Kenneth Anger and Jack Smith: Queer Experimental Cinema and Cultural Influence

Introduction It is possible to find numerous examples of movies interacting with LGBT discourse. Many experimental movies contain elements of queer aesthetics, which undermine conventional understandings of gender, sexuality, and identity by challenging norms and establishing alternatives, and these tendencies have been present throughout history (Obermayr, 2020; Loveday, 2019; Crow,...

Ethical Analysis of Colonel Jessup’s Behavior in “A Few Good Men”

Introduction Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, faces an ethical conundrum that captures the conflict between morality and military duty. This essay will examine Jessup’s actions through utilitarianism, ethical leadership, and Kantian deontology, assess the morality of his choices, and suggest other...

The Shawshank Redemption Movie Review: Hope, Friendship, and Human Resilience

Overview of the Film and Its Core Themes A 1982 Stephen King novella titled “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” inspired the 1994 American drama film The Shawshank Redemption, which was directed by Frank Darabont. The intended audience for this movie review is film enthusiasts, drama lovers, and those interested...

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...

Saving Private Ryan and the Sole Survivor Policy in World War II Depiction

Introduction Saving Private Ryan is an American war film centered on World War II (WWII) events in France. The main story involves the responsibility assigned to Captain John Miller, who leads eight other men to search for and rescue James Ryan, a private paratrooper officer, following a Normandy invasion. Ryan’s...

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,...

“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...

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...

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...

Helen Pearson’s Research: Topical Approach to Lifespan Development

The approach to Helen Pearson’s research was to take a group of children, for example, those born in a particular year and trace the life of a generation in detail. From the information received, Helen Pearson concluded that families who are planning the birth of a child should have financial...

The Politics of the “Get Out” Film by Jordan Peele

Introduction Few topics confronting society today generate as much discussion and debate as racism. Often, the definition of racism is a crucial component of the argument. To know how to operate morally in a society, a precise understanding of racism is necessary. Jordan Peele’s 2017 psychological thriller Get Out analyzes...

The Book and Movie Versions of “The Martian”

Introduction The Martian, by Andy Weir, is a science fiction novel adapted into a 2015 film directed by Ridley Scott. It has been adapted into a critically acclaimed movie and has become a worldwide sensation. Both the book and the movie present the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who is...

The Documentary “A Brilliant Genocide”

The documentary “A Brilliant Genocide” shows how the Ugandan government killed over 800,000 people in just 100 days. I enjoyed this documentary because it was eye-opening and informative. I like how it provides many details about the killings. Additionally, the film gives a voice to the Acholi people, who are...

“A Passage to India” Movie Review

Introduction The problem of cultural bias and unwillingness to accept other nationalities and traditions is relevant to this day. Thus, the study of various filmographic works is valuable because it can provide an understanding of the reasons why these mechanisms arise. The painting “A Passage to India” in 1984 is...

Show-Don’t-Tell in Mise-en-Scene of “Psycho”

Introduction Alfred Hitchcock is an undeniably unparalleled master of cinematography, with countless movies representing the techniques that were groundbreaking at the time. However, it is the perfection of the mise-en-scene that should be placed among the crowning achievements of Hitchcock’s mastery. His incredible skill and massive contribution to the development...

Themes and Lessons in Paradise Now Summary

Introduction Paradise Now was filmed in 2005 by director Hani Abu-Assad. This film tells the story of two lost friends who grew up together. In the past, they worked as auto mechanics in the city of Nablus, which is under Israeli control (Paradise Now). Being led by their circumstances, both...

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 &...

“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...

Themes in Films by Spike Lee

Introduction Spike Lee is an American film actor, writer, producer, and director known for films dealing with controversial political and social issues. Films that have been directed by Lee are known as “Spike Lee Joints,” and their closing credits always end with the phrases “By Any Means Necessary,” “Ya Dig,”...

Criticism of the Netflix Series “The Squid Game”

As is often the case, literary works, or any other form of “text” with broad appeal cannot be evaluated from only one perspective. There are a considerable number of people living on the planet, and each of them has its own cultural and ethnic background. The presence and quality of...

Ron Howard’s Film “A Beautiful Mind”

Ron Howard’s film A Beautiful Mind is well known in our country largely due to the incredible work of Russell Crowe, who played the role of John Nash in it – a real scientist who has been struggling with schizophrenia for many years. The story about Professor John Nash attracts...

