Justin Kownacki

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antiheroes

The season one cast of the Starz series Black Sails
Storytelling

Black Sails: How to Write Compelling Character Arcs

The ensemble cast of Black Sails proves that writing complex characters in pursuit of opposing goals creates highly compelling storytelling.

By Justin, 4 months4 months ago
William Zabka stars as Johnny Lawrence in the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, a TV sequel to The Karate Kid movie franchise
Storytelling

Cobra Kai: How to Build Character Through Internal Conflict

Cobra Kai’s pilot episode shows why every villain thinks he’s the hero of his own story… and why he’s also his own worst enemy.

By Justin, 6 months4 months ago
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things 2
Armchair Sociology

Steve Harrington, Jaime Lannister, and the Secret to Writing a Redemption Arc

How did Steve Harrington become one of the most popular characters on Stranger Things?

By Justin, 2 years4 months ago
Chris Hemsworth as Billy Lee in Drew Goddard's movie Bad Times at the El Royale
Storytelling

What Went Wrong with Bad Times at the El Royale?

This caper flick wants you to believe it’s full of twists and turns… but it’s frustatingly empty.

By Justin, 2 years4 months ago
Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight
Armchair Sociology

Why We Replaced Heroes with Antiheroes

From Superman to Iron Man, the difference between a hero and an antihero was always clear.. until now. Here’s what changed, and why it matters.

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago
Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, and Sarah Paulson star in the feel-good heist comedy Ocean's 8
Storytelling

8 Reasons Why Ocean’s 8 Is the Perfect Feel-Good Heist Movie

From the humor to the pacing, Ocean’s 8 works in a way that provides a template for other heist movies to follow.

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago
Domino (Zazie Beetz), Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), and Cable (Josh Brolin) in Deadpool 2
Storytelling

The Tone Paradox in Deadpool 2

It’s no surprise that Deadpool 2, the ultra-violent R-rated superhero action comedy with the heart of a cartoon puppy, has a tone problem.

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago
Star Wars movie art featuring Alden Ehrenreich and the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story
Storytelling

What Solo Gets Surprisingly Right About Star Wars

Director Ron Howard and star Alden Ehrenreich add new layers to the legendary antihero while staying true to the central theme of Star Wars.

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago
Armchair Sociology

Sollers Point: Unraveling Masculinity Onscreen

Sollers Point has its finger on the pulse of a huge American problem: masculinity in crisis. Writer-director Matthew Porterfield is a dedicated chronicler of Baltimore’s lesser-told stories, and in Sollers Point he finds a true diamond in the rough. The story follows Keith (McCaul Lombardi), whose life after house arrest Read more…

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago
Iron Man 2008 Movie Poster with May 2, 2008 release date
Storytelling

10 Ways Iron Man’s Plot Created the Marvel Movie Formula

10 years after Marvel Studios released Iron Man, here’s how that movie’s success has been duplicated in every MCU film since.

By Justin, 3 years4 months ago

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