Posts By Alexandra Gandra
In the early 1990s, academic B.Ruby Rich coined the term “New Queer Cinema” in “Sight and Sound” magazine to describe the movement of queer independent filmmaking. The term “queer” was used to include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender identities and experiences, along with fluid sexuality and non-traditional understandings of sexuality. The term has evolved with new trends entering the spectrum… Read more »
There’s a reason that only 14 of the approximately 350 people in the legendary American Society of Cinematographers are women, but it’s not a very good one. If the business has enough trouble in giving opportunities to women directors, then the trouble gets bigger when it comes to a job that involves a certain physical aspect. Among all mind-boggling statistics… Read more »
When words fail, visuals speak. That is the case of some of the films listed here, but not all. For some, the fact that its cinematography and overall scenery stand out doesn’t mean that they’re incomplete. It only shows how not too often in the film industry we get to see powerful visual storytelling. Arguably, the cases here presented show… Read more »
At first, in the initial phase of the Academy Awards, the Oscar for “Best Cinematography” was attributed only to cinematographers, followed by the titles of the work for each nominee in the qualifying period of time. This was immediately regarded as an error, and the category was corrected. In the second year, there wasn’t a single nomination in the category…. Read more »
What defines a movie as classic is a familiar discussion to be had by cinema fans. There isn’t an authoritative definition for it, although many institutions have shared their own insight on the matter, making it a fairly personal opinion in today’s postmodern age. However, some points have been made that were coincidental in opinions. For once, a film must… Read more »
When a good director first meets a talented actor, chances are they might do something amazing together. And if their connection is instant, it might take them to future and plenty more honorable pieces of cinema. The actors are the muses, they inspire the directors just as they inspire and guide them, growing towards achievements that will make them both… Read more »
Ever since the advent of cinema, as well as any other form of storytelling, the moral of a story equals its purpose. Viewers search for meaning, something they can explain as a consequence of what they have seen. Happy endings are incredibly more common than sad or morbid ones, yet there are exceptions that often impact us and stay with… Read more »
Born November 6, 1970, Ethan Hawke’s debut as an actor was in the 1985 film “Explorers”, alongside River Phoenix as teenage schoolboys who build a spacecraft to explore outer space. His breakthrough, though, wasn’t until four years later in “Dead Poets Society”, which granted him numerous roles in following years. In the 90s, he became Generation X’s sweetheart by taking… Read more »
The 1990s were a decade of money, mega-spending and special effects, but it was also the time for different approaches opposing to this paradigm. The digital revolution led to experimentation in digital-video films and imagery, aided by famous actors and a boost in eccentricity. Some filmmakers, such as the ones on this list, were an exception to the rule when… Read more »
When Marlon Brando spent an entire month in a bed at the Birmingham Army Hospital in Van Nuys, California, just to prepare for his debut role as a paraplegic veteran in “The Men” (1950), he became on of the first and best examples of the extremes an actor goes to when preparing for a character. For Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver”… Read more »
The amount of feature films shot in black and white has overwhelmingly declined since the 1960s, being replaced by a quick growing ratio of those shot in color. From that moment on, monochromatic photography or any kind of technique that goes against digital development has been used for effect, or sometimes cost. Either it being originally shot in color and… Read more »
First and crucially, the films explored in this list feature a story or sub-story told backwards. The first film to feature a sequence where the events happen in reverse was Jean Epstein’s “La glace à trois faces” (The Three Sided Mirror) in 1927, but the most well known use of this technique was made in a play in 1978 by… Read more »
When someone mentions “visually stunning films”, it’s easy to associate this with films that lack real content, and instead are based mainly on images without portraying anything truly significant. The fact that these films are so relevant visually doesn’t mean that they don’t still tell a great story. In fact, most of the films here are also considered some of… Read more »
Even if you’re not an aspiring screenwriter and have general interest in extremely good screenplays, these are the basic films whose narrative construction, character development, solid yet mind-blowing plotlines, etc., make for terrific readings and life-changing experiences. Any good screenwriter should keep in mind the work already done by masters of this craft throughout film history, taking notes of outstanding… Read more »
Master of visual storytelling, Wes Anderson is an American film director and screenwriter whose films are known for his unique artistic sensibilities. The geometric concept, meticulous color schemes, quirky characters and dialogue, dead-pan comedy and camera movements are basic elements to help the audience recognize any Anderson film. There are other elements worth mentioning that bring attention to his work… Read more »
Studies show that half of all film school graduates are women, yet only 5% of them are working Hollywood directors. This is not only a problem in Hollywood, but everywhere in the world. There’s prejudice and difficulties akin to them, common stories of declined financing help and even production interruptions due to certain chosen themes and subjects in their work…. Read more »