A Beautiful Mind: Analysis of Film

The film A Beautiful Mind can be called a cult film, forever included in the world cinema fund and not going to leave it. The film tells about a mathematician who suffers from schizophrenia and tries to get along with this disease. There are many opinions and disputes about the...

“A Time to Kill”: Plot, Impact, and Social Perceptions

Background “A Time to Kill,” is a legal drama film based on the novel by John Grisham. The film tells the story of justice for a Black man who lynched his ten-year-old daughter’s rapists. Carl Lee Hailey connects to White lawyer Jake Brigance in the hope of being acquitted in...

Sociology of “Avatar” Movie by James Cameron

Avatar is a science fiction movie created and produced by James Cameron. The film was released on the 10th of December, 2009, to high praises from critics that marveled at its innovative and impressive visual effects. The movie follows the colonization of Pandora by the humans whose aim was to...

“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...

Analysis of the Documentary Movie Cowspiracy

Introduction The documentary movie Cowspiracy, directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, demonstrates how animal husbandry negatively influences the planet’s environment. The movie creators use the results of various research to provide evidence that cattle breeding can have a disastrous effect on the ecology. Moreover, the film suggests that animal...

“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...

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,...

“To Live” Directed by Zhang Yimou: Movie Analysis

Told through the lens of the protagonist and set in the era of the Chinese civil war, “To Live” tells a story of a Chinese family that has to survive the challenges of living amidst the Cultural revolution and the resulting Civil War in China. The movie opens with the...

The Documentary “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” Analysis

The documentary tells the story of the biggest fraud in US history. It expresses the narrative of a firm collapse that led to a business scandal. The company was conducting power fraud in California, which led to the executives’ arrest. However, they managed to get away with more than a...

“Rear Window” Movie Analysis

Introduction People were always interested in interpreting written stories for the big screen. Books of all genres: comedies, detective stories, romance novels, and thrillers often appear before the public as movies. The film Rear Window, produced by Alfred Hitchcock in 1954, is not an exception. The original short story It...

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...

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...

”Max and Ruby” Through the Lens of a Developmental Psychological Perspective

For the analysis, I chose the children’s animated series “Max and Ruby.” Attention was focused on the episode “Surprise for Ruby,” one of the most popular among children. The target audience of the cartoon is preschool children of three or four years old. “Max and Ruby” is suitable for both...

Cinematography and Visuals in the Tenet Film

Introduction Visual perception is one of the essential sources of information for the human brain. This idea has been effectively utilized in the filmmaking industry, allowing directors to transmit profound ideas subtly. Christopher Nolan is a renowned expert in cinematography, which makes his works worth examining from this point of...

The Hero’s Journey Theory in “Black Panther”

Tales about heroes are an integral part of everyone’s childhood as the obstacles these victors overcome, their unearthly courage, and the amazing triumphs they achieve form an influential concept of “an ideal human.” In these seemingly childish and imaginary stories and myths, Joseph Campbell, a successful American professor of literature,...

Decolonization Through Fiction: Indigenous Horror in Canada

For a long time, North American cinema was largely synonymous with Hollywood-made films. However, in the past few decades, independent filmmakers and festivals, such as Sundance and Toronto, have received a significant amount of public attention. Canadian Indigenous films represent a new distinctive branch of independent North American cinema. While...

Martha Rogers’s Theory and the Movie “The Sixth Sense” by Shyamalan

The theory of unitary human beings formulated by Martha Rodgers has played a very significant role in the discipline of nursing as well as many other disciplines. The introduction of the theory has transformed the field of nursing and the initial perception of healthcare. In today’s world, nursing is not...

Review of Noel Carroll’s article “Forget the Medium!”

Introduction As soon as movies were identified as a separate, unique form of art, a number of theories, capacities, and laws were introduced to identify the components of moviemaking. Society entered an era of medium essentialism, the purpose of which was to study the essence of film as an art...

The Age of Adaline: Priorities That Matter

Introduction Due to the progress of high technology, unlimited people’s imagination, and the desire to puzzle out the most complicated but permanent things, the world of moviemaking has become a solid area for experiments. Directors take the most incredible storylines and share their visions in the most unpredictable ways. In...

Battleship Potemkin Movie Review

Battleship Potemkin was revolutionary in many senses, but the most memorable and fascinating part is arguably the Odessa Steps. While it is a marvel from the technical point of view, the sequence also criticizes war and its cruelty, particularly towards the innocent. However, the message is enhanced through the montage,...

