Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

All content by Luke McClinton
‘Imaginary’ proves the importance of logic in world-building

‘Imaginary’ proves the importance of logic in world-building

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer March 24, 2024

For the sake of avoiding redundant buildup, let us jump straight to the inevitable conclusion: “Imaginary” is a severely lacking film.  Like many of the idea-based horror properties to come out...

Women directors of the 21st century: Overlooked pasts and shining futures

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer March 17, 2024

There are few better ways to view mainstream movie history than the annual Oscars award ceremony. It serves as a picture of trends, social movements and overarching tendencies in the landscape of cinema.  The...

‘Dune: Part Two’: Power over spice is strong, but power over belief is stronger

‘Dune: Part Two’: Power over spice is strong, but power over belief is stronger

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer March 3, 2024

“Power over spice is power over all.”  So begins “Dune: Part Two,” which from onset continues its predecessor’s fascination with power and the destructive ends to which it drives. Denis Villeneuve’s...

Einstein and the Bomb. Aidan McArdle as Albert Einstein in Einstein and the Bomb. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

‘Einstein and the Bomb’: A potent look at nuclear warfare through the eyes of a gentle genius

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer February 21, 2024

Relatively little attention has been paid to recently dropped docudrama “Einstein and the Bomb.” Its solid 88% on Rotten Tomatoes comes from only eight reviews; it is nowhere to be found on Letterboxd’s...

Alabama baseball head coach Rob Vaughn looks on during practice.

Who left Alabama baseball after 2023, and the players Rob Vaughn’s staff reeled in

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer February 15, 2024

After a thrilling 2023 campaign that saw Alabama baseball hit several long-missed benchmarks — 40 wins for the first time since 2010, a winning conference record for the first time since 2014, a regional...

‘Orion and the Dark’ beautifully showcases the power of storytelling

‘Orion and the Dark’ beautifully showcases the power of storytelling

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer February 14, 2024

In Rotten Tomatoes’ blurb summarizing the critical consensus and lending words to the Tomatometer, "Orion and the Dark" is described as “an uncommonly ambitious animated film” with a “screenplay...

‘Society of the Snow’ is a caring look at life, death, love and the significance of each

‘Society of the Snow’ is a caring look at life, death, love and the significance of each

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer January 28, 2024

Authors, directors and all other artists frequently find themselves on a journey — the pursuit of translating experience to content.   It is a noble quest. The infinite supply of human emotions,...

Former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban celebrates the win over Texas A&M with his wife, Mrs. Terry on Oct. 7, 2023, in College Station, Texas.

Nick Saban leaves behind an inestimable economic legacy 

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer January 18, 2024

Soon after the news of Nick Saban’s retirement shook the foundations of Tuscaloosa, students at The University of Alabama flocked to Saban’s commemorative statue outside Bryant-Denny Stadium. A vigil...

Alabama mens basketball is ready to pounce

Alabama men’s basketball is ready to pounce

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer January 17, 2024

In the Week 11 AP Top 25 poll for college basketball, the Alabama Crimson Tide is nowhere to be found. Head coach Nate Oats’ squad, which sits at 11-5 after an 82-74 win over Mississippi State on Saturday...

Jason Guynes, titled Father and Daughter 1

UA art professors: Educators by day, astounding creators by night

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer January 17, 2024

Visual art is home to a range of voices, a wide and ever-expanding cache of unique perspectives. It allows a colorful — or, sometimes, literally black and white — blend of creativity, emotional expression...

Former Alabama basketballer player Brandon MIller (#24) passes the ball against Auburn.

Bama Big-League Ballers, NBA Week 6: Brandon Miller is finding his rhythm, and others serve as stars in their roles

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer December 3, 2023

Another week has passed in the NBA, and former Alabama stars occupy a variety of positions along the spectrum of individual and team success.  Brandon Miller  The recap for this slate of games...

The UA ECo Free Market clothing swap aims to mitigate the effects fast fashion has on the environment

The UA ECo Free Market clothing swap aims to mitigate the effects fast fashion has on the environment

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer November 29, 2023

Upon first glance, it might be difficult to grasp the importance of the ECo Free Market clothing swap taking place Dec. 1. One might wonder, “Why carve out time to compile all the clothes I don’t wear?...

