Indie singer Lucy Dacus released her fourth studio album on March 28. Known for her involvement in the band boygenius alongside Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, Dacus has also gained attention for her song “Night Shift.” Her new album, “Forever Is a Feeling,” encompasses thirteen songs with delicate, lush instrumentals and contemplative lyrics. 

Throughout the album, Dacus tells a story of self, religion and desire, but most importantly, her album centers around love. The very first song, “Calliope Prelude,” has no lyrics. Instead, it features a beautiful weave of string instruments that create an ethereal sound. From the get-go, Dacus lets her audience know the atmosphere she plans to create throughout the album. 

“Big Deal” seamlessly continues the instrumentals from “Calliope Prelude” while adding softly sung words. The song introduces themes of longing, love and realization that give direction for the rest of the album.

The next track is “Ankles,” which was released as a single two months before the album. Accompanied by a music video starring Dacus and Havana Rose Liu, this single takes on an uplifting melody with hopeful lyrics. However, there is still that element of unattainability and longing felt in many of Dacus’s songs. 

“Limerence” features the same lulling piano while referencing specific names in its lyrics, making the song personal. In this slower tune, Dacus describes being attached to the idea of “a beautiful life” but being conflicted with the instant gratification that stems from her worst habits. 

“Modigliani” is the fifth track and alludes to the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani. This title fits with her theme of antiquity and classical art, which is also evident in the music video for “Ankles.” “Modigliani” leans into a heavier, darker rhythm that reflects the lamenting lyrics. 

Continuing this darker melody, “Talk” features laid-back sounds and steady drums. At this point in the album, Dacus begins to incorporate a lot of questions and doubts in her lyrics. She asks, “Why can’t we talk anymore?” and continues, “Did I make you nervous or bored? / Or did I drink you to the last drop?” 

The contemplative nature of the songs takes on a religious angle in “For Keeps.” Equipped with the bare essentials of guitar and vocals, this song is shorter and delivers a personal comparison between God, the Devil and her lover. 

The titular track “Forever Is a Feeling” shifts the mood with a more uplifting melody. Instead of being a standout, it serves as a connecting song, tying together and encompassing all the songs in the album. 

“Come Out” continues the lighter instrumentals with a gentle beat. However, the lyrics do not shy away from the fact that the song is about missing someone; they reflect a deep and sincere feeling of yearning.

“Best Guess” is perhaps the sweetest song on this album. Many of Dacus’s fans speculate that this song is about Julien Baker, her bandmate and partner. Despite its title, “Best Guess” does not ask any questions in its lyrics, unlike the previous songs. Instead, it solidifies the fulfillment Dacus feels with her “best guess at her future,” which is implied to be a person she loves. 

With a surprise feature from Hozier, “Bullseye” is a folky song with a balanced blend of his and Dacus’s vocals. It also includes more narrative elements, which fit in with the Americana style of this track.

“Lost Time” returns to a slower composition as it concludes the album. It doesn’t completely erase the doubt and desire that Dacus opens with, but it has a sense of contentment that comes with acceptance.

For longtime fans, “Forever Is a Feeling” might sound too calm compared to some of her previous records, which had heavier instrumentals and stronger vocals. However, this new album keeps Dacus’s delicate lyricism while shifting to a softer melody, overall adding a new tenderness to Lucy Dacus’s discography.

The post Lucy Dacus releases contemplative album appeared first on Technique.

Coinciding with National Poetry Month, Poetry@Tech hosted an Open Mic Night as part of a series of events for the 2025 TechArts Festival. Poetry@Tech invited students to the Ferst Center for the Arts to read their original poems to an audience of their peers, paired with refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere.

Travis Denton and Victoria Chang lead the poetry program at Tech. Denton serves as the associate director for Poetry@Tech and aids Chang, the director for Poetry@Tech. Both teach poetry in the Institute’s School of Literature, Media, and Communication. 

The Open Mic Night featured a variety of writers, many of whom were in poetry classes. However, some students who attended crafted their own poems without taking a class, and some people did not attend Tech but wanted to showcase their poetry.

The styles of poetry ranged anywhere from spoken word to narrative, surreal poems that explored themes of family, friendship, loss and acceptance. Although some speakers expressed how the Open Mic was their first time sharing their poetry, each one of them delivered their writing with a proud voice.

