Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in David Lean’s “Hobson’s Choice” starring Charles Laughton, John Mills and Brenda de Banzie.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Clouzot’s “The Wages of Fear”, with comparison of William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” (1977) to the original, and mention of the 2024 version of “The Wages of Fear”
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sidney Lumet’s “The Offence”, starring Sean Connery, Ian Bannen, Vivien Merchant and Trevor Howard.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Danny Boyle’s film starring Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner. On a personal note, this episode marks 25 years of posting material online.
Send us a text Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”, Starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson and Max von Sydow
Send us a text Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liv Schreiber, Stanley Tucci et al.
Send us a text Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in George Clooney’s “Good Night and Good Luck”, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella et al.
Send us a text Discussion of characters and themes in the 2024 French film version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, focusing on elements to do with the Enlightenment Movement and Existentialism.
Send us a text Episode aimed at young students or beginners with advice and suggestions for writing essays on films. A text version is available at stuartfernie.blogspot.com and a video is available at https://youtu.be/xcb6X7h5l3k .
Send us a text Discussion of characters and especially themes raised in Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express”, written by Oliver Stone.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of the nature of the antagonism between the C.I.A. and Jason Bourne, instigated by the consequences of Bourne’s amnesia.
Send us a text A defence and justification of arts and humanities in face of dismissive and condescending attitudes and outlooks.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters, themes, strengths and weaknesses in “Heaven’s Gate”, written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt and Isabelle Huppert.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Alex Garland’s “Civil War”.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Joseph L Mankiewicz’s adaptation of “The Ghost and Mrs Muir” starring Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison and George Sanders.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in James Gray’s “Ad Astra” starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones.
Send us a text Discussion of the nature and implications of duality in examples of 19th century literature, how it was influenced by the Enlightenment Movement, and how it evolved into Existentialism and beyond.
Send us a text Discussion of the use of humour in drama with reference to Molière, Groundhog Day, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and some modern action/adventure franchises.
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Living”, a remake of Akiro Kurosawa’s “Ikiru”, directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood and Alex Sharp
Send us a text Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Oui, mais…” or “Yes, but…”, a French film directed by Yves Lavandier and starring Émilie Dequenne and Gérard Jugnot. This film could be used as part of a French course with senior pupils to stimulate discussion and perhaps produce a written response to the characters and themes treated in the film.