78. American Graffiti
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas built his own cinema empire. But American Graffiti, made in his hometown, is his masterpiece.
Tag Archives: Francis Ford Coppola
75. The Military-Entertainment Complex
How much does the Pentagon help Hollywood? Is Hollywood just the Pentagon’s mouthpiece?
68. Black & White
When it comes to cinema, many people consider black & white as old. Yet the same people also consider it beautiful. Surely black & white is more than that?
64. James Bond & the Art of the Set-Piece
007 is more than just dry martinis, guns, gadgets and product placement. His best contribution to cinema is the Set-Piece.
52. Once Upon a Time in America
Originally intended to run at four and a half hours, Sergio Leone’s gangster epic suffered greatly at the hands of its distributors.
Blade Runner
This video-essay on Blade Runner examines how Ridley Scott visualizes the film’s numerous and seemingly disparate themes of urbanity, ecology, identity and mortality.
46. All About Eve
Four actresses received Oscar nominations for their performances in All About Eve. Great script, great acting… but a great movie?
24. Voice-Over in Film
Voice-over is often used to seal up the cracks in a story. But used well, it can enhance a story and make sure that it is told in a way that is uniquely cinematic.
13. Platoon
Oliver Stone spent over a decade trying to make a film based on his experiences in Vietnam. Financed on a shoestring, Platoon won four Oscars including Best Picture.
3. Stand By Me
Under Rob Reiner’s direction, William Goldman’s script excised all of the supernatural elements of of Stephen King’s short story and became a surprise hit in 1986.
