Film Analysis Blog Archives - Page 8 of 8

Ready Player One Review

(3 / 4)

Ready Player One directed by Steven Spielberg is the long anticipated film adaptation of the well-received 2011 novel by Ernest Cline. The film, like the book, utilizes the setting of a not too distant future in which the world is plagued with disasters such as over population and a lack of sustainable energy, with the currency from the game being the most stable in the world. With current issues such as climate change, the increasing relevance of digital currencies like bitcoin, and concerns about the effects of video games on aggression, Ready Player One seems primed to make a bold statement about our society and whether these technological advancements are beneficial or not to humankind. Ready Player One is not this type of film.

Continue reading “Ready Player One Review”

I, Tonya Review

Follow me

(3 / 4)

“There’s no such thing as truth. Everyone has their own truth.” This phrase is uttered by Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding during one of the film’s most poignant scenes and if the central idea of the film had to be summed up this quote would suffice. While the scandal is salient in the minds of almost everyone who witnessed the Olympics in 1994, there has never been a story from Harding and her associates’ perspectives before. I, Tonya, directed by Craig Gillespie, provides a fresh examination of Harding’s early life as well as what transpired leading up to the infamous event and the fallout that ended Harding’s skating career. Although the film at times sacrifices nuance in an effort to make this story completely from Harding’s point of view, the film blends comedy and drama effectively to tell the story of an ice skater unlike any other. Whether Tonya’s unconventional approach to figure skating should be celebrated or vilified, much like the public during this time period, is up to the viewer to decide.

Continue reading “I, Tonya Review”

Where the Wild Things Are Review

Follow me

(3.5 / 4)

Where the Wild Things Are is a bold film in almost every sense of the word. This film could have easily played it safe and utilized traditional animation ala Disney or Dreamworks pictures and produced a kid focused film with little depth and some moral lessons sprinkled in. However, through director Spike Jonze’s unique vision along with collaborative work from the author of the original 1963 picture book (Maurice Sendak), Where the Wild Things Are instead unflinchingly depicts the ways in which children manage emotions in relation to burgeoning adulthood through the use of their imagination. I can safely say that the film provides a unique viewing experience that is unlike any film I have ever seen, especially for the coming of age film genre.

Continue reading “Where the Wild Things Are Review”

The Shape of Water Review

Follow me

(2.5 / 4)

The Shape of Water is Guillermo Del Toro’s latest film and recently won several accolades during the 2018 Oscars including the highly coveted Best Picture award. I have been a fan of Del Toro’s work since the similarly celebrated Pan’s Labyrinth, which was released all the way back in 2007. I was especially fond of Pan’s Labyrinth due to the way in which the film blended classic fairytale themes and aesthetics with a real-life sense of grittiness. This fusion could best be described as featuring sweet sincere moments that wouldn’t be out of place in the latest live action Disney adaptation, but the subsequent scene could contain grisly moments such as a man’s skull being blown away in a manner that makes the violent acts all the more unsettling than if the entirety of the film were this brutal.

Continue reading “The Shape of Water Review”