by Elizabeth EstenIn the same vein as The Cabin in the Woods, filmmakers creating stories that flip the conventions of the horror genre has become a trend in many modern cinematic works (like Tucker & Dale vs Evil and The Final Girls). While many of these films add comedic touches to create this subversion, All … Continue reading
by Elizabeth EstenAppearances can deceive, as we can see with the way modern audiences view films marketed for children. Sure, things like the totally necessary Minions movie or the recent Angry Birds feature don’t help, but that doesn’t mean that in today’s modern age of animation we can’t make these movies smart. Some can even … Continue reading
by Elizabeth EstenIn the grand scheme of Disney Animation’s history, the 1970s and ’80s is a strange period. Risks were taken to try to find a new direction, especially after the death of Walt Disney in 1966. Disney’s influence over many projects has brought a few duds over the years, but his guidance has mostly … Continue reading
by Elizabeth Esten Clint Mansell’s original arrangements as well as repurposed pre-existing works are what truly create the best moments in Jon S. Baird’s adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel. The two main goals of the music are to punctuate certain moments and contrast darker moments. Since the film is set around Christmas, Mansell uses … Continue reading
Y Tu Mamá También (Cuarón, 2001) Roads are never just roads in road trip movies. They’re frontiers waiting to be passed, thresholds to be broken through. They are the physical manifestations of the journey ahead, whether that journey be for love, a new life, or self acceptance. In Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También, the … Continue reading
by Elizabeth EstenJoss Whedon. Hearing that name alone can make a group of nerds scream. Whedon has been working since the early ’90s on a variety of works, from television shows to films to projects made exclusively for the internet. While working on a little movie you might’ve heard of called The Avengers, Whedon and … Continue reading
by Elizabeth Esten With Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book arriving in theaters this weekend and many more Disney remakes on the horizon (Pete’s Dragon, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Dumbo to name just a few), we turn our attention to five remakes of Disney classics that have already been produced (the good, … Continue reading
Over a period of two weeks, Filmic members were asked to submit ranked lists reflecting the very best 2015 films they saw. 21 lists were ultimately received and 64 titles of considerable diversity were named. The following is the final ranked aggregate: HONORABLE MENTIONS The Hateful Eight (dir. Quentin Tarantino) What we get with The … Continue reading
by Elizabeth EstenWhether it’s the story of a lazy slacker trying to get a new rug, a young woman hunting down the man who killed her father or an artist just trying to become the next great singer, the Coen brothers have always shined when it comes to their storytelling. As a long time fan … Continue reading
Some people might say I’m late to the party when it comes to catching the disease that creates a true cinephile. I can’t tell you the most traditional of stories, but I can tell you my story. Growing up, my home was littered with VHS tapes of all kinds. While we owned everything from Beauty … Continue reading
Filmic 