Artsweek

The Six Best Films from Sundance Film Festival 2021

The (virtual) 2021 Sundance Film Festival showcased the immense talent and uncompromising vision of some of the best independent filmmakers working today.
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Carsey-Wolf Center Presents: “1920/2020”

“1920/2020” discussed the historical changes brought about by the 1918 influenza outbreak to cinematic and public spaces as well as their implications for the present day’s COVID-19 pandemic. 
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On This Day: Celebrating 50 Years of Carole King’s “Tapestry”

No. 25 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” “Tapestry” has long since taken its rightful place at the heart of the American soft-rock canon.
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On This Day: “Donuts,” J Dilla’s Parting Gift

James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, released his album “Donuts” just three days before his passing on Feb. 10, 2006.
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Santa Barbara Band Trout Club on Making Music in the Pandemic

With a recently released music video and a new album in the works, not even the defining health crisis of our time has stopped these artists from dedicating themselves to their music. 
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Tracks of the Month: January 2021

Here are some of the Artsweek staff's favorite new tracks from January 2021!
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“How to Make a Rainbow” Stars Open Up in MCC “Cup of Culture” Series

Above all else, both the film and Martinez’s words in the Q&A session reinforce how important it was for her that she and her daughter embark on the journey of her gender transition together.
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On This Day: The Best And The Worst Of The National Anthem

The national anthem has had its share of musical and sociopolitical controversies throughout the years.
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UCSB MCC Presents: Sex Work In The Time Of COVID-19

The problems that sex workers have faced for years have only amplified with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
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Record Recap: How Good Of A Guitarist Was Kurt Cobain?

Cobain’s unique sound was at times met with criticism, especially given his slurred, non-virtuosic style.    
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In Review: Carey Mulligan Delivers a Career Highlight in “Promising Young Woman”

As we look back on 2020, “Promising Young Woman” stands as an example of the thrilling work that can come out of even the darkest of times.
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In Review: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V. E. Schwab

The read is a reminder that every person’s time on Earth is limited, yet filled with so many opportunities to make an eternal existence out of themselves.
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“Script to Screen”: In Conversation with “The Big Short” Screenwriter Charles Randolph

Matt Ryan was joined by screenwriter Charles Randolph for an engaging conversation about his work on “The Big Short," a true-crime comedy that takes place during the financial crisis of 2008. 
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In Review: Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” Offers Far Greater Frustration Than Spectacle

“Tenet'' is not a good film but a collection of interesting ideas let down by the muddled, disjointed nature of its writing.
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The Top 10 Most-Hyped Action Movies of 2021 (So Far)

What follows is a comprehensive list of the most anticipated action films, and yes, I have taken extreme liberties with the definition of “action film.”
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