The Western Netflix that Needed

By: Joshua Lenahan, Practicum Reporter

The short attention-spanned, bingeaholic, audiences of 2018 are tough to produce movies for, but if anyone can pull it off, would it not be the Coen brothers? 

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is the Coen brother’s elegant response to a changing cinema audience. With six distinct chapters, The Ballad keeps viewers interested by telling a new story every 20 minutes or so, appealing to the short attention span of today’s Netflix-gorging viewers. An interesting platform for a Coen brothers release, Netflix’s decision to work with the duo resonates with its attempts to bring not only more, but higher quality, original TV shows and movies to the site, which is under the stress of new competition in the streaming world. 

The richest part of the movie is hands down the characters. While we only get to know them for a short period, they leave deeper impressions in 20 minutes than most characters in feature length films. Add in an all-star cast, and the characters become increasingly memorable. Rich, unique characters are combined with carefully scripted dialogue (and monologues), then paired with beautiful shots filmed all over the West. It all adds up to a satisfying viewing experience that’s becoming increasingly rare. 

An emotional rollercoaster, the plot twists and turns throughout each story while playing with viewers’ emotions. Drawn out, but intricate dialogue is complemented by quick plot twists that rapidly move the film along. They mix in tragedy with laughter and put depressing moments next to silly ones – a new concept for a Western. Hopefully, this movie sparks a wave of new Western films.  

The choice to release the film both in theaters and on Netflix is an interesting one for sure but emphasizes the actual experience of going to the movies. Directors of “Fargo,” “The Big Lebowski,” “No Country for Old Men,” among others, it isn’t surprising the Coen brothers have produced a hit like this. In today’s cinematic landscape, it’s refreshing nonetheless. 

The last tale in the movie ends with a long section of back-and-forth dialogue, songs and philosophical thought; it’s a deep reminder of the kind of movie the Coen brothers can produce. The story even ends with a conversation about death, a lesser friendly reminder of how harsh the West was years ago.

Every story is a struggle with death in one way or another, but many are watered down with laughter and wittiness. The last story ends the movie on a solemn note, but it respectively ties up the golden thread of the movie’s many scenarios, proving again that the Coen brothers rarely disappoint. 

Must watch Netflix shows/movies for break

By: Rose Ferrie, Staff Reporter

Rose’s Picks:

1. Queer Eye

2. Stardust

3. Friday

4. Parks and Recreation

5. New Girl

6. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

7. Merlin

8. Big Mouth

9. Fullmetal Alchemist- Brotherhood

10. Sense 8

Coming Soon:

1. The Bird Box

Comedy Specials:

1. Trevor Noah- Son of Patricia

2. John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons

3. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

4. Bert Kreischer- Secret Time

5. Hasan Minhaj- Homecoming King

6. Ali Wong- Baby Cobra

Hero Movies/Shows:

1. Black Panther

2. Guardians of The Galaxy (1 and 2)

3. Thor Ragnarok

4. The Defenders (and all of their seperate TV Shows)

Rom-Coms:

1. Sixteen Candles

2. #realityhigh

3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

4. The Kissing Booth

5. Set It Up

Holiday movies:

1. The Princess Switch

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

3. Love Actually

4. A Very Murray Christmas

Disney movies:

1. Emperor’s New Groove

2. Beauty and the Beast

3. Moana

4. Coco

5. Lilo & Stitch

6. Atlantis The Lost Empire

7. Tarzan

8. Hercules

9. Mulan

Maggiano’s Little Italy brings a taste of Italy to Denver

By Traci Wuerstl, Practicum Reporter

As drivers approach Denver from the highway, a massive restaurant catches the focus of hungry people on their way home from work. 

It doesn’t look like your average Italian family restaurant. Maggiano’s Little Italy is a slightly upscale family-style space with a polished Italian finish. 

I found my way into the restaurant with a friend on a weeknight around 7 p.m. and was greeted by friendly staff welcoming us into this modern version of Italy. Our noses were automatically filled with the aroma of freshly baked pizzas and other mouth-watering dishes. 

As we were shown to our table, we saw a sea of people quickly filling the tables. We felt thankful we’d trickled in before all the seats were filled. 

To begin the evening, we ordered Tuscan-style mussels that were served with thinly sliced toasted baguettes for dipping into mouthwatering broth. Each piece of bread was buttered and cooked to a slight crisp texture to give it a crunchy texture that exquisitely absorbed all the flavors of the broth. 

The mussels were served in a big white bowl that was placed in the center of the table. They had a seasoned buttery flavor that made you want to eat more, finished with the flavor of fresh herbs. 

Though we were so stuffed from the mussels, we knew we wanted to order another dish. The entrees were so large that we shared a main course. We ordered a specialty pasta dish called Orecchiette Chicken Pesto, which was the featured dish of the evening. 

