For “Ricki and the Flash,” How Did Meryl Streep Transform into a Believable Rockstar?
For "Ricki and the Flash," Meryl Streep actually trained to become a band musician. She developed and created her character: "her musical personality, the way she moves, the way she…
In “The Thing” (1982), How Did They Film the Infamous Chest-Chomping Scene?
John Carpenter's "The Thing" (1982) is full of iconic and gory visuals, but perhaps the most impressive scene of all is the bloody chest-chomp sequence. So how did SFX artist Rob…
Why Did “The Thing” (1982) Bomb at the Box Office?
Today, "The Thing" is considered a science fiction classic, but when it was released in 1982, audiences and critics were repulsed. Why was "The Thing" so hated by moviegoers?…
What Happens at the End of “The Thing” (1982)?
The ending of John Carpenter's "The Thing" (1982) is one of the most controversial movie endings of all time, but while there are many fan theories about the film's nihilistic…
What is the Message of “The Diary of a Teenage Girl”?
Minnie's mother Charlotte believes a woman needs a man to be happy, but Minnie disagrees.
How Does “Episode 7” of “Humans” Pack a Lot of Late-Season Character Development into the Episode?
While it feels as though Humans bit off a tad more than it could chew with character scenes in “Episode 7,” it handled its last-minute dose of character building rather well.
How is Corrupt Fatherhood a Prominent Theme Throughout “True Detective” (Season Two)?
In Nic Pizzolatto’s noir world "True Detective" (Season Two), men are the ones with the most to gain - and the most to lose. Every significant male character was the victim of a…
How Was “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Influenced by Thrillers of the 1970s?
Not only is "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" a great superhero movie, it's also an homage to the conspiracy thrillers of the 1970s, borrowing plot, tone, and even a key actor…
What Does ‘Gaslighting,’ the title of “Ballers” Episode 8, Mean? Did the Show Get It Right?
"Ballers" Season One, Episode 8 is called “Gaslighting,” but it is unclear if the production team fully grasped the concept.
Did The Protagonists in “True Detective’s” Season Two Get The Worlds They Deserved?
The major protagonists of "True Detective" (Season Two) lived and died by their own values, each suitably getting the world they deserved.
Looking Back, How Does the “True Detective” Season Two Theme Song Foreshadow The Plot?
The "True Detective" (Season Two) theme song gave some thematic clues as to the fates of its protagonists. In retrospect, it's clear which were which.
Would Future “True Detective” Seasons Benefit From Creator Nic Pizzolatto Employing A Writer’s Room?
With one of the greatest criticisms of "True Detective's" second season being its overly-complicated story, it raises the question of whether a writer's room would have helped…