Monthly Archives: April 2011

Shutter Island Movie Interpretation

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Shutter Island Movie Interpretation

If you’re looking for some Shutter Island analysis, then you’ve come to the right place. While this hit Martin Scorsese film lacks the symbolism of a Barton Fink or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, it does feature some fine performances, beautiful cinematography, and a conclusion that still has viewers talking. Keep reading to have Shutter Island explained, but keep an eye out for spoilers along the way.

Shutter Island Analysis

Before we get to the Shutter Island analysis, let’s take a brief look at the plot:

Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a U.S. Marshal in the year 1954. Along with his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), Teddy is heading to a mental institute on an isolated island to investigate the disappearance of a patient. The head of the center, Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), tells Teddy that he will have the full cooperation of both patients and staff, but it quickly becomes obvious to the lawman that everyone is keeping secrets. While fighting headaches, flashbacks to WWII, and visions of his murdered wife, Teddy must try to penetrate the layers of lies at the institution and uncover a long-hidden secret.

Shutter Island Ending

Much debate has been stirred up about the Shutter Island ending, and this section is dedicated to trying to get to the bottom of things and present an easy-to-understand Shutter Island explanation. But first things first, let’s take a look at what happens during the final minutes of the film. Those who haven’t seen the film should note that spoilers are coming.

After reaching the lighthouse, Teddy runs into Dr. Cawley, who informs him that he’s actually a former U.S. Marshal named Andrew Laeddis. For the past two years, he’s been a patient at Ashecliffe. He was put there after he returned home one day to find his mentally unbalanced wife had drowned their two children. He then proceeded to kill his wife. His belief that his wife was murdered and he was still looking for her killer were simply ways for his mind to cope with the trauma.

While he has realized the truth of the matter during treatment, Andrew (aka Teddy) has always regressed back to a fantasy state, hurting a number of employees and patients in the process. Because of his violent behavior, a lobotomy has been ordered. In a desperate attempt to save him, his psychiatrist decided to try a radical role-playing experiment to make Andrew realize the truth. His psychiatrist, Dr. Sheehan, is revealed to be the man he believed was his partner, Chuck Aule.

Andrew becomes violent, but eventually breaks down and accepts the truth. Flashing back to the death of his wife and children, Andrew faints. Later, Andrew and Dr. Sheehan speak outside, and the psychiatrist thinks that his patient may have finally come to terms with what happened. But then Andrew calls him “Chuck,” which leaves Sheehan no choice but to send Andrew off for a lobotomy. As he calmly goes with the orderlies, Andrew asks Sheehan if it would be better to “live as a monster, or die as a good man.”

Now here’s my attempt to impart a little Shutter Island meaning, courtesy of three different theories:

  • Teddy is Andrew – Teddy really is Andrew Laeddis, and he really did murder his wife. His fantasy about his wife dying in a fire is simply a way to avoid taking responsibility for what really happened. But while he initially realizes the truth about what has been going on, he sadly reverts to his delusional state and much undergo a lobotomy.
  • Andrew is Cured – The role-playing experiment worked, and Andrew comes to realize what he’s done. Unfortunately, he cannot live with the idea that he killed his own wife, so he decides to feign regression in order to undergo the lobotomy and forget about the horrible events from his past. He would rather die a good man than live as a monster.
  • Teddy is Teddy – There really was a massive cover-up and conspiracy on the island, and Teddy realizes that he will never be able to break free. No matter what he does or says, the men responsible will always find a way to make him look crazy. For this reason, he opts to escape the only way possible: by having a lobotomy and “dying” a good man.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little Shutter Island movie interpretation, and be sure to weigh in with your own opinions in our comments section. While most of the movie is pretty cut-and-dried, that rascally ‘ol Scorsese included just enough to keep cinephiles guessing.

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Movie Interpretation

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Movie Interpretation

Terry Gilliam has always been a bold and inventive filmmaker, and his latest work is just the most recent example of a lifetime spent pushing the boundaries of his art form. I’m talking about The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, of course, the dark, moralistic fantasy starring Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, and Tom Waits. Filled with symbolism and rich subtext, the film has left many clamoring for an Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus analysis, and that’s just what you’re getting below. Enjoy, and beware of spoilers.

Plot of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

No Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus explanation will make sense without first understanding the plot of the story. Here it is:

Set in the present day, the film revolves around the seemingly immortal Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) and his long-running contest with the infernal Mr. Nick (Tom Waits). Parnassus runs a traveling show where audience members get the opportunity to enter a fantastical world and ultimately make a choice that sides with light or darkness. Depending on their choice, the people strengthen the position of either Parnassus or Mr. Nick.