The fettuccini pasta was tossed in an herbed pesto that flavored the whole dish. Long slices of perfectly baked chicken rested across the pasta. The sun-dried tomatoes added a sweetness contrasted with salty pine nuts that complemented the pesto. The dish was beautifully finished with freshly shredded Parmesan. 

 The night couldn’t come to an end without trying something sweet to please our palates. To conclude the three-course meal, we ordered a famous Italian desert: Tiramisu. The creamy mascarpone cheese was whipped to perfection, layered with slightly bitter espresso-dipped lady fingers that were topped off with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. The first bite magically melted in my mouth. 

Every dish that was delivered to our table was elegantly arranged. The Tuscan-style mussels and Orecchiette Chicken Pesto pasta were both colorful. The way each dish was finished almost made me not want to take a bite and ruin it, but the smells clearly demanded us to taste them. 

Though each dish was a little pricey, the quality of the food made it well worth each dollar.  

Maggiano’s Little Italy had a welcoming ambiance and lovely staff that allowed friends and family to get away from home and take a quick vacation to Italy. The food was like something I have never tried, and I look forward to making a return visit soon to sample more delicious flavors.

A Rising KRCX Welcomes North Carolina Rapper to Promote Music

By: Joshua Lenahan, Practicum Writer

 Regis’ KRCX radio station held a basement session with up-and-coming North Carolina Rap artist Ron Beatty recently. The basement of Clarke Hall is home to the headquarters of the oldest college radio station in Denver. Beatty has been touring colleges around the country promoting his music before dropping his new album “Beats Beers and BBQ.” 

Beatty sampled his unreleased album with the crew at KRCX and talked about his inspirations, other artists he has worked with, and his artistic process. Anyone who’s interested in Beatty’s new album, or any other new music, can tune into the station at KRCX.org whenever they want. Beatty is the first of many successful artists the KRCX team hopes to welcome into the station this year and next. 

With a new staff, the station is on the rise and improving its lineup. KRCX is run by students who update the music library, market the station to the rest of the student body, and bring in talent to perform in basement sessions to share their music with KRCX’s audience.

Basement sessions serve to get the station involved with the community, and vice versa. Artists can bring new or old music to show off – and even perform live on the air. The basement of Clarke is home to a broadcasting room, a studio with an isolation booth, a video editing room, and all kinds of equipment needed to create music. It’s a playground for musicians and music lovers alike. 

KRCX’s goal is to get more students tuned in and consistently listening to the station. It brings new, curated music to the student body and helps keep students informed about happenings on the Northwest Denver campus. Being an internet radio station, anyone can listen from anywhere, which makes it ideal for busy students who listen to music on their phones. In an era of music-streaming services, many students turn away from radio even though they can provide a tasteful and curated selection of music picked out by Regis’ own students. 

KRCX recently got some news attention thanks to 9News. The local TV station ran a piece about the band Queen’s first U.S concert, which was held in the Regis Field house in 1974. Regis has hosted many big-name concerts over the years, including Jimi Hendrix, Hall and Oats, and The Kinks, to name a few. 

With a lot to live up to, the new team at KRCX is becoming more and more involved around campus and is proud to be the official sound of Regis. In the future, expect to hear KRCX outside the student center, the dorms and around campus. So, remember to tune in to KRCX.org and support your local radio station. 

‘Free Solo’

By: Paul Hunter, Practicum Reporter

Award-winning directors and husband-and-wife team Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have captivated audiences again with their intricate documentary following the journey of world-renowned rock climber, Alex Honnold. The documentary follows Honnold through his life, into a relationship, and up the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … unroped.

While claiming its spot as a transformative movie for climbing enthusiasts, the movie presents non-climbers with a display of what it means to transcend fear and move beyond perceived human capabilities. It also shows what it means to be in a relationship with a man who doesn’t believe in attachments — to location, objects, people, or even to life.

Recalling his early being, Honnold remembers not being hugged as a child. He recalls finding solace in nature and, because he was alone, that meant climbing without gear or a belay partner. He remembers always being asked by his parents why he didn’t do better, something that lead to his experiencing a “bottomless pit of self-loathing.”

This is the childhood that kicked off his record-breaking, 1,000+ free solo climbs and led him to the base of El Capitan on Saturday, June 3, 2017. It is also, possibly, what causes Honnold’s brain not to recognize or process fear like you and I. Some say his brain is super-human, while some say it’s broken.

