Film Essays and Analysis
A Career-Saving Change: Katharine Hepburn’s Natural Performance in ‘The Philadelphia Story’ - Katharine Hepburn saved her career through adapting a new acting style in 1940 rom-com 'The Philadelphia Story'. This essay explores how and why she did it. By Jacob Davis.
What Novelists Are For: ‘Atonement’ at 15 - Joe Wright's Oscar-winning period drama 'Atonement' is 15, and it remains an affecting film about stories and the very act of filmmaking. Essay by Margaret Roarty.
Schindler’s List, Inglourious Basterds: Cementing and Reclaiming History in Cinema - Steven Spielberg's 'Schindler's List' and Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' prove that populist approaches can deal with horrific events with subtlety and introspection. Essay by Robert Mitchell.
That Kind of Man: What L.A Confidential Taught Me About Masculinity - Curtis Hanson's all-star crime drama 'L.A. Confidential' is 25, and it remains a concise analysis and presentation of masculinity. One that hit Craig Gent in a particularly personal way.
How ‘The Night of The Hunter’ Highlights Religious Manipulation for Personal Gain - Charles Laughton's 1965 horror film 'The Night of the Hunter' presents Robert Mitchum's preacher as a man who "manipulates people through their religious beliefs". Essay by Nicole Sanacore.
The Closure of Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh International Film Festival: What It Means to Me - The instant closures of Edinburgh Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival will have profound effects on wider culture, as explained in this personal essay from Mark Carnochan.
Vitaly Mansky’s Two Gorbachevs - Vitaly Mansky used Hollywood's reboot formula to delve into the mind and legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the final Soviet leader, across two distinct eras. Essay by Ben Stoll.
Capturing Modernity: The Challenge of Portraying the Contemporary World - For the first time in cinema history, the most prominent filmmakers of the day are retreating from portraying modern life. Why is this? And what effect does this have? Essay by Noah Sparkes.
Making Sense of Alex Garland’s ‘Men’ - Understanding the filmmaking intent of Alex Garland: an analysis of Garland's philosophy and use of iconography in his 2022 feature film 'Men'. Essay by A. D. Jameson.
Marie Antoinette and the Art of Historical Inaccuracy - How Sofia Coppola mastered the art of historical inaccuracies in her modern and influential 'Marie Antoinette', starring Kirsten Dunst as the titular teenage royal. Essay by Emi Grant.