“Requiem for a Dream” by Aronofsky

Is the Mental Disorder Appropriately Portrayed? The targeted movie for this exercise is “Requiem for a Dream”. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky. This movie narrates the story of Sara Goldfarb and the people around her life. The health issue outlined in this film is addiction. According to the...

Nick Anderson’s Political Cartoons: Employment and Immigration in the USA

A political cartoon is a type of illustration that enters the space of artistic, mass-media, and political discourses, while being a unique synthesis of literary creativity and fine art. On the one hand, an editorial cartoonist acts as a scriptwriter and a stage director. Whereas, on the other hand ––as...

Issues in the Film Industry

Not so long ago, the film industry was a no-go zone for film directors with less than six-digit figures in their bank accounts. To make a movie in Hollywood was an extremely expensive undertaking. But due to narrative and aesthetic experimentation, there has been an introduction of low-budget quality movies...

“In the Womb: Multiples” National Geographic Video

The birth of multiple children is a rare and unique case, even though modern medicine makes it more possible. The infrequency of this phenomenon exists because the conception of several children at the same time is a rarity, and the bearing and birth of such children bring even more complications....

Groupthink and Deviance in Jonestown: A Psychological Analysis

The tragedy that occurred in late autumn back in 1978 is considered the most massive suicide of the 20th century. On November 18, 909 people died in the small settlement of Johnstown, located in Guyana. Johnstown was a camp settlement where followers of Peoples Temple’s religious movement emigrated. The purpose...

Environmental Issues in The Lorax Movie

The Lorax Environmental Issues: Essay Introduction The natural environment is important to all living things since it is the primary source of oxygen and water. The movie The Lorax narrates the story of a walled city that is characterized by an artificial way of life. This is the case since...

Ideology in “The Matrix” Film

An ideological analysis seeks to discover the system of ideas behind a body of work. There is a close connection between ideology and science fiction because science fiction is a form of art that seeks to explore ideas. Unlike fantasy, science fiction borrows on the pre-existing social, political, and technology...

Misrepresentations of Arab Women in Hollywood

Misrepresentation of various ethnic and religious backgrounds in Hollywood movies is not a new phenomenon: indeed, the only culture that Hollywood filmmakers can represent without bias or mistreatment is the modern American culture. Characters of other national, ethnic or religious backgrounds, such as Latino, Muslims, and even Europeans, are often...

“Akeelah and the Bee” by Doug Atchison

Introduction “Akeelah and the Bee” is a movie that transcends the limitations of its average plot and linear storyline to reveal valuable and intrinsic lessons that have been forgotten by people at present in their pursuit to be “winners.” In a sense, it is a critique of the current predilection...

Interpersonal Conflict: Marvel Cinematic Universe

The conflict between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a classic example of interpersonal conflict. The conflict situation arises when their differing opinions on government oversight of the Avengers lead to a rift in their friendship and a physical confrontation between the two characters. Tony...

Cannibalism and Female Desire in Horror Films

Introduction Horror films comprise video casts with frightening scenes that infringe fear, anxiety, and mayhem to the viewers for many reasons. Cannibalism refers to the aspect where the eating of animal flesh, more so that of human beings, is embraced. Many movies nowadays have cherished the idea of many female...

The American Gangster Film Analysis

The Film The film ‘American Gangster’ focuses on the criminal lifestyle of a gang leader, Frank Lucas. The film starts when Frank’s boss, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, dies of a heart attack (Collins 12). Frank becomes the mob boss and specializes in smuggling heroin from Thailand directly from producers and selling...

“The Great Hack” Documentary by Amer and Noujaim

Introduction The Great Hack is a cinematic piece that presents the internet competency of modern society. This documentary is an original Netflix movie, which offers an investigation conducted by journalists revolving around a private British company – Cambridge Analytica – and its potential interference in more than 200 presidential elections...

Ethical, Political and Social Issues in Business in “The Corporation” Movie

Introduction The Corporation is a documentary film released in 2003 that raises the public’s attention to significant problems in the corporate sphere. The documentary is an adaptation of Joel Bakan’s book The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, where the author discusses the historical background of corporations and...

Cultural Analysis and Inferences from the Movie 42

Introduction Culture is a central aspect in anthropology that gives insight into a people’s history, values, and perceptions. Over the years, visual arts, particularly films, have been used not only to inform but also to indicate people’s cultural artifacts. Every film author wants to communicate a particular theme and influence...

“Inception”: An Orchestrated Philosophical Spin Beyond Freud and the Spinning Top

Introduction The spinning top ending of the movie has started countless debates about whether the happy reunion is real or Cobb is still dreaming. There have also been essays and reviews commenting on Nolan’s psychological theories on dreams and subconsciousness. In my opinion, Susan Sontag had it all figured out...

The True Cost: Fast Fashion, Garment Workers, and Environment

The True Cost is a documentary that was directed by Andrew Morgan and released in 2015. It shows the background of the fast fashion world, where garment workers live in terrible conditions, facing poverty and a lack of safety. The multinational fashion corporations follow globalization economy, which means that production...

The Documentary Film “The Corporation”: Review

The documentary film “The Corporation,” released in 2003 and directed by the Canadian filmmaker Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott, discusses the phenomenon of modern corporations, i.e., large legal companies, the goal of which is to make a profit. Interestingly enough, at the legal level, corporations are treated as people who...

