Archives

Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of every post that has ever been published on Plot and Theme, with the most recent posts listed first.

List of Posts

• Introducing My Science Fiction Novel “LANTERN” – a Completed First Draft
• “One Battle After Another”: a Complete Satire of Polarization
• From Fairy Tales to Facsimiles: Fizzling Disney Magic
• “A Real Pain” and the Burden of Survival
• Introducing Project Drake: A Sci-Fi Novel in Progress
• Designing the New Logo for Plot and Theme
• How to Edit Your Manuscript: a Case Study with “Viral Agents”
• Plot and Theme’s Top Ten Films of 2022
• “Babylon”: Damien Chazelle’s Hollow Ode to Hollywood
• “The Whale” Devastates with a Timeless Look at Choice, Forgiveness, and Love
• The Knives Out and Glass Onion Double-Feature Film Review
• Avatar 2: The Way-off Water
• Project Announcement: “Viral Agents” – A Science Fiction Novel
• National Novel Writing Month 2022 – a NaNoWriMo Victory Tale
• State of the Blog – March 2020
• Plot and Theme’s Very Favorite Films of 2019
• The Ignominious Return of My Questionable Opinions
• “Widows”: a Pulp Fiction with Class
• “BlacKKKlansman” and its Multi-layered Performances Pop Off the Screen
• “They Shall Not Grow Old” and Peter Jackson’s Recreation of the Western Front
• Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is Magnificent Movie-Making
• “Eighth Grade” and Adolescence as Performance
• Hyper Sci-Fi Action Flick “Upgrade” Will Make You Laugh, Cheer, and Think (kinda)
• “Ready Player One” – the Definitive Guide Review
• “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” – A Mentionable, Managable, and Magnificent Documentary
• “RBG” – The Notorious American Trailblazer
• Electric Performances Propel “A Star is Born” to Rarefied Heights
• “Sorry to Bother You” – Boots Riley’s Brilliant Fever Dream
• The Exceptional Horror of “Hereditary”
• Structural Perfection in “Avengers: Infinity War”
• Hot Docs 2018: The Cleaners
• Hot Docs 2018: Mr Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End
• Hot Docs 2018: Golden Dawn Girls
• Hot Docs 2018: 306 Hollywood
• Hot Docs 2018: Laila at the Bridge
• Hot Docs 2018: What Walaa Wants
• State of the Blog – The First Quarter of 2018
• It’s Finally Time for a “Top Ten Movies of 2017” List
• In “Darkest Hour”, Gary Oldman Again Inhabits his Character
• Astonishing Performances Power Paul Thomas Andersen’s “Phantom Thread”
• Fable, Allegory, and the Aesthetics of Del Toro Fuel “The Shape of Water”
• Autobiography and Family Drama in “Lady Bird”
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Forgiveness Amid Darkness
• “Call Me by Your Name” Showcases the Tenderness and Torture of a First Love
• “The Post” is Propelled by a Marvelous Meryl Streep
• Visually Strong “Annihilation” is Ambitious Science Fiction Storytelling
• The Terror Beneath Affluence: Anya Taylor-Joy Stuns in “Thoroughbreds”
• “Tomb Raider”: a Worthy Swashbuckling Tale of a Strong Hero
• Kubrick’s Beautiful Terror: How “The Shining” Subverts Normal
• Ryan Coogler Sizzles with Strong Marvel Debut “Black Panther”
• A Riveting Play-by-Play of the 90th Oscars
• Oscar Night Beckons – Predictions, Thoughts, and Jokes in Poor Taste
• Devastating War Stories in Triplicate: The Powerful “Dunkirk”
