The HST Mixtape of 2013

Another year, another mixtape! 2013 was another great year in music, and below are just twenty tracks that I believe made this year enjoyable.

Dissecting American Hustle

American Hustle has a lot of great things going for it, but David O. Russell’s hesitance to just do his own thing keeps the film from reaching its utmost potential.

Dissecting Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues doesn’t live up to original, but might have the potential to grow on future viewings; much like its predecessor.

Book Review: Everything is Perfect When You’re A Liar by Kelly Oxford

For a long time, I assumed memoirs meant depressing stories of drug addiction and people lying to Oprah about their lives, which really didn’t sound all that interesting to me. But then I realized that funny people write them too.

Film Review: Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis is the latest from the always stellar Coen Brothers and this folk music tale is no different, lingering in your head long after you’ve left the theater.

Dissecting The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit returns to the big screen with The Desolation of Smaug, and while it’s on par with the first I think most people will appreciate its added momentum; even if it loses its characters at times.

Film Review: Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace is a fantastic second film from Scott Cooper and features a ton of great performances led by Christian Bale.

Book Review: The Dinner by Herman Koch

Get ready for The Dinner by Herman Koch, a story that brings whole new meaning to the Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There for You.”

Book Club in Session: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Lauren: Between the genres of comic books and novels I’m most drawn to reading, it’s sometimes shocking to remember that not all books are a part of a series with hundreds and hundreds of pages building on the work that came before. It can become overwhelming, which is when it becomes pertinent to my psyche […]

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire saves the franchise from being an outright atrocity, it’s even a very good film at times, but I fear the source material is going to keep the series from greatness.