Is a female gaze possible in cinema?
Female filmmakers can resist the male gaze in a variety of ways, whether through critique or turning the camera's gaze back onto men.
How Does the Contrasting Color Palette of “Cries and Whispers” Assist the Story?
"Cries and Whispers" uses red, white, and black heavily for metaphorical power and to drive the narrative of the story.
What are the interpretations of Chance walking on water at the end of “Being There”?
In "Being There," Ashby leaves us with an image that challenges our perceptions of our own lives. It makes us re-think the way we perceive ourselves, and wonder how we’re perceived by…
Is Mrs. Lovett the real villain in Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd”?
Through her lies and manipulation, Mrs. Lovett pushes Sweeney toward his path of revenge and murder. She may be even more villainous than Judge Turpin.
Does “The Birds” Have a MacGuffin?
The MacGuffin in "The Birds" is best identified as the reason for the birds' attacks. It is the unresolved "thing" which sets the film's tension and pushes forward the…
How does “Boondock Saints” show the occasionally vast divide between critical and audience reception?
"The Boondock Saints" is a movie panned by critics, but which has a huge cult following thanks to its cheap, fun entertainment quality.
What does the title “The Constant Gardener” mean?
The title of "The Constant Gardener" evokes the idea of endless investigation in the pursuit of information.
Is “Grave of the Fireflies” based on a true story?
"Grave of the Fireflies" is a 1988 Japanese anime film based on the 1967 short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka.
Will the special episode of BBC series “Sherlock” work in its original Victorian setting?
A special "Sherlock" episode will set the contemporary show back in Victorian Britain. Will it work?
How does “The Grinder” build on a tradition of show-within-a-show television?
Fox’s The Grinder (2015) is the latest in a long history of show-within-a-show television. It is different though, it its approach and its philosophy, which is a reflection of the metamodernism…
How did the “Harry Potter” series evolve as the directors changed?
Each director who helmed a film in the "Harry Potter" universe provided unique talents to match the changing nature of the material over time.
How did the Weasley twins in “Harry Potter” finance their store after dropping out of school?
The films say nothing about it, but Harry Potter financed the Weasley twins' joke shop using his TriWizard Tournament funds.