When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Awesome Film Essays

You Know It’s a Coen Brothers Film If…

You Know It’s a Coen Brothers Film If…

(Gore) ScreenPrism talks about the trademarks of a Coen Brothers film. It often starts with a crime that goes awry, and eventually punishment gets dealt but in a roundabout manner, with random acts and vile characters as the jury. But it’s not totally hopeless.

The Hidden Meaning in Jaws

The Hidden Meaning in Jaws

Wisecrack’s extraterrestrial critic Garyx Wormuloid takes on the first summer blockbuster hit, Jaws. Not that anyone needs further motivation to watch and appreciate Steven Spielberg’s classic, but it does have timely messages within.

Advertisement

Why Sci-Fi Loves Dystopias

Why Sci-Fi Loves Dystopias

There are obvious reasons why works of science fiction are often set in dystopian scenarios. The setting makes for struggle, and magnifies our present problems and fears. But CineFix adds that it also gives us hope that love and kindness are the solutions.

You Know It’s Spike Lee If…

You Know It’s Spike Lee If…

(PG-13) “Waaaake Up!” It’s set in Brooklyn, the scenes and language are vibrant and colorful, there’s a shot where the characters glide, oh and Spike Lee’s in it. But there’s more to Lee’s films than that. So what else is in a Spike Lee joint? ScreenPrism breaks it down.

Characters without Character Arcs

Characters without Character Arcs

In most movies, the protagonist changes either for better or for worse. But it doesn’t mean that a character who hasn’t “learned his lesson” or “evolved” will be boring. Just Write shows how a staunch believer can still be an interesting and inspiring character.

How Heath Ledger’s Joker Was Born

How Heath Ledger’s Joker Was Born

The makeup of Heath Ledger’s Joker may seem easy to imitate. But during The Dark Knight‘s production, makeup artist John Caglione Jr found himself at a loss. Caglione spoke with CineFix about the iconic makeup and Chris Nolan and Heath Ledger’s contributions.

Mission: Impossible: The Perfect Heist

Mission: Impossible: The Perfect Heist

Lessons from the Screenplay looks at two Mission: Impossible movies to show how they’re well laid out heist films. A large part of the movies lead up to a tense heist. Even though we know that the heroes are going to succeed, we’re still excited by it.

Advertisement

The Fall of Chuck McGill

The Fall of Chuck McGill

Better Call Saul returns on August 6, 2018. And while we’re excited for new stories, and more Breaking Bad connections, we’ll miss one of the show’s most compelling characters, Chuck McGill. ScreenPrism looks back on Chuck’s story arc, and what it tells us about Jimmy.

Darth Vader: An Icon in 34 Minutes

Darth Vader: An Icon in 34 Minutes

The Dark Lord of the Sith sits atop many lists of greatest on-screen villains of all time. But how did he achieve such status? The Nerdwriter explores Vader’s appearances in the original Star Wars trilogy, and how they would have such an enormous impact.

Tarantino: Poetry Between the Lines

Tarantino: Poetry Between the Lines

(PG-13: Language, Gore) “I want to be the conductor, and you’re my orchestra.” Now You See It stitched interviews with director Quentin Tarantino about his childhood and influences with footage from movies that inspired specific scenes in his movies.

Creating an Empathetic Villain

Creating an Empathetic Villain

Movies often make villains straight-up evil, or have a thinly-explained motives. Lessons from the Screnplay explores how Black Panther’s baddie Eric Killmonger’s motivations are much more relatable than most, creating a well-rounded and compelling character.

Incredibles 2 and Superheroes

Incredibles 2 and Superheroes

“It’s crazy right? to help my family, I gotta leave it. To fix the law, I gotta break it.” ScreenPrism explores the themes of Incredibles 2, including distrust in government, civil disobedience, social media and perception, gender roles and more.

Advertisement

Brilliant Musical Movie Moments

Brilliant Musical Movie Moments

CineFix presents its top 10 picks of movie scenes where there’s music originating from the scene itself. There’s the ironic background track, the song that’s become synonymous with a character, the hymn of celebration and more.

Pulp Fiction’s Briefcase

Pulp Fiction’s Briefcase

“My boss’ dirty laundry.” ScreenPrism muses on the possible contents of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. Is it Marcellus Wallace’s soul? The diamonds from Reservoir Dogs? Or is it a literal MacGuffin, important only to the characters?

Using Theme to Craft Character

Using Theme to Craft Character

“Mr. Hammond, after careful consideration I’ve decided not to endorse your park.” Lessons from the Screenplay uses the original Jurassic Park as an example of how a movie’s theme can be used to flesh out characters – to become an embodiment of important questions.

Waltz on the Road

Waltz on the Road

(Gore) Video essayist Rick Perales presents a crisply-edited look at the role that vehicles, driving, and roads play in the films of Joel and Ethan Coen. Take a wild ride from Blood Simple to Raising, Arizona to Hail, Caesar!, and everywhere in-between.

When Directors Debut

When Directors Debut

Andrew Saladino aka The Royal Ocean Film Society is an aspiring director. He wanted to find out if he’s on track at becoming successful in his chosen career, so he looked at the ages of 750 directors to find out the average age at which they debuted.

Why Sitcoms Look the Same

Why Sitcoms Look the Same

In many sitcoms, everything is in focus and brightly lit, and the camera angles are similar as well. It’s all thanks to a system that was developed nearly 70 years ago so that studios could keep filming in front of a live audience.

Why Our Heroes Are Different Now

Why Our Heroes Are Different Now

(PG-13, SPOILERS) Wisecrack looks at what the depictions of Wolverine in Logan, Kratos in God of War and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi mean, and why their symbolisms resonate so much in today’s times.

The Last Jedi: Forcing Change

The Last Jedi: Forcing Change

After seeing Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, Lessons from the Screenplay was disappointed by Finn’s character arc, but impressed by Kylo Ren’s story. He decided to compare the two to show us why he didn’t approve of the former and loved the latter.

Star Wars’ Lost Limbs Explained

Star Wars’ Lost Limbs Explained

Star Wars has a long tradition of having a character lose a limb or five. It started as an homage to Akira Kurosawa’s films, but ScreenPrism points out how a lost limb – in Star Wars and other works of fiction – can represent a change in that character.

Atlanta: What TV Can Be

Atlanta: What TV Can Be

(SPOILERS, Gore) ScreenPrism explores how Donald Glover’s Atlanta is driven more by themes of helplessness and the absurdity of reality, rather than a forward-moving plot, escalating stakes or likable characters, even though it has those as well.

Gus Fring: Man as Corporation

Gus Fring: Man as Corporation

Breaking Bad’s Gustavo Fring was one of the greatest bad guys ever. His cold, impersonal, and professional demeanor made his character even more menacing. ScreenPrism delves deep into Fring’s psyche to see what made this methodical madman tick.

ADVERTISEMENT

Home | About | Suggest | Contact | Team | Links | Privacy | Disclosure
Advertise | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Sites We Like

Awesome Stuff: The Awesomer | Cool Cars: 95Octane
Site Design & Content © 2008-2024 Awesomer Media / The Awesomer™