Hi, my name is Travis Bean. And I have…well. I have what some people say is “unique” taste in movies. Other people would use different adjectives: terrible, questionable, contrarian, etc. And hey, ...

Bring Her Back isn’t just about grief—it’s a story about truth, lies, and the painful journey from innocence to clarity.

Ryan Coogler uses the opening shot of Sinners to establish the film’s primary theme: freedom. Modern cinema has defaulted to using the very beginning of the movie as a thesis for the story’s main ...

The Brutalist’s opening scene establishes László Tóth’s arrival to America by way of Ellis Island, in 1947. He is, like the millions before and after him, an immigrant with a dream. Contrasting László ...

The real beginning and end For the sticklers out there. A Complete Unknown doesn’t begin with Seeger’s trial but Dylan’s arrival to New York City and his sojourn to Woody Guthrie’s hospital room. It ...

The end of Heretic is designed to make viewers wonder what information is relevant or irrelevant. For example, there’s a whole stretch of the film where Mr. Reed wants Barnes and Paxton to believe ...

I think we can all agree that when you first watch Black Swan the immediate questions you have are “How much was real? What was real? Why was Nina seeing what she saw?” There’s some good news and bad ...

Ani wasn’t unaware of Igor’s puppy love for her. Her entire job is based on reading, adjusting, and managing the emotions of men. So she absolutely picked up on the implication of his acts of kindness ...

Man, Naomi Scott gave everything she had to Smile 2 to convey Skye Riley’s grief, trauma, and struggle. One of the most memorable horror performances in recent memory. And Skye feels very much of the ...

What is Vanilla Sky about? For those who want a quick answer—Vanilla Sky is pretty straightforward. Everything that Tech Support says in the final scene is true. Tom Cruise is having a lucid dream. He ...

What is the point of Speak No Evil? Speak No Evil has two primary themes. The need for healthy honesty and the impact parents have on children. Ben is someone who struggles with healthy honesty while ...

The Substance’s themes, meaning, ending, and real life application The Substance is similar to Perfect Blue and Black Swan in that it reflects on a woman’s obsession with her profession. But also ...