The event lasted over an hour and a half, filled with the words of student poets and their passions. Every poet was able to get an equal amount of respect and attention. The supportive atmosphere even inspired a few audience members to volunteer to read their writing spontaneously.

Thomas Brazzle, assistant director for the Office of the Arts, commented that “the arts bring us together as a community.” 

This community was evident at the poetry reading, as audience members clapped and cheered for strangers and friends alike. 

“I appreciated … the bravery. There were a lot of people saying this was the first time [they read their work]. I think it was a great community type of environment,” Brazzle added.

In addition, he pointed out how studying arts at Tech is a unique experience compared to other organizations. 

“One of the things that’s sticking out to me is the multifaceted approach. At Tech, there’s so many different things you can build off of,” he said. For Brazzle, who comes from a non-profit background, being at Tech has given him much more freedom to experiment and try out new events. His sentiment showed in the poetry event, where students of various majors came together to share their work.

The Open Mic Night was a part of the more significant celebration of the TechArts Festival. The GT Musician’s Network already hosted their 1000 Couches Festival, which featured Tech bands playing live music.

In addition, some upcoming events include DramaTech’s rendition of “Spring Awakening,” a musical; ARTlanta, where students can make artworks such as paintings, bracelets and pottery; and an Art Gallery Expo held in the Ferst Center.

Brazzle also stated that he was looking forward to the GT Arts Block Party, which will close out the festival on April 18. This event features food trucks, games, screen printing and glow-in-the-dark canvas painting. In addition, there will be dance performances from Tech’s own Tekstyles, GT Dance Company, and GT FlashMob.

Poetry@Tech and Arts@Tech are great organizations for students to branch out and express their creativity. Catch any of these events on campus for a chance to support the arts program and pick up a new hobby.

The post Poetry Open Mic Night highlights student creativity appeared first on Technique.

On Feb. 13, two renowned writers visited Tech to give a poetry reading. The event was organized by Poetry@Tech, a program with more than 20 years of partnership with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Victoria Chang and Travis Denton are the heads of Poetry@Tech, bringing poets from around the country to provide their insight to Tech students. This semester’s reading welcomed Richard Siken and Camille Dungy to the Atlantic Theater. 

Richard Siken’s debut was in 2004 with his book “Crush,” which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and received critical and popular acclaim. In addition, he published another poetry collection titled “War of the Foxes” in 2015. His honors include a Lambda Literary Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Camille Dungy is the author of several books, including her 2017 poetry collection “Trophic Cascade” and her 2023 book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” a tale about being a mother. Currently, she is a professor at Colorado State University along with being a poet. Dungy was recently awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for her work. 

Siken and Dungy have a history of reading together dating back to when their debut novels released in the early 2000s. The reading at Tech was the first time they read together in many years, which Chang noted in the introduction of the poets. 

Siken went first, reading poems out of his upcoming book “I Do Know Some Things,” which is set to release in mid-2025. His book recounts the experience after having a stroke and how he subsequently rebuilt his life, writing, and sense of self. While his first two poetry collections incorporate fictionalized elements, his new book portrays a real, autobiographical narrative. He started his reading with the poem “Real Estate,” which vividly depicts his relationship with his parents. 

Siken’s exploration of family and his internal sense of self leaves a powerful impact on the audience. His poetry is often unabashed, even when talking about dysfunctional family matters that are often private. In this exploration of his past, he reconstructs his present self.  

Dungy, on the other hand, read a diverse collection of poems from her published and unpublished works. She took time to describe the theme and context of each poem, which ranged from love to frustration, nature to and family. In particular, she read a poem titled “Frequently Asked Questions: #7,” which details an encounter she had with a steward on a flight. In the poem, the steward cries at an interaction between the Dungy and her child, which seems like an unusual reaction. However, when the steward explains the context that he viewed it in — a scene of intimacy between a Black mother and her baby — the story takes on a deeper meaning. Although the premise is simple, her use of language and dialogue takes words on a page and transforms them into complex, realistic ideas. Dungy also gave a sneak peek into her next poetry collection, which she states will be a “love story” about America. 