Alabama tight end Amari Niblack (#84) attempts to break free from Texas defenders.

Alabama football’s return to the realm of mortality, and why it has made fans more passionate than ever before

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer  November 16, 2023

As players, coaches and media gradually left the field following Texas’ 34-24 upset victory of then-No.3 Alabama on Sept. 9, a fatalistic haze hung over Bryant-Denny Stadium. Fans weren’t stunned,...

Former Alabama basketball player Brandon Miller (#24) protecting the ball against Georgia on Feb. 18 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Bama Big-League Ballers, NBA Week 3: Brandon Miller is in a shooting slump

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer November 12, 2023

The NBA regular season is moving out of its early stages and getting into full swing, an evolution marked by the new and unique NBA Cup. With each passing week, team and player identities continue to solidify.  Within...

‘Loki’ Season 2 finale: Glorious purpose, beautiful closure

‘Loki’ Season 2 finale: Glorious purpose, beautiful closure

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer November 12, 2023

For those who have long been fans of “Loki” or simply passed by Season 1 when traversing the Disney+ interface, the Season 2 finale, “Glorious Purpose,” should look familiar.  The fact that...

Culture Pick: Barring automatonophobia, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ will leave viewers mostly indifferent

Culture Pick: Barring automatonophobia, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ will leave viewers mostly indifferent

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer November 8, 2023

After the release and immediate explosion of “Five Nights at Freddy's,” a horror video game that prospered by capitalizing on the fear of animatronics instilled into the populace by chains such as...

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 5: There’s something oddly familiar here

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 5: There’s something oddly familiar here

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer November 5, 2023

There’s something undeniably familiar in this week’s episode of “Loki.”  After the climactic and expectation-shattering close to last week’s “The Heart of the TVA,” Episode 5 dives without...

Dreamland’s rich history of unifying people through food

Dreamland’s rich history of unifying people through food

Luke McClinton and Taylor Paton November 1, 2023

“Ain’t nothing like ’em nowhere,” claims the slogan of Dreamland Bar-B-Que. It’s a bold assertion, yet if you ask a Southerner with an awareness of the region’s barbecue scene, or even just...

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 4: Entering the chaos stretch

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 4: Entering the chaos stretch

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 29, 2023

“Loki” Season 2 has entered its chaos stretch.  This season has been nothing but high-stakes fare since its opening moments; in Episode 4, however, with the fittingly grandiose title “Heart of...

Former Alabama basketball player Brandon Miller (#24) makes a run towards the goal during the Sweet Sixteen game against San Diego State.

Alabama in the NBA: The best, least best and everyone in between

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 23, 2023

The NBA regular season has finally arrived. The Crimson Tide currently has 11 representatives in the league, 10 of whom are actively rostered and one of whom remains in the free agent pool.  Ahead...

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 3: Vibrant aesthetics, continued madness and the return of a daunting face

‘Loki’ Season 2, Episode 3: Vibrant aesthetics, continued madness and the return of a daunting face

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 22, 2023

In the latest episode of “Loki,” there is zero time to waste. From the first frame to the last, urgency is the name of the game.  Titled “1893,” a tonal titular contrast to last week’s “Breaking...

Crimson Car Club members during one of their weekly meetings.

Crimson Car Club is forming lasting relationships through a love for automobiles

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 18, 2023

When Asar Ahmad stepped onto the campus of The University of Alabama as a freshman in the fall of 2021, he soon dealt with the struggles many students face every year. The process of leaving home had proven...

‘Loki’ Season 2, episode two: The Loki-Mobius charm is as good as ever

‘Loki’ Season 2, episode two: The Loki-Mobius charm is as good as ever

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 15, 2023

On Thursday, fans were given the second episode of Loki Season 2, titled “Breaking Brad,” presumably a cheeky allusion to the immortalized AMC TV series.  After last week’s high stakes opening,...

Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton (#3) makes a touchdown against Texas A&M on Oct. 7 in College Station, Texas.

Jermaine Burton and his quest to be a leader

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 12, 2023

Coming out of high school, wide receiver Jermaine Burton was a hot commodity.   A four-star and top 10 recruit at his position, he appeared to be on a direct path to stardom. Two years at Georgia marked...

‘Loki’ Season 2 premiere: Symbolism, high stakes and grappling with the consequences of Season 1

‘Loki’ Season 2 premiere: Symbolism, high stakes and grappling with the consequences of Season 1

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer October 8, 2023

Thursday marked the return of Marvel’s “Loki,” which, with a 90% critics’ approval on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.2/10 on IMDb, is among the more successful of the studio’s Disney+ television outputs.  Season...

Culture Pick: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ asks what’s real

Culture Pick: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ asks what’s real

Luke McClinton, ,Staff Writer October 4, 2023

However much one might fancy Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot and the trilogy of mystery movies he has been at the helm of, one cannot deny that they are all three unique. Each brings its own set of...

‘Past Lives’ is a poignant take on destiny

‘Past Lives’ is a poignant take on destiny

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer September 27, 2023

The idea of In-Yun is one that to American audiences will seem strange and exotic. It is essentially the notion that human interaction, whether intentional or accidental, operates on a basis of predetermination...

Culture Pick: ‘The Equalizer 3’ is enjoyable and irritating

Culture Pick: ‘The Equalizer 3’ is enjoyable and irritating

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer September 13, 2023

“Take it slow,” advises a well-meaning elderly woman as she passes Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall slowly trekking up one of the dauntingly steep flights of stairs in the seaside town of Altamonte,...

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) prepares for the snap deep in Alabama territory at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 31, 2021.

A comprehensive breakdown of former Alabama stars in the NFL

Luke McClinton, Staff Reporter September 7, 2023

Thursday night’s NFL regular-season opener between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs marks the return of professional football and autumnal Sunday afternoons spent watching the sport’s finest...

‘Talk to Me’ falls short of the A24 horror standard

‘Talk to Me’ falls short of the A24 horror standard

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer August 27, 2023

The A24 horror movie has become something of an icon in modern cinema. For a decade, the famed indie film haven has distributed some of the most experimental, auteuristic and often viscerally terrifying...

The Nick Saban statue outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium

2023 Alabama football preview: A game-by-game breakdown

Luke McClinton, Culture Staff Writer August 23, 2023

As the month of August dawns upon us, so does the intense anticipation of Alabama football.    It’s comical that an 11-win season punctuated with a dominant Sugar Bowl showing has left a sour taste...

The University of Alabama’s Student Center offers different resources for all students.

Top keys to adjusting to college life

Luke McClinton, Staff Writer August 23, 2023

For incoming freshmen, college life is going to be a culture shock like no other and there’s no getting around it. It isn’t simply doing homework and studying for tests. It’s managing time, maintaining...

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

‘Oppenheimer’ and the divide between freedom of thought and diplomatic tunnel vision

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer August 2, 2023

“Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s long-awaited gargantuan biopic, has been met with overwhelming adoration.   With a 94% Tomatometer and a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes — an uncommon...

Culture Pick: In ‘Barbie,’ blockbuster glitz meets powerful social commentary

Culture Pick: In ‘Barbie,’ blockbuster glitz meets powerful social commentary

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer July 26, 2023

Walking into “Barbie” with the expectation of another intellectual-property-based blockbuster — something fun but superficial, in the vein of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” or “Detective Pikachu”...

Culture Pick: ‘Insidious: The Red Door’: When horror isn’t scary

Culture Pick: ‘Insidious: The Red Door’: When horror isn’t scary

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer July 19, 2023

Less than a week after “Insidious: The Red Door” hit theaters, the entertainment website Bloody Disgusting released an interview with director Patrick Wilson detailing the array of thought processes...

Culture Pick: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’: Never great, but never boring

Culture Pick: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’: Never great, but never boring

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer July 12, 2023

Before the release of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” on June 30, few movies had been as conflicting, as difficult to form a cohesive opinion of, or as demanding of several days to corral one’s...

