"A Million Ways To Die In The West"

"A Million Ways To Die In The West" is the second directorial outing for "Family Guy" creator, Seth MacFarlane. The film takes place in Old Stump, Arizona in 1882, and MacFarlane, who also co-wrote, plays Albert. Albert is a well to do sheep farmer, that really does not like life in the American west. In a hilarious monologue, Albert tells us all of the crazy, and random things that take your life. From disease to shootings, as well as the doctors could all lead to your demise. Albert lives a pretty mundane life, until a mysterious woman named Anna comes to town. Anna gives Albert confidence, while Albert shows Anna stability.

MacFarlane recruits an impressive supporting cast for the film. With actors known for their dramatic work, Charlize Theron and Liam Neeson, and comedic actors and comedians, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and Giovanni Ribisi. All the actors blend together very well, and play off each other perfectly. There are also some well timed cameos, like Christopher Lloyd as his "Back to the Future" character Doc Brown.

Overall "A Million Ways To Die In The West" is a pretty good early summer comedy. Is it on par with MacFarlane's first feature "Ted"? Not quite, but it is hard to repeat a majorly successful film. So the big question is, is it worth the ticket price? Yes it is. The film is crude, crass, rude, and offensive, or basically everything you enjoy about Seth MacFarlane. So in the season of the big budgeted blockbuster with CGI robots and slow motion explosions, go see this comedy western at a theater near you.

At A Glance

"A Million Ways To Die In The West"

Three out of Four Stars

Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, and Neil Patrick Harris

Directed by: Seth MacFarlane

Rated R

Running Time: 116 Minutes

Baseball coming back to LBCC

Baseball will be making a comeback to LBCC next spring. This has come as a result of months of work with members of the community. These discussions have planed out a program structure that focuses on high completion rates for the student athletes, and generate involvement of the community to support the program.

Dan Segel, a former Roadrunner baseball player and current president of the Corvallis Knights, was a part of the community group to bring back the program. Joining Segel was Steve Carothers, LBCC alum and owner of Relco Truss Manufactures, and Dick McCain, retired LBCC athletic director and former LBCC baseball head coach. Showing that the baseball program is valued by those who have been involved with it.

"The plan, which uses athletics as a vehicle to promote student success and involvement, makes us very optimistic about the future of baseball and other sports at our college," said LBCC president Greg Hamann.


The decision at the end of the 2013 school year to cut baseball, and women's basketball was not easy. "There were no programs we wanted to cut," said Hamann. "The size of the deficit forced us to make excruciating choices."

Last years baseball team made the decision even more difficult by having one of the programs more successful seasons. The 2013 team made it to the NWAACC playoffs, as well as having numerous players receive post season accolades.

Through the hard work that the group of community member have done, $40,000 has been raised to support the baseball program. "The proposed budget for the baseball program is $85,000. With $40,000 being donated by members of the community," said Dale Stowell

The major elements of the plan to reintroduce baseball to LBCC include:

   - A 50 percent college completion rate for athletes, LBCC's current student success rate is about 22 percent, which combines the percentage of students who earn a degree or certificate or who transfer to a four-year institution- above average for Oregon community colleges

   - Significant numbers of local players. At least 40 percent of baseball players will be from LBCC's service district or the district of a bordering community college. At least 80 percent will be from Oregon.

   - Better connections to the LBCC community. Athletes will better connect to the LBCC community to ensure it has noticeable positive experience for all student athletes, rather than just student athletes.


"The measurement chosen for baseball will guide other LBCC programs, both athletic and academic, as the college continues to strive for a 50 percent increase in its completion rate and increased community support ant involvement," Hamann said.

Through the support of the community, LBCC baseball will get to continue its long and rich history, as well as create significant opportunities for student athletes and the community. With the community support, a framework for adding other programs to promote student completion is feasible. Not just being limited to baseball, a yet to be determined women's sport will be added by the 2015-16 season to create gender equality with LBCC's athletic programs.

"I'm very proud of the direction we've set for ourselves with the help of the community," said Hamann. "We're excited and grateful for the opportunity this represents."

"The Wolf of Wall Street": A Cautionary Tale

Link to photo

     Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese delivers an unconventional Christmas gift to movie audiences with "The Wolf of Wall Street." The film follows the true life story of Jordan Belfort, who is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Along with an all star cast, Scorsese and DiCaprio deliver a truly entertaining film.

     Scorsese moves from the mean streets gangsters to the white collar wall street gangsters. These gangsters don't use weapons to destroy your lives, they use phones and shrewd selling tactics to ruin what you have worked for. The genius of Scorsese has always been that his portraits of the people he makes films about have been honest, which is evident in "The Wolf of Wall Street." Scorsese puts the camera in the selling room so the audience gets a front row seat to how these stock brokers manipulate people into mortgaging their homes to invest into junk stocks. The audience also gets a front row seat into how these wall street workers enjoying ruining the lives of faceless people to get rich fast. These are not people you root for, these are soulless, empty people, where everything including money is an object.

     Leading actor Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly embodies the selfish, and sleazy lifestyle of Jordan Belfort. It is truly a daring performance by DiCaprio to show the lifestyle of excess that the real Belfort lead. It is a refreshing change of pace for DiCaprio to take on a more comedic role. The moments where DiCaprio really shines is when he addresses the brokers at his firm with greed fueled speeches that seduce the money hungry brokers. This lets the audience know that these guys have no remorse for what they are doing. This is also the most unhinged DiCaprio has ever been, he takes everything to the limit, and delivers a bold and daring performance. DiCaprio has earned a much deserved Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for his work on "The Wolf of Wall Street."

     Jonah Hill is a scene stealer. Hill plays Donnie Azoff who becomes Belfort's right hand man. Hill perfectly shows how someone can become enamored by this lifestyle. Hill brings his comedic timing and great use of improv to create an unsympathetic, and almost tragic character.

     The supporting cast shines. From Australian actress Margot Robbie who plays Belfort's second wife Naomi, is tough as nails and stands toe to toe with DiCaprio. Matthew McConaughey who plays DiCaprio's mentor, is impressive and hilarious in his short screen time. And Kyle Chandler who plays an FBI agent who puts the heat on DiCaprio. This is a credit to casting director Ellen Lewis, as every actor hits their mark.

     The film has received it's share of criticism for it's depiction of drug use and sex, as well as not focusing on the victims. But that is Jordan Belfort's story, it's not a family story. "The Wolf of Wall Street" is a story of wonton debauchery that is not for everyone. As for not focusing on the victims, this is a conscious move on Scorsese's part. The victims are faceless, indicating that anyone, even you, can be a victim of these people. And to tone down the debauchery would not tell the real story. This is what Scorsese does best, he tells honest stories about people we don't know about. Like with "GoodFellas" and "Casino" Scorsese gives us an inside look of not so savory people. The characters behavior is not celebrated but shown how it actually was. Scorsese puts a mirror up to our we want it now society with this film, and it's not a pretty world.

     "The Wolf of Wall Street" is really a cautionary tale of greed and excess. One of the best films of the year, playing at a theater near you.

At A Glance

"The Wolf of Wall Street"

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey

Run Time: 180 minutes

Rated R

Official Website: Here 

Now nominated for five Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Best Director- Martin Scorsese
Best Actor- Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Supporting Actor- Jonah Hill
Best Adapted Screenplay- Terrence Winter