“A Class Divided” Film on Discrimination

Introduction This journal is a reflection on the film “A Class Divided”. The movie describes an experiment performed by Jane Elliot, a grade three teacher concerned by discrimination that existed at the time of Martin Luther King. Through the experiment, Elliot hoped to explore the nature of discrimination. In this...

The “Juno” Movie Under Communication Analysis

The film Juno revolves around a teenager, Juno, who gets pregnant at the tender age of sixteen. Juno and his boyfriend, Paulie, at first decide to terminate the pregnancy. However, after visiting an abortion clinic, her friend’s protests and the deplorable condition of the clinic make Juno change her mind...

‘Odessa Steps’ in “Battleship Potemkin” by Eisenstein

Introduction Eisenstein’s theory of montage establishes how a film must be ‘built’ to convey a certain brand of politics by stating that the viewers’ emotions can be directed through the juxtaposition of images (Eisenstein 2). To illustrate, in the ‘Odessa steps’ sequence in Battleship Potemkin, the audience sees the juxtaposition...

Lessons of “Bon Cop, Bad Cop” for English-Canadian Film

Introduction The movie Bon Cop, Bad Cop is a great attempt to unite two main cultures and two main languages of Canada in the form of a featuring film. The plot, the genre, the scenes, and the idea of the film are considered to flow with the major idea of...

“West Side Story” and “Romeo and Juliet” Movies Comparative Analysis

Despite the fact that the both cinematographic adaptations of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”: “West Side Story” (1961) and “Romeo + Juliet” (1996) exploit essentially the same motifs of love, revenge and “corporate solidarity”, the semantic message, conveyed by these movies, varies significantly, which can be explained by particularities of...

Urbanization and Poverty in “Slumdog Millionaire” Film

Cinematography has ceased being a kind of art focusing on purely entertainment purposes and is becoming more and more useful in representing significant issues that affect people’s lives. Boyle’s (2009) movie, Slumdog Millionaire, is one of many successful attempts to depict the conditions in which people who are below the...

Analysis of “Night of the Living Dead” by George Romero: Film and Impact

After having been released in 1968, it did not take too long for the low-budget horror flick Night of the Living Dead (directed by George Romero) to prove an utter commercial success. The concerned movie was also able to attain nothing short of a cult following – the actual reason...

Ethical Dilemmas in Cinema: Multiculturalism in Dog Day Afternoon & John Q

Introduction Today, cinema is one of the most popular kinds of art which attracts millions of spectators all over the world. Its rapid rise is related to the spread of technologies and the creation of a new digitalized society. Therefore, like any art, it could be used by creators to...

“Life is Beautiful”

The absurdities and atrocities of the Nazi and Fascist regimes that dominated Europe in the late 30s and 40s, and the world-engulfing conflict they spawned provide rich fodder for movie makers and other artists. Following a tradition of laughing because it is less painful than weeping, Life is Beautiful (1998)...

Neo-Noir Aesthetics and Color Symbolism in Dark City

Neo Noir and Commonalities with Classic Noir Films Dark City (1998) shares several common elements with classic Noir films, extending beyond the shift from black-and-white to color. Like traditional Noir, it delves into moral ambiguity, a complex narrative, and a visual style characterized by low-key lighting and shadowy atmospheres (Boillat,...

Exploring Deaf Identity and Cochlear Implants in Sound and Fury

Understanding Cochlear Implants: Definition and Function I find it inspiring and powerful when persons with certain conditions can find strength and motivation in them, especially when they are considered to be disabled or diseases by others. The documentary Sound and Fury discusses how individuals with and without deafness perceive this...

“The Shining” and Its Impact on Horror Genre Conventions

Introduction Genre theory is a framework that enables understanding and categorizing films based on their shared characteristics. Genre theory is crucial since it aids in creating precise standards for a movie (Barry, 2012). One of the most popular genres, horror has produced several critically acclaimed films. Common Conventions of the...

Friendship Between Forrest Gump and Bubba in “Forrest Gump” by Zemeckis

Forrest Gump is a classic of American and world cinema, a film that captured several decades of American history through the eyes of a simple man from Alabama. While the narrative’s mood is mostly comedic due to the main character’s naivety, kindness, and unshakeable optimism, certain themes in Forrest Gump...

Hidden Figures by Theodore Melfi: Movie Analysis

Introduction The movie “Hidden Figures,” explains the story of three bright African-American ladies working at the segregated West Area computer division of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The three experienced a lot of discrimination at work and in their daily lives. The story revolves around empowerment and breaking...

Fiction Analysis: The Exposition in “Avatar”

Introduction The exposition in “Avatar” begins with the presentation of the main character, Jake Sully – a military officer who is permanently wheelchair-bound due to an injury. He has enrolled in a special program designed to help humanity communicate with the native population of the planet Pandora – the Na’vi....

“Anatomy of a Murder” by Preminger: A Critical Analysis

Anatomy of a Murder is more than simply a courtroom drama: it is a realistic and comprehensive examination of American life at the period. The film’s goal was to examine and portray the judicial system in a scientific and realistic manner. Characters in the narrative perceive one another, and they...

Film Summary: “The Patriot” Directed by Dean Semler

Nationalism is one factor that enables the citizens to protect the sovereignty of a given nation. The movie The Patriot has proven to be one of America’s most beloved films by loyal American citizens. The movie aims at bringing a sense of hope and a deeper understanding to the people...

The Documentary “Two American Families”

The Ecological Systems Theory Depicted in the Film As a child grows, it interacts with certain environmental factors that are also bound to affect its development. According to Guy-Evans, (2020), the ecological systems theory was evolved by Bronfenbrenner in 1977 and it mentions that five systems make up the theory....

