Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the Oscar nominated contender for Best Picture by filmmaker Stephen Daldry, is based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. The story, though rooted in the September 11 tragedy, does not focus on the event. Rather, the movie documents the story of a young 11-year-old boy Oskar Schell who suffers from the loss of his father at the World Trade Center. Oskar, played by Thomas Horn, is convinced his father, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, left a message for him hidden somewhere in the city. This is the story of his quest to keep his father’s memory alive by searching throughout the Big Apple, the nation’s largest city, for a lock to fit a key.
As Oskar is exploring through his father’s closet, he accidentally knocks over a blue vase and finds a key in an envelope that is simply labeled “Black.” He ponders the true meaning behind the key: Was it left for him or his mother? Did it even have an actual meaning at all? He quickly looks up the name “Black” in the phone book and finds that there are 417 people with the last name “Black” in New York City. Oskar vows to himself that he will meet every person until he finds the key’s lock. As he searches for the lock, Oskar meets many sympathetic yet helpful strangers; however, one stranger stood out from the rest who becomes Oskar’s confidant. Oskar is accompanied by “The Renter,” an old man played by Max von Sydow, who rents a room in Oskar’s grandmother’s apartment. As they both become close friends, Oskar learns many lessons from this stranger, such as facing his fears and knowing when to intervene.
As his adventure continues, Oskar’s hope begins to falter and wants to stop until he notices that the stranger he has been sharing his journey with is just like his father. Oskar finally concludes that the stranger is actually his grandfather. Oskar confronts him, but before Oskar can receive any real answers, his grandfather moves out of his apartment and tells Oskar not to search anymore. However, Oskar does not give up. He continues his search until he finds the truth behind the key.
Tom Horn, the actor who played Oskar, who was discovered on the game show Jeopardy, delivers an incredible performance of a young boy searching for answers after his father’s tragic death. While many critics call his character selfish and spoiled, I call him a crushed, grieving character who finds his rite of passage as he overcomes obstacles and faces his own fears.
Stephen Daldry’s film meanders a bit, but the stellar cast, starting with young Horn, as well as the weighty nuances such as Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, make this a must-see film for the New Year. Daldry’s ability to remove the slight ambiguity of the original novel allowed the film to retain the precise symbolism for applying the message to all the hurting people in the world. Furthermore, the movie explores the importance of a three-word phrase that is continuously misused today, “I love you.” Suspend your disbelief on the unbelievable parts and stay to the end. I promise it will be worth it.

