How Did “Streetcar” Differ from Its Original Stage Version? What Tactics Were Used to Bypass Censors?
Massive changes to the content of "A Streetcar Named Desire" were issued by the censoring bodies in Hollywood in 1951, forcing Elia Kazan to use symbols, metaphor and ambiguity to convey…
How Did Patrick Stewart’s Stage Background Prepare Him for His “Match” Performance?
Patrick Stewart's background in stage performance is perfect for a film like "Match," Stephen Belber's stage-to-film adaptation that relies heavily on strong, commanding…
How Does “The Lion King” Show Similarities to the Stories of Joseph and Moses in the Bible?
"The Lion King" takes a number of story elements from the biblical tales of Joseph and Moses.
Based on Character Evidence, Was the Fate of “Blue Jasmine’s” Title Character an Inevitable Outcome?
Jasmine's character in "Blue Jasmine" is one unwilling to change or settle for the things she decided were important. Her deeply-seeded personality disorders disallowed her to…
In “Blue Jasmine,” Why Does Ginger Put Up with Jasmine and Listen to What She Says?
Jasmine represents what Ginger thinks she wants to be, and she idolizes her "perfect" sister despite her immense number of flaws.
In “Dr. Strangelove,” How Does Kubrick Use Dark Humor?
Stanley Kubrick's classic "Dr. Strangleove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964) uses black humor to drive home its message and enhance its satirical power.
In “Vertigo,” What Do the Ghost References Signify?
Through the story of the ghost in "Vertigo," Hitchcock shows that the urge to possess one's dream person is an elusive desire, an impossible act that transforms real life into a…
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…