The first time that Parnassus made a wager with the Devil (aka Mr. Nick), he gained immortality but not youth. Later, he traded his immortality for youth after meeting his true love. The condition of the Devil was that Parnassus would have to hand over his first-born child when they reached the age of 16. Parnassus agreed and later fathered a daughter named Valentine (Lily Cole).

When the movie begins, Valentina is rapidly approaching her 16th birthday. When Mr. Nick shows up to collect her, he’s willing to make another wager with Parnassus to allow him a chance to save his daughter. Whoever becomes the first to sway five souls to the side of light or dark will win Valentina. Desperate to save his daughter, Parnassus offers her hand in marriage to any man who can help him win. Enter Tony Liar (Heath Ledger, and later Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell), a con man who encourages Parnassus to bring his show in line with the modern age.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Explained

If you want The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus explained, be sure to pay attention to the following:

  • The Difficult Path to Illumination – Tony climbs the ladder towards illumination, but his worldly deeds thwart his efforts and cause the ladder to break. This demonstrates that spiritual enlightenment is difficult to obtain, and our deeds in this world can often interfere.
  • Parnassus and Mr. Scratch – It’s interesting to note the co-dependent relationship between Parnassus and Mr. Scratch. True forces of duality, they constantly need one another to go on existing.
  • What’s In a Name? - The name Parnassus is taken from Mount Parnassus, the mountain associated with Apollo, the Greek god associated with prophecy and foresight. Mount Parnassus was also the home to the legendary Oracle of Delphi, a seer famed for their ability to predict coming events.
  • Stories – Parnassus begins as a monk who helps tell stories that help sustain the universe. These stories could be viewed as spiritual enlightenment, or even the teachings of the Bible. Mr. Scratch accurately guesses that mankind will one day tire of Parnassus’s stories, which may allude to the decline of religion in the world and the rise of science.
  • The Sacrifice – Just as God sacrificed Jesus to save mankind, Parnassus sacrifices Tony to save his daughter from Mr. Scratch. One of the many parallels between Parnassus and the world’s most famous divine being.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Meaning

Looking for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus meaning? Be sure to familiarize yourself with these symbols and subtext before doing so:

  • Parnassus as God? – Since he serves as a direct foil for Satan throughout the film, some have speculated that Parnassus is actually God in another guise. This makes a lot of sense when you consider that his contest with Mr. Scratch has been going on for centuries.
  • The Hanged Man – Before Tony is found hanging under the bridge, Dr. Parnassus draws a tarot card known as The Hanged Man. Not only does this clue the audience into a coming event, but the card is significant in that it represents an individual who commits the ultimate sacrifice in order to achieve immortality. The comes into play later, when Tony gets a taste of godhood, loses it, then winds up being hung in order to save Valentina from Mr. Scratch (thus achieving immortality, at least in the eyes of the young woman he inadvertently saved).

That wraps up my Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus interpretation, but be sure to search the Internet for even more theories and conjecture about this wonderful work from Terry Gilliam. Sadly, it would be Heath Ledger’s last film, as he accidentally overdosed on prescription medication about a third of the way through filming. Still, it remains a brooding and colorful testament to his talents as an actor, and that’s something that will live on even longer than Doctor Parnassus himself.

The Ring Movie Interpretation

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The Ring Movie Interpretation

If you’re looking for The Ring analysis or hope to have The Ring explained, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m talking, of course, about the hit 2002 American horror film that was a remake of the 1998 Japanese film, Ring. Directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts, the film tells the story of a cursed videotape. Anyone who watches the tape then receives a phone call from a girl informing them that they will die in seven days. When a lovely journalist ends up watching the tape, she must engage in a desperate search for the truth before time runs out.

Spoilers are included in my The Ring interpretation, so keep that in mind as you continue. If you’ve yet to see the film, you might want to give this a look as soon as you’ve finished watching.

The Ring Explanation – The Cursed Videotape

A recurring theme throughout the film is the cursed videotape viewed by both Rachel (Naomi Watts) and her son, Aiden (David Dorfman). As time tick down to their impending deaths, Rachel must study the tape in an effort to make sense of the imagery. Here’s a rundown of all the images included on the tape, when they appear, and their possible significance.

