Breaking down a film to understand underlying concepts and character portrayals and the different interpretations within a film.
9
votes
1answer
280 views
Why does Cobb wake up in the water?
Inception begins with Cobb waking up or lying on the beach in the water. He is brought before Saito. Later on, we learn that place being limbo.
From Eames' dream (level 3), Cobb and Ariadne go a ...
15
votes
4answers
716 views
In Inception, why do the kicks have to occur simultaneously?
In Inception, why do the kicks on different levels have to all occur simultaneously, rather than one after another?
7
votes
3answers
749 views
What is the point of the masturbation scene in Donnie Darko?
While reading this question What was Frank? it reminded me of one scene in Donnie Darko that I especially don't get how it ties into the story or why it's even there. He is under hypnosis with his ...
5
votes
1answer
182 views
Is Cobb's reaction honest or sarcastic/angry
In Inception there is the following dialogue between Cobb and Ariadne (forgive me for not being word-accurate):
Ariadne: Why can't you return home?
Cobb: Because everybody thinks I killed her ...
37
votes
6answers
3k views
What kind of company is Initech?
What kind of company is Initech in the movie Office Space?
There are a few important things we know about Initech that the movie plot hinged on. Are there any real-life companies that actually fit ...
2
votes
2answers
280 views
Water as a symbol in Fatal Attraction
I noticed the reoccurring use of water in the movie Fatal Attraction. When they first have the affair, the water from the sink appears. Then in the rabbit scene, there is boiling water. And at the ...
5
votes
1answer
173 views
What does the title of The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie mean, especially the Discreet Charm part?
This 1972 movie, co-written and directed by the surrealist Luis Bunuel. I never actually get what is this the title about, especially "discreet charm".
Foremost, why is it "discreet"? Secondly, is ...
7
votes
1answer
367 views
How do Cobol's agents know Cobb was in the Mombasa motel?
In Inception, in the Mombasa chase scene, How do the Cobol Engineering's agents know Cobb had arrived in Mombasa?
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Why does cheryl change her name often?
In Archer season 1 why does Cheryl (shown below) change her name quite frequently?
She goes by Carol, Carina, Crystal etc. in the first few episodes.
6
votes
1answer
319 views
When did the writers decide that Dallas season 9 was a dream?
I'm watching through Dallas, and I'm to season 9 (by the DVD numbering; I understand it was previously called season 8). Patrick Duffy left at the end of season 8. Season 9 is all a dream Pam was ...
4
votes
2answers
252 views
Why does the T-800 Terminator model talk with an accent?
[Source]
The out-of-universe explanation is obvious:
English is not Arnold Schwarzenegger's first language
But given James Cameron's reputation as a perfectionist I wonder if he ever gave an ...
13
votes
2answers
295 views
What was the alternative world in Sucker Punch?
In the movie Sucker Punch, while the girl Baby Doll dances the movie cuts over to scenes of her and the other girls in a different world. Is this world supposed to be Baby Doll's imagination, or what ...
9
votes
1answer
257 views
Kid's pictures in Clint Eastwood's True Crime (1999)
Around 0.02.24 (hh.mm.ss) into this movie there's a close-up of the picture just drawn by Gail Beechum (daughter visiting her father Frank on death row. It's just your bog-standard green field, fence ...
10
votes
1answer
201 views
What's the purpose of the giant door?
King Kong (1933)
A massive wall protects the native village from King Kong.
But if you build a wall to keep a giant ape out, why would you put a door in that's conveniently his size?
My Question:
...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
What did Sgt. Bilko & co. have against oats?
in one episode of The Phil Silvers Show (aka Sgt. Bilko), Bilko buys a racehorse and wants to get rich by sponsoring him at the races. Of course, they had to feed the horse, and a fair amount of the ...
7
votes
3answers
816 views
What does Bruce Wayne pack on his third attempt of leaving the pit in Dark Knight Rises?
Right before Bruce Wayne attempts to leave the pit he packs up something in a towel and wraps it around his body.
Does anyone see what he packs?
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What nationality is Bane?
