– By Ben Escobar – It’s critical to understand before seeing Lean on Pete, that it isn’t your average horse film. Sure, it’s got the jockeys and hill country horse races, but there’s a lot more to it than that. It’s even more critical to understand that if you haven’t seen a film from Andrew Haigh prior to Lean on Pete, …
‘Isle of Dogs’: An Impressive, Charming Aesthetic Masks an Underwhelming Story
– By Ben Escobar – I love dogs. Who doesn’t? Wes Anderson definitely does, and it shines throughout his latest film, cleverly titled, Isle of Dogs. Known for his signature style that replicates that of a quirky perfectionist telling a story around a campfire, Wes Anderson’s latest film is no exception to that reputation. While I found the film to be …
5 Influential Directors Every Film Student Should Study
– By Ben Escobar – Before you continue reading the list, it’s critical to note that such a list is nearly impossible to condense down to 5 esteemed artists. The following directors mostly work in independent cinema and are not widely known by the average person. It is in my opinion, that the work and style of these directors can have …
Avoiding Creative Suicide: How to Eliminate Writer’s Block from Your Life
– By Ben Escobar – One of the most interesting opportunities that writers are granted in the creative process of any story is the opportunity to play god. If you think about it, writing a story is the only time in our lives where any of us can have unlimited options, unlimited time, and nobody to tell us “no.” Within the …
‘Game Night’: A Textbook Thrill Ride that Wins in Every Way
– By Ben Escobar – Seeing the trailer and hearing the concept for Game Night a few weeks before its release, I was expecting a new record-breaking low score for Rotten Tomatoes to have alongside The Emoji Movie. But I cannot express how happily mistaken I was after experiencing the visual gut-punch of just the opening sequence. It was in those …
‘The Pursuit of Self-Discovery’: Why Independent Cinema is an Aspiring Filmmaker’s Greatest Asset
– By Ben Escobar – How many times have you seen a really good movie and immediately after can’t help but say, “I want to make movies like that one day,” and then you give it a shot, but then end up failing miserably? Depending on the number of movies you’ve made, probably more than you’re comfortable with. We’ve all been …
‘Boyhood’: A Bittersweet Return to Adolescence
– By Ben Escobar – If someone were to ask me about my favorite memory of my senior year of high school, the first thing that comes to mind is the life-changing night that I watched the masterpiece by Richard Linklater that is known simply as, Boyhood. Having not known much about the film, other than its iconic 12-year production using …