Les Misérables (2012) Director: Tom Hooper It was a rare bit of class on the modern Hollywood silver screen when the artfully made Les Misérables was released -a film of the musical version of Victor Hugo's famous novel. Of course, it tells the story of Jean Valjean (played by Hugh Jackman), escaped French prisoner who assumes … Continue reading Les Misérables
Author: Great Books Guy
Lincoln
Lincoln (2012) Director: Steven Spielberg Lincoln is loosely based on Goodwin's highly successful historical account of President Lincoln's cabinet, Team of Rivals. The screenplay was written by the successful writer, Tony Kushner. The soft-spoken Abraham Lincoln is played by Daniel Day-Lewis, for which he won Best Actor from the Academy. The story covers the last four months … Continue reading Lincoln
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games (2012) Director: Gary Ross The Hunger Games had a similar phenomenal rise as the Harry Potter franchise. The film is based on Suzanne Collin's 2008 novel of the same name, a remarkable teen/family bestseller. The book was actually inspired by the Greek myth of king Theseus, the mythical king of ancient Athens, … Continue reading The Hunger Games
Thoughts on Aristophanean Comedy
In each of Aristophanes's surviving plays, the subject or context of his comedies point to the city, and the nature of politics. Aristophanes reveals himself as a teacher of the just things. In the Acharnians, Dikaipolois must provide a defense of himself to avoid charges of treason; in the Knights, Paphlagonian (the parody of Cleon) is upstaged by … Continue reading Thoughts on Aristophanean Comedy
The Worship of Wealth in the Plutos
The final surviving play of Aristophanes begins with an impatient slave, Karion, who is distraught and confused at his master, Chremylos (his name suggests a democrat, or one who is concerned for the demos). Chremylos has been following a blind man as decreed by Apollo from Delphi, a sojourn he embarked upon to learn how … Continue reading The Worship of Wealth in the Plutos
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Director: Wes Anderson The plot takes place on the fictional New England island of "New Penzance." It tells the story of a young romance - two lovers find their way together. The main character, Sam is at a boy scout at camp, but he runs away to meet his girlfriend, Suzy. They … Continue reading Moonrise Kingdom
Django Unchained
Django Unchained (2012) Director: Quentin Tarantino Django follows the pattern of other recent Tarantino films - a historically revisionist revenge film that is entertaining, extremely violent, and playfully rife with allusions to classic cinema. The story takes place in the antebellum south. A slave named Django (played by Jaime Foxx) is being dragged through the south … Continue reading Django Unchained
The Cabin in the Woods
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Director: Drew Goddard The Cabin in the Woods is a bit of a trip. It is a highly meta film that contemplates the horror genre, and reorients the audience's mindset right up until the very end. The plot predictably (or so it seems) follows a group of college students, … Continue reading The Cabin in the Woods
Argo
Argo (2012) Director: Ben Affleck Argo is the unique and amusing thriller film based on the story of Tony Mendez, a CIA operative during the 1980s. The story of the film is based on a true story of CIA operatives infiltrating Iran during the hostage crisis in the late 1980s as they go undercover as film-makers … Continue reading Argo
Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris (2011) Director: Woody Allen Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen's late masterpiece. It is a simple fantasy film that appeals to some of the deepest desires within human beings -the feeling of nostalgia, the desire to "go back." The film opens with a several minute sequence portraying scenes of the great locations … Continue reading Midnight in Paris