• “Okja” Hurls Unwieldy Satire at Anyone in its Sights
• State of the Blog – End of Year 2017
• The Unbalanced Rebellion of “The Last Jedi” Fails to Ascend
• “Justice League” and the Growth of an Harrowing and Tiresome Art Form of DC Comics
• “Murder on the Orient Express” is a Weak and Rote Dumbing-Down of the Whodunit
• Taika Waititi’s Thor Sequel Shows Marvel is Best with a Unique Artist at the Helm
• “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” Is the Saddest Kind of Sequel – One Sure it Doesn’t Have to Try
• “A Ghost Story” Ponders Time, Legacy, and the Meaning of Loss
• Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!” is an Insane Allegory
• Interview: Alexandre O. Philippe on “78/52”
• “Blade Runner 2049” is a Stunning Science Fiction Sequel
• The Immaculate Magic of the World of Barry Lyndon
• “The Beguiled” Expresses Intrigue with a Quiet Lust and Sexiness
• “War for the Planet of the Apes” Earns Another Victory for the Rebooted Franchise
• TIFF 2017: The President’s Visit
• TIFF 2017: Creatura Dada
• “It” Spoils Potent Storytelling with Commercialized Horror
• TIFF 2017: The Tesla World Light
• TIFF 2017: Tulipani: Love, Honour, and a Bicycle
• TIFF 2017: What Will People Say
• State of the Blog – September 2017
• TIFF 2017: Threads
• Patreon Pick #1: Marin Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” (2016)
• “A Clockwork Orange” and the Scary Defense of Free Will
• State of the Blog – August 2017
• Romantic Comedy “The Big Sick” Delights and Devastates
• “Spider-Man: Homecoming” Does Whatever a Spider Can to Be Unique and Fun
• The Ten Best Films of 2017 (Halfway Edition)
• State of the Blog – July 2017
• Music Breathes Beautiful Chaos into “Baby Driver”
• “2001: a Space Odyssey”: The Eye-Opening Beauty of Powerful Cinema
• “Captain Underpants – The First Epic Movie” Embraces Anti-Authority Silliness
• “The Dark Horse” Addresses Mental Health, Expectation, and Community
• “Cars 3” a By-The-Numbers Lap around the Same Track
• “Pawn Sacrifice”: Bobby Fischer’s Pyrrhic World Chess Championship
• “Rough Night” Packs Comedy, Filth, and the Macabre into a Bachelorette
• “It Comes at Night” Is an Expression of Pure Pessimistic Horror
• “My Cousin Rachel” – a Period Romantic Mystery with Gorgeous Visuals
• “The Mummy” Something Something Stupid “Wrapped” Pun
• CSFF 2017: Hillsborough
• The Heroism of “Wonder Woman” Is Worth Celebrating
• State of the Blog – June 2017
• Interview: Director Steve James talks Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
• ABACUS: Small Enough to Jail
• Post #300 on Plot and Theme!
• Twelve Cool Films from the Cannes Film Festival
• The Hilarious “Mindhorn” Blends Crime with Irreverence and Dry British Wit
• “War Machine” is Imbalanced, Has Too Few Barbs
• “Dr. Strangelove” and the Absurdity of the Politically Powerful
• Inside Out 2017: A Date for Mad Mary
• Inside Out 2017: Mansfield 66/67
• Inside Out 2017: Handsome Devil
• “Alien: Covenant” – a Muted Echo of a Once-Great Franchise
• Yay for Giant Hippo-Pig Trailers: Bong Joon-Ho’s “Okja”
• The Time Has Come to Make a Choice: The Strong Volition of “The Matrix”
• Clarice, Meet Dr. Lecter: How to Craft a Masterful Intro Scene
• Was 1997 the Greatest Year for Science Fiction in Film?
