Watched The Florida Project (dir. Sean Baker, 2017) Points of Discussion: - How the movie uses film elements to showcase the children's POV - The audience's headspace while watching - Interpreting the ending References: - The Florida Project Should've Been Nominated (Nerdwriter1 Youtube Channel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXbKeHAoA84&t=361s) - ‘The Florida Project’: Director Sean Baker Explains How and Why He Shot That Ending (The Hollywood Reporter article by Ashley Lee/ 2017)
Watched Don't Look Up (dir. Adam McKay, 2021) Points of Discussion: - An allegory for climate change - Polarizing film reviews - Similar comedic vibes in other films - Can humor handle our reality? - The evolution of Adam McKay References: - Don’t Look Up Director Noticed Similarities Between Script & Pandemic (Screen Rant article by Alexander Harrison/ 2022) - Don't Look Up Director Celebrates How Netflix Movie Is Dividing Audiences (Screen Rant article by James Osborne/ 2022) - Why Are People So Mad About Don’t Look Up? (The Atlantic Article article by Kevin Townsend, Sophie Gilbert, David Sims, and Spencer Kornhaber/ 2022)
Watched Chicago (dir. Rob Marshall, 2002) Points of Discussion: - Is all of CHICAGO in Roxie's head? - The news as a form of spectacle - Significance of this movie musical in 2002 References: - The Musical that Saved a Genre - Lemme Review: Chicago (2002) (Wiseclay Youtube Channel/ https://youtu.be/bxYV2cVmG_g)
Watched In the Mood for Love (dir. Wong Kar-wai, 2000) Points of Discussion: - The hauntings done by lingering love - The unique relationship between Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow - Cinematic techniques used to showcase main theme References: - In the Mood For Love: Crash Course Film Criticism #5 (CrashCourse Youtube Channel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98QmnyyIXsY) - Criticwire Classic of the Week: Wong Kar-Wai’s ‘In the Mood for Love’ (Indie Wire article by Vikram Murthi/ 2015)
Watched Clerks (dir. Kevin Smith, 1994) Points of Discussion: - How does CLERKS work? - A more honest film as an independent film - Any comments on capitalism? References: - Film Histories Episode 37 - Clerks ( Film Histories Youtube Channel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbOjgeSuUJs) - Clerks: A Leap Of Faith; video essay (Visual Stories Youtube Channel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE8GSv7OyWo)
Watched Shrek (dir. Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson, 2001) Points of Discussion: - Shrek: the anti-fairy tale against Disney - A new take on the fairy tale structure - This killer soundtrack - An actor's effect on a character's voice References: - Is ''Shrek'' the anti- Disney fairy tale? (Entertainment Weekly article by Lori Reese/ 2001) - Why Shrek Has Aged So Much Better Than Other Movies (Nerdstalgic Youtube Channel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RobmhhAuOHM)
Watched Napoleon Dynamite (dir. Jared Hess, 2004) Points of Discussion: - How the film's setting is used a template for middle/rural America in other films - Film's lasting significance and cult following - Does the film have story structure or is it a collection of sketches? - Nostalgia of the 1980's and early 2000s References: - How 'Napoleon Dynamite' became Hollywood's template for Middle America (Deseret News Youtube Channel) - NAPOLEON DYNAMITE - story isn't king (MacCosham Films Youtube Channel)
Watched Grey Gardens (dir. Albert Maysles, Ellen Hovde, Muffie Meyer, & David Maysles, 1976) Points of Discussion: - Background on Big Edie and Little Edie Beale - How documentaries were filmed throughout the Direct Cinema movement - Exploitation vs. Empathy of the Beales References: - Grey Gardens (Wikipedia article) - Direct cinema (Wikipedia article)
Watched Twilight (dir. Catherine Hardwicke, 2008) Points of Discussion: - Twilight having "independent-film-ness" qualities - Messages of Twilight - The rise and fall and rise again of the fandom - Why do we hate everything teenage girls like? References: - At Its Core, the 'Twilight' Saga Is a Story About ________ (The Atlantic article by Ashley Fetters/ 2012) - Twilight fandom (Wikipedia article) - Dear Stephenie Meyer (Lindsay Ellis Youtube Channel)
Watched Shutter Island (dir. Martin Scorsese, 2010) Points of Discussion: - Neo-noir: style or genre? - The psychological thriller and its unreliable narrator - Noteworthy score - Foreshadowing hints - That ending tho References: Shutter Island (film) (Wikipedia article) Psychological thriller (Wikipedia article)
