An analysis of the power structures in Suspiria (2018), looking at what is true matriarchy and how these structures come to inform and dismantle the binary of mother and daughter.
Read MoreHBO has recently rebooted the beloved 2007 hit show Gossip Girl and many of the critiques given by fans have been less than stellar. On the surface, these may seem insignificant but once given a closer look, it unsurprisingly gives way for a much deeper issue: why do people have such trouble viewing BIPOC as classy?
Read MoreWith TV becoming more popular than film, one genre is being pushed to the side; the multi-camera sitcom. Where did it go? Will there be another Friends or Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in this decade?
This summer is full of new and exciting content across varying streaming platforms and now, also in theaters. So, if you need something fun to do while staying inside to beat the blazing heat, here is a brief list of some of my most anticipated movies and shows released during the months of June and July.
Read MoreLots of people now look back at the hit TV show Glee and recall it as being one of the most progressive shows of their childhood or teenage years. Indeed, if you consider the cast or premise of the show it has representation of people of color and people with disabilities and the plot has central LGBT themes, with many characters identifying as LGBT. However, if you take a closer look under the surface, Glee had many flaws with its representation, from LGBT characters to race issues to disabilities.
Read MoreWhen you watch a film, do you ever wonder if it is about the person who made it? Some people think it's a necessity to have the same experiences as the characters in your story, others believe that all underlying themes can relate to anyone.
Read MoreOften featuring scandalous romances, scheming characters, and messy drama all around, soap operas are a unique type of television series that usually focus on domestic conflicts and are known for their continuous style of narrative. Growing up watching some of these shows, while it got me some raised eyebrows, it also gave me an understanding of why millions continue to tune in everyday. This article dives into the world of soap operas and takes a closer look into what makes them so addicting.
Read MoreThe most significant accomplishment a filmmaker could strive for is making their film feel alive. That doesn’t mean that they should strive for realism, and I genuinely believe that there is a distinction between the two. Here is a list of talented directors who were able to turn locations into fully breathing, tactile tools that elevated the stories they wanted to tell and ultimately became as memorable as the characters that inhabit them.
For so long, being a “cinema lover” is something you have to own, and there’s no easy guide to that. There’s no exact number of movies you’d have to watch, or which director’s work you’d have to know, however, to reference some classics is a pretty resourceful trick that will make the listener swallow their words and let your argument pass, unquestioned. But does a classic picture actually have anything that can’t be found in a production made in the 2000s?
Looking at 1990s Hong Kong in Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express and modern-day Iran in Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, I examine each film through the country it’s based in, how it sets the scene for the daily lives of the characters and interacts with the plot at hand.
McLovin' turned 30 this year and to celebrate we're taking a look back at the success of Superbad.
One of the most important film schools in the history of cinema and of the cultural industry, Soviet cinema showed the world the power of the arts and shaped film techniques as we know it today. Here is some of that history and its legacy for all filmmakers.
Read MoreWant to expand your knowledge of film but don’t know where to start? Check out this list of film recommendations for new cinephiles!
Read MoreWhile there are many debates continuing to take place concerning the state of horror films, filmmakers such as Jordan Peele and Ari Aster have centered commentaries about life and societal connection, especially through the lens of how reality is an everyday horror. The purpose of this article is to connect those aspects with how effective their delivery is when joined with the central themes of their work and overall tones of their films. As the horror genre is stereotyped to be cheesy, predictable, and (sometimes) lackluster, with these two filmmakers, there is a clear draw to make films centered on the human experience, specifically when referring to the everyday traumas folks endure.
Read MoreWatchmen (2019), based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, reconstructed the ways audiences think of superheroes as well as superhero fiction itself. The series centers on manifestations of white supremacy as well as the idealization of vigilantism, which is part of what makes it distinct from other action and science-fiction media. In this essay, I will explore the way Watchmen defied the archetypes and traditions of the speculative fiction genre and the implications this may have for the future of the genre.
Read MoreThrough his songs, it is clear that Alex Turner, frontman of the band Arctic Monkeys, has created a very particular world, reflected in both the lyrical and melodic aspects of his music. His taste in movies, as seen in the numerous references incorporated in his songs, is no less unique, ranging from French New Wave to American science fiction and British kitchen sink drama films. Through this list, we will discover the fascinating world which Turner has immersed himself in, offering him infinite inspiration for his songs.
Read MoreTwenty years ago Baz Luhrmann gifted audiences Moulin Rouge! and I’ve been in love with it from the moment I first watched it. Inspired by the cabaret culture and theatrics of the real life nightclub, Moulin Rouge! tells the story of star crossed lovers Christian and Satine amid this bohemian world. Though it borrows from the likes of Elton John and Nirvana and draws inspiration from a variety of sources, the film’s postmodernist style of storytelling makes it one of the most original films of the last two decades. In this article, I discuss (and yes, gush over) the iconic movie musical that kicked off 21st century cinema with fireworks, the Can-Can, and a love story for the ages.
Read MoreUndeniably, we wear sunglasses as a piece of fashion to help shield us from the sun, they match with our outfits and constantly change as the trends go by. But when a character in a movie wears sunglasses, it's a statement. Here's my evaluation of characters that wear shades.
Read MoreTom Thacker’s quarantine-made The Hollow Bind leans into territories of the avant-garde, reminiscent of Jean Cocteau’s The Blood of a Poet and others of the art film category. Despite its ostensible references, there is tenacity and originality to its conception. Submerged in the vacant hostility of an artist’s studio, viewers are tempted to reconcile the definitions of artist, art, and audience—revealing their slippage.
Read MoreAlready finished with Euphoria and stuck wondering what you should watch next? Well, you came to the right place. Here are five of Madeleine’s favorite HBO Max series that you need to get on ASAP!
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