After the reading was finished, students talked to the authors and got their books signed. Both poets interacted with the students and welcomed the gratitude, appreciation and commentary that students supplied about the event. 

The February readings by the poets brought thoughtfulness and artistry to Tech. Poetry@Tech is set to host another reading in the coming fall semester.

The post Renowned poets visit Tech for spring semester reading appeared first on Technique.

On Feb. 13, two renowned writers visited Tech to give a poetry reading. The event was organized by Poetry@Tech, a program with more than 20 years of partnership with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Victoria Chang and Travis Denton are the heads of Poetry@Tech, bringing poets from around the country to provide their insight to Tech students. This semester’s reading welcomed Richard Siken and Camille Dungy to the Atlantic Theater. 

Richard Siken’s debut was in 2004 with his book “Crush,” which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and received critical and popular acclaim. In addition, he published another poetry collection titled “War of the Foxes” in 2015. His honors include a Lambda Literary Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Camille Dungy is the author of several books, including her 2017 poetry collection “Trophic Cascade” and her 2023 book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” a tale about being a mother. Currently, she is a professor at Colorado State University along with being a poet. Dungy was recently awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for her work. 

Siken and Dungy have a history of reading together dating back to when their debut novels released in the early 2000s. The reading at Tech was the first time they read together in many years, which Chang noted in the introduction of the poets. 

Siken went first, reading poems out of his upcoming book “I Do Know Some Things,” which is set to release in mid-2025. His book recounts the experience after having a stroke and how he subsequently rebuilt his life, writing, and sense of self. While his first two poetry collections incorporate fictionalized elements, his new book portrays a real, autobiographical narrative. He started his reading with the poem “Real Estate,” which vividly depicts his relationship with his parents. 

Siken’s exploration of family and his internal sense of self leaves a powerful impact on the audience. His poetry is often unabashed, even when talking about dysfunctional family matters that are often private. In this exploration of his past, he reconstructs his present self.  

Dungy, on the other hand, read a diverse collection of poems from her published and unpublished works. She took time to describe the theme and context of each poem, which ranged from love to frustration, nature to and family. In particular, she read a poem titled “Frequently Asked Questions: #7,” which details an encounter she had with a steward on a flight. In the poem, the steward cries at an interaction between the Dungy and her child, which seems like an unusual reaction. However, when the steward explains the context that he viewed it in — a scene of intimacy between a Black mother and her baby — the story takes on a deeper meaning. Although the premise is simple, her use of language and dialogue takes words on a page and transforms them into complex, realistic ideas. Dungy also gave a sneak peek into her next poetry collection, which she states will be a “love story” about America. 

After the reading was finished, students talked to the authors and got their books signed. Both poets interacted with the students and welcomed the gratitude, appreciation and commentary that students supplied about the event. 

The February readings by the poets brought thoughtfulness and artistry to Tech. Poetry@Tech is set to host another reading in the coming fall semester.

The post Renowned poets visit Tech for spring semester reading appeared first on Technique.

On Feb. 13, two renowned writers visited Tech to give a poetry reading. The event was organized by Poetry@Tech, a program with more than 20 years of partnership with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Victoria Chang and Travis Denton are the heads of Poetry@Tech, bringing poets from around the country to provide their insight to Tech students. This semester’s reading welcomed Richard Siken and Camille Dungy to the Atlantic Theater. 

Richard Siken’s debut was in 2004 with his book “Crush,” which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and received critical and popular acclaim. In addition, he published another poetry collection titled “War of the Foxes” in 2015. His honors include a Lambda Literary Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Camille Dungy is the author of several books, including her 2017 poetry collection “Trophic Cascade” and her 2023 book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” a tale about being a mother. Currently, she is a professor at Colorado State University along with being a poet. Dungy was recently awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for her work. 

Siken and Dungy have a history of reading together dating back to when their debut novels released in the early 2000s. The reading at Tech was the first time they read together in many years, which Chang noted in the introduction of the poets. 

Siken went first, reading poems out of his upcoming book “I Do Know Some Things,” which is set to release in mid-2025. His book recounts the experience after having a stroke and how he subsequently rebuilt his life, writing, and sense of self. While his first two poetry collections incorporate fictionalized elements, his new book portrays a real, autobiographical narrative. He started his reading with the poem “Real Estate,” which vividly depicts his relationship with his parents. 

