For the second episode of the Speakeasy Cinema Podcast, we will be examining the stunning new biopic, Loving Vincent. Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, this painted animation — the first film of its kind — explores the life and unusual death of Vincent Van Gogh via depictions of his artworks. One year after Vincent Van…
This is the inaugural episode of the Speakeasy Cinema Podcast, featuring Seth Foerstner, Trevor Tisdale, and Sam Benezra. We’re kicking it off with one of our all time favorites, Paul Thomas Anderson’s classic There Will Be Blood. Get ready to dive deep into Daniel Day-Lewis’ chilling portrayal of Daniel Plainview, a ruthless turn-of-the-century oil tycoon who will…
Star Wars, the master-work of George Lucas, began with A New Hope (Episode IV) in 1977 and steadily amassed an unprecedented cult following. The original sci-fi adventure yielded two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) and Return of the Jedi (Episode VI), completing a trilogy of laser-filled excellence and producing a plethora of lore…
Emotional investment in a movie is a telltale sign of good writing and direction, and the ability to take advantage of that emotion is what gives it a chance to be great. Tempting an audience to feel so deeply that they’re moved to tears is an important and obvious goal in excellent cinema. However, as important and…
“The Founder” is a film that would be fairly mundane if not for an electric performance by Michael Keaton. The film tells the story of how McDonald’s Corp. was transformed into the fast food monolith that exist today. McDonald’s undergoes the vast expansion because of Ray Kroc (Keaton) and his ability to do whatever it…
By Maeve Kroeger On Saturday, second-year M.F.A students of the graduate film program showcased their short films to a packed audience at the Athena Cinema. A variety of genres were screened, including comedy, tragedy and experimental narratives. Members of the audience let out gasps and laughter, empathizing with the characters that were crafted by the student film-makers.…
“La La Land” seems to be on a rocket ship headed straight toward a Best Picture Oscar nomination, receiving nothing less than excellent reviews from the few who have seen the film. The film, which will not see a wide release until December 16, 2016, stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as two artists in love,…
