Features
July 3, 2025FEATURES CINEMA, most-featured, ‘CODA’, ’ ‘Spring Awakening, academy awards, accessibility in media, acting and survival, acting discipline, acting technique, al pacino, Alfre Woodard, Andrew Scott, Anthony Hopkins, authenticity in casting, awards and advocacy, Bamboozled, blackface satire, Broadway accessibility, Carlito’s Way, casting and identity, casting controversies, Children of a Lesser God, concentration in acting, cultural specificity, Daniel Day-Lewis, deaf actors, deaf representation, Deaf West Theatre, deaf-led productions, debut Oscar wins, disability and performance, disability in Hollywood, disabled actors in leading roles, Diversity in Media, dual-language theater, ethnic casting, fame and disability, family guy, George Chakiris, Hollywood gatekeeping, Hollywood Inclusion, i am sam, identity in performance, inclusion in cinema, Inclusive Casting, inclusive storytelling, intersectionality in film, Jane Fonda, John Leguizamo, Laurence Olivier, lip reading, Marlee Matlin, Meisner Technique, method acting satire, mickey rooney, My Left Foot, Natalie Wood, Not Alone Anymore, on-screen deafness, Orson Welles, oscar winners, performance authenticity, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, representation ethics, representation evolution, representation in film, representation in musicals, representation on Broadway, Scarface, Scent of a Woman, screen presence, Sean Penn., sign language on stage, Sigourney Weaver, Stanislavski technique, Summer of Sam, The Golden Girls, The West Wing, Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder, Troy Kotsur, underrepresented talent, West Side Story, William Hurt, Women in Hollywood, yellowface in film, Yul Brynner, Zoolander, Joseph Tralongo
Sign of Change: How Marlee Matlin Redefined Acting and Disability in Hollywood
Marlee Matlin broke barriers for deaf actors in Hollywood- reshaping casting, redefining disability, and proving talent and representation can go hand in hand....
July 1, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, NEWS CINEMA, 1970s Horror, A24 Horror, American Gothic, American Horror, American Slasher, Artistic Horror, Auteur Horror, Backwoods Horror, Biopic Influence, Body Horror, box office, Chainsaw Killer, Classic Reboot, Creative Pitch, critical reception, cult classic, Cult Horror, Ed Gein, Exploitation Cinema, Fear Tactics, Film Bidding, film distribution, Film History., Film Industry, film marketing, final girl, Franchise fatigue, franchise potential, Franchise Revival, Genre Classic, Genre Revival, Glen Powell, Gore Fest, Gore Horror, Gothic Horror, Gruesome, Hollywood Bidding, Horror Anthology, Horror Canon, horror franchise, Horror Icon, horror legacy, Horror Reboot, horror tropes, Horror TV, Horror Violence, Iconic Villain, Indie Cinema, indie horror, IP Rights, jordan peele, JT Mollner, Killer Mask, Kim Henkel, Leatherface, Legacy Horror, Legacy Sequel, Media Rights, Midnight Movie, modern horror, Monkeypaw Productions, Movie Reboot, Movie Rights, National Registry, Neon Films, Oz Perkins, psychological horror, Real Killer, Reboot Potential, Rotten Tomatoes, Roy Lee, Skin Mask, Slasher Film, Slasher Icon, Slasher Revival, Southern Gothic, Story Rights, streaming deal, Streaming Horror, streaming wars, Taylor Sheridan, Texas Chainsaw, Tobe Hooper, Trauma Horror, True Crime, Joseph Tralongo
Killer Buzz: The ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise’ Bidding War
Hollywood heavyweights are in a high-stakes bidding war for an IP that allows the victor to revive the iconic horror franchise 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and the iconic Leatherface with it....
June 30, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES, FEATURES CINEMA, most-featured, action, Blockbuster, box office, cinema, David Koepp, Dinosaurs, Film, Franchise Filmmaking, Gareth Edwards, in theaters, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, July 2025, Jurassic Franchise, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Laura Dern, legacy, Mahershala Ali, Massive Creatures, movie releases, new, Sam Neill, Scarlet Johansson, sequels, Spielberg, summer release, The Hollywood Insider, Thrilling, Universal studios, Aidan Reidy
Can ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Recreate the Magic of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park’?
With a new, all star cast led by Scarlett Johansson paired with blockbuster director Gareth Edwards, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ looks to revive the stale franchise....
