CineMeghan Theaters

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)