Benefits and Threats of Digital Cinema: The Matrix World

Introduction The progress of the movie industry from 1945 to today cannot be ignored because of many reasons. In addition to a variety of new styles and movie genres, this field has undergone multiple technological transformations and enhancements. One of the most evident achievements was surely a step forward to...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Play and Movie

When movie directors adopt a story in a film, they normally make significant changes to suit the needs of the audience. In addition, movie making has become a professional career supported by companies that are concerned about profitability, and thus films have to be popular and resonate with the audience....

Political Sciences. “Inside Job” Documentary

Introduction The movie “Inside Job” can be acclaimed among the most successful documentary films released in 2010. And this is no wonder as the film features an interesting and thought-provoking layout with reliable information and good quality of its accomplishment. In general, this film is a story about the economical...

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...

America’s Film Rating System

Introduction The motion picture association of America’s film rating system is a system that rates the movies depending on the contents and suitability in regard to the targeted audience. This guide has developed a symbol that rates the movies according to its fit for audience. Some films are rated for...

“Inception” by Christopher Nolan: Human Mind Mysteries

Introduction Nine years in the making, “Inception” premiered in the summer of 2010 as an intense and convoluted but entertaining warning about the promise and perils of understanding human dreams. It is too soon to tell whether the critical acclaim that greeted the movie will translate to Oscar, Golden Globe...

Kikujirô No Natsu (Kikujiro) by Takeshi Kitano Review

Kikujirô no Natsu or Kikujiro (International Title) is a Japanese movie that describes the tale of a young boy’s search for his mother through his summer vacation diary. Released in 1999, the movie was written and directed by Takeshi Kitano, a Japanese filmmaker. He also plays the key role in...

Film Production: Camera, Lighting and Sound

There is no universally accepted definition of mise-en-scene. People engaged in film production do not agree on different concepts the term might hold. In the most general sense, it denotes the design aspects of film production. The term was first used by Les Cahiers du Cinéma, an influential French film...

“8 Mile” by Curtis Hanson Review

Introduction The movie “8 Mile” vividly portrays a hip-hop culture and its manifestations in modern society. The movie describes the life of a working-class fellow Jimmy “B. Rabbit” Smith Jr., and his desire to become a hip-hop artist. This is an impressive life story portraying family violence and abuse. This...

Motion Pictures: “Film/Genre” Book by Rick Altman

Introduction It is worth noting that theorists have long been trying to resolve the issue of inaccurate genre affiliation of motion pictures. The lack of a strict terminological base and the difficulty of categorizing movies led to the fact that the same film can be attributed to different and even...

Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Trilogy: The “Blue” Film

Blue, white and red are colors that stand for the French people’s revolutionary slogan Liberté, egalité, fraternité (liberty, equality and fraternity or brotherhood). Blue, red and white also refers to the powerhouse film trilogy of Polish director, Krzysztof Kieślowski. Collectively known as “Trois Colueurs”, this powerhouse trilogy which might have...

Neorealism Elements in “The Color of Paradise” Film

Filmmakers all around the world try to convey their messages by using different techniques and choosing various topics. The era of Neo Realism is characterized by highlighting the problems of ordinary people, shooting scenes in genuine surroundings, using non-professional actors, and improvisation (Konewko 25). The movie The Color of Paradise...

Aniconism in “The Hidden Art of Islam” Documentary

Introduction The Hidden Art of Islam is devoted to the history of aniconism in Muslim culture and its influence on Arabic calligraphy, geometry, design, and contemporary art inspired by Islam. As the movie emphasizes, artists should not depict God, the Prophet Muhammad, human figures, and other living creatures alike, especially...

“A Doll’s House” the Movie by Patrick Garland

Introduction The main themes of the movie A Doll’s House are institutionalized sexism, misogyny, and women’s role in patriarchal systems. The story’s main character Nora was living a seemingly perfect life, but throughout the storyline, she came to the realization that she was a mere “doll” in her husband’s eyes....

The Godfather: Management Style Analysis

Introduction Lessons one can learn about leadership or styles of management are in wide availability within the modern media. The different ways in which organizations are now led have been subjects to multiple movies or TV series that depict main characters dealing with important business issues. The Godfather (1972) is...

NCIS TV Series: Narrative Structure and Characters

Although NCIS cannot be considered the longest running show in the U.S. primetime broadcast, it has definitely cemented its position as one of the most popular TV series. Started in 2003, NCIS centers around a group of people belonging to the titular department and solving crimes, which might seem as...

