Does “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Have a Political Message?
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier," in addition to its well-paced action scenes, contains a not-so-secret political message that takes aim at drone warfare and maybe, depending on your…
For “The Immigrant,” How Did Marion Cotillard Go about Training to Speak Polish?
Marion Cotillard had two months to learn phonetics and accents for 20 pages of Polish dialogue in "The Immigrant." While she didn't actually learn the language, she spoke her Polish…
What Inspired “The Immigrant’s” Story and Style from Director/Writer James Gray?
James Gray was inspired to write a female-focused film after seeing "Il Trittico". Drawing on elements of his own family history, he created the story of Ewa and her sister's arrival…
How is “The Immigrant” an Anti-Nostalgic Take on Early 20th Century American Immigration?
"The Immigrant" reminds audiences what a terrifying and unpleasant situation immigrating to America often was, and tells the story of a woman put in the midst of instant trouble.
Why is Lily Tomlin’s Role in “Grandma” a Rare Thing?
Tomlin's role in "Grandma" has already gotten Oscar buzz and she's been nominated for her first Emmy as a lead for her show "Grace and Frankie." Tomlin is clearly a…
What Makes “Fear The Walking Dead,” as a Concept, Work?
Fear the Walking Dead utilizes its audience's knowledge of The Walking Dead's world to create drama and suspense, while focusing on its own direction of narrative storytelling that…
How Does “Fear the Walking Dead” Use Background Effects to Instill a Sense of Dread?
Though Fear the Walking Dead's pilot episode is slow-moving and family-focused, there's a constant sense of compiling dread facilitated by clever usage of sound, sirens, and context.
How Does “Ballers” Resolve Its Core Conflict in the Season One Finale?
The central conflict of "Ballers" first season was how Spencer could reinvent himself off the field in retirement. This resolves in the finale almost too easily with Spencer no longer in…
Why did Steve James, Director of “Life Itself,” Exclude Mention of Richard Roeper From the Film?
Life Itself director Steve James says "I ended up decided that that was more important to telling the story and that the show with Gene was the significance of Roger's television film…
For “Life Itself,” What Was the Filmmakers’ Approach to the Film? How did Roger Ebert Influence It?
"Life Itself" is a project that changed tone and purpose when Roger Ebert died during filming. Ebert's own influence and desires altered what the film became, and transformed it into…
How is “Life Itself” at Times a Portrait of Death, Keeping secrets and Our Reactions to It?
"Life Itself" is a film that goes beyond a portrait of a film critic, but about Roger Ebert as a man. It's a showcase of his life as well as a commentary on life as a whole, shaped…
How Does “Life Itself” Provide a Deeper Look at the Tumultuous Relationship Between Siskel and Ebert?
Siskel and Ebert began their television show together under a lot of contempt for one another. As the years carried on, their relationship turned into one of brotherhood. They fought like brothers,…