Fresh off his Mulholland Drive being named the best film of the 21st century (so far), a new video essay delves into the works of David Lynch and explores the chief narrative constructs that fuel his vision. Channel Criswell (a.k.a. Lewis Bond) delves into film theory and the Freudian school of thought to explore…

Nothing injects a bit of funk into a television series like a few characters breaking it down on the dance floor. Whether it’s a serious drama, a wacky sitcom, or some dramedy that melds the two—TV writers and producers find excuses to let their characters cut a little rug on the boob tube. All of that dancing about…

Stop-motion animation in film is at an odd moment in its history. On one hand, it’s being passed over routinely for CGI animation and f/x in live-action films; on the other hand, practitioners of the craft are turning out some incredible, boundary-pushing films like Anomalisa and Kubo And The Two Strings. For 116…

Thanks to the proliferation of film festivals, video websites, and cheap equipment, short films are entering a type of renaissance. Lots of great ideas are being committed to film (or digital, as the case may be) and don’t overstay their welcome. For some, it’s a jumping off point for feature adaptations and more long…

Ryan Reynolds’ passion for getting Deadpool made—and made correctly—was so great, Yahoo Movies reports, he personally paid for its writers to be on set during filming. The revelation was made during the newest episode of AMC’s Geeking Out, where screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick said that, when Fox balked at…

As 2016 rolls on, it’s time to bid farewell to yet another iconic figure in pop culture. With the death of Gene Wilder, many fans were heartbroken over the loss of such a pillar of pop culture and comedy. Already tributes have poured in from figures like Mel Brooks and Matthew Broderick, and fans have started making…

Though still filtered through a lot of shadows and gray lighting, Zack Snyder’s Justice League teaser has excited many people due to its (apparently) more lighthearted approach. For example, there’s actual jokes in it! And nary a “MARTHA!!!!” to be seen or heard. Now, through the magic of After Effects and other…

Structure can be a difficult thing for some films to nail down—many are just concerned with specific moments or characterization, without paying attention to the overall format. More often than not, filmmakers (including screenwriters) tend toward the three-act structure, but there are myriad different ways of telling…

Hot on the heels of discussion about the best films of the 21st century (so far), comes a new video about a more specific segment of the film landscape. The compilation, by Plot Point Productions, presents clips from 18 different science-fiction films made since 2000, lobbying them as the best the young century has to…

Before crossing over to making bizarre but incredibly human films, Spike Jonze made his name directing skating videos, music videos, and commercials. He’s returned to that last format with an ad for Kenzo perfume that is a great short film (and, bonus, doesn’t really feel like it’s hocking perfume) centered around a…

Long takes in films can be a great tool for filmmakers to engage their audiences, or it can simply be a way for hotshot auteurs to show off their ingenuity and grit. In the wrong hands, it’s a showy move that never does much beyond displaying the technical cleverness of an artist. But in the right hands, as showcased…

Last week there was a great disturbance in the cinephile force. The BBC tasked 177 critics from 36 countries to put together the top 100 films of the 21st century (so far). The list has caused quite a bit of conversation and some controversy over what was included and excluded and the overall rankings of the films.…

The Love Boat ran for 10 years, from 1977 to 1987, and yet in all of that time it never once hosted a xenomorph or rotted corpse as a guest star. Well, thanks to YouTube user RIJIR, that has been retroactively remedied with this opening credits sequence that includes some favorites from horror films making an…

It’s a simple fact born out of dozens of films: Jason Statham loves kicking stuff. Whether it’s people, doors, bikes, dogs, walls, anything—the man just gets a real delight out of kicking various things in his films. Oh sure, he’s really into punching things and people too. But his heart? His heart is with the…

Jump scares are an effective way to startle the audience, but are they useful in establishing a more terrifying atmosphere? The technique of suddenly scaring viewers with a quick glance or a sharp sting of music can be a great way of goosing that audience to expect the unexpected, but usually it’s just a lazy or…

Nothing says chaos like old men in suits fighting to the death. From DJ Shadow’s latest album, The Moutain Will Fall, comes an unofficial new music video for the song “Nobody Speak.” Featuring Run The Jewels rapping over DJ Shadow’s track, it’s a great, raucous hit with a smooth background that belies the barely…

While the recent Ben-Hur remake isn’t doing so well, the 1959 version of the tale remains a classic that has inspired filmmakers, satirists, and storytellers for generations. That film, directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the titular role, has one of the most iconic film sequences ever in its…

If there’s one thing that pop culture obsessives love doing, it’s making lists. If there’s another thing they love doing, it’s dissecting and arguing about a list made by another pop culture obsessive. What was included? What was overlooked? What ranked way too high and what should’ve ranked higher? These are the…

When not wildly misinterpreting High School Musical or The Walking Dead, YouTube user Bad Lip Reading spends a lot of time on politics as well. Whether it’s the terrible promos the candidates cut or the many debates they undergo, all are fair game under BLR’s terrible ability to figure out what people are actually…

“Well, girls, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is your dates are here.”