Siken’s exploration of family and his internal sense of self leaves a powerful impact on the audience. His poetry is often unabashed, even when talking about dysfunctional family matters that are often private. In this exploration of his past, he reconstructs his present self.  

Dungy, on the other hand, read a diverse collection of poems from her published and unpublished works. She took time to describe the theme and context of each poem, which ranged from love to frustration, nature to and family. In particular, she read a poem titled “Frequently Asked Questions: #7,” which details an encounter she had with a steward on a flight. In the poem, the steward cries at an interaction between the Dungy and her child, which seems like an unusual reaction. However, when the steward explains the context that he viewed it in — a scene of intimacy between a Black mother and her baby — the story takes on a deeper meaning. Although the premise is simple, her use of language and dialogue takes words on a page and transforms them into complex, realistic ideas. Dungy also gave a sneak peek into her next poetry collection, which she states will be a “love story” about America. 

After the reading was finished, students talked to the authors and got their books signed. Both poets interacted with the students and welcomed the gratitude, appreciation and commentary that students supplied about the event. 

The February readings by the poets brought thoughtfulness and artistry to Tech. Poetry@Tech is set to host another reading in the coming fall semester.

The post Renowned poets visit Tech for spring semester reading appeared first on Technique.

On Feb. 13, two renowned writers visited Tech to give a poetry reading. The event was organized by Poetry@Tech, a program with more than 20 years of partnership with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Victoria Chang and Travis Denton are the heads of Poetry@Tech, bringing poets from around the country to provide their insight to Tech students. This semester’s reading welcomed Richard Siken and Camille Dungy to the Atlantic Theater. 

Richard Siken’s debut was in 2004 with his book “Crush,” which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and received critical and popular acclaim. In addition, he published another poetry collection titled “War of the Foxes” in 2015. His honors include a Lambda Literary Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Camille Dungy is the author of several books, including her 2017 poetry collection “Trophic Cascade” and her 2023 book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” a tale about being a mother. Currently, she is a professor at Colorado State University along with being a poet. Dungy was recently awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for her work. 

Siken and Dungy have a history of reading together dating back to when their debut novels released in the early 2000s. The reading at Tech was the first time they read together in many years, which Chang noted in the introduction of the poets. 

Siken went first, reading poems out of his upcoming book “I Do Know Some Things,” which is set to release in mid-2025. His book recounts the experience after having a stroke and how he subsequently rebuilt his life, writing, and sense of self. While his first two poetry collections incorporate fictionalized elements, his new book portrays a real, autobiographical narrative. He started his reading with the poem “Real Estate,” which vividly depicts his relationship with his parents. 

Siken’s exploration of family and his internal sense of self leaves a powerful impact on the audience. His poetry is often unabashed, even when talking about dysfunctional family matters that are often private. In this exploration of his past, he reconstructs his present self.  

Dungy, on the other hand, read a diverse collection of poems from her published and unpublished works. She took time to describe the theme and context of each poem, which ranged from love to frustration, nature to and family. In particular, she read a poem titled “Frequently Asked Questions: #7,” which details an encounter she had with a steward on a flight. In the poem, the steward cries at an interaction between the Dungy and her child, which seems like an unusual reaction. However, when the steward explains the context that he viewed it in — a scene of intimacy between a Black mother and her baby — the story takes on a deeper meaning. Although the premise is simple, her use of language and dialogue takes words on a page and transforms them into complex, realistic ideas. Dungy also gave a sneak peek into her next poetry collection, which she states will be a “love story” about America. 

After the reading was finished, students talked to the authors and got their books signed. Both poets interacted with the students and welcomed the gratitude, appreciation and commentary that students supplied about the event. 

The February readings by the poets brought thoughtfulness and artistry to Tech. Poetry@Tech is set to host another reading in the coming fall semester.

The post Renowned poets visit Tech for spring semester reading appeared first on Technique.