• “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” – Definitely a Chapter from the Same Book
• Strong Talent Can’t Elevate the Shoddy “Miss Sloane”
• “The Lost City of Z”: an Ode to Obsession
• “Free Fire” Attempts Farce, Ends Up Boring and Haphazard
• State of the Blog: May 2017
• Hot Docs 2017: Ramen Heads
• Hot Doc 2017: Birth of a Family
• Hot Docs 2017: Integral Man
• Hot Docs 2017: Manic
• Stanley Kubrick’s “Lolita” – a Most Ambitious Fantasy
• Hot Docs 2017: 78/52
• Hot Docs 2017: Let There Be Light
• Hot Docs 2017: Still Tomorrow
• Hot Docs 2017: 69 Minutes of 86 Days
• Hot Docs 2017 Over on Cinema Axis
• “Paterson”: Jim Jarmusch’s Ode to Discovering Poetry in the Mundane
• Pablo Larraín’s “Jackie” Hinges on Natalie Portman’s Stellar Performance
• “Colossal”: Part Kaiju Flick, Part Exploration of Abuse and Recovery
• The Devastating Power of Information in “United 93”
• “Your Name.” and the Winding Path to Now
• This Things I Believe In “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Trailer (Please Hold Me)
• Why “The Terminator” (1984) is the Greatest Terminator Film
• “The Void”: a Loving Homage to Practical B-Movie Horror
• “The Discovery” Under Delivers on a Fascinating Concept
• Tim Burton’s “Big Eyes” and the Torture of Dishonesty
• “Train to Busan”: The Best Ethics Course Featuring Zombies
• State of the Blog – April 2017
• “Spartacus”: the Three-Headed Triumph of Douglas, Trumbo, and Kubrick
• Daniel Espinosa’s “Life” Lacks Life-Like Characters
• “Saban’s Power Rangers” Has No Idea What to Be
• Jinn, Wartime, and Metaphor in the Amazing “Under the Shadow”
• “Beauty and the Beast” Pays Homage, but Can’t Compete with Better Films
• “John Wick: Chapter 2” Honors the Original and Extends Its Aesthetic to New Heights
• Official Teaser Trailer for Pixar’s “Coco” Melds Music, Magic, and Family
• Trailer Hype: “Free Fire” and “Baby Driver” Boast Peculiar Aesthetic Gimmicks
• “Slow West” – A Beautifully Simple Shakespearean Western Film
• “Kong: Skull Island”: One Silly Film Without a Clear Tone
• “Logan” Leverages Stellar Performances and Engaging Action To Deliver an Outstanding Wolverine Send-Off
• “I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore” Announces Macon Blair as a Burgeoning Directorial Talent
• State of the Blog – March 2017
• “Alien: Covenant” Seems to Seek Cheap Alchemy
• Stanley Kubrick’s “Paths of Glory”, the Politically Powerful, and the Absurdity of War
• A Pair of Afterlife Trailers: “The Discovery” and “The Void”
• Jordan Peele’s Horror Masterpiece “Get Out” Expertly Satirizes Suburban Racists
• Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” Expresses Powerful Sexuality with Startling Style
• Verhoeven and Huppert Combine to Tell a Singular Story of Feminine Strength in “Elle”
• “The Founder” Allows the Spectator To Interpret the Life and Success of Ray Kroc
• Classic Review – Jonathan Demme’s “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
• State of the Blog – February 2017
• “Silence” and the Personal Perdurability of Faith
• Dishonesty Doesn’t Pay in Stanley Kubrick’s Innovative Noir “The Killing”
• “Hidden Figures” Chips Away at Bigotry with Intelligence
• The Last Jedi Revealed – Level-Headed Reactions and Definitive Predictions
• Interview: Michaël Dudok de Wit talks The Red Turtle
• Fantastic Catharsis in J. A. Bayona’s Phenomenal “A Monster Calls”
• “Split” Showcases Strong Acting Talent and Intriguing Camerawork in Shayamalan’s Best Film Since “Unbreakable”
• Why You Can’t Trust User Ratings from IMDB: A Case Study
• A Career of Masterpieces – Analyzing the Filmography of Stanley Kubrick
