s most-beloved talents. Cinematic escapism is especially necessary during summer vacation when everyone is looking to kill some time. READ MORE

Summer releases to swoop into box office

May 5, 2011 | 0 comments

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s ... almost the end of the semester and you’re probably as anxious as I am to finish finals and indulge in all the blissful activities summer has to offer. Well, fret not my faithful Sooner family, for the multiplex promises to be jam-packed with tasty cinematic treats to appeal to everyone’s tastes. READ MORE

Fast and Furious franchise delivers pulse-pounding sequel

May 2, 2011 | 0 comments

Those dreading the tedium of dead week and seeking an exhilarating alternative to studying for finals should look no further than the action-packed “Fast Five.” Loaded with impossible stunts, exotic locales, hot chicks and (you guessed it) slick rides, the fifth installment to the popular “Fast and Furious” franchise encompasses everything a summer blockbuster should have. READ MORE

Robert Pattinson impresses in 'Water for Elephants'

April 25, 2011 | 0 comments

The passionate words of author Sara Gruen are beautifully envisioned by director Francis Lawrence’s (“I Am Legend,” 2007) adaptation of her best-selling novel “Water for Elephants.” The film paints a canvas of a depression-era landscape, a lavish circus production and an unrequited romance. READ MORE

COLUMN: Shyamalan struggles to find groove

April 20, 2011 | 1 comment

What do a tormented child, an ordinary superhero, an alien invasion, a mysterious sea nymph, an isolated community, an environmental outbreak and the worst motion picture of 2010 have in common? They all describe films made by the once-revered Indian-born American filmmaker and screenwriter M. Night Shyamalan. READ MORE

'Scream' still going strong

April 18, 2011 | 0 comments

In the mid 1990s, director Wes Craven redefined terror with the release of his influential “Scream” franchise. Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson found a way to converse with their bloodthirsty audience by peppering their films with self-conscious characters who had been schooled in the conventions of the horror genre. READ MORE

COLUMN: Music's biggest night gets smaller

April 12, 2011 | 0 comments

Every year, the annual Grammy Awards showcase the best music artists in the business. READ MORE

Strong acting keeps 'Soul Surfer' above water

April 8, 2011 | 0 comments

Sean McNamara’s “Soul Surfer” tells the true story of Hawaiian-native Bethany Hamilton, a spirited teenage surfer whose arm was bitten off by a tiger shark in 2003. The film takes this traumatic experience in Hamilton’s life and crafts something earnest, genuine and surprisingly painless. READ MORE

Hollywood loses legend, activist

April 6, 2011 | 1 comment

Elizabeth Taylor: The violet-eyed Hollywood legend, whose stunning beauty, glamorous lifestyle, compelling screen performances and untiring humanitarian efforts ended up making her one of Hollywood’s most famous and iconic entertainment figures. Taylor died March 23 as a result of congestive heart failure, ending her reign as one of the last great actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age of cinema. READ MORE

New film just a 'Sucker Punch'

March 28, 2011 | 3 comments

What do you get when you combine five voluptuous, gun-toting babes, hyper-stylized violence and a script you want to fold in half to clean the dirt under your fingernails? You end up with director Zack Snyder’s latest action spectacle “Sucker Punch,” a vile, tasteless exercise in dizzying special effects and insufferable dialogue. READ MORE

COLUMN: 3-D movies must be done right

March 22, 2011 | 0 comments

From cassette tapes to iPods, PCs to Macbooks, DVDs to Blu-ray discs, technology seems to evolve as frequently as Lady Gaga changes her wardrobe. Our tech-savvy American culture has a powerful attachment to the products and innovations that emerge as our collective mind seeks to discover more efficient ways of living and experiencing. READ MORE

Award winning filmmaker to make OKC bombing movie

March 21, 2011 | 0 comments

Nearly 16 years ago, the nation was taken by shock, heartbreak and unyielding disillusionment in regard to the historical bombing of Oklahoma City’s Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The tragedy — perpetuated by Timothy McVeigh and co-conspirator Terry Nichols, who claimed the lives of 168 American citizens — was a disturbing event that continues to affect the lives of the families involved as well as the state at large. READ MORE

New thriller’s romantic chemistry makes up for poor plot

March 7, 2011 | 0 comments

In life, we are all inspired to make choices; these choices in many regards shape and define the individuals we are today. What if you learned the direction of your life was fixed and that the choices made in your lifetime were prearranged? READ MORE

Actors shine at star-studded event

March 1, 2011 | 0 comments

The balcony has closed with Sunday’s 83rd annual Oscar ceremony. The evening was permeated with excitement and anticipation, but unraveled rather conventionally in relation to the winners. READ MORE

Gross-out comedy 'Hall Pass' fleetingly funny

February 28, 2011 | 0 comments

Have you ever found yourself in an exclusive relationship and contemplated exploring new options? Maybe you had a deep connection with another person and told yourself that the only thing standing between you and that person is your significant other. READ MORE

Academy Awards to honor year's best in film

February 25, 2011 | 1 comment

What do a neurotic, tech-savvy Harvard graduate, a deranged ballerina and a drunken one-eyed U.S. marshal have in common? Such characteristics seem absurd when viewed at face value. READ MORE

COLUMN: This year's movies to be fun, reliable

February 23, 2011 | 0 comments

In the entertainment industry, the movie business can be brutal and cut-throat. This is why studios are insistent upon ensuring that the films they distribute will acquire a hefty income. READ MORE

