Swati Pandey
Swati Pandey
Recent Stories
Touches of talent, humor save OK 'Banger'
Film
Under normal circumstances, a girl named Banger would curse the one who named her. But for the women in "The Banger Sisters," the title is an honor given to them -- two dutiful young groupies -- by the one and only Frank Zappa. You can figure out why.
Ice Cube stars in a watered down 'Do The Right Thing'
Film
From the opening credits of "Barbershop," it's clear that Ice Cube has come a long way since "Next Friday." A montage of soft-focus, black-and-white photos tip-toes inoffensively across the screen. There are no guns, no gangstas, and no grass.
Far too many story lines in this 'City'
Film
Director Michael Caton-Jones' "City by the Sea" is a film with many stories, but with little plot. There is the story of a murder investigation; a family's fall from grace; the ruin of a paradisiacal seaside town; and -- stop me if you've heard this...
Williams shines in painstaking 'Photo'
Film
Writer-director Mark Romanek's "One Hour Photo" is a film that develops as slowly as an old-fashioned Polaroid. Clocking in at under two hours, the film spends most of its time painstakingly unraveling the psychology of Seymour Parrish (Robin...
Togas and tradition: Hollywood's words of wisdom for graduates
Last weekend, I drove out to our local multiplex to see "Spider-Man" with a group of seniors. We were having a great time watching Peter Parker kick ass while wearing a completely baffled look on his face. The film quickly established its narrative...
Caesar's '03 'Darker Side' a testament to on-campus film talent
Film
In Jamal Caesar's '03 "The Darker Side," beautiful days in the city don't always end up so pretty. Capturing the tense crescendo of one couple's heated exchange on a blazing day in New York, Caesar '03 overcomes an initially sluggish pace, ending his...
The Y Network
Student Projects
Last fall, six students gathered at a round-table discussion with Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg, each claiming the Teli name as his or her own. With Yale's first attempt at Web TV in the midst of a legal and political tug-of-war, Elizabeth...
Gripping 'Frailty' strong debut for director Paxton
Film
"Frailty," Bill Paxton's directorial debut, provides filmmakers with a study in engaging an audience. Working within the boundaries of a familiar genre, Paxton crafts a spooky, slow-moving mystery designed to draw in a crowd and keep them eagerly...
Film: Against all odds
Despite limited resources, Yale filmmakers press on
On the first day of their freshman year, after a summer of anticipation, four roommates finally came face-to-face with each other in their as yet unfurnished Vanderbilt Hall common room. It's the story of hundreds of students, but this one was caught...
'Tu Mama' reveals life's truths via sex
Film
As part of a bold new crop of Mexican films, Alfonso Cuar--n's "Y Tu Mamý Tambi*n" (And Your Mother Too) takes the realism of "Amores Perros" into the bedroom. While it certainly attracts attention, the carnal sex of Cuar--n's film is neither overdone...