  • 00:05 – THE RING – This image represents the closed lid on the well where Samara was trapped and later died.
  • 00:12 – BLOOD WATER – This could be tied into the horse that’s see dead on the shore, or the bizarre sequence when Rachel is nearly killed by an out-of-control horse that gets loose on a ferry and leaps over the railing.
  • 00:15 – THE CHAIR – This image could either represent the chair where Samara sat in the barn, or her seat in the mental institution. For that matter, Samara’s father electrocutes himself, so it might be a reference to the electric chair.
  • 00:18 – COMBING SEQUENCE – Despite the fact that her daughter is more than a little unusual, this sequence is intended to show how happy Anna is to have a daughter (Samara). No Ring explanation is complete without mentioning this pivotal bit of characterization.
  • 00:31 – BLOOD DRIP/NAIL – This one-second image is meant to indicate that Samara has reached a turning point in her life. It might hint at her madness or her desperate struggle to claw her way out of the well.
  • 00:32 – FATHER IN THE WINDOW – Samara’s father is outside looking in, demonstrating his strained relationship with his disturbed daughter.
  • 00:33 – FLY/BEACH – When Rachel’s ex Noah assists in the investigation, he enters a record room to get information on Samara. Notice that the fly in the records room moves in the same pattern as the fly on the cursed videotape.
  • 00:37 – OBJECT PULLED FROM MOUTH – Samara suffered great physical and psychological pain in the institution, and this one-second image is meant to represent this.
  • 00:38 – FACE WITH BLACK BAG – Samara was suffocated with a black bag, so this one is pretty obvious.
  • 00:39 – PARTIALLY OPEN WELL – References the moment that Samara was thrown into the well by her mother.
  • 00:40 – TREE ON FIRE – This image points the way to where Samara’s corpse is located.
  • 00:41 – NAIL COMING OFF FINGER – Samara broke off her fingernails trying to escape from the well, and this image reflects that.
  • 00:42 – MAGGOTS – Maggots often feed on corpses, so this image is representative of death.
  • 00:43 – SWIMMERS – A group of swimmers are shown in this scene, hinting at Samara being trapped in a well and surrounded by water.
  • 00:46 – TABLE/CHAIR/CENTIPEDE – To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what this series of images represents.
  • 00:50 – GOAT WITH THREE LEGS – Samara was treated like an animal for much of her life, so this reflects this. It might also show others viewed Samara, as something broken or damaged.
  • 00:52 – HORSE EYE – An obvious reference to the horse that jumps off the ferry.
  • 00:53 – SEVEN FINGERS – Samara’s curse takes seven days to kill her victims, and Samara took seven days to die down in the well. These fingers represent those seven days.
  • 00:54 – BURNING TREE – Another indication of where Samara’s body is located.
  • 00:59 – FACE WITH BLACK BAG – Another reference to Samara being suffocated with a bag.
  • 01:00 – ANNA LOOKING BACK- Anna goes mad after she murders her daughter, and this sequence shows her with an insane look on her face.
  • 01:03 – EMPTY WINDOW – Samara’s father was previously seen in the window, and now he’s not. This could represent his complete removal from her life, or the fact that he was unaware of how she died.
  • 01:03 – UPSIDE DOWN CHAIR – The previous chair represented Samara’s isolation and anger, and this image shows that those emotions have intensified.
  • 01:04 – TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS OF A LADDER – The first ladder represents the ladder outside of Noah’s apartment, the place where Samara eventually appears to kill him. The second ladder is the one leading to Samara’s loft in the barn.
  • 01:06 – DEAD HORSES – Samara’s continual presence in the barn caused the horses to sicken and die.
  • 01:10 – ANNA’S SUICIDE – Anna jumps off a cliff to her death. This one needs no further explanation.
  • 01:15 – LADDER FALLING – An indication that all hope has been lost, both for Samara and the person who’s watching the video.
  • 01:16 – WELL COVER CLOSING – Represents the moment when Samara’s mother closed the well lid and doomed her daughter to a horrible death.
  • 01:17 – OUTSIDE OF WELL – Indicated Samara’s metaphysical escape from the well where she died.
  • 01:25 – STATIC – The end of the videotape, as well as the end of the life of the person who just viewed it.

That wraps up our The Ring movie interpretation. I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief look at one of the more intriguing horror films to come along in recent years, and be sure to direct anyone looking for The Ring meaning to this website.

Knowing Movie Interpretation

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Knowing Movie Interpretation

Released in 2009, Knowing was a surprise hit at the box office, bringing in a gross of over $183 million. It also managed to raise a number of questions among viewers, and that’s why I’ve chosen to write up this Knowing analysis. I’ll cover some of the more confusing elements of the film, as well as details to mull over while you watch it. Spoilers are contained below, so those who’ve yet to see the film should keep that in mind before beginning.