On Feb. 13, two renowned writers visited Tech to give a poetry reading. The event was organized by Poetry@Tech, a program with more than 20 years of partnership with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Victoria Chang and Travis Denton are the heads of Poetry@Tech, bringing poets from around the country to provide their insight to Tech students. This semester’s reading welcomed Richard Siken and Camille Dungy to the Atlantic Theater. 

Richard Siken’s debut was in 2004 with his book “Crush,” which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and received critical and popular acclaim. In addition, he published another poetry collection titled “War of the Foxes” in 2015. His honors include a Lambda Literary Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Camille Dungy is the author of several books, including her 2017 poetry collection “Trophic Cascade” and her 2023 book “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” a tale about being a mother. Currently, she is a professor at Colorado State University along with being a poet. Dungy was recently awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for her work. 

Siken and Dungy have a history of reading together dating back to when their debut novels released in the early 2000s. The reading at Tech was the first time they read together in many years, which Chang noted in the introduction of the poets. 

Siken went first, reading poems out of his upcoming book “I Do Know Some Things,” which is set to release in mid-2025. His book recounts the experience after having a stroke and how he subsequently rebuilt his life, writing, and sense of self. While his first two poetry collections incorporate fictionalized elements, his new book portrays a real, autobiographical narrative. He started his reading with the poem “Real Estate,” which vividly depicts his relationship with his parents. 

Siken’s exploration of family and his internal sense of self leaves a powerful impact on the audience. His poetry is often unabashed, even when talking about dysfunctional family matters that are often private. In this exploration of his past, he reconstructs his present self.  

Dungy, on the other hand, read a diverse collection of poems from her published and unpublished works. She took time to describe the theme and context of each poem, which ranged from love to frustration, nature to and family. In particular, she read a poem titled “Frequently Asked Questions: #7,” which details an encounter she had with a steward on a flight. In the poem, the steward cries at an interaction between the Dungy and her child, which seems like an unusual reaction. However, when the steward explains the context that he viewed it in — a scene of intimacy between a Black mother and her baby — the story takes on a deeper meaning. Although the premise is simple, her use of language and dialogue takes words on a page and transforms them into complex, realistic ideas. Dungy also gave a sneak peek into her next poetry collection, which she states will be a “love story” about America. 

After the reading was finished, students talked to the authors and got their books signed. Both poets interacted with the students and welcomed the gratitude, appreciation and commentary that students supplied about the event. 

The February readings by the poets brought thoughtfulness and artistry to Tech. Poetry@Tech is set to host another reading in the coming fall semester.

The post Renowned poets visit Tech for spring semester reading appeared first on Technique.

Everyone’s favorite bear returns to the big screen on Valentine’s Day with “Paddington in Peru.” Fans of the series will be familiar with the brown bear who ended up in London a couple of movies prior, but, now, Paddington heads to South America for the franchise’s third installment.

The reason for Paddington’s homecoming revolves around his aunt Lucy. Paddington and the Browns receive a letter from Reverend Mother at the Home for Retired Bears describing Lucy’s unusual behavior. They decide on a family trip to Peru to check on Lucy, but they discover that she is missing, leading them straight into the dense jungles of Peru. All the while, the themes of familial connection and tension drive the film’s storyline. The Brown’s daughter, Judy, may leave for college, the family faces an ancient conflict, and Paddington may leave the Browns for his old home in Peru. 

The strongest element of the movie is its visuals. The opening sequence is a blend of mixed media, including paint strokes, a dollhouse-esque set and a creative use of maps. These elements pull the audience right into Paddington’s tale. With many recent movies opting for a bland and grayscale color palette, “Paddington in Peru” illustrates a beautiful, bright environment. 

Aside from the film’s change of scenery, there has also been a major change in its cast: Sally Hawkins, who previously played Mary Brown, left the production. The role of Mary Brown, the matriarch of the Brown family, was a key element in the first two films’ heart-warming atmosphere, but Emily Mortimer has now replaced Hawkins. While Mortimer holds her own in the film, longtime fans might feel Hawkins’s absence. 

In addition, Dougal Wilson took over directing from Paul King, who had worked on the first two films. Wilson has directed numerous music videos, but “Paddington in Peru” is his first feature film. Despite being a “Paddington” freshman, Wilson fills in the role of director with his own style.