Understanding Television: the Focus of Television Programming

Implications of Differences in Television Program Policy or Focus Television profitability depends highly on the attractiveness of the programs created. The key role of television producers is to make sure the viewers understand and enjoy what they are being shown. Viewers need to understand and be helped to distinguish what...

Forrest Gump: Masterpiece of Abstract Ideas and Real-Life Situations

Introduction In the modern world, there is a wide range of opinions on factors that help to distinguish between mediocre unremarkable films and movie masterpieces that challenge viewers’ minds and, therefore, impact their views of life. Some viewers tend to be enraptured with abstract ideas that can be understood in...

Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Harry Potter’ Film Analysis

Introduction Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are two of the most popular fantasy movies produced over the last few decades. These movies have a number of common themes that include good vs. evil, bravery and friendship. The similarity in themes and genre has caused comparisons to be made...

Fireproof by Stephen Kendrick – Film Study

Fireproof is a 2008 chef-d’oeuvre film directed by Stephen Kendrick. The movie explores different family attributes, but the overriding theme is on marriage and divorce. The contemporary marriage institution is constantly faced with numerous challenges, which ultimately lead to divorce. In the movie, Fireproof, Caleb’s marriage is replete with conflict...

Sleepers: Father Bobby’s Moral Dilemma Through Kantian Ethics Lens

Sleepers is a criminal drama film, based on Lorenzo Carcaterra’s novel. The film tells the story of four childhood friends who were put into complex and abusive conditions that influenced all their further life. The question what is right and what is wrong is constantly raised as the story goes....

Liar, Liar (1997): Exploring Ethics and Personal Growth Through Fletcher Reede

Introduction “Liar, Liar” is a comedic fantasy drama directed by Tom Shadyac. The protagonist, a high-flying lawyer, cannot lie about his son’s whole birthday celebration since he has disappointed him too many times. On March 21, 1997, the picture finally hit theaters. The film’s narrative and acting also won high...

Hito Steyerl’s “How Not to Be Seen”: Critique of Invisibility and Surveillance

Visual Composition and Subject Matter in the Artwork The piece “How Not to Be Seen: A Fucking Didactic Educational.MOV File,” created by Hito Steyerl in 2013, presents a parody of an instructional or educational video. Visually, it mixes real camera footage, photographs, and 3D animations. The consistent imagery used in...

Crafting “The Crucible”: A Director’s Vision and Approach to Cinematic Production

Introduction Creating cinematic works requires significant commitment and human resources to make a triumphant masterpiece. The process entails various stages, including script writing, editing, production, budgeting, and directing, which involves the collaboration of other film professionals in the creation process. I am working as a director on creating the film...

Bullying, Autism, and Escapism in Ben X: A Sociological Film Analysis

Introduction The exploration of sociological topics enables people to understand issues permeating civilization better. Nic Balthazar’s “Ben X” is a drama that focuses on an individual with autism spectrum disorder who experiences constant bullying from his peers. An in-depth look into Ben’s feelings and emotions stemming from harassment addresses a...

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...

Antonio and Bruno’s Emotional Bond in “Bicycle Thieves”: A Film Scene Analysis

Background of the Film Scene The scene in which Antonio and his son Bruno sit on a roadside is one of the most iconic scenes in Bicycle Thieves film. Antonio and Bruno’s well-placed positioning against the busy pedestrian background conveys a potent message. It focuses the audience’s attention on the...

“Stranger Things” Review: A Supernatural Sci-Fi Masterpiece

Introduction As a fan of science fiction and supernatural dramas, I have had the pleasure of watching many shows in this genre. One series that stands out for its exceptional storytelling, characters, and nostalgic appeal is the Netflix Original Series “Stranger Things.” In this evaluation, I will analyze the key...

Cultural Intersection and Portrayal of Native Americans in Dances with Wolves and The Searchers

Introduction The realm of cinema is a treasure trove of narratives that explore the human condition, often delving into critical socio-cultural discourses. Two films that navigate the terrain of cultural intersections and the complex dynamics of racial tension are Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves (1990) and John Ford’s The Searchers...

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...

Jonathan Marks’ Documentary “Understanding Race”

Jonathan Marks’ documentary “Understanding Race” examines the development and function of the notion of race in society. According to Marks (2014), the concept of race was invented to legitimize the enslavement and abuse of Black people and to perpetuate White dominance. The Damer family, for example, endured ongoing prejudice and...

Mughal-E-Azam: Indian Film Analysis

Introduction Mughal-E-Azam is an Indian film directed by Asif, which was made in 1960 and became a record-breaking box-office success in India. This work of cinematic art received high critical acclaim and earned many awards and nominations in many countries around the world. The plot of the picture unfolds within...

