After receiving widespread awards attention, a big opening weekend, and significant Oscar consideration, 1917 emerged as one of the most talked-about films of its year. That acclaim did not shield it from criticism. Some commentators argued the film fails to interrogate the political and ideological roots of World War I and therefore risks promoting a … Read more

The Personal History of David Copperfield (2020) Director: Armando Ianucci Screenwriters: Simon Blackwell, Armando Ianucci Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Ranveer Jaiswal, Daisy May Cooper, Darren Boyd, Gwendoline Christie There is a familiar, almost comic idea of the dead peering down at the living with bafflement — and if … Read more

The Turning (2020) Director: Floria Sigismondi Screenwriter: Carey W. Hayes, Chad Hayes Starring: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince The Turning, directed by Floria Sigismondi and released in 2020, is a gothic-leaning horror film that aims to blend period atmosphere, psychological unease, and conventional haunted-house scares. The film is visually striking: production design, costume choices, … Read more

Bad Boys for Life (2020) Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Screenwriters: Chris Bremner, Peter Craig, Joe Carnahan Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jacob Scipio, Kate del Castillo, Joe Pantoliano, Paola Nuñez, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig Bad Boys for Life returns after a seventeen-year gap, bringing Will Smith and Martin Lawrence back as Miami detectives … Read more

First impressions matter — you rarely get a second chance. A character’s introduction must pull us into their world, offering enough detail to spark curiosity without revealing everything. Sometimes an opening scene welcomes us in; other times it warns of what’s to come. Below are five memorable character introductions from film history, each crafted to … Read more

Just Mercy (2020) Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Screenwriters: Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rafe Spall, Tim Blake Nelson Just Mercy, adapted from the memoir of attorney Bryan Stevenson, follows Stevenson’s early legal work on behalf of people on death row, focusing closely on the case of … Read more

Spring Breakers (2012) Director: Harmony Korine Screenwriter: Harmony Korine Starring: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Gucci Mane Spring Breakers follows four college women who head to Florida seeking escape from their ordinary lives. What starts as a party-driven getaway quickly turns into something darker and stranger under the direction of … Read more

1917 (2020) Director: Sam Mendes Screenwriters: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden The horrors of the First World War are hard to render honestly without slipping into cliché or sentimentality. Sam Mendes’s 1917 confronts that challenge directly, delivering a tense, immersive wartime … Read more

Baz Luhrmann’s Postmodern Trilogy: Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby As Jay Gatsby famously declares, “Can’t repeat the past? Well of course you can!” That line captures the spirit of Baz Luhrmann’s distinctive filmmaking: bold, theatrical, and unapologetically postmodern. Luhrmann, an Australian director known for his flamboyant visual style and inventive adaptations, has … Read more

In the latest installment of our series on the Best Character Introductions in Movie History, writer Annice White presents five standout first appearances. Blending personal taste with broad audience recognition, these moments showcase how a powerful introduction can define a character and set the tone for an entire film. Tell us your thoughts in the … Read more