Good Will Hunting is a 1997 film starring Matt Damon and directed by Gus Van Sant. The film follows the story of Will Hunting (Damon), a young man from a working-class background who has a natural gift for mathematics but is struggling to find his place in the world. When he is arrested for assault, … Read more
This film depicts the life of Forest Gump, a man who continually battles to live outside society’s expectations. Although Forrest is considered ‘slow,’ his mental impairment doesn’t seem to faze him. In fact, the innocence that stems from his limited comprehension of the world gives Forrest an optimistically rosy perspective on life. Forrest’s childlike innocence … Read more
The movie “Remember The Titans” is a film about racial tensions in America during the early 1970s. The story follows a high school football team in Virginia as they navigate the challenges of desegregation. The film stars Denzel Washington and is based on a true story. “Remember The Titans” is an important film because it … Read more
The balcony scene in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is one of the most iconic scenes in all of literature. And while there have been many film adaptations of the play, perhaps the most famous is Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film. In the film, the balcony scene is set against a backdrop of vibrant colors and … Read more
Tom Hanks portrays Forrest Gump, a simple man with a low I.Q. who finds himself in the middle of nearly every major event of the late twentieth century in the United States. Forrest Gump is a classic film that tells the story of a simple man who find himself in the middle of some of … Read more
The Great Depression was one of the most difficult times in American history. Millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and savings. But there were some people who managed to overcome the odds and find success. One of those people was James J. Braddock, better known as the “Cinderella Man.” Braddock was a professional boxer … Read more
A Pursuit of Happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. The film is based on the true story of Gardner’s life, which was chronicled in the best-selling 2003 memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. The … Read more
The film Brokeback Mountain was released in 2005 and directed by Ang Lee. The film tells the story of two young men, Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, who meet while working as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. They soon develop a romantic and sexual relationship, which they must keep secret due to … Read more
The Walkout is a searing and powerful film about the real-life student-led walkouts in East Los Angeles in 1968. The Walkout chronicles the days leading up to the walkouts, as well as the actual protests and aftermath. The film is an inspiring story of courage and strength in the face of adversity. The Walkout is … Read more
The Hero’s Journey—Kung Fu Panda Many people admire heroes, who are selfless and willing to put their lives on the line to help others. Courage and maverick are common themes among heroes across the world. In Kung Fu Panda, Po, a panda who loves kung fu and dreams of becoming a great warrior, goes on … Read more
African American women have long been hidden figures in American society. They’ve been underestimated, unappreciated, and often overlooked. But the film “Hidden Figures” shines a spotlight on the important role that these women played in American history. The movie tells the true story of three African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during … Read more
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy as teenagers from different high school cliques who spend a Saturday in detention together. The title refers to the nickname given to the … Read more
Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. It stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed (in his final film role), Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, and Richard Harris. Gladiator is set in 180 AD, during … Read more
The film and book Of Mice and Men are both memorable works of fiction. While they share many similarities, there are also some key differences. One of the biggest differences is in the character of Lennie. In the book, Lennie is rather simple-minded and childlike. He doesn’t understand much, but he is gentle and good-natured. … Read more
The romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet has been performed by various actors, directors, and writers many times on film or stage, however the themes remain true to William Shakespeare’s original play written in the late 1500s. Both of the films we watched in class were excellent examples of contrast: one was more traditional (Zefferilli’s … Read more
The Blues Brothers is a movie about two brothers who are trying to save their family’s soul food restaurant. The movie is full of sociology, from the characters’ interactions with each other to the way the plot unfolds. The movie shows how important family and friends can be, and how even the most criminal of … Read more
The Lady Eve is a film about a woman who falls in love with a man she meets on a ship. The film was released in 1941 and starred Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. The film was directed by Preston Sturges. The film is set on a cruise ship, and the story follows the relationship … Read more