Watched Daisies (dir. Věra Chytilová, 1966) Points of Discussion: - Czechoslovak New Wave - Film's stance against communism - Film's impact on Věra Chytilová as a filmmaker - Editing, plot structure, and aesthetic References: - Czechoslovak New Wave (Wikipedia article) - Daisies (film) (Wikipedia article) - Věra Chytilová (Wikipedia article)
Watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (dir. Jacques Demy/ 1964) Points of Discussion: - French New Wave - Interpretation of the melodrama - Jacques Demy's world building with color schemes and musical choices References: - 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times (The New York Times Youtube Channel)
Watched Queen (dir. Vikas Bahl/2014) Points of Discussion: - Bollywood Cinema - QUEEN pushing Bollywood's traditional conventions - The importance of studying World Cinema References: - Film Review: ‘Queen’ (Variety article by David Chute/ 2014) - The Best Bollywood Movies That'll Sweep You Away (Oprah Daily article by Prakruti Patel and Elena Nicolaou/ 2020)
Watched City Lights (dir. Charlie Chaplin/ 1931) Points of Discussion: - City Lights: a new silent film in the talkie era - Comedy: the fastest aging genre - Charlie Chaplin: the perfectionist film director References: - Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (Mental Floss article by Bill Demain/ 2012) - Watch Charlie Chaplin Demand 342 Takes of One Scene from City Lights (Open Culture article by Colin Marshall/ 2013)
Watched To All the Boys: Always and Forever (dir. Michael Fimognari/ 2021) Points of Discussion: - Is this movie more of a romance movie? Coming-of-age? Or both? - Character developments across all three films - Directorial choices of Michael Fimognari - Compare/Contrast movies and books - Why the change of directors from the first and last two movies? References: - Michael Fimognari on ‘To All the Boys 3’ and Great High-School Cinema (Observer article by Max Gao/ 2021) - To All The Boys 3: Is The Ending The Same As The Book? (Capital FM article/ 2021)
Watched My Neighbor Totoro (dir. Hayao Miyasaki/ 1988) Points of Discussion: - Totoro as a personified coping mechanism - Totoro as a god - Totoro conspiracy theories - Miyasaki's bright animation and dark themes References: - My Neighbor Totoro: Why We Need Totoro (The Take Youtube Channel) - MY CONSPIRACY THEORY NUT NEIGHBOR, TOTORO (Article by MAMI SUZUKI/ 2013) - My Neighbor Totoro (Review by Roger Ebert/ 2001)
Watched Portrait of a Lady on Fire (dir. Céline Sciamma/ 2019) Points of Discussion: - The Female Gaze - Laura Mulvey's article, "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" - Lack of a musical score in the film References: - “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” Is More Than a “Manifesto on the Female Gaze” (The New Yorker article by Rachel Syme/ 2020) - Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Daring to See (The Criterion Collection Essay by Ela Bittencourt/ 2020) - Céline Sciamma and Adèle Haenel on Portrait of a Lady on Fire (vpro cinema Youtube Channel) - "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" (article by Laura Mulvey/ 1975)
Watched The Big Sick (dir. Michael Showalter/ 2017) Points of Discussion: - The Sick Girl Trope - How is this film a love story on many levels? - Traditions References: - The Sick Girl Trope, Explained (The Take Youtube Channel) - The Big Sick – the year’s most likably unlikely romcom (The Guardian article by Mark Kermode/ 2017)
Watched Loving Vincent (dir. Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman/ 2017) Points of Discussion: - The process to make the first fully-painted feature length films - We are Armand Roulin - Effect of casting famous actors/actresses - Comparisons to CITIZEN KANE (1941) References: - BBC piece about Loving Vincent, the world’s first fully painted feature film (Sarah Wimperis Youtube Channel) - Loving Vincent: The Sense Of Truth (Jesse Tribble Youtube Channel) - Film Review: ‘Loving Vincent’ (Variety article by Peter Debruge/ 2017)
Watched The Disaster Artist (dir. James Franco/ 2017) Points of Discussion: - Tommy Wiseau as a character - Reflection on THE ROOM (2003) - Can THE DISASTER ARTIST be seen as a "How-To" Video? References: - Review: In ‘The Disaster Artist,’ How to Fail at Moviemaking (New York Times article by Manohla Dargis/ 2017) - The Disaster Artist review – James Franco's ode to bad film-making is a riot (The Guardian article by Benjamin Lee/ 2017)