Movies for the different states of love

February 14, 2011 | 0 comments

It’s that time of the year to stop and appreciate the special people in our lives. It’s the time of year that asks us not to be ashamed of our repressed sentimental sensibilities, but to cuddle up with our significant other, to rekindle an old flame or to search passionately for our one true soul mate. READ MORE

Q&A with 'The Roommate' star Leighton Meester

February 11, 2011 | 1 comment

The Hollywood scene is a place of fierce competition. It’s a cut-throat environment that can make or break you. One who wishes to succeed in the entertainment industry has to demonstrate courage, talent, resilience and versatility. Such qualities are embodied by the American actress and singer Leighton Meester of The CW’s popular teen drama series “Gossip Girl.” READ MORE

5 college movies to cure winter woes

February 10, 2011 | 1 comment

If all you knew about college life was what is depicted in popular Hollywood movies, college would be deemed as a setting where students are ready for bubbling excitement around the clock. However, what most films fail to examine are the numerous hardships that come along with the awesome all-nighters, including strenuous homework assignments, group projects, final exams and, well, you get the point. READ MORE

Top films of 2010

December 13, 2010 | 0 comments

The Daily’s Life & Arts staff voted on the best films of 2010. Some expected contenders for the list, including “Black Swan” and “True Grit” had not been screened in Oklahoma by press time, which accounts for their absence. READ MORE

MOVIE REVIEW: Bright cast perks up warmed-over comedy clichés

November 10, 2010 | 0 comments

In the field of journalism, there are zealous overachievers and then there’s Becky Fuller. She’s intelligent, lovable, sleep-deprived, enthusiastic and quite simply the best TV producer of any New York City broadcast network. Becky’s concentrated intensity and charm is executed with impeccable ease by the always engaging Rachel McAdams. McAdams is an actress whose charisma has the ability to turn a sappy Nicholas Sparks adaptation into something truly winning, as she did in “The Notebook.” READ MORE

'Megamind' treads no new animated ground

November 5, 2010 | 0 comments

Remember the animated film about a family of lovable and eccentric superheroes, each proficient with their own exclusive power? Of course you do. The film was called “The Incredibles,” and it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2004. READ MORE

Movie review: Real-life legal drama provides basis for riveting film

October 29, 2010 | 0 comments

Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) was a working class mother of two from a hard childhood. When her brother Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell), a volatile troublemaker, was wrongfully convicted of murder, she dedicated 18 years of her life to proving his innocence. READ MORE

The Daily's early Oscar-worthy film picks

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments

This year’s Oscar season has officially arrived with the recent commercial success of exceptional films such as “The Social Network” and “Inception.” However, last year’s 82nd Academy Award ceremony proved that the momentum garnered from commercial success is only half of the battle with “The Hurt Locker’s” surprising win over the popular “Avatar.” READ MORE

'Funny Story' charms with amiable cast

October 8, 2010 | 0 comments

With the recent and esteemed introduction of stars such as Carey Mulligan (“An Education”), Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) and Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) it is safe to say that Hollywood has acquired its fair share of breakout stars. With the release of the smart and comic “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” two more performers can honorably inscribe their names on that list. READ MORE

'Let Me In' a faithful and profound remake

October 4, 2010 | 0 comments

Cinematic remakes and interminable franchises have obtained a pretty horrid reputation over the years. American remakes of well-regarded foreign films prove especially loathsome. After viewing what Gus Van Sant did to Hitchcock’s “Psycho” or what Ronald Emmerich did to Honda’s “Godzilla,” such resentments seem rational. The perpetual recycling of once golden ideas in modern filmmaking speaks to Hollywood’s depreciating stock of creative and original ideas. However, every once in awhile a contemporary re-imagining can open a film up for different interpretations and solidify one’s appreciation for the material. READ MORE

Sex comedies provoke laughter

September 17, 2010 | 0 comments

In a wasteland of dumb teen movies, Will Gluck’s “Easy A” is a surprisingly smart and funny one. The teens in this film are presented with enough depth and conviction that it becomes difficult not to succumb to their indisputable charms. READ MORE

The Daily's awesomely bad movies

September 2, 2010 | 3 comments

What do the films “Showgirls,” “Glitter” and “Gigli” all have in common? Well, most would agree that they are utterly unwatchable. So awful, they are devoid of even an iota of cinematic pleasure. Then there are films that are so gloriously terrible, the director’s intentions seem curiously motivated. Films so awful, they convert to sheer awesomeness. Here's an eclectic assortment of films so bad they’re irresistible. READ MORE

'The American' more poetic than energetic

September 1, 2010 | 0 comments

Jack (George Clooney), whose last name remains unknown, is one hell of a craftsman. Serving as an American assassin, he is the best of the best. He’s sophisticated, seemingly calm, keenly observant and rightfully paranoid of the potential threats he may face in whatever environment he inhabits. READ MORE

'Takers' comes out sporadically entertaining

August 27, 2010 | 0 comments

Showcasing the most random casting in a feature film in recent memory, complete with two hip-hop artists and Anakin Skywalker himself, it is safe to say that Hollywood’s latest action vehicle “Takers” is (in the bubbly words of Katy Perry) a “Teenage Dream” for the inevitable female audience. READ MORE

Articles by Laron Chapman