The Autumn Sonata Film by Ingmar Bergman

Scandinavian Film Tendencies The Autumn Sonata, directed by Ingmar Bergman, was chosen to analyze the film. First, it will be important to determine the features of Scandinavian films’ tendencies and highlight the characteristics of Autumn Sonata that correspond to these tendencies. First, Scandinavian films focus intensely on social realism and...

Interpretation of the “Shattered Glass” Film

The goals of journalism include highlighting current news, informing citizens, and covering recent events. People want to believe that they access interesting and, what is more important, credible material in the local media. In their turn, writers, editors, and other experts create institutions that study the world and decide on...

The History of Bugs Bunny Cartoon

Introduction Bugs Bunny, an animated character, was created back in the 1930s by Leon Schlesinger. It gained popularity after featuring in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series released in 1930 and 1931 respectively. For instance, Merrie Melodies started airing in 1931, during the golden age era of American animation...

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...

The Film “Selma” by Ava DuVernay

Despite being criticized for the cast and some techniques used, Selma, the film about the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., primarily received positive reviews. The central ambiguity was probably the fact that the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement was played by British actor David...

Animation Film Pocahontas by Walt Disney

Introduction A seventy-eight-minute animation film, Pocahontas, by Walt Disney, is about a Native American heroine who saved a British man, John Smith, from execution by her father. The movie has received criticism, especially from Arab Americans (Goldberg & Gabriel, 1995). The film is analyzed on three concepts; libel, privacy invasion,...

The “Crip Camp” Documentary by Newnham & LeBrecht

Crip Camp is a 2020 documentary directed by Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht. It depicts the story of Camp Jened in New York and its attendees, as well as explains its role in the shift within the realm of disabilities rights. The main point that the documentary aims to present...

A Mini-Series Exterminate All the Brutes

There are no such things as alternative facts: this is the central theme that prevails throughout the mini-series created and narrated by Raoul Peck. This idea implies that the history of humankind should be examined through the lens of objective facts that are not distorted by revisionism. Nevertheless, certain pages...

The “Exterminate All the Brutes” Documentary

Raul Peck says in his work that a large chapter of the world story has been told from a biased Eurocentric point of view. This approach cannot be accurate and proper since one of the greatest sins, genocide, remains out of sight (Peck, 2021). It applies to such complex topics...

The Film “The Blind Side” by John Lee Hancock

The Blind Side is an inspiring film based on Michael Lewis’s novel of the same title. It centers on Michael Oher, an African American adolescent who struggles due to poverty but is later welcomed into the family by a wealthy family of the Touhys. With the help of Leigh Anne,...

Conflicts in the Film “A Clockwork Orange”

Introduction A Clockwork Orange is a controversial film brought to the screen by Stanley Kubrick in 1971, based on Anthony Burgess’s eponymous novel. One of the apparent movie conflicts that can be observed is between the values of individual choice and society’s need for control, or, in simpler words, between...

A Documentary Analysis: “The Age of Consequences” by Scott

Introduction Jared P. Scott is the director of The Age of Consequences, a documentary that discusses how climate change can be a catalyst for further conflicts. The film is produced by three distinguished creators, Sophie Robinson, Jared P. Scott himself, and Kelly Nyks. The film’s actors played themselves, and their...

“Fences”: Wilson’s Play and Washington’s Movie

Introduction For this creative, analytical essay, I decided to take the work of Fences, which proved itself worthy in many iterations. As for comparison, I chose to use the movie by Denzel Washington and the original play from the film, the play by August Wilson. Both works are fascinating, and...

TV Series “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Bruce Miller

The Hulu original series, The Handmaid’s Tale, tells the story of a dystopian version of the United States, renamed Gilead. The television series, created by Bruce Miller, is based on the novel originally written by Margaret Atwood. When a political group named “the Sons of Jacob” overthrows the US Government,...

The Paradise Now Movie Analysis

Said and Khaled, two Palestinian garage mechanics and closest friends, are hired to cross into Israel and detonate themselves up in the film. They both had rough lives and blamed Israeli persecution for everything that went wrong. They become separated while accomplishing the task, which might compromise not just the...

Quentin Tarantino’s Film Once Upon a Time Review

Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) is a comedy-drama that represents the alternate history of one famous event. An alternate history narration is a subgenre of science fiction that tries to answer the question “what if,” providing an alternative view on the same historical event (Schneider-Mayerson,...

