Armchair Sociology
How the Villains Explain the Point of Pixar’s Incredibles Movies
The Incredibles movies explore complicated themes and complex characters — but are they also full of contradictions?
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.
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.
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…
Armchair Sociology
Westworld: Reality, A.I., and the God Problem
When I was about 5 or 6, I had a thought that both exhilarated and terrified me. I was riding in the car with my parents, looking out the window, and I thought… How do I know if I’m real? Beyond that… how do I know if “reality” even exists? Read more…
Storytelling
Scandal, Star Wars, and Being “Out of Character”
Why some choices can seem so out of character, they leave fans of stories like Scandal and Star Wars feeling betrayed.
Storytelling
From Indiana Jones to James Bond: Which Traits Define a Character?
A female Indiana Jones? Why not? Here’s how to tell a defining character trait apart from a trait that can evolve over time.
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
How Jordan Peele Changed Get Out from Script to Screen
Compare the biggest changes between Jordan Peele’s screenplay for Get Out and his finished film.
Storytelling
Why Black Panther and Wakanda Are the Keys to Marvel’s Future
How the success of Black Panther changes action movies and lays the groundwork for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.