Why is Red’s voiceover in “The Shawshank Redemption” so effective?
"The Shawshank Redemption" uses voiceover narration to tell the story through Red's eyes. The device amplifies our emotional experience by building on the visuals and dramatic…
What Life Lesson Does “Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer” Teach?
"Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer" is a look at the subject's rise to fame from meager beginnings to high fashion superstar. But more importantly, it's a film with a…
In “Mulholland Drive,” What Happened at Club Silencio?
The Club Silencio scene reveals to Diane that illusion is temporary, and when the magic ends, the show is over. It serves as the transition out of the film's initial dream-state and into the…
How Does “The Right Stuff” Use Humor to Make the Heroes of the Mercury 7 Mission Relatable and Human?
The humor found in "The Right Stuff" is necessary in order to humanize these larger than life heroes.
How Does the Heavy Use of Subtitles Affect the Experience of Watching “Narcos”?
American television audiences are typically wary of subtitled content, so the decision of "Narcos" to use subtitles as its primary delivery of dialogue is an intriguing one.
How Does “Brazil” Satirize the Concept of Technological Advances?
"Brazil" offers an indictment of our reliance on technology in a similar but more camp and lighthearted way than the novel 1984.
In “Seinfeld,” Who Is Elaine’s Father Based On?
Elaine's father, who appears in the Season 2 episode "The Jacket," is based on the author Richard Yates, whose novel "Revolutionary Road," published in 1962, is perhaps his…
How Is Sexual Tension Conveyed in “Girl With a Pearl Earring”?
"Girl with a Pearl Earring" is heavily charged with sexual tension, but the two romantic leads never actually have sex with each other.
What Is the Meaning of the Cage Motif in “The Birds”?
In Hitchcock's "The Birds," the recurring cage motif makes strong yet elusive statements on human nature.
What Does the Water Imagery in “The Graduate” Express About the 1960s Youth Mindset and Destiny?
In "The Graduate," water represents the drifting, uncertain future of Benjamin's post-graduate life, reflecting the doubts and confusion common to youths of the era.
How Does “Chinatown” Use Water Associations to Communicate Ideas of Good and Evil?
Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" uses perversions of water (the symbol of life) to signify evil, in the forms of drought and intentional drownings.
What Is the Significance of the Water Imagery in “Ordinary People”?
Images of water are central to the character evolution of "Ordinary People," reflecting the emotional state of Conrad and his guilt over his brother's drowning.