“The Perfect Dictatorship” by Luis Estrada: The Concept of Dictatorship

Presumably, the best-known markers of a dictatorship are a personality cult and the systematic oppression of human liberties in a certain state. A combination of the two results in the lack of the possibility for the citizens to “change their rulers peacefully,” which Dent (2005) indicates in his dictionary (p....

The Movie “Pursuit of Happyness” by Gabriele Muccino

Perseverance; the desire to keep going when things seem impossible. It is a measure of success, or at least how much one is willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of success. It is difficult to achieve a goal without a plan or direction, but the end goal and path that...

Relations Between Marie Antoinette and Political, Economic and Cultural Contexts

Introduction Films, just like novels, often tell a story that relates to the political, economic, and cultural issues in society. In modern society, there is an effort among filmmakers to ensure that their productions are relevant to specific audiences. A film that is popular among the youth may not be...

The Animation “Night is Short, Walk on Girl” by Masaaki Yuasa

The animation “Night is Short, Walk on Girl” is as unique as its title suggests. The film is a Japanese movie by Masaaki Yuasa that sends the audience on a psychedelic voyage focused on a single carefree night out in the city, portrayed from the views of two individuals as...

Researching the Concept of the Film Genre

A genre is defined as a form of communication in movies, music, or writing, including novels. It is considered a foundation of a story that helps the reader understand the story better. Genre helps influence the audience’s expectations in a movie or novel, and there are different types of genres,...

“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...

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...

“I Love Lucy”: Retrospect, Supporting and Subverting Gender Roles

Introduction TV shows of the past might appear to be simply relics of the bygone era at first sight. However, on further analysis, they can reveal a treasure trove of peculiar details and facts about the time slot that it is expected to portray. Moreover, with the fingerprints of multiple...

The “Flowers of Shanghai” Movie by Hou Hsiao-Hsien

The visual elements play a major in movies since they further highlight certain topics and themes explored through dialogues and actions of characters. The visual language of films provides another dimension to the story shown to the audience and enables viewers to have a fuller experience of what they see...

Citizen Kane: Mise-en-Scene and Aspects

According to the French translation, the arrangement of stage and scenery characteristics or components in a drama is known as mise-en-scene. Although the word mise-en-scene may be translated to “stage setup,” in cinema analysis, it focuses on everything that occurs or is performed in front of the camera, including the...

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...

“99 Francs” by Jan Kounen as an Immortal Film

In modern culture, there are works of art that have passed the test of time, and for many centuries, people have been turning to them. Literary works, which can be called timeless, are rather few in number, but they form the basis of human culture and civilization. In the modern...

Comparison Paper on the Character Malvolio

Many would not dispute the fact that people nowadays tend to recreate literary classics. The movie “She’s the Man,” a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night,” exemplifies this the best. At first glance, the film and the play appear to have apparent congruities. However, the differences and alterations that...

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...

Capitalism and Class Division in the “Parasite” Film

Introduction Directed by Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019) creatively represents social issues connected with capitalism, class division, and unemployment in modern society. Capitalism dominates most of the world’s developed and developing countries, including South Korea. Bong’s explanation of capitalism applies to any country since the topic of inequality resonates everywhere...

The Iconic Moments in the Film “Gold Rush 1925”

The most iconic moment in the movie is when Charlie Chaplin prepares and eats his shoe not to starve from hunger. He serves the shoe on a dish with shoelaces as spaghetti, which puts the viewer in laughter. The funniest thing about the moment in the movie is the face...

“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....

Caregivers, Teachers, and Children in “Matilda” Film

The movie I chose to watch is Matilda, which was directed and co-produced by Danny DeVito. The film is a family comedy that touches on various aspects of parent-child dynamics, parenting styles, and attachments. In the movie, Matilda acts as the main character and is a member of Wormwood’s family....

“The Great Gatsby”: The American Dream Is Not Feasible for All

Introduction The American Dream is the idea that any person can become rich in the United States. Through hard work, an optimistic outlook for the future, and virtuous character, a person can become successful. However, in practice, not all people can achieve this dream by showing dedication and acting ethically,...

“The Adhan, Call to Prayer” by Channel 4

This report analyzes the online video material named “The Adhan. Call to Prayer,” which tells about the Ramadhan month of Muslim people by Channel 4, British TV stream channel (The Adhan (spoken); Call to Prayer). In the given short film, Hassen Rasool, who is believed to be one of the...