• State of the Blog – January 2017
• Though a Product of the Stage, “Fences” Excels on the Strength of Davis and Washington
• My Top Ten Films of 2016 (Plus Lots More)
• Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” is a Romantic Ode to Art and Dream-Seeking
• The Edge of Seventeen – A Bittersweet and Sarcastic Exploration of Teenage Self-Discovery
• “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is a Dour Mixture of Fan Service and Risk-Aversion
• “Nocturnal Animals”: a Story-within-a-Story of Weakness and Betrayal
• “Manchester by the Sea” Devastates through Inescapable Tragedy
• The Tell-All Trailer Ruins Robert Zemeckis’s Lukewarm “Allied”
• “Loving” is a Restrained and Triumphant Challenge of True Institutional Racism
• “Moana” is a Powerful Departure from Disney’s Princess Formula
• State of the Blog – December 2016
• “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” – a Chimera of Whimsy and Banality
• Despite “Out There” Visuals, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” Is as Safe as They Come
• In “Arrival”, Denis Villeneuve Delivers a New Hard Science Fiction Touchstone
• “Moonlight” is a Masterpiece of the Romantic Art School
• “American Honey” – A Strong and Sweet Hybrid Stuffed with Singular Style
• Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe” is a Vibrant and Inspirational Metaphor
• Oliver Stone’s Snowden Explores a Reticent Hero in an Age of Surveillance
• State of the Blog – November 2016
• “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” to This Parched Well
• “The Accountant” Merges Dry Comedy and Calculated Action to Solid Effect
• “The Greasy Strangler” Descends into Depravity with the Ease of a Cult Classic
• Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” Seeks a Spiritual Deliverance from Racial Injustice
• The Enchanting “Spirited Away” is Miyazaki’s Greatest Animated Film
• State of the Blog – October 2016
• Classic Review – Antoine Fuqua’s “Training Day” (2001)
• “The Light Between Oceans” is a Juggernaut of Expert Lead Performances
• Toronto International Film Festival Reviews
• All Aboard the Elle Fanning Hype Train
• “De Palma” Overflows with Cool Stories but Lacks Cohesion
• David Mackenzie Dazzles with “Hell or High Water”, a Deliberate and Astonishing Western Heist Film
• “Weiner”, Or: How a Sexually Strange Man was Sacrificed to the Public Outrage Machine
• Fede Alvarez’s “Don’t Breathe” is a Perfectly Plotted, Table-Turning Slasher
• State of the Blog – September 2016
• Luke Sabis Blunders through his Microbudget Thriller “Missing Child”
• The 21 Greatest Films of the 21st Century (According to a Nobody)
• “Sing Street” – a Great Modern Musical with Heart
• “Don’t Think Twice”: Mike Birbiglia’s Masterful Exploration of Adult Relationships through Improv Comedy
• “Kubo and the Two Strings” Sports Gorgeous Animation and Weighty Themes, but is Marred by Sub-par Voice-Acting and Pacing
• The Debauchery of “Sausage Party”
• “Suicide Squad” is Doomed from the Start by a Lack of Focus, Clarity
• How to Improve “Suicide Squad”: Reduce Character Count and Add Zombies
• The Empty Store Problem: The Familiar Story of “Jason Bourne”
• State of the Blog – August 2016
• “Jack Strong” – A Nearly Perfect Cold War Spy Film
• “Trumbo” Showcases the Talents of Cranston and Fanning, but Feels Beyond Its Length
• The Foreclosure-Focused “99 Homes” Succeeds by Leveraging Powerful Performances Both Large and Small
• “The Secret Life of Pets” and the “Trailer Problem”
• Plot and Theme’s Top 10 Films of the First Half of 2016 – Plus Complaining!