The cinematography in “Free Solo” is characteristic of the work done by Vasarhelyi and Chin. Each camera angle is equally cunning and terrifying, both more than the last. Captivating and exhilarating footage leave theatergoers sitting on the edge of their seats, wiping the sweat from their palms. Gasps and jumps are close-to-guaranteed in scenes where Honnold hangs from exposed edges with his thumb and forefinger gripped onto a small indentation. These scenes are contrasted with tender moments he shares with Sanni McCandless, his now long-time girlfriend who has tasked herself with bringing the “real Alex” out of his shell by overcoming the obstacles of his attachment-void life. 

The film takes on an eerie feel as cast members recall free-soloist friends who’ve died, some in expeditions they were on. They recall phone calls telling them about long-time climbing partners’ deaths. These stories come between flashes of Honnold’s obsessive training on El Capitan. Journals of his days on the crag contain scribbles that, even if deciphered, are gibberish to laymen. His logs are completely devoid of emotion; they are mechanical memories of the climb up Freerider, the route to the top of El Capitan. They are hundreds of sequential movements, descriptions of rocks, jumbled in the mess of the climbing vernacular. They almost don’t seem like English. 

In an interview with McCandless, she opens up about how hard it is to be in a relationship with Honnold, but her interactions with him show otherwise. Their chemistry is undoubtable, and she holds her ground when Honnold pushes back. He describes their relationship as the longest-standing, most affectionate relationship in his life. When he talks about “the L-word,” Honnold emotionlessly states that he’s never used it before, not even with his parents. It only seems fitting, then, that as he’s descending El Capitan, the biggest feat of his life, he calls McCandless, thanks her for everything and tells her, “I love you.” 

Fire on the Mountain: They’ve got the sauce

By: Emily Summers, Practicum Reporter

 3.5 stars (out of 4)   

With homemade sauces, down-to-earth employees, and a casual atmosphere, Fire on the Mountain has quickly become a growing hotspot in the Highlands area. The menu ranges from traditional wings and hand-breaded mozzarella wheels to house-made vegan seitan strips –

there is something on the menu for everyone. The restaurant has an “order at the counter” style, so there is no rush in the menu selection. 

 Vibe:The unique lighting, vibrantly colored walls and artwork from local artists creates an edgy, casual vibe throughout the restaurant. Above the bar hangs more than 100 different beer tap handles (those that aren’t currently in use), each belonging to a uniquely crafted brew. The bathroom walls are covered in stickers from various bands, shops and campaigns. Overall, Fire on the Mountain creates an edgy, relaxed atmosphere that draws in customers from all walks of life. 

Hits:Fire on the Mountain serves a dozen different wing sauces, all made in-house. Each sauce has its own unique flavor and is created to pair perfectly with a variety of items on the menu other than wings. The hormone-free, antibiotic-free, cage-free wings are fried to a perfect crispiness on the outside, while remaining tender and juicy in the middle. They are smothered in the sauce of your choice and served with house-made ranch or blue cheese. 

 Although this restaurant is popular among wing lovers, there are many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options on the menu. Try the cauliflower wings covered in your choice of vegan sauce, or give the house salad a taste. There is a variety of options for those who choose not to eat our feathered friends. 

Misses:Fire on the Mountain needs to expand. The wait time comes not from the laziness of employees, but from the popularity of the restaurant and its crazy long lines. If the goal is a quick bite to eat, Fire on the Mountain is not the right choice. If it's not a weekday lunch, then a wait is guaranteed. 

Service:With its relaxed, casual vibe, Fire on the Mountain has become a weekend hotspot for anyone looking to grab a bite to eat. Despite its growth in popularity, the restaurant has yet to catch up. On a typical Friday or Saturday night, the minimum wait time for a table is around 45 minutes. Once inside the restaurant, the wait for food isn’t much shorter. Although the wait time isn’t ideal, the friendly, welcoming staff make up for it. Immediately inside the door, customers are greeted with a smile and helped instantly. There’s no need to stand around and wait for a hostess, as they are always prompt and the place is plenty staffed.

Bottom Line:It’s worth the wait. Despite the wait time, your taste buds will thank you. From the classic traditional wings to the perfectly crisp fries – and even the “Asian Persuasion” salad, there is no wrong choice on the menu. 

Price:Wings (about $1 each); Sandwiches ($12 to $13); Salads ($6 to $12); Appetizers ($5 to $12); Dessert ($7)

Fun Fact:Fire on the Mountain is the first restaurant in the Highlands area to be certified green by Certifiably Green Denver, meaning they compost and recycle a significant amount more than they throw away. Along with composting and recycling, they also send in fryer oil to be turned into biodiesel, creating renewable fuel. In an effort to encourage sustainability, Fire on the Mountain offers a 5 percent discount to customers who utilize some alternative method of transportation.

 Fire on the Mountain

3801 W. 32 Ave; 303.480.WING; www.fotmdenver.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday 

Reservations: Not accepted

Parking: Street