Opus is about a weird trend in modern society. Historically, negative press would create negative pressure that often ended someone’s career. For example, national news coverage of the Watergate Scandal was directly responsible for the public demand that Richard Nixon…

Typically, I like to walk people through the thematic meaning and machinations of a movie then use evidence from the filmmaker to help confirm my interpretation. But, for Sorcerer, I thought it would be fun to do the reverse. Let’s…

Black Bag uses the intelligence world as a backdrop to explore themes of loyalty, relationships, and marriage. It’s actually a really cool example of how theme informs story.  Black Bag Explained I think most people who love movies understand the…

I’m going to take you through how I understand The Descent. Remember, storytelling is based on known techniques and best practices, with the goal to have viewers experience specific emotions from one beat to the next. The filmmakers make conscious…

Mickey 17 is a movie that has a lot going on. But there’s a simple way to cut through all the noise and get to the core meaning. If you’re a long time reader of Film Colossus, you probably know…

Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This guide contains our detailed library of content covering key aspects of the movie’s plot, ending, meaning, and more. We encourage your comments to help us create…

There are a few layers to Companion. Remove all the conversation around technology and artificial intelligence, and you have a straightforward story about the dynamics between men and women, specifically toxic masculinity and control.  Iris Versus Josh Companion explores similar…

If you want to understand Presence, then listen to the Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror”.  Everything you need to know to get Presence is right there. But if you want me to explain further, keep on reading. Tyler…

Harakiri is, as of writing this, the highest rated movie on Letterboxd. For good reason, it’s a gorgeous, thought-provoking film that has a lot to say about the world.  I think most people who write about the movie will focus…

This may be a controversial opinion, but I think Brady Corbet‘s The Brutalist is actually a simple movie. Yes, it’s 215 minutes. Yes, it has a 15-minute intermission. Yes, a lot happens. But the metaphor? The metaphor is pretty straightforward.  …

Wolf Man’s major themes have to do with parents and children, specifically around ideas of communication and trauma. Blake’s dad loved him but communicated it horribly and that scarred Blake. On the flip side, Blake tries to be better with…