It has been clearly established that Ra's Al Ghul & Talia Al Ghul are Moroccan. And it is assumed that The Pit is in Morocco.
Does this mean that we should assume Bane is also Moroccan? Or is it ...
14
votes
1answer
545 views
Is Dr.Crane/Scarecrow part of the League of Shadows?
He originally works for Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins poisoning patients with his neuro-toxin.
And in the Dark Knight Rises he is appointed judge of the court trying the rich and powerful.
Is he part ...
13
votes
1answer
238 views
Who hired Malcolm Crowe?
In The Sixth Sense, several months(?) after an "incident", child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) takes up a new case: 8-year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment).
[Source]
But how did Crowe ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Why did the prisoners help Bruce?
When Bruce is left broken and suffering in the Prison Pit, Bane explains that this is where he suffered and where Bruce will fully realize his failure with Gotham, and then be killed.
During his time ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Evidence for and against the ending of Dark Knight Rises
I've heard a few people mention that the ending of Dark Knight Rises, where Alfred sees Bruce and Selina at the bistro in Italy, was just a dream. When I watched it I thought it was really happening.
...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Why does Batman trust Selina Kyle all the time?
In The Dark Knight Rises, in the beginning of the movie Selina Kyle stole a necklace from Bruce's home as well as taking finger prints of Batman and helping Bane to steal from the share market. Then, ...
8
votes
1answer
270 views
Was this a representation of Batman’s fall?
During the end of The Dark Knight, Batman knocks Dent off the building, barely managing to catch himself and the kid. After Gordon gets the kid Batman falls. After his fall from the building the ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Was Alfred in on Bruce's plan in The Dark Knight Rises?
Near the end of The Dark Knight Rises, Alfred is fed up with Bruce's inability to let go of Batman and quit despite Alfred saying to him
"I've buried enough members of the Wayne family"
so ...
5
votes
1answer
118 views
Why did Phoebe live on the streets?
When Phoebe's mum died, Phoebe says she went and lived on the street - but why? Surely before her mother died they would have lived in a house, why would someone take it away from them?
5
votes
1answer
241 views
How old is Ross Geller?
In season 3 of Friends, Ross Geller says that he is 29 years old.
In season 4 of Friends, Ross again states that he is 29 years old.
In season 5, Ross talks about getting divorced twice before ...
8
votes
2answers
938 views
Was “Hanna Schmitz” responsible for the death of 300 people in “The Reader ”?
Couple of months back I watched The Reader. In that movie, Hanna Schmitz was sentenced to life imprisonment because of her role in the death of 300 victims. But I could not understand whether she ...
35
votes
3answers
4k views
What significance does Mike Yanagita have in Fargo?
In the Coen brothers' movie "Fargo" the detective Marge Gunderson gets called by and meets an old schoolmate, Mike Yanagita. He tells her that he is widowed and tries to make a move on her.
Later ...
11
votes
2answers
682 views
What is the meaning of Teddy's last dialogue in Shutter Island?
In Shutter Island, at the end of the movie Teddy had a chat with Chuck, in that scene Teddy told to Chuck as,
Which would be worse: To live as a monster, or to die as a good man?
What's the ...
20
votes
1answer
755 views
What type of leader is Bane?
Bane appears to be an incredibly effective leader, commanding dozens or perhaps even hundreds of criminal underlings in a successful campaign to capture Gotham and hold the entire city hostage for ...
8
votes
1answer
83 views
Is Ethan's and Lindsey's relationship seen as platonic?
Based on the long scene for the rescue of Lindsey and the fact that the movie continues even after the mission was a failure, Ethan could have just gone back home. The first plot that we are aware of ...
10
votes
1answer
342 views
What's with the “one-sided” dialogue scenes in Midnight in Paris?
I re-watched Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris last night. I noticed that during a lot of dialogue scenes with only two or three people, there will often only be one of the characters in the shot. It ...
