The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers

We test Don Bluth’s “The Secret of NIMH” and discuss: Story & Writing, theme, simple plot, small intimate fantasy; Foley and music; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “‘Power’ is an ominous and sinister word in all these tales, except as applied to the gods.“ – J.R.R. Tolkien Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! “Lee” definition (Merriam-Webster) – “area that is sheltered from the wind” Watch us on YouTube! This Week’s Recommendations: “I Play Rocky” (IMDB) / “The Reh

We invade Laika’s “Wildwood” and discuss: Theme and plot are connected; show don’t tell vs tell don’t show; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.“ – Michael Arndt Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! On “Lion King” Caleb Descanel had a custom lighting package built in digital – (Reddit.com) – I conflated his work on Lion King with Wildwood, apologies! But think it does show the lengths he goes

We see Elizabeth Holmes’ “You Can See Everything” and discuss: Story, themes, documentaries, titles; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “There is no communication in this world except between equals.“ – Ken Burns Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! *Correction: Frederick Wiseman (IMDB) – actually believed that cameras don’t change anything in how people act (Harvard.edu); I may have been recalling discussions around that tactic, but no idea who said it or if it was a

We devour Brian Duffield’s “Whalefall” and discuss: Cinematography, visual storytelling; Story & Writing, memory lane as exposition; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.“ – Jack London Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! Brian Duffield (IMDB) – “No One Will Save You”, “Spontaneous”, “Underwater”, “The Babysitter” Watch us on YouTube! This Week’s Recommendations: “Sense and Sensi

We go a little mad over Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and discuss: Cinematography, using shadows, camera moves, visual storytelling; Story & Writing, MacGuffins, rule of resistance; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Fear isn’t so difficult to understand. After all, weren’t we all frightened as children? Nothing has changed since Little Red Riding Hood faced the big bad wolf. What frightens us today is exactly the same sort of thing that frightened us yesterday. It’s just a different wo

We level with Tom Cruise’s “Digger” and discuss: Story & Writing, satire, showing the reaction instead of the event, what makes a great monologue and a great argument on the page; Cinematography, the flat color palette and pillarbox framing, wide-angle close-ups; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it.“ – Voltaire Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! ExxonMo