June 30, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, NEWS CINEMA, 2024 movies, After the Hunt, American Psycho, Art-house films, auteur cinema, auteur theory, Bones and All, Burroughs adaptation, call me by your name, censorship in film, challengers, Chloe Sevigny, christopher nolan, Cinecittà interview, cinema of suggestion, cinematic legacy, contemporary auteurs, daniel craig, Drew Starkey, European cinema style, evocative direction, experimental film, film censorship history, film stylists, film symbolism, gus van sant, Hays Code, HBO Max film releases, HBO Max originals, Her movie, indie directors, intimate filmmaking, Italian directors, Julia Roberts, Justin Kuritzkes, lgbtq cinema, lgbtq representation, literary adaptation, luca guadagnino, Mary Harron, michael stuhlbarg, minimalism in film, modern classic, movie sex scenes, my own private idaho, narrative intimacy, Oppenheimer, painterly filmmaking, patient camera, Period Piece, post-Hays Code cinema, psychological drama, queer cinema, queer film history, Queer HBO Max, Queer movie, restrained sex scenes, scandal and restraint, sex and cinema ethics, sex in cinema, sexual representation, soft scandal, Spike Jonze, subtle eroticism, subtle intimacy, tone-driven storytelling, visual implication, visual storytelling, William S. Burroughs, Joseph Tralongo
Artful Desire: Sex, Style, and Scandal in Luca Guadagnino’s Films
Luca Guadagnino’s 'Queer' explores intimacy through restraint, focusing on atmosphere and emotional undercurrents rather than overt expression. The film highlights his continued interest in characters on the edge of desire, using...
June 28, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, NEWS CINEMA, 1960s, actors, Apple Corps, artistic vision, audience reception, awards, Barry Keoghan, behind the scenes, biography, Biopic, box office, British music history, Cast, casting, Character Study, CinemaCon 2028, cinematic event, Cinematography, collaboration, costume design, creative process, Criticism, Cultural Impact, cultural influence, Director, documentary, drama, drama genre, Editing, fan reactions, fanbase, fandom, Film, film festival, Film Score, films, George Harrison, Get Back, Harris Dickinson, historical accuracy, hollywood, iconic songs, inspiration, interviews, John Lennon, Joseph Quinn, legacy, legacy preservation, Legend, Lighting, marketing, media coverage, music evolution, Music Industry, music rights, musician, narrative, nostalgia, Paul Mescal, performance, Period Piece, Peter Jackson, Pop Culture, premiere, press tour, production, rehearsal, Ringo Starr, Rock and Roll, Sam Mendes, Screenplay, screenplay adaptation, Set Design, Sony Pictures, soundtrack, storytelling, streaming platforms, suspension of disbelief, tetralogy, Joseph Tralongo
4 of a Kind: ‘The Beatles- A Four-Film Cinematic Event’ and What We Know About The Tetralogy So Far
Sam Mendes is set to direct a groundbreaking four-part Beatles biopic, with each film focusing on a different band member’s point of view and all four releasing in April 2028 as a unified cinematic experience. Featuring a high-profile...
June 28, 2025BEHIND THE SCENES, CINEMA TOP, FEATURES, FEATURES CINEMA, most-featured, TECH, 28 Years Later, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, action thriller, Apple in film, ARRI Alexa, Blockbuster Movies, Cillian Murphy, Cinematic Storytelling, cinematic technology, Danny Boyle, Denis Villeneuve, digital cinematography, film industry future, filmmaking trends, High Flying Bird, Hollywood innovation, indie filmmaking, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone filmmaking, jodie comer, mobile cinema, mobile filmmaking, Ralph Fiennes, RED Helium, Sean Baker, Shot on iPhone, Steven Soderbergh, Tangerine Movie, Unsane, Zombie Movies, Emma Gladstone
Why Danny Boyle Shot Most of ‘28 Years Later’ on an iPhone
One of 2025’s biggest Cinematic surprises, ‘28 Years Later’ was shot not on an ARRI Alexa or RED Helium—but entirely on an iPhone....