John Rambo and Jack Ryan are two iconic American characters. They both have been played by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and they both represent different sides of what it means to be an American. John Rambo is a Vietnam War veteran who becomes a one-man army when he’s pushed too far. Jack Ryan is … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a great film adaptation of the classic novel. The movie does a great job of staying true to the original story while also updating it for a modern audience. The acting is top-notch, and the visuals are stunning. If you’re a fan of the book, or just looking for a good … Read more
The Matrix is a movie that intertwines much symbolism, mythology, philosophy, and psychology. The film is set in a future in which humanity is unknowingly living in a simulated reality created by intelligent machines. The story of The Matrix is about humans who fight against the machines in order to break free from the simulated … Read more
Karl Freund’s “Mad Love” is a horror film that explores the power of Gothic imagery and themes. The film centers around Dr. Gogol, a mad scientist who is obsessed with actress Marguerite Dumont. Gogol kidnaps Marguerite and brings her to his lab, where he attempts to use her as a subject in his experiments. Marguerite … Read more
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play of the same name. It was directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, and Calista Flockhart. The film follows the basic plot of the play, with a few changes made for cinematic purposes. A Midsummer Night’s Dream … Read more
Individualism is a fundamental value in American society. It is the belief that each person should be self-reliant and independent. This value is expressed in many ways, including the desire for privacy and freedom of expression. Individualism is also a key element of the American Dream, which is the belief that anyone can achieve success … Read more
The movie 12 Angry Men is a 1957 American film directed by Sidney Lumet. It is based on the courtroom drama by Reginald Rose, which in turn was based on the true story of the jury deliberations in the trial of a young Puerto Rican man accused of murdering his father. The movie stars Henry … Read more
The Patriot is a historical fiction film released in 2000. The movie is about the American Revolution, and stars Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin. The film was directed by Roland Emmerich. The Patriot received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success. The film earned over $120 million domestically and over $180 million … Read more
Living on One Dollar is a documentary film that follows the lives of four friends who are trying to survive on just one dollar a day. The film provides an eye-opening look at the realities of extreme poverty, and shows how even the simplest tasks can be incredibly difficult when you don’t have enough money … Read more
One Night the Moon is a 2001 Australian musical film directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Mia Wasikowska, David Gulpilil, and Jessica Mauboy. The film tells the story of a young girl’s search for her missing dog in the outback. One Night the Moon uses a mixture of traditional Aboriginal storytelling and music, as well … Read more
Gallipoli is a 1981 Australian film directed by Peter Weir and starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee. The film tells the story of two young men, Archy Hamilton (Gibson) and Frank Dunne (Lee), who enlist in the Australian Army during World War I. They are sent to fight in the Gallipoli Campaign against the Ottoman … Read more
The Truman Show is a movie about a man who is unknowingly living in a reality television show. The film raises many ethical questions, such as whether or not it is morally wrong to deceive someone in this way. The characters in the movie must grapple with the ethical implications of their actions, and viewers … Read more
Mommie Dearest is a movie about the turbulent relationship between Christina Crawford and her mother, Joan Crawford. The movie explores the psychological disorders that may have contributed to the dysfunctional relationship between mother and daughter. Joan Crawford was one of the most successful actresses of her time. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress … Read more
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, and Darlene Cates. The film follows 24-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store clerk struggling to care for his developmentally disabled brother Arnie (DiCaprio) and morbidly obese mother (Cates) in a sleepy … Read more
Fight Club is a film based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The plot of Fight Club centers around an unnamed protagonist (played by Edward Norton) who is suffering from insomnia. He meets Tyler … Read more
The play Much Ado About Nothing is a classic work by William Shakespeare. The film version, released in 1993, was directed by Kenneth Branagh and starred Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington. Both the play and film are beloved by fans, but which one is better? In this article, we’ll compare the two versions of Much … Read more
