Category Archives: Film Analysis

The Princess Bride is 25? Inconceivable!

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I was more than a little shocked this week when I heard that the New York Film Festival was offering a special screening to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Princess Bride. Not to say that the film doesn’t deserve it, but has it really been 25 years? Granted I was the ripe old age of 1 when the movie came out, but in the years that followed, The Princess Bride became one of those treasured classics I grew up with and still turn to even now when I need a Read more [...]

Slasher Season Begins

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As we near the end of September, we move into my favorite time of year. I love autumn, and not just for the fall foliage I get here in my beloved New England. October ushers in horror movie season, with just about every week offering up a new scare to the masses. It would be easy to brush off horror movies as being cheesy and undeserving of praise. And frankly, some are cheesy and undeserving of praise. But there are many hidden gems out there that embrace the fun Read more [...]

Biopics – Historical Hits and Misses

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With the release this past week of Steven Spielberg’s much anticipated trailer for his upcoming film Lincoln, I thought it only prudent to dive into the ever-popular franchise of biopics. Accurately trying to depict a historical figure can be difficult for many reasons (see Clint Eastwood’s recent bore of an endeavor J. Edgar and you’ll understand. For one, if the person isn’t alive anymore, a filmmaker is tasked with creating their own interpretation of Read more [...]

TIFF – Totally Interesting and Fascinating Films

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Too early to be thinking about awards season? Never! In fact, the incessant Oscar buzz that usually hits its stride come the December releases has already started to make its mark at the Toronto International Film Festival, affectionately known as TIFF. The stars are flocking and the critics are talking. With many hyped flicks having their official premieres at TIFF, here’s a quick rundown of the supposedly good, bad, and divided: Argo – Directed by Ben Affleck. Read more [...]

Nonlinear Narrative and its Place in Filmmaking

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One of my favorite experiences when I go see a movie is the one where I leave it saying to myself or anyone else who happens to be around “What the...?” This experience, while rare, is prized because it means that the filmmakers have effectively been able to reach into my head and give my brain a good rattle. This is mostly a side effect of the use of nonlinear narration. The concept of nonlinear filmmaking can be difficult to define because it is not as Read more [...]

Exploring the Past: Seeking Inspiration from Film Movements

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Fellow film-makers, one piece of advice that I feel I can impart is the importance of looking to the past for guidance. It is, of course, extremely important to have your own point of view, but do not underestimate the value of what you can learn from the filmmakers and movements of yesteryear. They paved the way and got us to where we are today, special effects and massive budgets, for better or worse. Evidence of the most important film movements in film history Read more [...]

Fellowship of the Fandom

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With the "D&D Next" Video Contest going on, I figured it was only prudent to journey back to one of my favorite fantastical locations: Middle Earth. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a decade since Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was released in theaters, but for fans like me, we’re once again being thrust into the land of Orcs, wizards, and elves with the December release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Unless you’ve been living Read more [...]

Too Much Man Love in Hollywood?: Why ‘Hollywood Bromance’ Gets Old Fast

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You can trace the origins of the Hollywood Bromance way back; one of my favorites from yesteryear being the coupling of director John Huston and his star of choice, Humphrey Bogart. Huston and Bogie made six films together during their respective careers including The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and my personal favorite, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. With a combined love for hard booze and hard living, there’s no wonder why their frequent collaborations were cinematic gold. Read more [...]

Where Have All the Good Ideas Gone?

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With the release of the movie Battleship I got to wondering, is this how far we’ve fallen? An adaptation of a board game? Perhaps that’s not even what bothers me most. I can recall playing Battleship with my brother when I was a kid and I don’t remember fighting gigantic alien robots. So basically, it’s an adaptation in that it contains battleships…and that’s about it. I see movies like this hit the theaters week after week and ponder where have all the Read more [...]

The School of Talk: Dialogue and Richard Linklater

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There’s something just delectable about dynamically written dialogue. Alliteration aside, I love a film that just drips with carefully chosen words, placed just so within the context of a film. If you’ve ever tried to write dialogue for a film, you know just how difficult it can be. You’d think writing down simple words for an actor to deliver with panache would be relatively easy, but making dialogue flow and sound natural can be one of the hardest aspects Read more [...]