• “The Neon Demon” and the Violent Pursuit of Corporate Beauty
• “Independence Day: Resurgence” is a Mess of Callbacks, Confusion, and Ret-Cons
• “Finding Dory” Advances the Original with a Harmony between Story and Structure
• Justin Kurzel Adapts “Macbeth” by Adding Grim Details to The Bard’s Classic Tragedy
• Shane Black’s “The Nice Guys” is Neo-Noir Black Comedy at its Finest
• “X-Men: Apocalypse” Dooms Itself by Mismanaging Villain
• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” Has a Long Title and is Also Terrible
• Building a High-Horror Franchise through Characters: “The Conjuring 2”
• A Foundation of Duality: How “Warcraft” Establishes a Unique and Thematic Fantasy World
• State of the Blog – June 2016
• Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” Enhances the Animation, Plot, and Theme of the 1967 Original
• “The Lobster”: A Sardonic Defense of Romantic Choice
• “Captain America: Civil War” Scuttles Its Themes in Favor of Silly Spectacle
• How To Develop Theme: The Perversion of Sex in “Alien”
• State of the Blog – May 2016
• “The Silence of the Lambs” Script Analysis: Scene-by-Scene Breakdown
• “Green Room”: The Punk Band vs. Neo-Nazi Slasher
• Hot Docs Coverage on CinemaAxis
• Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” is a Coming-of-Age Farce with Genuine Heart
• Mike Flanagan’s Disciplined Style Makes the Seemingly Simple “Hush” an Outstanding Slasher
• “The End of the Tour” Gives Us a Great David Foster Wallace, and a Solid Conversation
• State of the Blog – April 2016
• Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” Overwhelms With Wasted Opportunity
• As the Best Disney Film in Decades, “Zootopia” Celebrates Achievement and Rejects Atavistic Determinism
• “Room” – A Haunted Celebration of Trauma and Flourishing
• The Windbound Documentaries: Films about Films that Don’t Get Made
• “Eddie the Eagle” Succeeds in Theme, But Hits Too-Familiar Story Points
• State of the Blog – March 2016 and Oscars Recap
• Horror by the Numbers
• The Monstrous Savage of “Bone Tomahawk” Feels Icky, but is the Resulting Western/Horror/Comedy Worth It?
• “The VVitch” Capitalizes on the Style of a Period Piece to Spin a Horrifying Yarn of Yesteryear
• “Dope”: The High-Tech Screwball Noir
• “Hail, Caesar!”: The Zany Slices of an Incomplete Pie
• “Deadpool” is a Self-Conscious Masterpiece of the Comic Book Genre
• Classic Review Friday – “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
• Second-Hand Sundance: Streaming Services Spend Big and Other Stories
• “Anomalisa”: A Bittersweet Dramatization of Haunting Loneliness and Depression
• State of the Blog – February 2016
• Is it Any Good? The Scourge of Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic
• “The Revenant” is both Style and Substance
• 2016 Oscar Nominees, My Picks, and Stray Observations
• With Tongue-In-Cheek, “The Big Short” Scathes Those Responsible for the Financial Crisis
• “The Hateful Eight” Toys with Truth and Race, but Ends Up Less than the Sum of Its Parts
• The Animation of Don Bluth, Part IV: A Last Hurrah and a Look Forward (1997-Present)
• Plot and Theme’s Top Ten Movies of 2015, Plus Stray Observations!
• “Spotlight” Illuminates Cover-Up of Clerical Abuse in the Best Film of the Year
• Saoirse Ronan Discovers Capacity for Joy in “Brooklyn”
• State of the Blog – January 2016
• “Krampus” Revels in the Darker Side of the Holiday Season
• Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens – Not Mad, Just Disappointed
• Classic Review Friday – John Dahl’s “Rounders” (1998)
• The Animation of Don Bluth – Part III: Don Bluth Entertainment Struggles (1992-1995)
• Barry Crimmins’ Courageous Testimony: “Call Me Lucky”
• Though “Bridge of Spies” is Lesser Spielberg, Hanks, and Coen Bros – There’s Still Plenty To Enjoy