June 26, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, NEWS CINEMA, Apatow crew Superbad, Armageddon commentary, attention as radical act, audio as translation, audio commentary origins, behind-the-scenes access, Ben Affleck DVD legacy, Ben Affleck roasts Michael Bay, Blank Check podcast, boutique label innovation, cinephile culture, commentary archival value, commentary as authorship, commentary as cinematic lens, commentary as film critique, commentary as film diary, commentary as film language, commentary as interpretation, commentary as memory, commentary as personal essay, commentary as rebellion, commentary as storytelling, commentary as translation, commentary chaos, commentary fan culture, commentary fragmentation, commentary storytelling lineage, commentary track as insight, commentary track comedy, commentary track decline, commentary track evolution, commentary track humor, commentary track immersion, commentary track intimacy, commentary track magic, commentary track nostalgia, commentary track preservation, commentary track storytelling, commentary track unpredictability, Criterion Closet anecdote, Criterion Collection, cult of commentary, director confessions, director's voice, directors talking back, disc flipping annoyance, Dorm room vibe commentary, DVD as educational tool, DVD bonus features, DVD collector culture, DVD commentary, DVD revolution, fan-synced commentaries, film essay in audio form, film historian perspective, film scholarship, film school alternative, filmmakers in their own words, frame-specific navigation, Friedkin on Vertigo, Friedkin’s Vertigo reframing, Kevin Smith DVD tracks, King Kong commentary, laser-read media, LaserDisc history, lecture tour format, Maude Apatow no cursing, MCA DiscoVision, Michael Bay surprise, optical disc technology, party commentaries, peanut gallery humor, podcast-as-commentary, podcast-era film analysis, Quentin Tarantino commentary style, Ronald Haver, Scorsese commentary, Scorsese influence, second voice in cinema, slow motion playback, streaming vs physical media, Tarantino True Romance, unauthorized commentary uploads, unscripted filmmaker insights, Vertigo reappreciated through commentary, VHS vs Betamax, YouTube film commentaries, Joseph Tralongo
Double Talk: The History of the DVD Commentary
Once a hidden gem of physical media, the DVD commentary track gave filmmakers a second voice—one that could critique, educate, or simply goof off alongside the main feature. Though largely absent from streaming, this “second voice”...
June 24, 2025FEATURES CINEMA, acting focus, acting showcase, actor driven, Aero Theatre, American playwright, art film, auteur cinema, Broadway revival, camera placement, Camera work, character drama, Character Study, Chris Bauer, cinematic flair, cinematic language, cinematic technique, classic Mamet, David Mamet, dialogue driven, dialogue rhythm, directing debut, directing return, Directing Style, director evolution, director return, Dominic Hoffman, dramatic film, ensemble cast, Evan Jonigkeit, Film Adaptation, Film Criticism, Film Direction, Film narrative, film premiere, film tension, Film Writing, filmed play, filmed theater, filmmaker profile, filmmaker spotlight, HBO film, Henry Johnson, Hollywood Director, image making, Indie Cinema, indie release, Low budget, Mamet dialogue, Mamet style, minimalist filmmaking, modern cinema, modern drama, Movie Analysis, movie script, movie visuals, narrative economy, performance based, Play Adaptation, play film, playwright directors, Pulitzer winner, screen transition, screenplay writing, screenwriter director, script centric, script focused, script heavy, Shia LaBeouf, shot composition, stage adaptation, stage screen, story structure, story tone, theater film, theater roots, theatrical film, theatrical roots, visual direction, visual impact, visual storytelling, visual style, writer vision, writer-director, writing craft, Joseph Tralongo
Written Vision, Blurred Lens: The Playwright’s Struggle in Film Direction
David Mamet returns to filmmaking with 'Henry Johnson', a dialogue-driven ensemble piece that highlights his enduring strengths as a writer but raises questions about his continued limitations as a visual storyteller. The article...
June 22, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, NEWS CINEMA, 1980s movies, 2020s cinema, 80s revival, action drama, audience burnout, blockbuster filmmaking, box office trends, bullying in film, character arcs, character reversal, cinematic nostalgia, Cobra Kai, comfort viewing, Coming of Age films, commercial filmmaking, creative bankruptcy, cultural commentary, cultural criticism, cultural recycling, emotional familiarity, entertainment trends, Film Criticism, Film critique, film franchises, Film History., film industry commentary, film innovation, film originality, film reboot culture, formulaic movies, franchise branding, Franchise fatigue, franchise identity, hayden schlossberg, High School Drama, Hilary Swank, hollywood business model, hollywood cash grabs, hollywood risk aversion, hollywood trends, Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, John G. Avildsen, Jon Hurwitz, josh heald, Karate Kid, karate kid legends, karate tournament, legacy sequels, martial arts film tropes, martial arts genre, Martial Arts Movies., modern remakes, movie economics, movie marketing, movie plot recycling, movie reboots, movie remakes, movie structure, movie tropes, narrative repetition, Netflix Originals, netflix series, nostalgia, nostalgia culture, nostalgia overdose, nostalgic filmmaking, nostalgic storytelling, old versus new, pop culture analysis, Ralph Macchio, reboot storytelling, reboot versus sequel, redemption arcs, remake fatigue, safe cinema, safe storytelling, sequel fatigue, storytelling evolution, storytelling in film, storytelling tropes, streaming television, studio strategies, teen action movies, Teen Drama, underdog stories, William Zabka, YouTube Premium, Joseph Tralongo
Back in These Good Old Days: ‘Legends’ or Leftovers?
