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How Did “Selma” Become Linked with Protest Movements like ‘Black Lives Matter’?

“Ferguson is a mirror of the past. And Selma is a mirror of now.’’

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What’s the Significance Behind the Three Different Aspect Ratios in “The Grand Budapest Hotel”?

Wes Anderson filmed "The Grand Budapest Hotel" in three different aspect ratios to reflect the history of cinema during those periods (1930s, 1960s and 1980s).

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Did They Need to Make “Birdman” Look Like Virtually One Continuous Take?

"Birdman" is shot to look like virtually one long continuous take with very few camera cuts. Unbroken takes often bring a film closer to live theater and, in this case, parallel the story.

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Does “American Sniper” Have a Political Agenda?

Bradley Cooper’s interest in developing the project was to do a character study on Chris Kyle.

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Why Did they Cast a Non-Professional Actress for the Lead Role in “Ida”? How Was She Discovered?

Agata Trzebuchowska, who had no prior acting experience, was discovered in a cafe, reading a book.

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Why Does HAL Breakdown and Become Hostile to Humans in “2001”?

"He had an acute emotional crisis because he could not accept evidence of his own fallibility.”

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How Has “30 Rock” Influenced the Role Women Have in Television?

It may not be the content of the show so much as the role Tina Fey had as its creator that will have the biggest and most lasting influence.

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What is Jean-Luc Godard’s “Goodbye to Language” Actually About?

Godard's experimental feature has elicited a wide range of awe and confusion.

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Why is “Under the Skin” So Vague About the Lead Character’s Origins?

By stripping the film of any clear background, we focus more on the details we do see: a female protagonist, her exclusively male targets, and her uncomfortable behavior around other women.

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How Did Cotillard Prepare for “Two Days, One Night”?

The Dardennes are known for extensive rehearsals, and this film was no exception.

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What Was the Original Ending to “Birdman”?

The original ending of "Birdman" would have involved Johnny Depp and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

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Why Did Stanley Kubrick Choose to Depict Alien Life in “2001” With a Collage of Singing Voices?

Director Stanley Kubrick and writer Arthur C. Clarke consulted with astronomer Carl Sagan on how to show extraterrestrial life.

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