Hero’s Journey and Archetypes in “Django Unchained” Film

The incorporation of conventional stages of a hero’s journey development is a characteristic feature of classic literature pieces. However, the same principles, although with some alterations, might be identified in contemporary works of filmmaking art. In particular, the film under the title Django Unchained directed by Quentin Tarantino and released...

Lighting in The Godfather Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Nowadays, approximately over 300 movies are released every year. Most slip into oblivion, but every once in a while comes a movie that defines a decade. These types of films defy the passage of time and are devotedly devoured by each new generation of viewers. The Godfather is arguably the...

The Movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” by Lasse Hallström

Introduction Mental diseases and psychological disorders often serve as factors impacting the development of the plot in movies. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, 1993, is not an exclusion as it portrays the life of a family affected by a disease. Gilbert Grape has to care for Arnie, his younger brother with...

“Four Horsemen”: A Fractional Reserve Banking System

Introduction Four Horsemen is a 2012 documentary that was written and produced by Ross Ashcroft. The movie revolves around a fractional reserve banking system, an economy that is based on debts and politicization of major issues in regard to the culture and formulas that are evident in the western world....

Vietnam War in Political Cartoons

Stick ’Em Up! (Valtman) The 36th President of the USA, Lyndon B. Johnson, put a considerable amount of effort into holding back the intensification of the war in Vietnam. Before the election that was prepared to be held in 1964, his main aim was to avert the adverse consequences of...

The Movie “Back to the Future”: The Genre of Science Fiction

Introduction Understanding the primary features of various film genres is an essential part of a film studies researcher. Different types of movie categories can convey multiple ideas and stories, underlining specific aspects of ordinary lives or exploring the capabilities of human imagination. Some film types combine the knowledge from academic...

“Inception” Directed by Christopher Nolan: Film Analysis

For this assignment, I have chosen the movie Inception and watched it online on the GoToTub platform, HD quality. In my opinion, this work of art is one of the best science fiction films of the last century. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the...

Analyzing “Stand and Deliver” by Menéndez

Introduction Stand and Deliver is a film in which a high school mathematics teacher Jaime Escalante helps students from Hispanic neighborhoods to pass a difficult test. The teenagers initially have no ambitions to succeed in class but search for ways to express themselves through defiant behavior. The film shows the...

Gender Representation in Akira Kurosawa’s Films

Japanese director Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He was taking an active part on many levels of the creation of his films, often serving as a screenwriter and editor. Kurosawa was investigating various themes in his movies, including human identity,...

“Frontline: Inside the Meltdown” by PBS

Introduction The crisis of 2008-2009 constitutes a major turning point in the dynamics of the US and global economies at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The PBS (2009) film “Frontline: Inside the meltdown” explores this turbulent time, examining the key causes and effects at play, and the response of...

The Feminist Ideas in ”A Doll’s House” Movie by Patrick Garland

A Doll’s House is a British film that was directed by Patrick Garland in 1973. Actors Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins starred in this film. It is originally based on the play of the same name by Henrik Ibsen, which was written in 1879. The story is devoted to the...

”Boy” Directed by Taika Waititi as a Representation of the Local Culture

The film Boy (2010), directed by Taika Waititi, is a comedy-drama that tells the story of a young Maori boy’s relationship with his father, who returns from prison. The story is set in a poor Maori village, with all actors drawn from local communities, and many details communicating the local...

Picnic Scene in “Citizen Kane” Movie by Orson Welles

Introduction The film “Citizen Kane” is a 1941 drama motion picture directed by Orson Welles. The production narrates about a millionaire who seems to receive little happiness from his wealth and needs to hide his sensitive personality under the cynical mask. The present paper will analyze the Everglades Picnic scene...

Why Movies Are Popular All Over the World

Introduction Movies are very popular in the world today. The advancement in media technology has led to the popularity of movies all over the world. Media is a powerful tool that has spread to almost every part of the world. Those with access to televisions can watch movies in their...

Marvel’s Black Panther and Its Influence on Ethnic Consumer Behavior

Abstract This review looks at the movie Black Panther, released in 2018 as a part of the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU). The film gathered significant attention and achieved box office success as well as some significant milestones in the film industry. Notably, it won three Oscars and became the second...

Women’s Fates in Japanese Films

Introduction The Japanese society could be classified as patriarchal whereby women are seen as weak and their place is at home to take care of their families. This entrenched belief that women are subordinate and submissive has infiltrated the film-making industry where such themes continue to the perpetuated. The societal...

Christian Symbolism and Imagery in “The Matrix” Film

Check out our essay sample on The Matrix symbolism. Learn more about what symbolism in The Matrix represents by reading our sample! Symbolism in The Matrix Essay Introduction The Matrix is a film, which depicts the condition of the world in the view of civilization in terms of machinery and...

The Film “Dead Man’s Letters” by Konstantin Lopushansky

Introduction Dead Man’s Letters is a 1986 apocalyptic film by a Soviet director Konstantin Lopushanskiy. The story depicts events of a war that has recently become nuclear. The story is a cautionary tale, and its historical context is especially important. It also utilizes a variety of film techniques to create...

“The Shawshank Redemption” Film by Darabont

Era and Setting The Shawshank Redemption is a movie revolving around the life of a banker by the name Andy Dufresne. The plot of this film begins in 1947. This is a clear indication that the film describes the issues and events experienced in America’s postwar era (Marvin & Darabont,...