“A Clockwork Orange”: The Purpose of Violence

Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange has had a lasting influence on generations as they read about the disintegration of British culture and the ruse of new youth culture in opposition to the tradition, producing perversity and violence. In the 1960s, which are being depicted in the book, the British culture...

Philosophy of the Bronies in “My Little Pony” Fandom

Introduction The critical examination of popular social trends is an essential component of analytical social science research. It makes it possible to qualitatively identify and measure not only sentiments peculiar to individual groups and communities but also for the population as a whole. The best medium for the contemporary and...

La Jetee by Chris Marker

La Jetee (from French – “Jetty”) is a featurette by a French director Chris Marker. This is the only story film by the famous documentary maker who decided not to stand back from the genre of science fiction that was gaining popularity overnight in early 1960s. However, the film’s specialties...

“Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment – The Deadly Deception”: Unethical Scientific Experiment

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Traditional biomedical researches that used human as research subjects were characterized by gross violation of their rights. The Tuskegee’s study of 1932-1972, as displayed in Nova’s (2019) video, is not an exception since other studies such as the Nazi experimentation of 1945-1947 were even more severe. However,...

“A Cure for Wellness” by Verbinski

Anti-capitalist symbolism is expressed in the film “A Cure for Wellness.” The movie is a psychological horror picture that proposes that worship of money and material success, kills a human being. At the beginning of the film, an employee dies of a heart attack at work in a substantial financial...

Lessons From the Hardball Film Applied to Real Life

The film is based on the book, ‘Hardball: A Season in the Projects’, by Daniel Coyle, and although the film is not an exact replica of the book by Coyle, it is an account similar to the Near North Little League’s 1992 season. The film features Keanu Reeves portraying a...

“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...

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...

“Erin Brockovich” by S. Soderberg: Conflict in a Film

Introduction Conflict is one of the most common challenges that appear in interpersonal relationships. Every day humans engage in communication with relatives, friends, and strangers, and these interactions often require dealing with various issues and finding a compromise. While every individual has their view of the world and possesses different...

Clash of the Titans: The Remake of Perseus and Why Is He So Popular

Introduction Perseus, a Greek demi-god, is one of the most known and loved heroes in mythology. The recent movie Clash of the Titans (2010), which retells the story of Perseus, proves the fact that his bravery is still not forgotten. Most likely Perseus is still so popular and discussed today...

Birds as a Motif in “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock

Psycho, the psychological horror filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960, is a recognized masterpiece. Its main character is Norman Bates, the owner of the motel where Marion Crane stops while trying to hide from the police after the theft she committed. A timid and handsome young man turns out to...

Reginald Rose’s Courtroom Drama “Twelve Angry Men”

It is hard to disagree that all people are trying to achieve justice, equality, and freedom, and drawing the public’s attention to the fundamental problems is one way to do that. Since writing and words themselves are a great power, it has become a common practice for authors to express...

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...

Toxic Masculinity and Machismo in Junot Diaz’s “Drown”

Introduction Gender is inescapable. It does not matter whether one agrees with the emerging progressive narrative of gender being a construct or not. Being a male or a female comes with its own set of expectations, codes, and experiences, which are impossible to run from. Junot Diaz’s “Drown” does an...

Cinematography Techniques in Steven Spielberg’s Films

Steven Spielberg is considered the world’s most commercially successful director, who has unprecedented control over his films. He has been credited with inventing the modern blockbuster and influencing the film industry dramatically. According to Echeverría-Domingo, Spielberg is known for his ability to mix a “classical film-making and an outstanding capacity...

Analysis of “Sleepy Hollow” Film Directed by Tim Burton

Introduction Sleepy Hollow is an American film released in 1999 and based on the story The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow written in the early 19th century. The movie features Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci as the main characters and Tim Burton as the writer and director. Unlike most movies...

Manifesto of a Generation: “The Breakfast Club” by John Hughes

Introduction The Breakfast Club was different from typical films for young people of that time. The release of the picture determined the development of the English-language youth cinema genre for decades. I choose this film because although it is a simple story without plot twists and unpredictable ending, the most...

Disney Films: Projector of Our Society’s Values

Disney Company is the most significant entertainment empire in the world, thanks to the creator Walt Disney and his brother. Since the inception of Disney, the society has experienced a change of influence in both gender roles and characters. Disney movies have shaped the skills, attitudes, behaviors, and morals of...

Latin American Film: “Macario” by Roberto Gavaldón

Botz describes the period between 1950 and 1960 as rife with major worker’s struggles and labor unions. This was the era before the 1960 revolution, a volatile time in Mexican politics. It is against this backdrop that Roberto Gavaldón directed Macario. Macario is a Mexican story intertwined with magical realism...

