by Ella Bloom ’27 on February 26, 2026

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A&E - Music

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The world has been in suspense over these past few months in a state of eager anticipation for the release of Emily Brontë’s classic on the screen: Wuthering Heights. Set on the wild moors of Yorkshire, Cathy and Heathcliff explore an equally wild, untamed love riddled with complications, passions, and tragedy—right in time for Valentine’s Day! Some may recognize this title because of the marketing stunt that was pulled as the movie’s release grew closer. Well-known actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star side by side in this period piece, but this marketing took their romance to a place that transcended the screen, making fans gawk in surprise at this “showmance” stunt and the various, intimate photoshoots with Elordi and Robbie. What few may realize is that the voice behind this movie, like these two leading roles, is more familiar than you think. 

What is it that makes a good movie truly great? To me, at least, it is the soundtrack. If someone were to ask me what my favorite films were, the songs and melodies, more immediately than the characters or setting, would bring me right into the scenes, into the very fabrics of the film that lace it all together. Because that’s what a soundtrack does! It infuses the film with deeper emotion, and each moment becomes heightened when paired with the swell of a symphony or the steady beat of a drum. And after listening to the Wuthering Heights soundtrack on Spotify, without having even seen the movie, I had no doubt that these songs would function in the same way. 

Charli XCX, the mind behind the soundtrack, is a British singer-songwriter who quickly rose to fame following the release of her album titled Brat. Brat dominated an entire stretch of the year 2024. Charli XCX’s songs became cult classics as they were used in dances on Instagram and TikTok throughout several months, which quickly morphed into the phrase that is used to refer to the time when the album dominated the charts: Brat Summer. The rise in popularity of this album went hand in hand with a true embrace of some of the main concepts present in the songs: individuality and messiness. 

This is why I believe Charli XCX was an excellent choice to create the sound of this movie. In her interview for Spotify with Finn Kane, the album’s producer, she says that the movie is “gothic but also romantic and kind of tortured.” The film, like Charli XCX’s own sound, contains a world within it, a complex but beautiful world. Charli XCX understood that this film was not meant to be a traditional romance, that there is something off-kilter, something haunting, about the nature of Cathy and Heathcliff’s love. Charli XCX reflects that she wanted the “nails on a chalkboard kind of feeling,” which I feel is perfectly represented in the first song of the soundtrack: “House” featuring John Cale. 

Charli XCX mentioned in her interview that after watching the documentary on the Velvet Underground, she really gravitated towards what Cale, a founding member of the band, said about recording strings. He wanted them to sound “both elegant and brutal.” Here, again, are the extremes that Charli XCX first hinted at when she described the movie as “gothic but also romantic.” Charli XCX succeeds in bringing these opposite poles together by uniting them in song, and therefore expressing that, like Cathy and Heathcliff’s love, music can be two things at once. It can be “both elegant and brutal,” and the presence of one does not, in any way, take away from the other. The sound of “House” is discordant, odd, and at times alarming, but there is still this certain quality present in the song that draws you in, through the repetition of the lyrics, “I think I’m gonna die in this…house.” Something that alarms you at first can somehow draw you closer, and this is exactly the way that the soundtrack of the movie represents Cathy and Heathcliff’s love story to a T. In her soundtrack to Wuthering Heights, Charli XCX succeeds in transporting us to the moors that provide the backdrop for Cathy and Heathcliff’s love. Her music helps us to see why we lean into and obsess over these messy romances—because they feel like real life, as reality is often confusing and full of contradictions. The Gothic genre was very, very real to these 19th-century authors, and it is refreshing to see the darker sides of Brontë’s novel, and therefore, the darker sides of human nature, reflected in the music that accompanies the film’s adaptation.

by Ian Gualtiere ’27 on February 12, 2026

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A&E - Film & TV

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The last Major League Baseball game of the season was played on November 1, 2025, when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Game Seven of the World Series. The term “fall classic” directly applied to this final game: the score was tied 4–4 when the game rolled into extra innings, both teams swapped a scoreless 10^th inning. Then, the Dodgers picked up a run, thanks to a solo home run by catcher Will Smith, to secure the lead in the top of the 11^th. With drama and tension building from the Toronto dugout, the Blue Jays got one hit and a walk with one out to place runners on the corners, players on first and third base, which, in the eyes of everyone watching, a single base hit would tie the game 5–5 and move into the 12^th inning. This responsibility fell on Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, who fell to two strikes in the count, and then hit a measly dribbler directly to Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts. Betts stepped on second base to force the runner out, then threw to first baseman Freddie Freeman to complete the double play. And with that out, the Dodgers became the 2025 MLB World Series Champions. 

