Mumblecore is one of those genres that’s difficult to put into words, but you know a mumblecore film when you see it. There generally isn’t a lot of action. The plot’s mainly driven by dialogue that has a naturalistic feeling. They are intimate stories focused on the small parts of existence most people wouldn’t pay a second thought to. While it may sound weird, the best mumblecore movies show you can do a lot with a little. On this list, we’re celebrating the films that show independent cinema is still alive and well. There’s a healthy mix of mumblecore and…
If you are a filmmaker or even just a movie buff, odds are you’ve heard the term “narrative film”. Although it is a rather vague term thrown around quite often, it can make a lot of people wonder “What is a narrative film?” In this article, we’ll clarify the key characteristics to narratives and what makes it distinct from other types of film in cinema. We’ll also take a look at the history of narrative cinema and how its origins opened the doors for the films we know and love today. Continue reading What is Narrative Film — Overview &…
Hollywood has gone through a lot of different eras, but perhaps none were more influential on society than the golden age. But when was the golden age of Hollywood? What made it golden? And why did it end? We’re going to answer those questions by looking at some examples from The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and more – but first, let’s review where the era began.Continue reading When Was the Golden Age of Hollywood — And Why Did It End?
What is realism in film? We hear the term “realistic” all the time, but how do we know if something is realistic when realism is so subjective? Well, in storytelling, there is an objective way to tell whether or not something is realistic. We’re going to explore what realism is and how it's used in film, with examples from Pather Panchali, the Before Trilogy, and more, but first let’s review where realism began.Continue reading What is Realism in Film? Cinematic Realism Explained
Do you remember what pan and scan is? Did you ever rent or own movies on VHS tape, or even on DVD, that filled the entirety of your 4:3 aspect ratio tube television? If the answer to all this is yes, then you experienced "pan and scan" firsthand. But what is pan and scan, how can you identify it, and what happened to it now that we have streaming services and HDTVs?Continue reading What is Pan and Scan? Full Frame vs. Widescreen Explained
The Robert Towne-written, Roman Polanski-directed Chinatown is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made – which begs the question: what’s so great about it? Well, as it turns out, just about everything involving Chinatown is great. The Chinatown screenplay is viewed as the Hollywood gold standard; Jack Nicholson’s performance is considered among the all-time best; and Roman Polanski’s direction is irrefutably masterclass. We’re going to break down our Chinatown movie analysis – its legacy, historical context, and influence.Continue reading Chinatown Movie Analysis — The Legacy of a Hollywood Classic
Before the 1950s, nearly every single movie was in the same 4:3 looking aspect ratio. But then CinemaScope from 20th Century Fox changed the landscape with very widescreen imagery to get people into theaters nationwide. Pretty soon, other studios were making their own widescreen movies, including Paramount Pictures with VistaVision. What is VistaVision, you ask? Well, it takes a bit of explaining, so if you can, please join us as we look into the origins of VistaVision, what it was like, and why it still matters today. Continue reading What is VistaVision — A History of Widescreen in Hollywood
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said in his 383 U.S. 463 (1966) ruling that “censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself.” And Stewart was right: censorship has reflected social culture (or the lack thereof) since the dawn of time. Cinema has not been immune to censorship. In fact, cinema has been subject to censorship for much of its existence – in the United States, in Russia, in China, and just about every other place with cameras and governments. We’re going to break down movie censorship, particularly in the U.S., by looking at some iconic examples. By the…
What is blaxploitation? Blaxploitation refers to a genre, a film movement, and an important period of cinema history. In this post, we’ll define blaxploitation, explain the historical context, look at the most important blaxploitation films of the movement, and even take a look at the status of blaxploitation movies in our modern film industry. Continue reading What is Blaxploitation — An American Film Movement Explained
Have you ever watched an old black and white movie, maybe starring Humphrey Bogart or Katherine Hepburn, and thought some of it was a bit tame? Even when the movies are great, they seem to play it safe? Most of this is a direct result of what is popularly known as the Hays Code, which most movies had to abide by for a period of time. But what is the Hays Code, and is there more to it than just a few rules and limits?Continue reading What is the Hays Code — Hollywood Production Code Explained
