Justin Kownacki

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Promotional image of the superhero team from The Snyder Cut of the Justice League movie
Storytelling

The Story Problem at the Heart of The Snyder Cut

Why The Snyder Cut and The Whedon Cut of Justice League actually tell two different stories

By Justin, 13 hours ago
Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) play chess for the U.S. Open Championship in Las Vegas in episode 3 of The Queen's Gambit
Storytelling

Why The Queen’s Gambit Is Such Smart Visual Storytelling

How specific writing, filming, and editing choices turned this story about chess and addiction into a masterclass in visual storytelling.

By Justin, 5 months4 weeks ago
Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) drive to graduation in Booksmart
Storytelling

Is Booksmart One of the All-Time Best High School Comedies?

Booksmart, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, is a glorious mess, just like its characters… and it works.

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Daenerys emerges victorious with her dragon behind her
Storytelling

Game of Thrones’s Biggest Surprise of All Was… a Satisfying Ending?

The final episode of Game of Thrones leaves no one entirely happy… and that’s exactly the way it should be.

By Justin, 2 years1 year ago
Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Grey Worm of the Unsullied (Jacob Anderson), Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) and their army enter the destroyed King's Landing in HBO's Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode "The Bells"
Storytelling

How “The Bells” Ruins Several Major Character Arcs in Game of Thrones

In the penultimate Game of Thrones episode “The Bells,” the show explores the ugly side of war, power, and consequences — but is it good storytelling?

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) watch the armies prepare for the Battle of Winterfell in "The Long Night" on HBO's Game of Thrones
Storytelling

Why Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell Is Such Disappointing Storytelling

In “The Long Night,” Game of Thrones — a story built on unpredictability, mystery, and sacrifice — has now completely diverged from what made it great.

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Avengers: Endgame movie poster from Marvel Studios spotlighting the six original Avengers: Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Captain America and the Hulk / Bruce Banner
Storytelling

How Avengers: Endgame Succeeds on the Strength of Marvel’s Characters

Avengers: Endgame owes its success to one word: character.

By Justin, 2 years7 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 years5 months ago
Storytelling

Why Damien Chazelle’s First Man Feels So Empty

Why, despite some stellar filmmaking, does First Man fail to satisfy?

By Justin, 2 years7 months ago
Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), Teddy Flood (James Marsden), and Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) star in the pilot episodes of HBO's TV series The Sopranos and Westworld
Storytelling

What Makes the Best Pilot Episodes in TV History Tick?

From The Sopranos to Westworld, how the 10 of the best TV shows displayed their game-changing brilliance from their very first episodes.

By Justin, 3 years7 months ago

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