Culture Pick | ‘Elemental’ is an effective meditation on culture and immigration

Culture Pick | ‘Elemental’ is an effective meditation on culture and immigration

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer July 5, 2023

The first two weeks of theatrical life for Pixar’s “Elemental” were rocky. It opened on June 16 to a domestic box office of $29.6 million, the studio’s lowest opening-weekend performance since...

Culture Pick: ‘The Flash’ and the oversaturation of the Multiverse genre

Culture Pick: ‘The Flash’ and the oversaturation of the Multiverse genre

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer June 28, 2023

DC’s “The Flash” is a film heavily inspired by its acclaimed genre counterparts.  Hollywood is driven by this practice of taking inspiration from a successful film and utilizing its styles and...

Culture Pick: ‘Across the Spider-Verse’: Great, but not quite revolutionary

Culture Pick: ‘Across the Spider-Verse’: Great, but not quite revolutionary

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer June 14, 2023

“Pandemonium” would be the word most aptly describing the world of film since the release of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” on June 2.   In 2018, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”...

Culture Pick: “John Wick: Chapter 4” is a historically great action movie

Culture Pick: “John Wick: Chapter 4” is a historically great action movie

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer April 5, 2023

There’s an odd dynamic to watching basketball being played at the NBA level. While one can objectively acknowledge the skill, speed and freakish athleticism on the floor, it is hard to truly conceptualize...

Culture Pick: “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” represents everything wrong with comic book movie franchises

Culture Pick: “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” represents everything wrong with comic book movie franchises

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer March 26, 2023

When “Shazam!” was released in 2019, filmgoers were in almost ubiquitous agreement. With a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it was a hit, combining wit, charm and goofy superhero fun into one of the DC Extended...

Culture Pick: “Cocaine Bear” goes about as you’d expect it to

Culture Pick: “Cocaine Bear” goes about as you’d expect it to

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer March 5, 2023

Long and strong has been the anticipation for “Cocaine Bear,” which was arguably one of the most intriguing and delirious concepts of the 2023 movie landscape. According to the Google summary, “a...

Culture Pick: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”: Zany, universe-expanding and visually enchanting

Culture Pick: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”: Zany, universe-expanding and visually enchanting

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer February 19, 2023

"Phase Five" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially begun with “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which promises to push the universal narrative toward the next “big bad.” The new movie...

A pre-“Quantumania” ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe 

A pre-“Quantumania” ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe 

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer February 19, 2023

Thursday, Feb. 17 brought us the long-awaited “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which delivered intriguing new faces and yet another expansion of the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe. With this...

Culture Pick: M3GAN is bonkers, but that might not be a good thing 

Culture Pick: M3GAN is bonkers, but that might not be a good thing 

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer January 29, 2023

In terms of pure critical reception, “M3GAN” is an anomaly among January horror releases, which some believe are not the best movies on the market. Sitting with a surprising 94% on the Rotten Tomatoes...

Culture Pick: “The Kings of the World” and the brutal reality of poverty 

Culture Pick: “The Kings of the World” and the brutal reality of poverty 

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer January 18, 2023

Half a decade after the release of her 2017 drama “Killing Jesus,” Colombian director Laura Mora Ortega has graced the independent film scene once more, this time with “Los Reyes del Mundo,” or...

Culture Pick: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and the gaping hole left by Chadwick Boseman 

Culture Pick: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and the gaping hole left by Chadwick Boseman 

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer November 30, 2022

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the sequel to the critically acclaimed “Black Panther,” which boasts a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of the most widely beloved films in the Marvel Cinematic...

Culture Pick: “Halloween Ends” is a fresh, underrated finale

Culture Pick: “Halloween Ends” is a fresh, underrated finale

Luke McClinton, Contributing Writer October 30, 2022

“Halloween Ends” is the long-awaited finale to the rebooted “Halloween” movie franchise, which began with 2018’s "Halloween” and continued with last year’s “Halloween Kills.” It is a...

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