Jedadiah Schultz’s Monologue in The Laramie Project: Humanity Amid Tragedy

Introduction The Laramie Project is a pseudo-documentary film that tells the story of the city of Laramie from the inside of its inhabitants. The most memorable monologue from the film for me was the story told by bartender Jedadiah Schultz. This monologue is significant because it shows the complex relationships...

Isolation and Mental Health in the Interstellar Film

Introduction In Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar, loneliness plays a key role in the storytelling and progression of the plot. The director skillfully operates with human emotions, contrasting the great cosmic discoveries with human feelings and emotions. Since people are social beings, it is vital for them to communicate because, in...

Leadership-Followership in the “Hotel Rwanda” Film

Introduction To a great extent, leadership refers to a process of social influence exhibited by superior individuals that optimizes the efforts of others toward attaining a specific objective. The film Hotel Rwanda by Terry George elaborates on the powerful story of Paul Rusesabagina, a restaurant manager who deployed his leadership...

Critical Analysis of Moonlight by Barry Jenkins

The film Moonlight by director Barry Jerkins shows the challenges that Chiron encounters through different stages of development. Act 1 of Moonlight highlights the life of Chiron as a schoolboy, Act 2 his teenage years, and the last Act, his life as an adult. The movie’s genre is a drama...

Cinematic Language in A Beautiful Mind Film

The movie A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard, implements a wide range of cinematography techniques and concepts to help the audience develop an understanding of powerful ideas regarding the main character’s mental illness, schizophrenia. Furthermore, the film raises such themes as reality, love, relationships, morality, and recovery (Grazer &...

“Gladiator” Ridley Scott: Plot, Themes, and Key Features

Introduction Ridley Scott’s, Gladiator is one of the most influential films of the 21st century. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, the movie was released in the year 2000. The film incorporated other supportive actors, including; Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, and Richard Harriss. It won critical accolades, large...

Data Visualization of Most Profitable Movie Genres

Summary As learned in week two that the most widely recognized type of film appearing in the Top 50 after 1980 is PG-13 rated science fiction/fantasy. Only one G-rated vivified movie was released in the dataset after 1980. According to Variety, the film industry’s top revenue-generating motion pictures have shifted...

Amélie Film Directed by J. P. Jeunet

Editing plays a critical role in the film Amélie because the producer uses editing techniques to express the personalities and emotions of the characters. For example, the editor adds animations aspects such as stuffed animals and a pounding heart to emphasize character feelings in a scene (Jeunet, 2001). It is...

Plot, Genre and Main Idea of “The Blind Side” Film

Introduction “The Blind Side,” which John Lee Hancock filmed in 2009, is based on the true story of a football player that Michael Lewis had told in his cognominal book three years earlier. Notwithstanding the seeming commonness of the plot, it raises several problems, such as social isolation and solitariness...

Review of “Kung Fu Panda” Movie: Educational Psychology

In every classroom setting or learning space, each student is unique in their particular way. Each student has a special way through which they learn and master information. Therefore, every student should be understood, and the one shoe fits all ideology should be ignored. There are different modalities of learning...

Hotel Rwanda and the Misrepresentation of African Culture

Introduction The portrayal of Africa and African peoples in western culture has always been influenced by the concept of “Heart of Darkness.” Ever since the first colonizers came to Africa to establish the dominance of the West, the view of the local nations has always been that of underdeveloped, barbaric,...

Time and Space in “Memento” by Christopher Nolan

Memento is a captivating film noir directed by Christopher Nolan that has received worldwide acclaim. Complex and confusing in both structure and subject matter, the film still attracts considerable attention and many interpretations twenty years after its release. The film explores various topics such as personality, moral responsibility, time and...

Leadership in “Erin Brockovich” Film

Introduction Leadership is a significant element in the corporate world where managers and people at different levels of authority get to interact with others for various reasons. There are different leadership approaches used by individuals in a position of authority. Notably, governance and influence in the Erin Brockovich movie, which...

Unhappy Marriages in the Movie ”Passing”

Racially ambiguous black women had a precariously liminal status in the first half of the 20th century. They lived in a predominately racist society with patriarchal values, so their choices were limited. However, due to being able to pass, such women could attempt to assimilate with white people or follow...

“Symphony of a Great City” by Walter Ruttman

An in-depth analysis of any film allows viewers to appreciate the work as a piece of art. It explains all the working parts and encourages a better understanding of what is happening on the screen. However, the whole film depends on the theme, characters, their conflicts, as well as on...

The “Fed Up” Documentary’s Main Idea and Issues

Summary The documentary “Fed Up” focused on the amount of sugar that is in many food products that are available on the market today. In some cases, cereals, juice drinks, and even supposedly healthy granola bars are filled with large amounts of sugar which improve the overall taste but make...

Shakespeare’s Othello Movie Adaptation Overview and Social Relevance

Introduction Theatrical and cinematic adaptations of classic plays may differ from writers’ vision and intentions. Oliver Parker’s movie based on Shakespeare’s Othello is an example of what happens when a classical literary work is altered to fit into mainstream cinema’s characteristics. Parts of the play beloved by Shakespeare’s readers were...

“The Journey Through and Into Darkness”

The Journey into Darkness – Who is in charge? The Do Lung Bridge scene is particularly archetypal in the context of the movie Apocalypse Now and cinematography in general. The scene begins with the boat approaching the bridge, as it is the last military post on the Nung River. Meanwhile,...

