Triumph and Tragedy in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler”Randy the Ram is full of contradictions. Warm and distant, kind and violent, and yet tender all at once. It’s the contradiction of his…Apr 30, 2022Apr 30, 2022
Where Have You Been? Reflections on Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited AwayHayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is beguiling and a challenging film to analyze. Every time I revisit Spirited Away I leave knowing I’ve…Jan 31, 20221Jan 31, 20221
The Destructive Potential of Moral ClarityOn Wednesday, January 6th, the world watched as white nationalists stormed the U.S. Capital in order to overturn the 2020 presidential…Apr 3, 2021Apr 3, 2021
A Personal Essay on Greta Gerwig’s Little Women — from a GuyI’m a Laurie. And when I was fourteen, I met my March family. I remember walking into a house full of four girls — they laughed and talked…Aug 31, 2020Aug 31, 2020
Transcendence in Black Swan and WhiplashDamien Chazelle’s Whiplash (2014) and Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan (2010) are sister films; aggressive, violent, and unsafe — each…Jun 8, 2020Jun 8, 2020
The Spectacular Now is a DramaThe Spectacular Now posits itself as a high school romantic comedy — two lovable leads, highs school and teen love; popular guy meets shy…May 4, 2020May 4, 2020
The Freedom of Constraints in Lady BirdLady Bird is intentionally an understated movie. Music is used lightly; scenes are short and function as small vignettes of life. While…May 4, 2020May 4, 2020
Desire and Meaning in Palo AltoPalo Alto encases its characters in a world of intense desires. They hook up, drink and get high. In a sense this could be viewed as…May 3, 2020May 3, 2020
Language in Lost in TranslationLost in Translation seems aimless. Why is it so slow? Why are there so many scenes with people looking out car windows, drinking in bars…May 3, 2020May 3, 2020