• State of the Blog – December 2015
• “Creed” Drips with Directorial Style and Poignant Performance
• The Derivative “Spectre” Wastes Performances and Spins Wheels
• Classic Review Friday – Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire” (2004)
• Criterion Blogathon: Day 3 Recap
• The Animation of Don Bluth – Part II: Sullivan Bluth Studios and Commercial Success (1986-1989)
• Criterion Blogathon – Roman Polanski’s “Macbeth” (1971)
• Classic Review Friday – Gary Ross’ “Pleasantville” (1998)
• Boyle’s “Steve Jobs” the Epitome of Style
• State of the Blog – November 2015
• The Animation of Don Bluth – Part I: Leaving Disney and Early Independence (1979 – 1984)
• Back on the Big Screen: “Back to the Future Part II” (1989) and “The Iron Giant”(1999)
• Criterion Blogathon – Things to Come
• “Sicario” is a Tense and Grim Look at the Futility of the Drug War
• “The Martian” Champions the Mind and Compassion
• Denis Villeneuve Week – Day 5: “Prisoners” (USA, 2013)
• Denis Villeneuve Week – Day 4: “Enemy” (Canada / Spain, 2013)
• State of the Blog – October 2015
• Denis Villeneuve Week – Day 3: “Incendies” (Canada, 2010)
• Denis Villeneuve Week – Day 2: “Polytechnique” (Canada, 2009)
• Denis Villeneuve Week – Day 1: “Maelstrom” (Canada, 2000)
• The Intimidating, Slow Burn of “Black Mass”
• Classic Review Friday –George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck.” (2005)
• Classic Review Friday – Scott Hicks’ “Shine” (1996)
• Jennifer Kent’s “The Babadook” Offers Smart, Thematic Terror
• The First Official Trailer for Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” Keeps a Familiar Story Mysterious
• “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” Discovers the Joy of Living
• “It Follows” and the Strength of Uncompromising Visual Style
• State of the Blog – September 2015
• Classic Review Friday – Miloš Forman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
• The Newest Comedy-Horror Masterpiece: “What We Do in the Shadows”
• Classic Review Friday – Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” (2003)
• If “The VVitch” is Half as Scary as Its Trailer, We’re in for Quite the Fright
• Don’t Lose Guy Ritchie’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” in the Spy Thriller Shuffle
• The Basics of the Romantic Realism School of Art
• Classic Review Friday – “The Dark Crystal” (1982)
• First Trailer for “Trumbo” Displays Adept Acting and Portends Oscar Glory
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part VII: The Computer Age Renaissance
• The Hateful 8 Trailer is Pure, True-to-Form Tarantino Beauty
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part VI: The Second Age of Inconsistency
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part V: The Five-Year Renaissance
• Asif Kapadia’s “Amy” is a Haunting Critique of Celebrity Worship
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part IV: The Age of Inconsistency
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part III: The Golden Age
• Classic Review Friday – Todd Field’s “In the Bedroom” (2001)
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part II: The Age of Package Films
• The Ages of Disney Animation – Part I: The Age of Innovation
• Review of “Deadpool” Trailer Trailer and “Deadpool” Trailer Review
• “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” Ascends to Brilliant Heights
• State of the Blog – August 2015
• “Ant-Man” Offers More Wit, Subtlety, and Heart than Standard Marvel Fares
• Visual Power Structures in the “Spectre” Trailer Promise Greatness
• “The Revenant” Agonizes through the Frontier in a Perfect Teaser Trailer
• “An Honest Liar” Focuses on Our Relationship with Deception
• Oh, That’s Where All the Fun Went: the “Suicide Squad” Full Trailer
• A Glimpse of Fun in the “Batman v Superman” Trailer?