Knowing Plot

The film begins in the year 1959, with a young girl named Lucinda Embry hearing whispers as she stares at the sun. Her school is preparing to bury a time capsule to be opened in 50 years, and Lucinda submits a piece of paper filled with seemingly random numbers. A short time later, she’s found inside a closet at the school, scratching the numbers into the door with her bloodied fingers.

The movie then picks up in 2009, with a widowed MIT astrophysics professor, Jonathan Koestler (Nicolas Cage), interacting with his son, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury). Caleb goes to the same school that Lucinda did, and he winds up receiving her page of numbers when the time capsule in unearthed. At the same time, he begins to hear whispers and notices that a stranger is watching him.

Jonathan finds the piece of paper and notices that many of the numbers seem to indicate dates where some kind of disaster occurred, as well as the number of people who would die. Three dates have yet to occur, but these predictions are slowly fulfilled as the movie movies forward (courtesy of a plane crash and a train derailment). Jonathan becomes obsessed with learning more, hoping to seek out Lucinda Embry. When he learns that she died from a drug overdose, he begins following her grown daughter (Rose Byrne).

As the action intensifies, both Caleb and Lucinda’s granddaughter begin to receive visits from mysterious individuals, although Jonathan assumes these individuals to be sinister. Lucinda’s daughter reveals that her mother once told her the date of her death, and it just so happens to be the following day. Looking for additional clues, Jonathan travels to where Lucinda used to live, and he finds the meaning of the last set of numbers: a disaster is coming that will kill everyone on Earth.

A race against time begins, and Lucinda’s daughter is killed the next day in a car crash. Jonathan realizes that a massive solar flare is going to engulf the planet and kill everyone, and there’s no way to escape. It is then revealed that the mysterious strangers are actually begins from another world, and they’ve come to take a select number of Earth children away to begin a new civilization.

As Caleb and Lucinda’s granddaughter board an alien craft, Jonathan says his goodbyes and then journeys home to reunite with his parents and sister. The flare destroys the planet, and the survivors are seen being deposited on a lush alien world to begin life anew.

Knowing Explanation

If you’re seeking to have Knowing explained, take a look at a few of these tidbits from the movie. Hopefully, they’ll provide you with a deeper understanding of the Knowing meaning.

Character Names – Many of the character’s names have significance. For example:

  • John – The apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, foretelling the end of the world.
  • Diana – The daughter of Lucinda, Diana is also the name for the Roman goddess of the hunt. When she is first introduced, she’s seen in a natural history museum standing amidst plenty of stuffed animals.
  • Caleb – In Hebrew, his name means “faithful.” Perhaps the children were saved was because they were innocent and closer to God.

Faith – John has turned away from faith and his pastor father. When death is inevitable, he reconciles with his family and realizes that death is not the end.

The Whisper People – The strangers who take the children to another planet at the end of the film could easily be interpreted as angels.

The Rabbit – While only children are allowed onto the ships, the main kids in the film are allowed to bring a rabbit on board. Is this a reference to Noah’s ark?

Knowing Ending

Those looking for a Knowing explanation often wonder what the ending is all about. Well, in my Knowing interpretation, there are two ways to look at it:

  • The ending is as simple at it appears. The aliens have collected the children and taken them to a new world to start over.
  • One could also view it as a metaphor for how life started on Earth. These children are filling in for Adam and Eve, and the massive tree glimpsed on the planet could be symbolic of the Tree of Life. Perhaps the film is putting forth the idea that mankind started thanks to aliens dropping a few off us off on Earth.
  • There’s also the notion that the aliens are actually angels, and they’re carrying out the will of God to preserve the human race by relocating them.

I hope you’ve found this Knowing interpretation to be helpful. It’s a surprisingly entertaining film, and one that deserves repeat viewings. Whether you believe in God or science, you’ll find that it raises a number of issues worth discussing.

Inception Movie Interpretation

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Inception Movie Interpretation

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Inception was released in 2010 and combined genres including action, drama, the heist film, and science fiction. Hailed by critics and embraced by fans, it was the culmination of nine years worth of ideas and rewrites from Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay.

But while the movie thrilled audiences around the globe with its dreamlike action, many who saw it wound up searching for Inception meaning at every opportunity. That, of course, it where this article comes into play. I hope to provide a certain level of Inception interpretation, especially as it relates to the ambiguous Inception ending.

Warning: Everything which follows contains spoilers!

Reaction to Inception

The critical reaction to Inception was largely positive, and critics ranging from Peter Travers to Roger Ebert placed it in their top 10 list for 2010. On 55 critics’ lists, it was ranked as the best film of the year.