“Avatar” the Film by J. Cameron

Avatar (2009) is a highly successful science fiction film created by James Cameron. It stars Sam Worthington, Michele Rodriquez, and Stephen Lang among others. The film has both human and computer-generated actors. The temporal setting of the film is the year 2154 when human beings are presumed to own a...

“Brokeback Mountain” by Ang Lee

There is a famous American western that revolutionized modern cinematography by rising important issues of gender and sexuality. The name of the movie is the Brokeback Mountain and by making sociological problems described in the movie so open for public, Ang Lee put them on the top of the most...

“Last One Picked…First One Picked On” Documentary

When most people reflect on their child hood, they will always think about pleasurable memories that tend to describe those relatively untroubled stage of their life e.g. field trip, award presentation etc. but for this children it is a different world, all they reflect on is a life of loneliness...

What Blazing Saddles and Bamboozled Say about Race Relations

Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles (1974) ranks #6 in the top 100 comedies of the twentieth century, according to the American Film Institute, with Brooks’s Young Frankenstein ranked #13 and The Producers #11. Brooks is less interested in social commentary or satire than in laughs and yet Blazing Saddles does contribute...

Movie Narration & Historical Accuracy: Troy

Introduction Troy is one of the few movies that have chosen to bring the most fascinating of historical events to the modern generation. Released in 2004, this Oscar-winning movie was directed by Wolfgang Peterson and is based upon a combination of real-world events, Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid amongst others...

Hyper-Reality in Television

Hyper-reality in television: an introduction The concept of hyper-reality is defined as the blurring of the distinction between what is real and what is unreal, made possible through the process of simulation (Baudrillard & Glaser 1994, p.1). Baudrillard and Glaser (1994, p.1) define simulation as “the generation by models of...

‘Run Lola Run’ by Tom Tykwer

Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt) is a German thriller movie that was produced in 1998 and directed by Tom Tykwer. It was widely critically acclaimed, bagging 26 of the 41 awards that it was nominated for in Germany and in international film festivals, including Best Film at the Seattle International...

Prisons in “The Shawshank Redemption” by Frank Darabont

It is a reality that prison populations in the United States are rising. The reasons are many, including economic factors, the changing cultural environment, problems in education, lack of enough infrastructure to prevent crime, and too many more to list. Even the media has been blamed. The rising crime rate...

The Story of Forrest Gump

Introduction The story of Forest Gump is aimed to narrate a story of a man and his journey all through the way of life. During the story, he meets significant historical personalities, impacts pop culture, and experiences notable historical events of the century. This story reveals the fact that anyone...

“Stephen King On Why We Crave Horror Movies” Analysis

It has often been said that “There is nothing to fear but fear itself”. A term that often refers to man’s fear of the dark due to not being able to see what lies ahead. This is perhaps also the reason why we, as intelligent beings, enjoy watching a good...

Ethics in Medical Experiments: Insights from ‘Miss Evers’ Boys’

Experiments play a significant role in the progress of medicine. They help researchers to fill in the gaps in knowledge in certain areas through testing, analyzing clinical and laboratory effects, and research of information. However, sometimes, the methods of conducting experiments can go against ethical principles. In this essay, the...

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...

Trends in Japanese Horror Cinema: Evolution and Global Impact

Summary The chapter, “Recent Trends in Japanese Horror Cinema” by Jay McRoy is a detailed account of how this genre has evolved in the Japanese film-making industry to assert global influence. The author starts by giving an elaborate background and history of Japanese Cinema which dates back to the origins...

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...

The Film “Damaged Care” Analysis

Introduction The film Damaged Care shot in 2002 portrays a disappointing reality of the profit-centered USA health care system. The main character of the motion picture, Dr. Linda Peeno, played by Laura Dern, starts her job on a position of a medical reviewer at the organization called Humana Health Care...

“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...

The Godfather Movie: Scoring and Visual Style

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather always gets included in many critics’ top 100 best films list. It is hard to argue against its inclusion in a list that talks about the greatest achievements in cinematic history. It is not a good idea to ignore this film, because writers, journalists, and...

“The Wizard of Oz”: Movie Analysis

Analysis The Scarecrow is a character that shows his optimism even in situations with minimum available information about possible outcomes. For example, he is optimistic about two roads that he has never put his foot on and believes that “it’s pleasant down that way, too” (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)....