Motifs in Cinema ’11: Loyalty and Solidarity

Perhaps because it’s one of the youngest artistic forms, cinema is often assessed in much different manner that literature, or the visual arts. We discuss it in terms of genre, not in terms of thematic offering. Comparing, for example, Corpse Bride and Up because they’re both animated leads to some dubious discussion especially when – like any art form – thematic elements examined in cinema and the way different filmmaker address them make for some stimulating discussion.Motifs in Cinema is a discourse, across eleven film blogs, assessing the way in which various thematic elements have been used in the 2011 cinematic landscape. How does a common theme vary in use from a comedy to a drama? Are filmmakers working from a similar canvas when they assess the issue of the artist or the family dynamic? Like everything else, a film begins with an idea – Motifs in Cinema assesses how the use of a single idea changes when utilised by varying artists.
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A Best of 2011 List You Shouldn’t Take Too Seriously

I have been commissioned to write some sort of “Best of 2011” list. The problem is I don’t believe in “Best of” lists. Instead, this is just a list of 15 movies from 2011 I liked, in alphabetical order. (Disclaimer: You can blame Ally (and some other Tweeps) if you don’t enjoy this list.)

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Film Diet: July 2011

Here is a rundown of what I watched this past month. J. Lo makes an appearance, so you know it’s a good list.

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Poll: The Best Movie Of 2011 (So Far)

My ticket stubs since February

Since I’ve seen 18 movies in nine theaters in four different states (including Kentucky). It’s probably not as intense as some other people out there but I’m satisfied with the movies I’ve see this year thus far.

But what I want to know is…

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