Storytelling
How Iron Man Created the Formula for Every Marvel Movie
10 years after Marvel Studios released Iron Man, here’s how that movie’s success has been duplicated in every MCU film since.
Storytelling
Why Black Sails Has One of the Best Main Characters in TV History
Here’s why Captain Flint on Black Sails is one of the best-written characters in this current era of Peak TV.
Storytelling
10 Subtly Amazing Moments in Lady Bird
Lady Bird is a movie that does nearly everything right. Here’s why Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut works so well.
Storytelling
The Story Problems in Molly’s Game
Molly’s Game is missing three key ingredients that keep the story from being truly satisfying.
Storytelling
The Tone Problems in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As I was watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 yesterday, one thought kept running through my head: Marvel movies have two problems when it comes to onscreen violence: tone and stakes. This problem is actually most noticeable in Deadpool 2, but it first became obvious here. The Tone Paradox Read more…
Armchair Sociology
The Problem with Ingrid Goes West
There’s a missing piece at the center of Ingrid Goes West that prevents it from becoming a truly moving satire.
Storytelling
The Real Hidden Genius of Pulp Fiction
When Pulp Fiction debuted in 1994, writer-director Quentin Tarantino was hailed as a filmmaking genius, and his movie rewired filmmakers’ brains for the next 20 years. The film earned tons of buzz for a number of valid reasons: its unexpected revival of John Travolta’s career its profanity-fueled pop culture dialogue Read more…