Olivia Coleman and Antonio Banderas are Paddington newcomers, but their performances are the strongest out of the main cast. Adding to the Paddington franchise’s heartwarming atmosphere, Coleman’s performance (including a surprise musical number) and her comedic timing are a delight to watch. She commands the screen as Reverend Mother. Likewise, Banderas as Hunter Cabot — a man with mysterious family lore — gives a theatrical performance that fits Paddington’s storybook charm. 

While new additions to the cast are splendid, some of the core cast is sidelined. The Brown family, which was integral to the first two films, is barely in this story, but the family’s parents, Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown, manage to make the most of their little screen time. Bonneville’s performance in particular finds the perfect medium between grumpy businessman and loving dad. 

On the other hand, the children are irrelevant, despite much of the story serving as a metaphor for Judy Brown (Madeleine Harris) leaving for college. As Mrs. Brown learns to accept that Paddington may leave London for his home in Peru, she comes to terms with her daughter’s departure, as well. At least, that is how the story would have progressed if it weren’t for Judy Brown’s underdeveloped narrative arc. “Paddington in Peru” is a solid comedy-adventure, but it lacks the emotional heart of the previous installments. 

But its callbacks to the previous films never get old — the marmalade gimmick continues in this movie without ever feeling tired. And, although London and its British charm are absent, Peru is as captivating an environment for Paddington’s journey as London was. Finally, while there might be fewer sentimental themes, connection between family still drives the film’s conclusion. 

Fans who are looking for the nostalgic appeal of Paddington might be disappointed in this new sequel, but “Paddington in Peru” promises a fresh tale of adventure and comedy.

The post “Paddington in Peru” is jam-packed with heart-warming adventure appeared first on Technique.

On Jan. 23, the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced. More commonly known as the Oscars, the Awards are a ceremony during which the best movies of the year are chosen and celebrated. Although the event is never without controversy, watching it remains an annual tradition for many moviegoers.

Out of its categories, some of the popular ones include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress and Best Adapted/Original Screenplay. More recently, Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature Film have garnered attention with the increasing accessibility of films and a broader global audience. 

Of the nominations, “Emilia Pérez” is a contested title that has received the judges’ pick for both Best Picture and Best International Film. In addition, it is the leader of this year’s Oscars with a total of 13 nominations. Featuring Hollywood stars like Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, “Emilia Pérez” is a Spanish-language musical about a transgender woman who was once a Mexican cartel leader. While the form and the subject matter sound like a dramatic, empowering tale, the audience disagrees. Especially because this movie has a transgender protagonist, people in trans and other queer spaces have come out and said that the film’s representation of trans people as a whole was based on stereotypes and misleading ideas. 

Not only did it butcher its trans representation, but critics also say that its Mexican representation was also deeply superficial. The director, Jaques Audiard, is a French man, and its main leads — Saldana, Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón (who plays the titular Emilia Pérez) — are not Mexican. While Gomez has some Mexican ancestry, many are critiquing the overall lack of Mexican actors and the movie’s Hollywood perspective on their country’s real problems with drug wars. 

Another nominated movie facing criticism is the architecture period drama, “The Brutalist.” This movie explores a Hungarian Holocaust survivor László Tóth, played by Adrien Brody, who immigrates to the United States for the American Dream. While the actual plot of “The Brutalist” is decent — with mixed reviews from audiences and critics about its audacious yet classic tale — what has caught people’s eye is the details of its post-production. Among its 10 nominations, Best Actor for Brody and Best Editing are two of them. However, Dávid Jancsó, the primary editor of “The Brutalist,” has admitted to using artificial intelligence to correct some of Brody’s pronunciations of Hungarian dialogue. This sparked controversy, as AI in art is already a highly debated topic, and it also questions the merit of Brody’s nomination.

The reveal that “The Brutalist” used AI brought attention to “Emilia Pérez,” which also used AI for some of the actors’ singing. Both films have gotten nominations in the Best Actor/Actress category, stirring the public’s opinions on these choices. 

Other topics of debate include support for the movie “Challengers,” directed by Luca Guadagnino. Starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor; this sports drama-romance has garnered much attention from its audience and the media. However, “Challengers” failed to receive any nominations. Not even its soundtrack, which received both critical and popular acclaim for its refreshing beats, was nominated for Best Soundtrack. 

