Film Essays and Analysis
Who Is Michael Bay to Cinema in the 2020s? - Michael Bay is someone too hard to concretely define, but his influence and legacy continue to be re-evaluated. Who is Michael Bay to cinema in the 2020s? By Dorian Griffin.
The Fountain: John Cromwell’s Wartime Triangle at 90 - John Cromwell's 1934 romantic masterpiece, 'The Fountain', is tender and thoughtful in its representation of a desire for stillness. Essay by Annabel Jessica Goldsmith.
Alien: Romulus and How We Don’t Want Our Disadvantaged Loved Ones to Be Fixed - Loved ones of learning disabled people don't wish for them to be fixed. Fede Álvarez and 'Alien: Romulus' understands this. Here's how and why it matters. Essay by Joseph Wade.
Miles Morales Transcends the Tragedy of Being Spider-Man - How 'Spider-Verse' hero Miles Morales transcends the tragedy of being Spider-Man, and how this informs his overpowered status. Essay by Faiz Elahi.
Cinema Is Becoming a Monopoly (Again) - Streaming services are ensuring a monopoly of the film industry, undermining the Sherman Antitrust Act that dissolved a studio monopoly in 1948. Read about how in this piece by Jamie Williams.
‘C’è Ancora Domani’, Neorealism, and the Right to Vote - Paola Cortellesi's directorial debut 'C’è Ancora Domani' reimagines ideas of Italian Neorealism to tell of contemporary struggles through a historical lens. Essay by Jenson Davenport.
The Sour Sweetheart: A New Character Archetype - Introducing the Sour Sweetheart, a new film character archetype to add to the ranks of the Femme Fatale and the Final Girl. She's got a diary and a gun. Essay by Jessica Grassano.
‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Isn’t About Sex - Stanley Kubrick's final film, 'Eyes Wide Shut', isn't about sex. It's about Christmas. Of all the Christmas movies, it may be the most cynical. Essay by Declan O'Reilly.
The Echo of ‘Oldboy’ in ‘Monkey Man’ - By reflecting elements of South Korean action cinema, 'Monkey Man' distinguishes itself from the formulaic patterns of contemporary Hollywood revenge narratives. Essay by Jake Fittipaldi.
The Curtain Call on Film Tragedies - Tragedy seems to be a genre which no longer holds much weight in cinema. Why is this? Ceridwen Millington outlines in this cinephilic essay.