9
votes
1answer
297 views
In, “There Will Be Blood”, what was the motivation to kill
In the 2007 movie There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, the main character -- Daniel Plainview -- puts a bullet into his "brother's" head when he discovers that the man isn't really his ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Moonrise Kingdom: What is the significance of Benjamin Britten's “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra”?
In the beginning of Moonrise Kingdom the children are listening to Benjamin Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra".
Basically the structure of this musical piece is:
All musical ...
28
votes
1answer
1k views
Why was Being John Malkovich based around John Malkovich?
The film Being John Malkovich is replete with unique plot ideas, the most captivating being the portal discovered by Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) taking him into actor John Malkovich's head.
Why did ...
6
votes
1answer
688 views
Rubbing dirt on hands scene in Gladiator
In Gladiator, every time before a war scene, Maximus picks up a small quantity of dirt from around his feet and rubs it on his hands. Sometimes he smells his hands after the battle. What was the ...
7
votes
1answer
908 views
What happens to Alex at the end of Shallow Grave?
Up front: Do NOT read any answers to this question if you haven't seen the movie, unless you really don't care about spoilers.
At the end of the movie it was not obvious to me what Alex's ultimate ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
Faucets in “Garden State”
Garden state is my favorite film of all time, and I watch it time after time enjoying the incredible subtleties that Zach Braff includes.
However, the one detail that I don't understand is when he is ...
6
votes
1answer
205 views
Inception: Transferring a totem
In "Inception" it seems that Cobb takes over the user of Mal's totem (the spinning top).
If the totem is a personal item that helps you keep your hold on reality, can the totem really be transferred ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Is there a special significance to the cat in The Closer?
When Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson moves into a new house in season one (two?), she discovers a cat that has been living in the home already, whom she names "Kitty".
"Kitty" is a she, but Brenda ...
6
votes
1answer
237 views
Why is “Based on a True Story” used?
I have had little to no interest in a movie that claims it is "Based On a True Story" since Fargo. It's well known that it was a lie that Fargo was based on a true story. There are many movies though ...
4
votes
1answer
387 views
Why did Kurt Connors save Spider-Man?
Towards the end of the movie, the big fight between Spider-Man and The Lizard (Kurt Connors) happens, and Spider-Man ends up defeating The Lizard, but gets thrown off the building. The issue with ...
7
votes
1answer
759 views
Does Hattori Hanzo commit suicide in Kill Bill?
Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill says that despite he made a blood oath to never make another sword, he would make one for the Bride because of the goal she has.
When he later hands over the sword, he is ...
10
votes
2answers
403 views
Why didn't Cobb talk to any of his team members at the airport in the ending of Inception?
In Inception, it always makes me wonder why Cobb didn't say a hello to his team members. He does not even smile at any of his team members at the airport.
What is the reason he acts like he does now ...
14
votes
1answer
524 views
Was Alfred Hitchcock a feminist?
Many of Alfred Hitchcock's films contain a strong female lead. From Grace Kelly's Lisa in Rear Window to Ingrid Bergman's Alicia Huberman in Notorious, these actresses were characteristically ...
10
votes
1answer
150 views
What was Frank?
During the film Donnie Darko, Donnie occasionally talks with Frank, who we end up finding out at the end of the film is a guy that Donnie shot because he accidentally ran over his girlfriend. Is ...
4
votes
1answer
395 views
How did the package save his life?
In the climax of Castaway, Chuck (Tom Hanks) writes a note on the Fedex box which states that this package has saved his life. How exactly did that package save his life?
If I am correct, he never ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Which audience was targeted by “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”?
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" told the story of a divorced mom who accidentally meets a hunky secret agent and -- unbeknownst to her family and friends -- joins the secret agent on many spy adventures.
...
10
votes
2answers
528 views
Why does Buzz Lightyear act like a toy around people in Toy Story?
Early in the first Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear believes he truly is a Space Ranger. His struggle to accept that he is not actually Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger is a key part of the first movie in the ...
6
votes
1answer
225 views
Where do the historical accuracies end and fiction begin in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?
There are innumerable fictions in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (based on Seth Graeme Smith's 2010 novel). From the existence of vampires, to the mass collection of silver to combat the ...