For Best Cinematography, the film “Nickel Boys” is a popular mention for being snubbed in this category. The film is competing for Best Picture since its unique first-person point-of-view of the film left many of its viewers in awe — but not the traditional Academy.

Contrasting “Emilia Pérez,” fans are lamenting the lack of recognition for “I Saw the TV Glow,” an indie film with an authentic and creative tale of queerness, youth and identity. 

In addition, while the movie-musical “Wicked” has gained surprising amounts of nominations, “Gladiator II,” its release date companion, earned just one for Best Costume Design. Despite doing well in the box office and receiving fanfare for Denzel Washington’s captivating performance as Macrinus, this epic historical drama did not capture the attention of the Academy judges.

Whether or not people may agree with the Academy’s choices, the Oscars are a nearly century-long ceremony for the most outstanding — and sometimes outrageous — films. Tune in for this year’s conclusion on Sunday, March 2, and root for your favorites.

The post Breaking down the 2025 Oscar nominees appeared first on Technique.

Almost 20 years since its first feature-length film, the Wallace and Gromit franchise returns with a much-anticipated sequel. “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” follows the story of “The Wrong Trousers,” a short film in the original franchise. In “The Wrong Trousers,” Wallace and Gromit face an unexpected adventure when they receive a new tenant, Feathers McGraw, a penguin with ulterior motives to steal a prized diamond from their town museum. The new installment revisits these characters, with McGraw returning as the antagonist with a new goal of escaping prison on top of getting the diamond. 

Surprisingly, “Vengeance Most Fowl” shapes its narrative with relevant plot points. The premise of the movie is that Wallace, a self-contained inventor, creates a robot garden gnome for his dog and companion, Gromit. However, the idea quickly turns sour when the gnome starts acting out of control. First, it destroys Gromit’s natural flower garden with sharp-cut hedges and dull grass. The gnome seems to replace Gromit’s presence in Wallace’s life by being an all-in-one helper. Finally, it even becomes susceptible to hacking by McGraw, who uses the gnome to get out of jail. 

Wallace’s over-dependence and trust in his new invention mirrors contemporary discussions about artificial intelligence. By gifting Gromit the robot gnome, Wallace actually stopped Gromit from doing the gardening work that he loves. In addition, the gnome became a tool of ill intent. These are all some arguments against the new technology that circulates around society. Despite being a decades-old franchise, “Wallace & Gromit” tackles this discussion in their story seamlessly and in a humorous way.

Aside from its themes, the artistry adds so much delight to the film. Aardman, the production company, uses clay animation (claymation) in making their works. The effort and time that goes into making even a minute of the movie shines in the detailed backgrounds, expressive faces and inspired editing. Because of the nature of clay animation, the filmmakers are allowed to create an atmosphere. For example, Gromit is a bipedal dog with human intelligence. He even drives a motorcycle in the movie. If “Vengeance Most Fowl” had been live-action, these characterizations would have been uncanny. However, the animation suspends reality to make Gromit a unique and iconic character, and this applies to the rest of the film as well. 

In addition, claymation gives a nostalgic quality to the movie that does not exist in a lot of contemporary movies. The bright colors, the cozy house of Wallace and Gromit and the use of puns add to the whimsical world in which the movie takes place.

Though the movie exudes much of its value from the content itself, real-world challenges that the filmmakers faced are equally noted. While the Wallace & Gromit franchise gained much love from its fans, the behind-the-scenes had less of a positive experience. For instance, Nick Park, the creator and director of the franchise, had conflicts with DreamWorks, which produced the first Wallace and Gromit film. Because of the animation market shifting to prefer computer-generated images, it took years to flesh out the sequel and have it attached to a distributor. 

Moreover, the company that provided the clay used to model the characters, the setting and the props went out of business; it was a close call to get enough material for the film. Despite all of these hardships, “Vengeance Most Fowl” is a work of art that is worthy of the time and effort for everyone — both the crew and the audience. 

In a combination of old-fashioned charm and a modern theme, “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” delivers an animated (both literally and figuratively), hand-crafted story that can be a feel-good watch to start out the new year.

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