Category: Film Analysis

  • The Rise of Super Rich Satire Explained

    The last few months of 2022 saw a flurry of films that poked fun at the Super Rich. The Triangle of Sadness, Glass Onion and The Menu are all remarkable films in their refreshing take on excessive wealth. Each film demystifies the top 1% by taking groups of rich characters and placing them on remote…

  • Moonrise Kingdom Explained – A Fight for Identity

    Sam Shakusky and Susi Bishop are outsiders. Or at least, they are both described as such by their immediate social groups and wider society. Sam is “emotionally disturbed” due to the death of his parents and Susi is known as a “very troubled” child. These labels distance both characters from their social groups; Sam from…

  • Batman Explained – Why We Need Crime

    Batman is a guardian of the good, championing the causes of justice over corruption, order over chaos and stability over deviance. Yet, he is also menace that breaks the law in order to catch criminals. This is largely how Batman has gained the flawed title of “the dark knight” but, as we will see later,…

  • Joker Explained – The Social Construction of Crime

    JOKER (ON TV) Comedy is sub, subjective, isn’t that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what’s right or wrong. What’s real or what’s made up. The same way you decide what’s funny or not. Within a few lines, the Joker invites us to reflect on who makes…

  • The French Dispatch Explained – The Lonely Artist

    Buried beneath the humour, style, and nostalgic beauty in Wes Anderson’s latest film, loneliness is presented as a necessary condition for creative life. In the restless, living city of Ennui — home to the French Dispatch — each citizen has a community and a sense of belonging. The old people have the Hovel District, the…

  • The Unreliable Protagonist in the Window

    The Woman in Window is the latest film to feature an unreliable female protagonist. These characters are plagued by obsession, addiction, and self-destruction. Their dark twisty stories make us question our understanding of the plot and the integrity of the storyteller.   Now, this sounds like a pretty niche character type, but trust me, best-selling novels…

  • How Ken Loach Directs a Movie

    In a world where Hollywood’s high-budget superhero movies and epic fantasies attract huge audiences and eye-watering profits, Ken Loach stands apart. His relatively understated films authentically depict every-day life and its often-brutal social context. In doing so, he’s able to give a voice to the voiceless, start important conversations and achieve a powerful social impact.  …

  • How The Birth of a Nation Caused a Century of Racism

    The most innovative film in cinema history is often considered the most racist. But did this ambitious, high-budget blockbuster simply reflect the racial beliefs of a nation, or did it create them?   We often praise or condemn films based on how they portray certain parts of Society. They might challenge a damaging stereotype or do…

  • Roma Explained – How Alfonso Cuarón Humanises Domestic Workers

    Shortly after Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma was released, Yalitza Aparicio (Cleo) wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. She argued that the film “lit a fire for workers rights” and provided a voice for disenfranchised groups, like Mexico’s indigenous population. By vividly showing the discrimination that women like Cleo are subject to, the film…

  • The White Saviour Trope in The Blind Side

    I really enjoyed watching The Blind Side and I’ve revisited and recommended it time and time again. It’s a feel-good film that has a remarkable story, quick pace, witty dialogue and likable characters. Unsurprisingly, it was a massive success on release, soon becoming one of the highest grossing films in Hollywood history before being nominated…