After that, if a fan was not cheering for the Dodgers, they immediately asked themselves, “When do pitchers and catchers report to spring training?” The thought of a long, grueling winter without the sights and sounds of the ballpark to any baseball fan is torture. Snow covers the pitchers’ mounds, the empty seats stand as reminders of a warmer time, and the constant talk of shifting free agents gives some the hobby of tracking new faces in new places. The month of February has finally come, and all MLB pitchers and catchers report to their team’s spring training facilities in either Florida or Arizona between Feb. 10 and 13. 

This anxiety of waiting, watching, and being ever so patient for the MLB season is captured in its manic charm in the romcom Fever Pitch (2005). Adapted from a 1992 book and a 1997 British film that follows a crazed Premier League Arsenal fan, the American remake perfectly distills what the movie calls “one of God’s most pathetic creatures: a Red Sox fan.” Directed by Providence College alumni Peter Farrelly ’79 and his brother Bobby Farrelly and starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, Fever Pitch goes through the throes of being a baseball fan during the winter months. This is a condition where, on the outside, one can act normal in civil society, but on the inside, the die-hard Sox fan is dying to be freed come the spring. This wintertime normalcy is what draws Barrymore’s Lindsey to Fallon’s Ben; he is punctual and charming, a successful high school teacher, and always there to be an emotional support. The cracks of Ben’s Sox insanity begin to show as Lindsey questions why they never go to his place, which is covered from floor to ceiling in Red Sox paraphernalia, or why he went down to watch the Red Sox practice in Florida in the middle of February. By the end of March, Ben finally comes clean, revealing he had inherited season tickets from his uncle and never missed an MLB Opening Day or homestand series at Fenway Park. 

The couple begins to attend Red Sox games on a weekly basis, but tension grows as Lindsey’s corporate executive job pulls her away from the games. One scene shows Lindsey working on her computer in the stands as she is hit by a line drive foul ball and knocked unconscious, as Ben picks up the ball and starts to celebrate with the fans around him. The ebbs and flows of the 2004 MLB season start to take a toll on the relationship as Ben skips a Paris trip to watch the Red Sox vie for a spot in the postseason, misses a comeback Sox win against the New York Yankees while attending a birthday party, and starts to covet the season tickets more than Lindsey’s affection.

Adapting the plot from soccer to baseball and adding to what was considered a jab at the lowliest fan base in the MLB at the time, Fever Pitch was never meant to have a serendipitous ending. In 2004, the Red Sox had not won a World Series in 86 years, and the movie production did not expect the season to take a miraculous turn. The original plot had assumed the Red Sox would lose in the postseason, but the ending had to be rewritten. The team pulled off an unexpected run and reached the 2004 American League Championship against the Yankees. With the Red Sox down 3–0 in the series, they became the first and only MLB team to date to erase the deficit and advance to the World Series. The game is considered by many to be the “greatest comeback in sports history,” as many expected the Yankees to deal with the Red Sox easily. The climax of Fever Pitch was filmed during the Championship Series and subsequent World Series win. 

For many, baseball means the fundamental truth of life. You’re going to win some, and you’re going to lose some, but don’t worry, it’s a long season filled with romance and true wonder.

by Liz Keating '24 on May 29, 2023
A&E Staff

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Arts & Entertainment

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As the weather warms up and the days turn longer, there is no better time to pick up a nice book. If you are looking for a heartwarming contemporary romance to enjoy at the beach, look no further. True to its name, Beach Read by Emily Henry is a novel that perfectly captures the essence of summer with its poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of storytelling. 

The novel tells the story of January Andrews, a romance writer who is struggling to come to terms with her father’s death and her own failing career. When January moves into her late father’s beach house, she discovers that her next-door neighbor is none other than her former college rival, literary fiction writer Augustus “Gus” Everett. As January and Gus begin to spend time together, they make a bet to switch genres and write a book in each other’s style. In the process, they begin to open up to each other about their pasts and form a deep connection. However, their budding romance is complicated by their past history and the secrets they both carry. 

One of the strengths of the novel is the examination of one’s creative process and the power of storytelling. January and Gus are both writers, but they approach their craft in very different ways. January is a romance writer who believes in happy endings, while Gus is a literary fiction writer who favors a more pessimistic view of the world. Through their collaboration on the book project, they learn to appreciate each other’s styles and gain a new understanding of the power of storytelling to connect and heal. 

The relationship between January and Gus is a highlight of the novel. While they start off as rivals, their initial animosity slowly gives way to a deep connection and mutual respect. They challenge each other intellectually and emotionally, and their conversations are some of the most memorable moments in the book. Their romance is complicated by their past history and the secrets they both carry, but ultimately, they find a way to overcome their differences and find happiness together. 

In terms of pacing, the novel strikes a perfect balance between introspection and action. While there are plenty of quiet moments when the characters reflect on their lives and relationships, there are also enough plot twists and surprises to keep the reader engaged and invested in the story. 

Overall, Beach Read is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. It is a celebration of love, loss, and the power of storytelling. It’s a perfect book to read on the beach, but it’s also a book that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story and a great romance.