ZooScope

Tag: Drama

  • Pom Poko. Dir. Isao Takahata. Studio Ghibli. 1994.

    Pom Poko. Dir. Isao Takahata. Studio Ghibli. 1994 Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko) is written and directed by Isao Takahata, a co-founder of Studio Ghibli which animated and published the movie in 1994. The story takes place during the late 1960s at the edge of the Tokyo sprawl. A housing project, aimed at expanding…

  • In the Heart of the Sea. Dir. Ron Howard. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2015.

    Ron Howard´s In the Heart of the Sea (2015), based on Nathaniel Philbrick´s book (2000) of the same name, illustrates the sinking of the whaling ship Essex in 1820 and the crew´s struggle for survival. It is framed by a conversation between Herman Melville, who wanted to gather information to write a novel, and Thomas Nickerson, who himself served on the Essex as…

  • Marley and Me. Dir. David Frankel. 20th Century Fox. 2008.

    Synopsis The film Marley and Meis the film version of the correspondent novel by John Grogan, published in 2008. It thematically focuses on a family that learns important and essential life lessons from their often naughty and neurotic dog.

  • Kes. Dir. Ken Loach. Tony Garnett. 1969.

    Ken Loach (dir.) “Kes” 1969 (Fig 1: Promotional Poster for the film) Since the dawn of man Birds, or more precisely, the notion of flight, has fascinated humankind. Proud and mighty birds of prey have found their way onto flags and military insignia as symbols of strength, independence and freedom. As such, the idea of…

  • Touching Wild Horses. Dir. Eleanore Lindo. Chesler / Perlmutter Productions. 2002.

    Image 1: DVD Cover Image Eleanore Lindo’s 2002 film, Touching Wild Horses, tells the story of a young boy named Mark (Mark Rendall), who is sent to live with his aunt Fiona (Jane Seymour) after a tragic car accident kills Mark’s father and sister and puts his mother in a coma. On Sable Island, both characters…

  • Seabiscuit. Dir. Gary Ross. DreamWorks Pictures. 2003.

    ‘Seabiscuit’[1] is a 2003 film adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s 2001 novel Seabiscuit: An American Legend[2].The film follows the life story of an undersized racehorse named Seabiscuit, during the time of the Great Depression in the United States. Seabiscuit is born with the promise of a great future owing to his bloodlines and the stream of success displayed…

  • Moonrise Kingdom. Dir. Wes Anderson. Focus Features. 2012.

    Wes Anderson’s 2012 Moonrise Kingdom tells the tale of Suzy and Sam as they run away together. Our two young characters are pursued by Suzy’s family and Sam’s scout troop.

  • Babe. Dir. Chris Noonan. Universal Pictures. 1995.

     Babe’s belief in his capability to function within his new identity role as sheep-pig is shattered when he learns his true purpose as bacon for the farm. Deflated of self-worth and betrayed by ‘The Boss’ he descends into a torrent of psychological self-harm, unable to eat at the prospect of his failed ambitions. [1]

  • Hannibal. Dir. Ridley Scott. MGM. 2001.

    Hannibal the Animal: An Analysis of Animal Presence in Hannibal Fig. 1. Hannibal Lecter. All pictures are taken directly from film unless otherwise stated. The sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, Ridley Scott’s Hannibal is set a decade after FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling (Julienne Moore) closed a serial-murder case with the help of incarcerated cannibal Dr. Hannibal…

  • Water for Elephants. Dir. Francis Lawrence. 20th Century Fox. 2011.

    Water for Elephants (Dir. Francis Lawrence, 2011), based on the novel of the same name, is a story about a young man Jacob (Robert Pattinson) who joins a travelling circus and is unsurprisingly about confinement and freedom. It’s brimming with animals from horses to lions to the star of the show, Rosie the elephant, all of…