“Act Without Words I” by Beckett: Response to the Movie

“Act Without Words I” by Samuel Beckett is an example of the Theater of the Absurd, a designation of the particular type of plays written by different playwrights in the mid-twentieth century. The central idea, characteristic for the genre of the absurdist drama, is a concept of the meaninglessness of...

Scandinavian Mythology: The Life of the God of Thunder Thor

In Scandinavian mythology, Thor is the god of thunder, rain, storms, and fertility. Thor always stood out among others, and on his eighth birthday, Odin gave Mjolnir, a hammer enchanted with extraordinary magic. However, he could get it when he proved that he was a worthy warrior. The way of...

Crash’ by Paul Haggis: Character Analysis

Crash Plot Overview Paul Haggis’s drama Crash was released in 2004 and received mixed reviews from critics around the world. The theme of “crashing” runs through the whole story, connecting completely different and strange people. No matter how or where it happens, it is safe to say with absolute certainty...

Movie Reflection – “Mi Familia”

“Mi Familia” is a film directed by Gregory Nava, who released it in 1995. The plot reveals the life journey of a family that moved from Mexico to the United States, settling in Los Angeles. By seeing the three generations, from the father of the Sanchez family who traveled from...

Theme of Grief in “The Secret Life of Bees”

The Secret Life of Bees is a novel by Sue Monk Kidd that explores themes of loss, grief, acceptance, and forgiveness. Furthermore, in her book, Kidd raises the topics of race and color. In fact, in 2004, the novel received The Indies Choice Book Award and was nominated for The...

Pride and Prejudice (2005): Movie Analysis

Introduction The character of the move that has been chosen for this analysis of personality is Keira Knightley’s character of Elizabeth Bennet, the main female character of the movie “Pride and prejudice” (2005) directed by Joe Wright. Though this paper is aimed not at the creation of movie review, we...

“Farewell My Concubine” by Chen Kaige

Introduction The 1993 film Farewell My Concubine (directed by Chen Kaige) is now referred to as one of the Chinese cinematography’s finest works. There are several reasons for it, but the most important one has to do with the film’s high educational value. After all, even though Farewell My Concubine...

Business Ethics and Dilemmas in the Film ‘Michael Clayton’

A Critique of the Dilemmas Presented The movie “Michael Clayton” addresses a wide range of ethical issues faced by corporations and advocates. The movie highlights how situational factors, corporate cultures, and professional business environment can be viewed from different perspectives. It offers an optimistic account of the moral resources that...

History of Film Noir

Introduction Film Noir is a term coined in the early 1940s by the French to refer to trendy Hollywood crime movies produced during this period. The term literally means black film in French and the movies were characterized by their black and white visual style, a style generally thought to...

Whiplash Film Analysis: Ambition, Motivation, and Ethical Boundaries

Introduction Damien Chazelle’s 2014 film Whiplash explores the complexity of ambition and the morality of motivational strategies. The film explores the quest for greatness through the story of aspiring jazz drummer Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) and his ruthless tutor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). This argument contends that although Fletcher’s methods are...

Russian Cinema and Political Significance of Censorship

Introduction Governments have long recognized cinema’s ability to advance social and political agendas, shape public opinion, and shape national identities. The Russian government has a deep and abiding love of movies, so it is not an outlier. From the Soviet era’s use of cinema as propaganda to the current Russian...

The Film “The Notebook” by Nick Cassavetes

Brief Summary of the Film The Notebook is a romance drama film adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ novel. In the movie, Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun’s romance unfolds throughout the summer of 1940. Noah is a local worker raised in the region, while Allie is on holiday in Seabrook Island, South...

The “Pleasantville” Film by Gary Ross

Gary Ross is responsible for writing, co-producing, and directing the American teen fantasy comedy-drama film Pleasantville, released in 1998. The plot revolves around two siblings trapped in a television show from the 1950s that takes place in a fictional Midwestern town populated by seemingly ideal citizens (Chitwood, 2022). Although they...

Quentin Tarantino: Influence on World Cinema

Introduction Hollywood is a place where many talented or, at least, lucky people demonstrate their skills and gain popularity. Some individuals need more time to be recognized in the film industry, and Quentin Tarantino is one of those whose road was not quite fast but efficient. Today, this filmmaker is...

The Chilean Political Process in “Machuca” Directed by Andres Wood

Set in Santiago, the film follows the military coup that overthrew Chile’s popularly elected democratic socialist president, Salvador Allende, and installed Augusto Pinochet’s long-term, far-right dictatorship. As the story progresses, visual and narrative motifs reinforce the ideology. The painted letters on the stone wall go from “no civil war” to...

The Movie “Gran Torino” by Clint Eastwood

Introduction Representing a generation through the depiction of a single character is a challenging task. In his movie Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood has played an exceptional role that reveals how changes in one’s cultural environment can cause a person to change their views on societal cohesion. In the example of...

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”: Book and Movie Comparison

Introduction It is almost universally agreed that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is Joanne Rowling’s best story. It introduces more new characters than its predecessors and dramatically changes the tone, making it much darker. That said, there is a big difference between the film version and its source...

The “Get Out” Film by Jordan Haworth Peele

Get Out film should be considered as social history versus other approaches learned in class. The reason is that the film has focused on discussing specific concepts about human interactions and stereotypes that have been evident in society concerning a given group of people. In the film, the audience can...

“Psycho” Film by Alfred Hitchcock

Psycho is an American psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960; Robert Bloch and Joseph Stefano are the film’s screenwriters. This movie was definitely the most important milestone in the thriller-detective genre. Its spirit and influence are still clearly felt in almost every film and TV series about maniacs...