With only nine days until the unraveling of one of Hollywood’s biggest red carpets, music junkies have a lot to look forward to with this year’s 54th annual Grammy awards night. Music’s biggest night airs on February 12 at 7:00 p.m. on CBS. It will definitely be a night to watch with actor and rapper LL Cool J as host and artists like the newly popular Adele and the always hip Rihanna as competing nominees.
There will be many compelling performances consisting of both solo and duo artists. One of the most anticipated performances is Coldplay and Rihanna. Coldplay recently released their successful album Mylo Xlyto which featured Rihanna in the song “Princess of China.” Paul McCartney, 14 time Grammy award winner and member of the legendary Beatles, will also be making an appearance on the Grammy stage. In the four most popular categories are nominees that are the most talented artists of our time. Nominated for Record of the Year are Rolling in the Deep by Adele, Holocene by Bon Iver, Grenade by Bruno Mars, The Cave by Mumford and Sons, and Firework by Katy Perry. Rolling in the Deep is a shoe-in to win based on the charts and the many fans who adore Adele’s chilling voice. The song sold an impressive $5.567 million in the U.S. in 2011. That’s the most digital copies ever sold within a year’s time in the U.S.
Other nominees, such as Bruno Mars and Katy Perry, are also equally loved for their pop serenades. Bruno Mars especially caught attention with the song “Grenade” and the appearance of “It Will Rain” on the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn soundtrack. Mumford and Sons and Bon Iver are also great competitors for their popular alternative hits. Adele’s 21 and Bruno Mars’s Doo-wops and Hooligans are up for Album of the Year along with The Wasting Light by Foo Fighters, Born This Way by Lady Gaga, and Loud by Rihanna. Sadly, Nicki Minaj didn’t make the album cut with Pink Friday which sold 1,663,000 U.S. copies as of November 2011.“Rolling in the Deep,” “The Cave,” “Holocene,” and “Grenade” are all also nominated for Song of the Year with “All of the Lights” by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and Fergie. Kanye West is the leading artist with seven total nominations. The nominees for Best New Artist include The Band Perry, Bon Iver, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, and Skrillex. After the remix of “If I Die Young” in early 2011, the original song hit the charts in July to make The Band Perry a well known group.  Skrillex is not like any other nominee. Known for his wild techno mixes, Skrillex is nominated for five Grammys including Best New Artist, Best Dance Recording, Best Dance/Electronica Album, Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical), and Best Short Form Music Video for “First of the Year.” Kelly Rowland, Lil’ Wayne, Chris Brown, Cee Lo Green, Lupe Fiasco, Beyonce, and Wiz Khalifa are nominees in different rap and R&B categories. Others nominated for pop and alternative Grammys include Foster the People, Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera, Kings of Leon, and Radiohead.  Taylor Swift, Sum 41, Mumford and Sons, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, The Civil Wars, and Blake Shelton are nominated for Grammys in Country and Rock categories. With so many new and continuously crowd-pleasing artists nominated, the 54th Grammys is sure to be one of the best awards ceremonies of the year.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it cannot be denied that many of us are thinking of that one special person that we like, love, or even hate. Thankfully, my first love will never forget nor forsake me. And my first love is, without question or hesitation, chocolate. Yes, I admit our relationship isn’t perfect, and we’ve been through some rough times including the time I ate an entire bag of M&Ms in one sitting, and my stomach hurt for an entire day. But I would say we have a pretty strong relationship excluding a few low points. I have spent countless nights sitting on my bed watching a movie with one of my very best friends – chocolate icing. Another high point in our relationship is the time I had a chocolate fountain at my 16th birthday party. So because of my great love for chocolate, I decided to make truffles this month.
At first I thought this endeavor might be challenging, and as I looked for recipes, I found this to be true. Most of the recipes were complicated, and as an inexperienced chef, I try to find the simplest recipes that I know I can do well. So, after much searching, I found the perfect recipe. It has only three ingredients: 12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, half a cup of heavy whipping cream, and half a teaspoon of vanilla. I heated the heavy cream over medium to low heat until it was simmering, stirring constantly to keep it from scalding. In a separate mixing bowl, I combined the chocolate and vanilla. I poured the cream over the chocolate/vanilla mixture and stirred until the chocolate was melted. Then came the hard part: I was supposed to let the mixture chill in the fridge for two hours, but I impatiently put the mixture into the freezer for 20 minutes instead. When it was chilled I rolled tablespoon-sized amounts into truffles then rolled the truffles in cocoa powder. I thought my truffles were delicious and am not ashamed when I truthfully say I ate all 30, my sister as my witness. I will definitely be using that simple recipe again, but maybe next time I’ll share my truffles.
If you would like some high quality truffles without having to make them yourself, C’est La Vie sells wonderful ones. I will warn you: their truffles are expensive but worth it. They will serve as a great pick-me-up on the dreaded holiday that is known to many of us as Singles’ Awareness Day.

