Set, Scene, Shot.

the end... for now?

This week we tackle Paul Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, a story of oil and madness in the turn-of-the-century American West. This story of oil and madness in the turn-of-the-century American West takes aim at the perils of isolation and greed, glorified by capitalism. Join us as we look at this film literally, metaphorically, and through the lens of genre and cinematography and stream along on Netflix! Greg - 8.5/10 || Kiki - 7.5/10

Dare you to play this episode... You won't do it will you. pathetic. This week we examine toxic masculinity through The Art of Self Defense! We contemplate the role martial arts in the rise of the Hollywood blockbuster and debate the pervasiveness of masculinity in culture. At its best, The Art of Self Defense provides fantastic situational comedy although it fails to define a meaningful feminine perspective. Greg - 7/10 || Kiki - 7.2533333/10

This week we combine the optical and the aural with Beyonce’s Lemonade, a visual album that accompanies her 6th studio album. A narrative that speaks to the individual in tandem with the collective, Lemonade offers a glimpse into the Black Female experience and generational trauma embellished with poetry, history, and culture. In this episode, we take a deep-dive into philosophical interpretations of the work, the criticism it received, and how Lemonade is a strategic pawn in the Knowles-Carter discography.

This week we tackle the intense world of Nolan with his most recent film, Tenet. Falling within Nolan’s oeuvre of time-themed films, Tenet offers a holistic imagining of the causes and effects of linear time travel through a thoughtful score, intricate and complex plot details, and the imagining of this cinematic work in 70 mm and IMAX. In this episode, we question Nolan’s commentary of power and history while also contextualizing Tenet in Nolan’s body of cinematic masterpieces. Follow along this week as we detour from independent film to analyze this sci-fi thriller!

This week, in celebration of Halloween, we decided to watch Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 horror film - Suspiria. This fever-dream film attempts to reconcile horror, history, and mystery leveraging a nearly all-female cast and cinematic stylings of 1970’s horror cinema. In this episode we address the poignant historical events of 1977 Europe that scaffold the plot, the use and meaning of witches in the film, and the body horror genre. Join us for a riveting discussion, and at your own discretion, stream Suspiria on Amazon Prime Video!

We’re starting off October with a spooky but thought-provoking film, Pan’s Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro’s Academy award-winning war film is filled with allusion, parallel, and fantastical exploration. In this episode, we discuss the various plot elements and characters of del Toro’s twisted fairytale and the roots of Western fables. Stream Pan’s Labyrinth on Netflix.

Our third episode is on Boots Riley’s 2018 whirlwind film, Sorry To Bother You. Addressing labor, masculinity, and technology through the lens of capitalism, we attempt to articulate the skillful work done by Riley in this satirical drama. Stream Sorry To Bother You on Hulu, and join us in a lively conversation that explores the different meanings this film takes.

“Strap in” as we take on the BDSM-laced story in Angela Robinson’s Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. Does historical accuracy matter when writing biopics? Should we give equal weight to aesthetics and narrative when analyzing film? In this episode we explore those questions alongside a deep dive into 20th-century psychology. Stream Professor Marston and the Wonder Women on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, and tune in for our analysis on this kinky film!

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Set, Scene, Shot! In this episode, we take a look at Mati Diop’s 2019 Grand Prix winning film, Atlantics. Curious about the ocean motif? Confused about the army of possessed bodies? Join us as we explore the film aesthetically, technically, and from a sociopolitical perspective. Be sure to stream Atlantics on Netflix, and strap in as we tackle this supernatural thriller!