The Main Character’s Traits in the “Precious” Film

Introduction Precious is a 2009 American drama film that is based on the novel Push by Sapphire. The plot is centered around a young African American girl Precious that is obese, illiterate, and pregnant by her father. A 16-year-old girl, experiencing tremendous pressure from the world around her, is able...

“Sicko” by Michael Moore

Introduction In many countries, the health care system is different, but its purpose, regardless of location, is to provide quality services to promote health. However, the US health care system has many shortcomings, and the main one is inadequate access to health services for residents with low income and social...

Nationalism in “The Wind that Shakes the Barley”

Introduction In the film The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the portrayal of patriotism and the concept of blood sacrifice are both prominent. Throughout the film, there is a great sense of Irish patriotism. The main protagonists are fervent nationalists who want an Ireland free of British authority. Following World...

Representation of Race and Intersectionality in Films: “The 13th”

Introduction For centuries, the phenomenon of race and racial perception in society has been closely associated with artistic manifestation. However, despite the long-existing examples of significant artistic representation of race in popular culture, white privilege tends to prevail quantitively and remain more popular with the general public. In an attempt...

Deceiver (1997) Movie Analysis

Deceiver is a movie centered around a police cross-examination room where Wayland (Tim Roth) is subjected to a lie detector test in line with the murder of a local prostitute. Wayland stars as the son of a textile manufacturer and a Princeton who is currently unemployed. Wayland knew the dead...

The Whale Rider Film Directed by Niki Caro

The Whale Rider is a dramatic movie based on the Witi Ihimaera’s 1987 book with the same title, which describes the adventurous events of a girl’s life in a New Zealand tribe. The film includes various settings of the ancient lands of the continent and represents the lives, culture, and...

Discussion of Gender and Society Themes in Films

“The Power of Categories”: the episode on Paige’s story Summary Gender is a socially constructed concept that guides interactions within society. The “Power of Categories” describes several instances of categorization and links them to gender. From the choosing of either puppies or kittens to describing a child as either male...

The “Freaky Friday” by Mark Waters

Relationships with parents, their attachment, care and love significantly affect the child’s entire life. This paper analyzes the relationship between fictional parent and child from the Freaky Friday film directed by Mark Waters (2003). The movie’s plot centered around the relationship between their mother, Tess Coleman, played by Jamie Lee...

Mise-en-Scene of “Blade Runner” Film by Ridley Scott

Based on the opening scene of Blade Runner, the viewers can see that Los Angeles is presented as a modern and developed city. In addition, the fact that it is presented at night is another important element. The author wants people to see the lights and fires of the city...

Cinematography: Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life”

“The Tree of Life”, directed by Terrence Malick, is a beautiful and emotional film filled with wonderfully captured moments of human existence and thrilling imageries of nature, architecture, and outer space. The cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, does justice to Malick’s vision and style using his special cinematic techniques. One of my...

Split Personality in the Frankie and Alice Film

The film Frankie and Alice follow the life of a dancer (Frankie) who suffers from an identity disorder. The story reveals that she had experienced several traumas that led to a split personality. Her mind harbored three personalities: Frankie, the real her, Alice, a racist white woman, and Genius, who...

The Best Offer: A Mise-en-Scene Analysis

Introduction The analysis of any film may contain a variety of aspects, but the one that is most likely to offer an insight into the creative work’s main ideas, both apparent and concealed ones, is the mise-en-scene. The careful exploration of a movie’s compositional elements allows the viewer to see...

“The Last of the Mohicans” 1992 Film by M. Mann

Introduction The 1992 classic movie The Last of the Mohicans relates the tale of set in the 1757 French and Indian War when the British and the French are battling for control over North America. The Mohicans, as history holds, have a past intermingled with war, influxes of other tribes...

Document and Documentary in Examples

Webster’s dictionary defines a document as “an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something” and “something that serves as evidence or proof” (Websters Dictionary, 2008). This something can be an audio or video recording, electronic mail, a photograph, and other materials that can...

Ethnocentrism and Stereotypes in the Movie “Crash”

The movie Crash is a brutally honest film that depicts the harsh realities in today’s society. It tells of a convoluted story that shows how intertwined the lives are of people from all walks of life, from all kinds of races and cultures and value systems. Without shame nor apology,...

Sexualization of Women in Hollywood Cinema

Introduction Hollywood is a widely known brand of cinematography. It is considered to be the capital of modern western film-making. It is known for hundreds of famous pictures and thousands of talented actors that took part in them. At the same time, cinema has deeply rooted connections to the gender...

“Girl, Interrupted” and “The Age of Adaline” Films

Introduction Modern movies primarily utilize visuals and audio effects to communicate the idea of a story shown to a viewer. The objective of the task for the director is to apply the most appropriate techniques to ensure that a viewer is fully aware of what happens on screen. Considering the...

Shark Tank’s Impact on Entrepreneurship: Education, Gender, and Security

Shark Tank Shark Tank is a reality show on American television. It is a business show that has a certain impact on the development of new entrepreneurship. Its goal is to allow young entrepreneur-contestants to present their projects and, in case their business ideas are promising, they have a chance...

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”

Introduction The Kardashian family is famous for a reality TV show known as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians (KUWTK)” whose concept emerged from an infamous sex scandal by one of its members (Kim Kardashian). Reality shows are trending because of a culture of celebrity worship and society’s obsession with fame...

Film Studies: Watching Movies Now and in the Past

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Consequently, different people have different activities that they enjoy doing during their free time. Some like watching movies; others prefer listening to music, while others fancy visiting new destinations. The movie industry has seen numerous changes from early times. These...