• Ben Affleck to Direct, Co-Write, and Star in Standalone Batman Film
• Duncan Jones to Squeeze in Blade Runner Homage, “Mute”
• Brad Bird’s “The Iron Giant” to Return to The Big Screen with New Scenes
• Empathy is the Strength of Formula One Racing Documentary “Senna”
• State of the Blog – July 2015
• “Terminator: Genisys” Obsesses Over Time Travel and Erases Past Glory
• Variety Article Discusses the Fight for Gaspar Noé’s “Love”
• Star Trek Less “Trek-y”, Guardians of the Galaxy More “Emotional”
• First US Trailer for “Legend” Focuses on Tom Hardy’s Portrayal of Kray Twins
• A Game of Musical Chairs Set Off by Alicia Vikander’s Casting in “Bourne 5”
• A Wordless Tribute to the Great James Horner
• “Independence Day: Resurgence”, The Future Disaster (Movie)
• “Burying the Ex” Dramatizes the Shambling Remains of an Undead Relationship
• Finally – Tom Holland is the New Spiderman
• First US Trailer for “Dragon Blade” is a Confusing, Quick-Cutting Nightmare
• Stars in Sci-Fi: A Look Ahead at “Story of Your Life”(AKA: “Arrival”) and “Passengers”
• First Trailer for “Sicario” Is Tense and Powerful
• Pixar’s “Inside Out” is a Beautiful Depiction of the Struggle of Growing Up
• “Blue Ruin” is a Brilliant Deconstruction of the Standard Revenge Thriller
• Jurassic World’s Over-the-Top Everything Leaves Little Room for Story
• Open Road Films to Offer “Dope” for Bitcoin
• Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” to Debut on Select 70mm Screens on Christmas Day
• Biopic “Love & Mercy” Applies Musical Genius of Brian Wilson to Cinematic Storytelling
• The Fantastic Journey of Gaspar Noé’s “Enter the Void”
• “Zootopia” Teaser Gives Glimpse of a Greater World
• 20th Century Fox Moves “The Martian” Release . . . Forward!
• “Jenny’s Wedding” Acquired by IFC, Set for July 31st Release
• Katniss Overthrows Tyrannical Government in “New Mockingjay Part 2” Trailer
• With “The Raid 2”, Gareth Evans Establishes the Action Franchise of the Decade
• “The Martian” Previews Showcase Wit, Intellect, and Excitement
• No Man Born of Woman Shall Miss the “Macbeth” Trailer
• “San Andreas” Something Earthquake Pun
• The Manchurian Stoner: “American Ultra” Red Band Trailer
• “The Good Dinosaur” Teaser Trailer Looks a Little Wonky
• State of the Blog – June 2015
• Vampire Film “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” Excels
• “Burying the Ex” Trailer Uses Zombie Girlfriend as Metaphor for Hobbled Relationships
• The B-Movie “Zombeavers” is Funny, Weird, and Spooky Schlock.
• Tomorrowland’s Wonder and Spirit Marred by Preachy, Unsubtle Third Act
• Fassbender Disappears in Steve McQueen’s “Hunger”
• “It” Remake in Limbo, Loses Director
• “Black Mass” First Trailer Reaction: Here’s Johnny!
• “The Raid” is Martial Arts Action at its Very Finest
• “Pitch Perfect 2”: a Suitable Encore
• Ten Must-See Films from the Cannes Film Festival
• World War Z Sequel Set for July 2017
• How to Murder Children in Your Trailer: “Cooties” Reaction
• “Batkid Begins” Trailer Reaction
• “Mad Max: Fury Road” is a Masterful Action Film
• Latest “Pixels” Trailer Adds Little
• Concerns for “Jurassic World”: Nostalgic and Manipulative?
• Pixar’s “Inside Out” Receives Standing Ovation at Cannes Film Festival
• Mad Max Blows Top off Cannes, Impresses Critics
• Intriguing Paul Verhoeven Film “Elle” To Be Distributed by BSB Productions
• What’s Wrong with American Godzilla Movies?
• Alicia Vikander is Exploding – And That’s a Great Thing
• Halo + “Groundhog’s Day” = “Edge of Tomorrow”: A Review
• Kevin Smith Pens Script for “MallBrats”
• Enjoy “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, it May Be the Last of its Kind.
• Has Anyone Even Heard of “Self/less”?
• Duck Soup Cinema and “The General”
• The “Vacation” Red Band Trailer: Dirty and Meta
• The Three Tiers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
• Time Travelling Film Noir – A Review of “Predestination”
• “Ex Machina” Portrays a Unique Exploration of Feminine Independence
• How to Use Spoken Language As Style – “Inglourious Basterds”
• The Basics of the Aesthetics of Film and Cinema
• The State of Hollywood and Self-Conflict: A Review of “Birdman”
• The Things We Think and Do Not Say – A “Plot and Theme” Mission Statement on Film Critique