Justin Kownacki

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directing

Storytelling

Why Damien Chazelle’s First Man Feels So Empty

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

By Justin, 7 yearsOctober 27, 2018 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, 7 yearsAugust 21, 2018 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, 7 yearsJune 27, 2018 ago
Detail of the movie poster for Pixar's Incredibles 2
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?

By Justin, 7 yearsJune 18, 2018 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, 7 yearsMay 27, 2018 ago
Iron Man 2008 movie poster
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.

By Justin, 7 yearsMarch 26, 2018 ago
Daniel Kaluuya as Chris in Jordan Peele's Oscar winner Get Out
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.

By Justin, 8 yearsMarch 7, 2018 ago
Lucas Hedges as Danny and Saorise Ronan as Lady Bird
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.

By Justin, 8 yearsJanuary 23, 2018 ago
Jessica Chastain and Idrid Elba in Molly's Game
Storytelling

The Story Problems in Molly’s Game

Molly’s Game is missing three key ingredients that keep the story from being truly satisfying.

By Justin, 8 yearsJanuary 18, 2018 ago

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Popular Posts

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Latest Posts

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  • • Game of Thrones
  • • Marvel
  • • Star Wars

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