Whether recreating a monumental event or reanimating a historical figure on screen, history films offer a tantalizing prospect: truth. It’s alluring to believe that...
The Viet Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 11, 2019 to Oct. 13, 2019 in Orange, California, is one of many film festivals that serve the purpose of showcasing the efforts of a minority group.
When I found out about a Persian film festival in Toronto dedicated to young filmmakers exclusively from Iran, I immediately packed my bags and bought tickets with money from my savings. My aspirations for making films in Iran after college drew me to this festival, especially given that the judges were some prominent filmmakers flying in from Tehran. However, hours before my flight was set to depart, I was informed by Shahrokh Bahrololumi, the organizer of the festival, that the festival was postponed.
Pakistan doesn’t have much cultural currency in the West. When most Americans think of the culture of the Indian subcontinent they think of India. America is missing out on sophisticated and enjoyable works of art. Pakistan’s exportable cultural output is a mixed bag; gems are buried underneath pathetic attempts to copy Indian and/or American artists. Thanks to religious fanaticism and financial issues, Pakistani culture is sliding down the slippery slope to destruction. The country isn’t completely devoid of an art scene, but it is, unfortunately, a very small scene. Can it survive as the country inches further away from stability everyday?
“Successful” is an understatement when describing Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar has released an unprecedented string of critically acclaimed films. The films don’t just satisfy those hard to please critics, but they are sure to keep kids of any age smiling. Matinee showings are filled with kids, but often midnight premieres are highlighted by their fair share of college students. It’s easy to get caught up in the originality of all these wonderful films and feel like a kid again, even if you came into the film with a kid of your own. The wit of Pixar movies makes them classic films in any sense, films that, unlike most animated movies, transcend the age barrier.
Often, films and television shows are praised for their directing style, actor performances, cinematography or special effects. Yet, many individuals often overlook the fundamental foundation that makes a film or TV show possible: screenwriting. Without a script, these other elements would not be possible. From “Good Will Hunting” to “Juno,” screenwriting has been a key aspect that has defined a performance or produced those memorable lines that you can’t help but say at the opportune moment.
To answer the more pertinent question outright, yes, it does appear that Christian Bale’s now infamous on-set rant was more the result of spelunking too deep into character rather than just plain dickish-ness. It’s strange then, with all that pent-up rage successfully vented on cybernetic hordes throughout the film’s two hours, that Bale’s John Connor is less enjoyable and human than Edward Furlong was in “Judgment Day” 18 years ago. But if you are really hankering for deep character involvement and development, you’ve missed the point of this franchise.