Disney Animation’s Society Reflection & Influence

Contemporary American values are reflected in movies. Signs and symbols of the changing values get into all the aspects of individual lives in the United States. A quintessential example is offered by the entertainment sector where animated characters are depicted as possessing a powerful impact on our culture and its...

V for Vendetta: A Symbol of Liberty and Resistance

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” (Chocano, “V for Vendetta”) That is one of the arguments that has been presented in the movie V for Vendetta. The movie is engaging and although it might seem unappealing to all those who do...

Analysis of Arrival as a Sci-Fi Film: Technology, Cultural Anxiety, and Human Nature

Introduction The science fiction (Sci-Fi) genre of movies addresses the impact of real or imagined science and technology on society. These movies use explorative and speculative elements to create a surreal world with magnificent inanimate objects. The theme of cultural anxiety and what it means to be human in a...

“Blackfish” Documentary: Orca Captivity, Animal Rights, and Ethics

The Premise “Blackfish” is an American documentary film about Tilikum, an orca in captivity at SeaWorld. The film, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, explores Tilikum’s life from his capture in Iceland to his death in 2017 and how he caused the deaths of three people during his lifetime. The documentary follows the...

The Bao Film Analysis: Familial Love, Cultural Identity, and Acceptance of Change

Introduction In the animated short film Bao, directed by Domee Shi, the main character is a Chinese mother who initially finds herself in the throes of empty-nest syndrome. As the narrative progresses, she faces the conflict of dealing with her loneliness and eventually comes to terms with her son’s independence...

Analysis of Interpersonal Relationships and Symbolism in Norman Jewison’s Moonstruck

Introduction The nature of interpersonal relationships is never simple and characterized by multiple and diverse perspectives, attitudes, and outcomes. Norman Jewison, a director of the romantic comedy Moonstruck, shares his vision of how a man and a woman can live and coexist in this world. There are many interesting topics...

The Pursuit of Happyness: A Single Father’s Struggle with Poverty and Homelessness

Introduction The Pursuit of Happyness, directed by Gabriele Muccino, is a drama that explores the challenges and triumphs that accompany a person’s lifelong pursuit of a better life. This 117-minute film, released in 2006, tells the story of the complexities of adulthood and the pursuit of happiness. Explanation The role...

John Carpenter’s “The Thing” (1982): A Timeless Horror Classic

Introduction In the vast range of horror cinema, a standout production that deserves admiration is the 1982 film “The Thing.” As a dedicated horror genre enthusiast, I have crossed numerous cinematic landscapes, yet this particular product by John Carpenter has left an unforgettable impression. This essay argues that this film...

Comparing Film Adaptations of Hamlet: Doran vs. Zeffirelli

Introduction In movies based on Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” directors have taken different approaches to how closely they stick to the original text and how they interpret the themes, characters, and settings. This essay reviews two film versions of “Hamlet” directed by Franco Zeffirelli and Gregory Doran and prefers the latter....

Creation of Stereotypes in Film: Moana

Introduction It is significant to mention that author Wesley Yiin wrote an article, “Is Disney’s portrayal of Maui, a Polynesian demigod, in ‘Moana’ culturally insensitive?” June 28, 2016 (Yiin, 2016). Moreover, the author is a former Washington Post reporter who now lives and works in Sitka, Alaska. The article’s main...

The Our Time Is Up Film Analysis

“Our Time Is Up” is a short film made in 2006. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006-2006. This film depicts several days in the life of a successful psychiatrist, Leonard Stern. However, he finds a new way to communicate with his patients after receiving unexpected news. Thus,...

John Hughes: The Life and Legacy of a Teen Film Icon

Physical Development 1950 saw the birth of John in a little Midwest village. He had three sisters and was the sole male. For his first 12 years in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, he was a Gordie Howe supporter of the Detroit Red Wings. When he was younger, John remembered being “sort...

Costume Design in the Soylent Green Film

Introduction One of the most outstanding examples of an American ecological dystopia is the 1973 film Soylent Green, produced, directed, and edited by Richard Fleischer, Walter Seltzer, and Russell Thacher. It is based on the plot of a 1996 book by Harry Harrison. To craft this exciting tale, the director,...

The Social Dilemma by Jeff Orlowski Review

With the advent of modern technology and social media networks, communication has become much easier. However, as Sophocles, a Greek tragedian, once said: “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse” (The Social Dilemma 00:00:17). The Social Dilemma, a documentary released in 2020 by Netflix, examines the expansion...

Leadership Styles in the Forrest Gump Film

Introduction Forrest managed to inspire Elvis Presley, who imitated Forrest’s dance moves. As such, he received a football scholarship and became a top running back and was awarded by John F. Kennedy. After graduation, Forrest was drafted into the US Army and fought the Vietnam War, where he saved almost...

The Oedipus Complex in Pasolini’s Movie

Introduction Many ancient plays still inspire artists, musicians, and other people related to art, and Sophocles’s Oedipus the King is one such tragedy. Thus, in 1967, a movie named Oedipus Rex, directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, was created. It is noticeable that Pasolini inserted a prologue situated in current times...

The “Food Inc.” Documentary by Robert Kenner

Introduction Global food production processes are essential for the world community and population due to the fact that people cannot survive without a well-developed food supply system. At the same time, various drawbacks and issues can occur during the procedures related to animal food factories, food production distribution, as well...

