Welcome to Film Analysis

Welcome to Film Analysis

Get ready to have some cinematic fun – and be prepared to do a great deal of thinking, viewing, listening, talking, writing – and maybe even some producing. This course addresses the fundamental vocabulary, artistry and technology of film and basic film production. In...
Richard Kelly’s dark(o) debut

Richard Kelly’s dark(o) debut

“Donnie Darko” I’ve seen this film at least two dozen times and I still find new things to examine, question and ponder. Shoot, I still stumble and mumble whenever anyone asks me, “What’s ‘Donnie Darko’ about?” Frankly, I’m really not 100 percent sure. So, when I...
Shyamalan’s suspenseful visions

Shyamalan’s suspenseful visions

With homage to Orson Welles, Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock, M. Night Shyamalan has contributed much to modern day suspense. Although his films are often found assigned to the suspense/horror genre, his films rarely evoke a sense of gore. Instead, in his best...
Danny Boyle’s “Millions” is a miracle

Danny Boyle’s “Millions” is a miracle

Have you seen “Trainspotting”? “Sunshine”? Or “28 Days Later”? Or maybe “Slumdog Millionaire” or “127 Hours”? Or, maybe you watched the opening ceremonies or the 2012 Olympics in London. Well, each was directed by Danny Boyle – the director and creative...
Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai”

Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai”

Perhaps no foreign-made film has had a greater impact on cinema than  “Seven Samurai.” This film has been a regular feature at our bonus Film Nights and has been exceedingly popular. As I’ve frequently said, if you’re serious about film, you better watch...
Contemporary French masterpiece: “Amélie”

Contemporary French masterpiece: “Amélie”

This is a film to savor. I have seen this movie dozens of times and yet I still find something new each time I visit it because of the incredible cinematography, creative production, understated acting and whimsical soundtrack. “Amélie” is a remarkable film on many,...