What Is “Der Nachtmahr” Actually About? Is It Open to Interpretation?
Toronto International Film Festival's "Der Nachtmahr" is most evidently a film about a teenager's struggle with identity and acceptance, but the film's odd and mysterious…
How Did “Love & Mercy” Stars Paul Dano and John Cusack Prepare for Their Roles? Why Cast Both?
Brian Wilson wasn't the same person in the 1960s as he was in the 1980s. To that end, the film cast two actors to portray the different points in his life, with their own interpretations.
How Is the Title of “Prometheus” Significant?
Prometheus stole fire for humanity. Scientists search for the origins of life. Will humanity be punished for its hubris?
How Does “A Streetcar Named Desire” Serve as a Requiem for the Old South?
"A Streetcar Named Desire" shows the clashing of the Old and New South through its conflicting characters. Blanche represents the antiquated and dwindling power of the Old South, while…
Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Parisian Accent in “The Walk” Any Good?
Can Joseph Gordon-Levitt pull off a French accent? Is it more Pepe Le Pew or Pepe Le Moko?
What Was the Original Title of “The Godfather: Part III”?
The creators of "The Godfather: Part III" intended a more artistically intriguing title that would have emphasized the film's status as an epilogue or coda to the Godfather saga…
How Does “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Look in Google’s Deepdream?
While "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" ultimately acts as a retrospective on the 1960’s counterculture, it is most often noted for its depictions of hallucinogens and psychedelics. So,…
Why Has “The Wire” Been Used as a Focus of Higher Education Curricula?
"The Wire" offers viewers a depiction of urban inequality that is unrivaled even in the best published sociology textbooks.
Sean Baker and Trey Edward Shults Answer ScreenPrism’s Questions on Technological Innovation in Film
Sean Baker shot "Tangerine" on the iPhone 5S, while Trey Edward Shults shot "Krisha" in his family home using family and friends as actors to keep costs down. We interviewed…
Where Does “Catastrophe” Fit Into the New Television Distribution Model?
The landscape of TV distribution is changing, with far more shows airing in the US than ever before. "Catastrophe" represents a smaller segment of this increase: American audiences now…
How Was “The Wire” a Product of Post-9/11 Society, and How Has It Aged?
"The Wire" articulated life in the mid-2000s in a way that retrospectively seems jarring, but that helps educate younger generations of the transforming political, social and…
What Makes “Love & Mercy” an Unusual Music Biopic?
"Love & Mercy" doesn't employ the traditional narrative tactics used in most biopics, instead choosing to explore two discrete periods in Brian Wilson's life. The artistic…