Staff Reporter 

Unlike many American approaches to romance and its many dizzying effects, British band Florence + the Machine’s analysis of love is anything but cookie-cutter. Lead singer Florence Welch, who describes her music as a reflection of her unrelenting emotion, is a powerhouse of vocal talent and gripping personality. The band’s new album Ceremonials certainly portrays stark intensity in every song; however, the instrumentals to which Welch’s vulnerable lyrics are set are repetitive and overbearing. As a whole, Ceremonials achieves resounding emotional effects but fails to deliver adequate instrumental range.
Welch, who admittedly writes all of her songs on hangovers and wears secondhand clothes at performances, wanted the album to consume listeners with both its words and its sounds. Indeed, Ceremonials is initially captivating. In “Shake It Out,” Welch proclaims, “It’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake him off.” The song is arguably the purest showcase of Welch’s vocal range and poetic abilities. “No Light, No Light” successfully fuses pulsating drums with ethereal electronic sounds, creating an eerie and unsure tune. Other songs like “Breaking Down” are positive and relaxed. The album also cleverly incorporates the theme of water into many songs. In “What the Water Gave Me,” a synth keyboard and electric guitar are the backdrop to lyrics like “Let the only sound be the overflow.” The fast-paced song “Heartlines,” although heavy on backup vocals, portrays the power of water and nature to subtle trumpets and mystical chimes. The ballad “Never Let Me Go” shows Welch’s infatuation with the ocean. The consuming effects of Florence + the Machine’s Ceremonials are synonymous with the ocean’s waves: powerful, loud, and largely predictable. Even though Ceremonials is different from other albums, it shows little internal range. This lack of variation makes the album surprisingly mundane after the first few tracks. Each song is accompanied by heavy drums and clamorous instrumental swells that, for the most part, drown Welch’s vocal clarity. Perhaps the British accent or the hangovers also contributed to the difficulty I had understanding many songs, but, at times, the numerous instruments made Florence’s voice sound like it had gone through a machine. Also, Ceremonials included unsavory songs that produced a clash between Welch’s normally fluid voice and her forced, shrill singing in songs like “Strangeness and Charm.” The apocalyptic tune “Seven Devils” started with the words “Holy water cannot save you now” and ended with “I’ll be dead before the day is done.” These words were only made more terrifying by ghostly sound effects and muffled birds’ cries. The most chilling songs on this album did not contribute to the band’s emotional intensity. Rather, they added melodrama and made listeners like me wonder if the band attends Voodoo funerals for fun.
Ceremonials is anything but traditional. The album redefines love as a heavy, serious, and often haunting issue. Florence Welch herself is hardly jovial, and her blunt lyrics and diamond vocals illustrate how seriously she takes the band’s music. The artistry of the album, however, is severely limited because the songs are similar in structure and theme. The first time I heard a song from the album, I was left wanting more. When I listened to Ceremonials in its entirety, however, the magic and power of Florence + the Machine became repetitive. Even though the album is supposed to consume fans, I felt like I was drowning in it. Much like the band’s widely used water motif, Ceremonials proves that too much of a good thing dilutes the talent of a potentially excellent band.

Staff Reporter

My favorite thing about the holiday season is pie. Sweet Potato pie. Chocolate Chestnut pie. Above all else, pumpkin pie. There’s something about pie that just makes me wish I were a 400 pound woman who would not be looked down upon for eating pie every day, three times a day. Over the Thanksgiving break, I ate at least one entire pumpkin pie by myself. Don’t judge me. My dad bought the pumpkin pie from Wal-Mart, and it was gone the next day. It was great even though it was store bought, but a week or so later, I decided to try making my own pie. I went to my favorite blog to find recipes – thepioneerwoman.com. I can always depend on the blogger, Ree Drummond, for easy recipes that make delicious food. Note that I used the word delicious, not the word healthy. She has a recipe for what she calls pumpkin cream pie that she calls absolutely wonderful, so I decided to try it. Drummond doesn’t enjoy pumpkin, so her recipe only calls for a small amount of pumpkin. Since I love pumpkin, I decided to almost triple the amount of pumpkin in the pie. This was a BAD idea. Since I’d tripled the pumpkin, I had to almost double the pie filling, so I decided to just make two pies. So I ended up with two pies that did not taste “absolutely wonderful” in the slightest. I was very disappointed. All I wanted was some good pumpkin pie. Was that too much to ask for? I ended up eating the pies anyway because I’ll always love pie. After ruining Ree Drummond’s pie recipe, I wasn’t satisfied, so I decided to make the generic, easy pumpkin pie that never fails to curb my pumpkin pie cravings. If you decide to make pie, learn from my mistakes, follow the directions on the recipe and have me over for a piece of pie.

Staff Reporter

 Just like many teenagers, I couldn’t wait to play Modern Warfare 3. When        I finally got my copy and finished the story, however, I couldn’t shake the feeling that some thing was missing. I didn’t know why; I got what I’d expected. And that was the problem. The game met every one of my standards, but didn’t exceed them. MW3 stays on the exact same scale as MW2, and the game lacks identity because of that. The story of the game is fast paced when it needs to be, manages to draw out and build up at the right moments, and ultimately leaves the player mentally satisfied but has a habit of reusing popular moments from the previous games. Having a  helicopter crash inches from your face is only heart-stopping so many times, after all. Visually, the game hasn’t lost any of the trademark breathtaking quality. Every local, from war-torn Wall Street to the jungles of Africa, comes to life in a way that can only be associated with Call of Duty games. But while the game hasn’t lost any quality, it hasn’t really gained any either. The controls are still just as polished as well. The characters move smoothly and can swap weapons and melee with ease. One improvement this time around is the vehicle sequences, which seem like less of an afterthought and more like they belong to the story. The multiplayer mode is the most remarkable improvement to the game. The new weapon leveling system makes players get out of their comfort zones and try different weapon combinations. The new killstreak packages (in- game bonuses earned in multiplayer for getting a certain number of kills in a row without dying) offer more customization for strategists to exploit. However, these are the only big changes; the rest of the multiplayer mode is dotted with little things like a new game mode or new maps. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the game. It’s fun, has a brilliantly written script and story, and is an all-around great game. It’s just expected.