The Castle is a 1997 Australian film directed by Rob Sitch. The film follows the antics of the unemployed Kerrigan family who live in a decrepit and run-down house near an airport in Melbourne, Australia. The Kerrigans are constantly harassed by the local council and their attempts to improve their home or fight back against … Read more
Romeo and Juliet is a classic love story that has been retold in many different ways. One of the most recent interpretations is the movie released in 2013. While the movie does stay true to the original story, there are some aspects that could have been done better. For example, the characters seem very one-dimensional … Read more
Michael Oher, an unassuming young man from a poor family in Memphis, was taken in by a wealthy white family, the Touhys. The Touhys saw potential in Michael and decided to help him achieve his full potential. They provided him with a comfortable home and access to the best schools and opportunities. Michael’s life changed … Read more
Big Fish is a 2003 American fantasy drama film based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, and Marion Cotillard. The film tells the story of Edward Bloom (Finney), a traveling salesman who tells … Read more
Soylent Green is a film released in 1973, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charlton Heston. The film is set in a future world where the population has become so large that the Earth can no longer sustain them. Soylent Green is one of the solutions created to help feed the population, and it is … Read more
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American comedy-drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy as five high school students who are forced to spend a Saturday in detention. The film was released on February 15, 1985. The Breakfast Club … Read more
The movie Pleasantville is set in the 1950s and follows the lives of two siblings, David and Jennifer, who are transported into the black-and-white world of a sitcom named Pleasantville. The stylistic elements of the movie help to create the overall feeling of nostalgia that is central to the film. One stylistic element that is … Read more
Shakespeare had his will written in 1612, but he died before it was signed. The document is dated March 25th of that year, and if you’re interested to read it for yourself, you can find a copy of the original on the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust website. It’s very short – only one page – and … Read more
Michael Jerome Oher (born Michael Jerome Williams; January 11, 1986) is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for The University of Mississippi, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. In 2013, he signed … Read more
A Raisin in the Sun, an award winning film based on a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, is considered to be one of the greatest American films ever made. A film about the Younger family and their struggle within Chicago’s South Side society. Their mother had recently died leaving them with $10,000 life insurance(which they … Read more
Both Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary were adapted for film. Anna Karenina was an American movie that came out in 1935, starring Greta Garbo as Anna and Fredric March as Vronsky. Anna Karenina was later remade in 2012, starring Keira Knightley as Anna and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Vronsky. Madame Bovary was released in 1949, directed … Read more
The Last of The Mohicans is a 1992 film directed by Michael Mann , starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye, Eric Schweig as Chingachgook, and Madeleine Stowe as Cora Munro. The movie was well received at the time it came out. The writers for The Last Of The Mohicans are credited to Michael Mann and Christopher … Read more
Dances With Wolves is a 1990 American Western film directed by, produced by, and starring Kevin Costner. It is an adaptation of the 1987 book of the same name by Michael Blake , in which a Union Army lieutenant joins his regiment’s U. S. allies to battle against invading Sioux warriors allied with their traditional … Read more
Cool Running is a documentary by Cool Runnings director Jonathon Hock. Cool Running follows three of America’s best marathon runners who are not good enough to compete in the Olympics. As they struggle for glory against better funded, younger competitors, Cool Running proves that talent isn’t all you need to succeed in athletics. The movie … Read more
Precious is a 2009 American Film. It was directed by Lee Daniels and written by Geoffrey Fletcher. The Film stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz (IMDb). The Film tells us the story of an obese girl with low self-esteem who is abused by her mother. As a teenager she is … Read more
In The Breakfast Club, a group of stereotypical high school students spend a day together in detention. The audience learns interesting things about each character throughout the film, but they’re still stereotypes at the end of the day. Brian is into cars and has a hard time with his father. The audience also knows that … Read more
The film Zootopia by Walt Disney is a funny and heartwarming story taking place in Zootopia , “a city like no other”. Zootopia is a place where humans never existed and animals took over and created cities and habitats that mimic those of human civilization. The film Zootopia has many interesting aspects, notably the presence … Read more