“The Matrix”, Scepticism, and the Mind-Body Problem

Lilly and Lana Wachowski’s movie The Matrix has attracted a lot of attention from philosophy scholars ever since its initial release in 1999. Through the subtleties of cinematic language and subtext in screenwriting, the movie discusses major philosophical themes, such as skepticism and the mind-body problem. This paper aims to...

“The Last King of Scotland” Film Analysis

If power is the ability to influence the results and behavior of others, then The Last King of Scotland helps us understand where despotism and tyranny can lead. The film was directed by Kevin MacDonald and was released in 2006. The story is about Idi Amin – the real ruler,...

Invictus, the Real-life Story by Bolman & Deal

Introduction The real-life story of a leader called Nelson Mandela, together with his efforts to unite South Africans, is the overall inspiration for the film Invictus. Mandela’s new role as president presents several challenges for Mandela’s aim of eradicating racial prejudice and trying to unite his country. As the nation...

“The Bear Came Over the Mountain”: True Love and Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction Severe illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, often appear in various literary works, movies, and other art forms. An example of such a work is the short story “The bear came over the mountain” written by Alice Munro and published in The New Yorker journal. The story is about a...

Evaluation of the Symptoms of Schizophrenia in “A Beautiful Mind”

Introduction The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) is a collection of mental disorders. It includes the definitions, classifications, and organization of the disorders. Also, the manual contains a list of criteria that is used to make a diagnosis. The DSM-IV-TR is...

“The Silence of the Lambs”: Characters, Storyline, and Themes

Introduction Psychology often interests people who are not scholars or students of the corresponding faculty. As such, movie directors and screenwriters find phenomena that this scientific field describes as inspirational. Obviously, mental disorders receive special attention from film creators due to the fact that people like to observe the unusual...

Comparison of “Metropolis” and “Modern Times” Movies

Introduction The films of Fritz Lang and Charlie Chaplin are of high value in the silent film environment and in general for the global film industry. They touch upon many issues and problems and give their vision of the future times. It is pretty interesting to view these films now,...

Breathless: Analysis of the Characters

The film Breathless presents quite unusual characters – they demonstrate their egoism in relationships, have philosophical conversations, and relax while one of them is hiding from the police. For instance, in the end, when the police are already following Michel, at first, he does not try to run away, and...

Analysis of Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese

Introduction Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is a legendary gangster movie that is loved by many people even today. The plot narrates the life of Henry Hill, starting with his childhood when he was a poor child living in New York to his adult life as a gangster. This movie is an...

Rebel Without a Cause: Clothing as a Character Development Tool

Rebel Without a Cause has been praised for capturing the complexity of emotions of an entire teenage generation. The movie has encouraged a wave of teenager dramas, and after the premier, it helped to solidify a completely new market in Hollywood, unique to the otherwise overlooked teenage demographic. Throughout the...

Theological Vision of “Pleasantville” by Gary Ross

The rapid development of Western civilization and the ongoing secularization of society cannot be doubted or reversed, with the societal rebuilding serving as a step toward new approaches to religious discipleship. Pleasantville (1998) is a movie that brilliantly shows how worldviews are transforming, causing rapid social change. In its essence,...

“A Few Good Men” by Reiner

Are People Always Ready to Handle the Truth? – Many people believe that they need to and want to live a truthful life. Still, not all of them are actually ready to handle the truth and accept it as it is. The movie A Few Good Men directed by Rob...

Racial Exclusion in the “Higher Learning” Film

Introduction Higher Learning shows students from different social backgrounds facing interracial tensions, violence, responsibility, and the meaning of “learning” at the university campus. The film has three storylines demonstrating three key characters: Malik, Kristen, and Remy (Singleton, 1995). The first storyline introduces African American Malik, an athlete trying to become...

The Dramatized Real Story of Erin Brockovich

Abstract The paper revolves around the dramatized real story of Erin Brockovich. The story is retrieved from a film entitled Brockovich that was written by Susannah Grant. The story concentrates more on the health complications that the residents of Hinkley were facing as a result of consumption of contaminated water....

“An Introduction to Film Studies” by Jill Nelmes

In her article about the cinematic codes, Jill Nelmes (2003) describes eight main elements through which the film director may communicate with the viewers; these elements include props, costumes, sound, editing, performance of the actors, settings, lighting, and the scene in general. The exploration of the communication via editing was...

The Film Zodiac and Ethical Concerns

David Fincher appears to be one of the most prominent contemporary film directors, and Zodiac is among his works too. It is a detective produced following the namesake non-fiction book of Robert Graysmith, published in 1986, and released in 2007. The film is based on a true story, narrating the...

The Shawshank Redemption Movie Review

Twenty-six years after its release, The Shawshank Redemption maintains its top position in the IMDb’s rating of top 1000 movies of all time. This fact alone makes the film unquestionably unmissable and worth paying for watching; however, there is more to it than that. A banker Andy Dufrense is wrongfully...

“The Break Up” Movie: Family Conflict Theme

Lemons and Pool Tables The movie The Break Up introduces the viewers to the couple Gary and Brooke and their ugly break up, hence making the audience comprehend how they can come to good terms with their partners after disagreements. The argument concerning lemons and pool tables is an illusion...

Lighting and Landscapes: The Movie “Call Me by Your Name”

Throughout the movie Call Me by Your Name, both lighting and landscapes play a central role in promoting the metaphorical semantics and emotional background. Elio is generally shown in darkness in a number of scenes, such as in the bathroom (Guadagnino 00:06:15-00:06:19). The dark lighting setting can also be observed...