'Karate Kid: Legends' marks yet another entry in a long-running franchise that has leaned heavily into nostalgia rather than innovation. While the 'Cobra Kai' series offered a fresh perspective by flipping the original underdog...
June 21, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES, FEATURES CINEMA, ‘Shaun of the Dead’, 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later, action thriller, alex garland, alfonso cuaron, Children of Men, cinema, Classics, Danny Boyle, Dystopian, Ecological Collapse, Edgar Wright, Escape from New York, George Miller, Horror, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, John Carpenter, Mad Max: Fury Road, Night of the Living Dead, pixar, post-apocalyptic, Ranked List, Societal Collapse, Sunshine, The Matrix, thriller, Wachowski, WALL-E, Wastelands, Aidan Reidy
10 Post-Apocalyptic Movies Everyone Should Watch
There have been many, many post-apocalyptic movies throughout Cinema history, but some stand out more than others. Which ones are the best and why?...
June 20, 2025CINEMA TOP, FEATURES CINEMA, action cinema, action franchise, action movies, actor dedication, aging action stars, AI in Hollywood, AI in movies, Alejandro González Iñárritu, anti-CGI movement, behind the scenes, big screen experience, blockbuster films, Cannes Film Festival, character-driven films, Christopher McQuarrie, cinema experience, cinema vs AI, cinematic spectacle, classic action films, Cruise career, Cruise filmography, Cruise intensity, Cruise legacy, Cruise legacy films, Cruise passion, Cruise performance, Cruise vs AI, Dead Reckoning, Dead Reckoning Part One, Entertainment Industry, epic cinema, Ethan Hunt, ethical storytelling, film authenticity, film commitment, film dedication, film fans, film spotlight, Franchise fatigue, Ghost Protocol, Harrison Ford, Hollywood action stars, Hollywood icons, Hollywood Star, Indiana Jones, Judy movie, legendary actor, major release, Meaningful Entertainment, mission impossible, Mission Impossible Final Reckoning, modern cinema, Movie Culture, movie franchises., movie icons, movie legend, movie obsession, movie stardom, movie trailers, movie universe, performance over CGI, physical acting, popcorn culture, popcorn trends, practical stunts, Real Stunts, rogue AI, spy action, Star Power, The Entity, timeless movie stars, Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise acting, Tom Cruise fandom, Tom Cruise interviews, Tom Cruise news, Tom Cruise stunts, Tom Cruise transformation, trailer fatigue, visual storytelling, Joseph Tralongo
Running Past the Finish Line: Is This Really Tom Cruise’s ‘Final Reckoning’?
Tom Cruise shows no signs of retiring from the Mission: Impossible franchise, confidently stating he plans to continue making films well into his later years. Known for performing his own daring stunts, Cruise remains a unique and...
June 17, 2025FEATURES CINEMA, FEATURES CULTURE, NEWS CINEMA, action direction, action movies, action with heart, African-American filmmakers, Antihero, auteur directors, Betrayal, black panther, blockbuster cinema, Brotherhood, character depth, Character Study, cinematic catharsis, cinematic subtext, Complex Characters, contemporary film noir, Coogler filmography, Coogler’s themes, Creed, Crime Drama, crime thrillers, Directing Style, directorial style, emotional action films, emotional weight, ensemble cast, father-son dynamics, Film Analysis, film and society, film craft, film symbolism, Fruitvale Station, genre hybrid, gritty realism, heist genre, high-stakes drama, Hollywood directors, hollywood insider, Hollywood Storytelling, iconic filmmakers, identity crisis in cinema, indie film aesthetics, Los Angeles films, Ludwig Göransson, Marvel alumni, Michael B Jordan, modern auteurs, modern cinema, moral ambiguity, morality in film, movie breakdown, narrative structure, performance-driven storytelling, post-2020 cinema, power dynamics, prestige action film, raw performances, redemption arc, Redemption Story, redemption through violence, religious symbolism in film, Ryan Coogler, Ryan Coogler's vision, screenwriting analysis, Sinners, sociopolitical themes, Sterling K. Brown, studio filmmaking, stylized violence, Tessa Thompson, thematic resonance, urban storytelling, violent beauty, visceral tension, visual storytelling, visual tone, Joseph Tralongo
‘Sinners’ in Context: A Study of Influence and Coogler’s Legacy
Ryan Coogler’s films explore the impact of generational trauma and the complex legacies inherited from one’s ancestors. Through his collaborative creative team and culturally rich storytelling, Coogler reshapes these inherited burdens-...
