Andrea Rivas

The Observer •

‘Presence’ Is a Haunting Exploration of Time, Space and the Unseen

“Presence” is a compelling narrative that immerses the audience in the experience of an entity within a home. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film offers a unique point of view, allowing viewers to engage with events from the perspective of the presence itself. The film, featuring Lucy Liu, premiered on Jan. 24 and explores themes of existence and perception within a confined space. The audience becomes the entity — invisible to the human eye, lurking in the closet — watching the living witho...
The Observer •

Let the People Decide

Every year, following the announcement of Oscar nominees, the term “Oscar snub” resurfaces. Social media bursts with discussion; numerous articles, comments and videos emerge regarding instances when an actor, director, film or other nominee is overlooked or excluded from Academy Award (Oscar) nominations despite widespread belief that they deserve recognition. Regular discussion of “snubs” highlights the academy’s failure to reflect the tastes and interests of the general public. Each year we w...
The Observer •

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Continues the Epic Trilogy

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opened a new chapter in the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy on May 10. The film debuted at no. 1 in North America with a $58 million opening. This latest installment was released seven years after its predecessor, continuing the narrative journey of the apes, the franchise’s enduring appeal and cinematic evolution from the last film to this new era. 
The trilogy follows Caesar (Andy Serkis) over 12 years, depicting how apes gained intelligence and speech after be...
The Observer •

“American Horror Story” Season 12 Finale: The Delicate Conclusion Unveiled

The show “American Horror Story” (AHS) Season 12, “Delicate Part 2,” concluded on April 3. The show aired four new episodes each week, culminating in its finale on April 24. Co-created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk and based on Danielle Valentine’s book “Delicate Condition,” the series follows Anna Victoria (Emma Roberts), a woman striving to become a prosperous actress while simultaneously fulfilling her dream of motherhood.
After months of waiting for part two due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strik...
The Observer •

Taylor Swift Enters Her Poetry Era

“All’s Fair in Love and Poetry” — Taylor Swift said as she entered her latest era by releasing two albums in one night. The first album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was released at midnight on April 19. Two hours later, she surprised her fans with “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.” Both albums combined feature 31 songs.
During the 66th Grammy Awards ceremony on Feb. 4, the songwriter delivered a surprise during her acceptance speech for winning her 13th Grammy Award for best po...
The Observer •

Fordham Hosts Inaugural Marketing Careers Conference

Fordham University organized and hosted its inaugural Marketing Careers Conference on March 13 at the Lincoln Center campus. The conference, which was designed exclusively for students majoring or minoring in marketing, provided an opportunity for students to learn, connect and explore various career paths in the marketing industry.
 According to the marketing team, over 200 attendees from Fordham’s Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses in attendance — including walk-in students who did not init...
The Observer •

Will Taylor Swift Ever Escape Criticism?

In her song “Lavender Haze,” Taylor Swift sings, “Damned if I do give a damn what people say” in response to the persistent criticisms she has faced throughout her career. Despite being torn apart by the media for years, Swift has risen to the top of the music industry with an unparalleled peak in fame. Nevertheless, Swift continues to be the subject of ongoing criticisms when she should not be publicly scrutinized.
Often, appealing to strong emotions such as hatred is very effective, thus creat...
The Observer •

‘Madame Web’ Joins Sony’s Spider-Man Universe in Film Installment

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was recently expanded with the release of “Madame Web” on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The film is based on the character Cassandra Webb/Madame Web (Dakota Johnson), who was introduced in the 1980s in “The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210.” 
The clairvoyant heroine was created by writer Denny O’Neil and artist John Romita Jr. The adaptation of the Marvel comic had one of the worst openings for a Marvel character, making only $25.8 million during its first six-day run.
The story...
The Observer •

‘Fool Me Once’ Is An Addictive Netflix Mystery

Netflix released a limited series “Fool Me Once” which premiered on Jan. 1 and quickly became the most-watched television show in the United States and a top 10 hit in 91 countries. “Fool Me Once” is based on Harlan Coben’s 2016 New York Times bestselling novel “Fool Me Once” and has accumulated an impressive 153 million hours of viewership.
Coben’s work is not new to Netflix, as his novels have frequently been adapted into limited series, some of which include, “Safe” (2018), “The Stranger” (20...
The Observer •

American Horror Story Returns With New Season ‘Delicate’

Hit FX television show “American Horror Story” (AHS) returned on Sept. 20 with its 12th season, titled “AHS: Delicate” Based on Danielle Valentine’s book “Delicate Condition,” the story follows a young actress in New York City who is haunted and terrorized by dark forces, living and dead, which she believes are interfering with her dream of getting pregnant.
The widely known anthology series by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk tells fictionalized horror stories and explores the interaction between t...