by: Allison Slusher

Most Nicholas Sparks novels follow a pattern: one of the main characters comes from a troubled life but falls in love with their soul mate. After a long struggle, some form of separation, or an upsetting realization, the two realize that they were destined to be together. Some of the most popular Nicholas Sparks books that follow this plot line are The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and The Last Song. Sparks’s newest novel, The Best of Me, is no different.

The book follows high school sweethearts Amanda and Dawson through their perilous fight for love. The two separate after Amanda’s parents forbid her to see Dawson anymore. After their break-up, life takes its toll, and they both grow older and live in separate worlds. A series of events in their hometown, however, bring the two back together, and they decide to attempt what they thought impossible: rekindling their relationship. The two then struggle through the idea, and Amanda is forced to decide between her own desires and her family’s desires back home.

While Sparks didn’t stray too far from his normal story line, he managed to keep the reader interested by adding a few new twists. Throughout the book, The Best of Me questions the supernatural and its role in love. This seems especially different in this novel, seeing as how Sparks normally writes more traditional love stories. Sparks also puts his characters in more risqué situations than normal.

At the end, though, Sparks reverts back to his normal ways and reiterates how hope and love can conquer all. He also makes a point to show, just as in other novels, how the love of family can be one of the strongest and most important loves of all.

With all of this said, however, the book has the potential to become another Nicholas Sparks phenomenon, and this book might even have the ability to be made into a movie just like many other Sparks novels. Overall, The Best of Me, is a classic novel that does inspire the story of love, but lacks individuality and is almost painfully predictable.

Both knitting and crocheting are fairly simple, but crocheting is generally considered the easier of the two. To crochet a scarf, one will need a few inexpensive tools including a crochet hook, a couple balls of yarn, and some discipline. The best crocheting hooks and yarn can be found at Hobby Lobby where sales are frequent and prices are low. A crocheting hook and a good ball of yarn costs around $10, and discipline is attained from years of practice.

To teach a person how to crochet through a newspaper article would be nearly impossible, but the tools and resources are easily available. There are many do-it-yourself blogs online that give detailed instructions on how to crochet. The best blog to use to learn how to crochet is wwwcraftyminx.com. Dana Beach, the blogger, has an online crocheting class that consists of 30 short and easy-to-understand videos. They are very helpful because they allow one to learn at one’s own pace however fast or slow that may be. The lessons are very clear and offer lots of information you might miss at an actual crocheting class. She teaches all the lingo and abbreviations necessary to follow crocheting patterns. Once one has learned how to crochet and has practiced, one will be ready to start crocheting his or her own scarf. There are tons of scarf patterns on www.crochetpatterncentral.com that range from the beginner level to the advanced level.

After being patient and persevering, there is so much satisfaction in finishing a scarf and getting to wear it all the time.

Last month while I was researching 32 degrees, A Yogurt Bar and Twist and Taste on Urbanspoon, I came across many restaurants I had never even heard of. I decided to feature a couple of these unknown restaurants that deserve some publicity, even if it’s only through a high school newspaper.

