by Martin Baker | Jun 3, 2014 | News Slider
Lipscomb University will be hosting the Christian Scholars’ Conference June 6-8 where Christian Scholars will gather for lectures and discussions on Christianity. The conference will begin on Wednesday, June 4 and will continue through Friday, June 7. The first session will begin at 7 p.m. with a showing of 12 Years a Slave, the 2014 Academy Award winner of Best Picture. On Wednesday, there will be a Dean’s Conference from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. At 4 p.m. registration will begin in Ezell Lobby followed by the showing of 12 Years a Slave in Ward Hall at 7 p.m. Each day after will begin with breakfast and worship followed by several different sessions led by some of the top Christian and Theological scholars. On Thursday, after registration, breakfast and worship, the first session will begin which will be 12 paper/panel discussions in various locations. This will be followed by The Inaugural Abraham J. Malherbe Plenary Address by Carl Holladay in Collins Alumni Auditorium. There will be a break for lunch, and then the second session will begin with a continuation of the paper/panel discussions in various locations. Following the discussions will be the Robert E. and Bonnie Cone Hooper Plenary Address in Collins Alumni Auditorium to be given by Phyllis Tickle. At 5 p.m. hors d’oeuvres will be served in Bison Square as a precursor to dinner at 5:30 to 7 and desert afterwards. The day will end with the world premier of John Updike’s Roger’s Version in Shamblin Theatre. On Friday after worship, paper/panel sessions three and four will be back to back. The third session features 13...
by Logan Butts | Feb 27, 2014 | Opinion
It’s that time of year again where all of the world’s movie nerds and pop culture aficionados rejoice. This Sunday is the 86th Academy Awards. Lumination Entertainment Editor Logan Butts here with my predictions for the night’s major awards winners. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave. With 13 months and hundreds of movies in the rear-view mirror, the race for best picture has been whittled down to three competitors: 12 Years a Slave, Gravity and American Hustle. At various points throughout the marathon that is awards season, both Gravity and American Hustle were the front-runners for the big prize, but now that it is time for the Oscars to finally happen, it looks like 12 Years a Slave has proven to be the film that will stand tall among a crowded Best Picture field. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron. Gravity was undoubtedly the work of a director’s vision, and although Steve McQueen’s directorial work in 12 Years a Slave has just as many fans, I think Cuaron pulls out a victory due to the sheer magnitude of his accomplishment. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey. In an unusually competitive race for this category, the “McConaissance” (the term McConaughey’s new career trajectory) will peak with a victory at the Oscars for his performance in Dallas Buyer’s Club. All five nominees could claim to still be alive for the win, but Chiwetel Ejiofor should provide the closest competition. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett. Despite a late run from Amy Adams multi-accented performance in American Hustle, Blanchett, for her work in Blue Jasmine, should already have her acceptance speech written. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto. Best Supporting...
by Logan Butts | Jan 17, 2014 | Opinion
Well folks, it’s that time again. Thursday morning was the movie fan’s equivalent to Christmas morning, except with a much higher chance of heartache. The nominations were announced for the 86th Academy Awards. There were, per usual, outrageous omissions and pleasant surprises. I, Lumination Network Entertainment Editor Logan Butts, will break down the morning’s most important moments. Biggest Surprises: 1. No Tom Hanks: Believed to be a lock for one acting nomination, and in the running for two, the always lovable Tom Hanks was left out of both the Best Actor field for his riveting turn in Captain Phillips and the Supporting Actor field for his role in Saving Mr. Banks. I believe that he most likely canceled himself out by being in the running for both awards. 2. Lack of Saving Mr. Banks nominations: Speaking of Saving Mr. Banks, it was completely shut out of the major categories, only receiving a Best Original Score nomination. For a film thought to be right up the voting body’s alley, the film went home without a single nomination. 3. Sally Hawkins in, Oprah out: In the Best Supporting Actress race, Oprah Winfrey was predicted by most prognosticators to receive a nod for her role in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which was shut out as well. Instead, her spot went to Sally Hawkins for the film Blue Jasmine, proving once again that the voters love performances from Woody Allen films. Cate Blanchett is the front-runner in the Best Actress category for her performance in the same film. Worst Snubs: 1. Inside Llewyn Davis: Although it always seemed to be more of a critical darling...