Last weekend I went to Petra Café for supper. Petra is a Greek/Mediterranean eating establishment. Since I love Greek food, I really enjoyed it. Unlike Old Athens Grill, Petra offers truly authentic Greek and Mediterranean food. If you’re interested in trying new places and ethnic food, I definitely recommend Petra. It’s best to try new places with people who know what food is good at those places. Thankfully, I went to Petra with my dad who loves Greek food and knew exactly what to order. We had an appetizer of falafel and their spiced black tea. To stay on the safe side, I had a delicious chicken gyro. Along with the great food, Petra offers something very unique. Petra is one of the only restaurant in town that has a hookah bar. This interesting element is only available to people 18 years old and above, so I recommend going to Petra for your 18th birthday if you want to try smoking a hookah pipe. The atmosphere at Petra is certainly unusual; this might have something to do with all of the paintings of Iranian dictators on the walls. The restaurant is darkly lit even at 5:00 in the evening, and the mounted televisions continuously play Bollywood music videos. These odd trademarks only slightly detract from the excellent food and service. Overall, the great food outweighs the peculiarity that is Petra Café

One morning before school, I woke up an hour early to go get breakfast. I wanted to go somewhere new and delicious. My sister, Lucy, and I decided on C’est La Vie Bakery and Coffee. We spilt a bacon omelet with Swiss cheese, tomatoes, and basil. It was absolutely divine. In the future when I’m having a bad day, I will remember that omelet and feel better about myself. That’s how good the omelet was. C’est La Vie has a large selection of coffees that just seem better because they are bought in a French restaurant. After we finished our omelet and coffee, my sister and I bought some chocolate and raspberries truffles and a fruit tart for the road. C’est La Vie also offers many lunch items such as chicken salad sandwiches which according to Urbanspoon are “to die for.” The dining area of the restaurant is very small and quaint which adds to the French bistro appearance. Don’t go to C’est La Vie without cash or your checkbook because they don’t accept credit cards or debit cards. Though C’est La Vie is a little bit pricey, the food is worth every penny.

by: Brittain Allgood

When it comes to movies that make you want to “cut loose,” the new Footloose really does the trick. Bringing the classic film up-to-date with new dance styles, this new rendition puts into perspective how everyone should have the right to dance how they want, when they want. When watching this film, I had the sudden urge to get up and dance along with them. Everyone who watches it will hum along to the timeless tunes while enjoying the dance numbers that this movie includes.

Footloose takes place in the small town of Bomont, Georgia, where everyone knows your name. Like any other town, the students enjoyed partying and dancing. One night after a big bash, four of Bomont’s brightest students were driving home when they crashed head-on into a truck. All four were killed instantly, and the entire town of Bomont was affected by the tragedy. The preacher of the local church was the father of one of the victims. He vowed to his family and to the entire city that from there on out, he would do everything he could to keep the children of Bomont safe. After the accident, the city council began to approve outrageous laws such as setting a city-wide curfew and prohibiting the purchase of beer on Sundays; however, the most outrageous law was prohibiting dancing in the city. At the time, these rules seemed fair and appropriate, but after a while, the children began to rebel against the laws. Although nothing changed, that is, until a new boy came to town. This Boston native decided that he wanted to make a difference in that city and wished to prove to others that he could succeed.

The Footloose cast portrayed their characters very well and far exceeded expectations. Kenny Wormald played Ren MacCormack better than many expected. Everyone knows that no one can replace Kevin Bacon, who played the original Ren MacCormack, but even Kevin stated over Twitter that Kenny did an excellent job. Ren MacCormack is a student originally from Boston, but when his mother dies from Leukemia, he moves to Bomont to live with his aunt and uncle. He is a selfish, stuck-up city boy in the beginning of the film, but when he begins to have feelings for Ariel, we see that he is a dynamic character in that he begins to care for others as well as the city of Bomont. Wormald has definitely become the new heartthrob of the 21st century, stealing hearts with his dance moves and strikingly good looks. Ariel Moore, played by Julianne Hough, is a goody-goody preacher’s daughter in the beginning of the story, but after her brother dies in the car crash, she begins to rebel against everything that her dad has instilled in her. She gets lost in her relationship with God, her family, and her abusive boyfriend. Meeting Ren, she realizes that she has been living the wrong life and begins to mold back into the girl her daddy once knew. Julianne Hough- who knew she could act? This triple threat is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, for she was able to move people with her words as well as her dancing. As tired as I am of seeing Dennis Quaid in movies, he did an excellent job of playing the over-protective preacher, Rev. Shaw Moore. The Reverend tries so hard to protect Ariel that it only pushes her away. He realizes the things that he has done and decides to be more lenient with her.

This movie had comical moments as well as serious, inspiring moments and to me, those qualities make a good movie. This is a film that I can watch a dozen times and still love. I highly recommend this movie to everyone above the age of thirteen, boys and girls.