The film also enjoyed a fair amount of success during award season. Inception was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Cinematography. At the BAFTA awards, it won for Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Special Visual Effects. While it failed to win any Golden Globes, it was still nominated in four categories.

But the greatest success of Inception came at the box office, where the film made over $825 million against a budget of $160 million. It now ranks as one of the biggest hits in box office history.

Even though many of those who left the theaters needed Inception explained to them by a friend, they still had a helluva ride while the lights were dimmed.

Inception Explained

First off, here’s a little about the plot before he get into the Inception explanation:

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) perform corporate espionage by breaking into the minds of their targets and extracting information by dream manipulation. Dom has been separated from his children after his troubled wife committed suicide, and he longs to be reunited with them. He’s contacted by a powerful businessman named Mr. Saito (Ken Watanabe) who wants to hire him for a special mission: instead of getting information from a target, Saito wants Cobb to implant a thought (also known as an “inception”). If Cobb and his team can pull off the job, Saito promises to use his influence to help our hero reunite with his family. This begins a fast-paced adventure of mind-bending proportions. It should also be noted that dying in the dream world can result in real life death or the person being trapped perpetually in a dreamlike state. And many of the world’s most powerful men, including their current target, have received training on his to fend off attacks to their subconscious, often in the form of gun-wielding bodyguards.

Inception Ending

The ending of Inception has been much talked about, so let’s jump right in and take a look. After completing his job for Mr. Saito, Dom Cobb uses the influence of his most recent employer to gain entry back into the United States. Once there, he is reunited with his children and shares a tender moment. But he seems to wonder if this is the real world or still a dream, and so he pulls out his totem (a top which spins perpetually in the dream realm) to test the theory. He sets the top spinning and waits to see if it eventually slows. Meanwhile, he’s distracted by his children and walks away without seeing the results.

So was he dreaming or not?

Christopher Nolan admits to making the ending intentionally ambiguous, but he’s quick to mention that the real point of the scene is that Dom walks away from the top before seeing the answer. He loves his children, so he really doesn’t care what the result is.

Inception co-star Michael Caine had this to say about the ending, “If I’m there it’s real, because I’m never in the dream. I’m the guy who invented the dream.”

And according to Christopher Nolan, he tends to agree with the venerable actor. “I choose to believe that Cobb gets back to his kids, because I have young kids. People who have kids definitely read it differently than those who don’t.”

That concludes our Inception movie interpretation, and hopefully we’ve been able to clear up some questions along the way. Offering a full Inception analysis isn’t a simple task, but it’s certainly a worthwhile endeavor, as the film is filled with layer upon layer of meaning and all-out action. If you haven’t watched it yet, be sure to do so immediately. If you’ve already seen it, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying a repeat viewing or three.

Donnie Darko Movie Interpretation

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Donnie Darko Movie Interpretation

Donnie Darko, a dark thriller released in 2001, helped launch the career of actor Jake Gyllenhaal and director Richard Kelly. While the story of a teenager trying to save his world from an impending apocalypse failed to break even at the box office, it did receive favorable critical reviews and has since become a cult favorite with a large fanbase.

Of course, Donnie Darko can be confusing as hell to viewers more accustomed to action films and animated nonsense. For those readers, we present this Donnie Darko analysis. There are a number of spoilers, however, so keep that in mind as you continue.

Donnie Darko Explained

In order to understand the Donnie Darko meaning, we first need to take a basic look at the film’s plot. Set in 1988, the film follows a teenager named Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young man with various mental problems. Not only does he tend to sleepwalk, but he also has visions of a horrific man in a bunny suit named Frank the Bunny.

On October 2nd, Frank the Bunny draws Donnie out of his house and informs him that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Moments later, the engine from a passenger plane falls out of the sky and levels Donnie’s house. Donnie wakes up on a golf course and returns home. Officials are baffled, as no airplanes were reported flying in the area or have indicated any trouble.

From there, Donnie falls for a new girl at school (Jena Malone) and is prompted by Frank the Bunny to commit a number of crimes. As Donnie becomes increasingly troubled, he soon comes to realize that the date given by the giant rabbit is only six hours away. He then races against time, trying to figure out what’s coming and how to stop it.

Donnie Darko Meaning – SPOILERS AHEAD

When Donnie is saved from the falling jet engine, it creates a tangent universe that Donnie must journey through in order to save the universe. After he accomplished this, the engine is sent back 28 days through a wormhole, the tangent universe ceases to be, and Donnie winds back up in bed as the engine crashes into his house and kills him. Not only does he save his planet, but he also saves his mother and sister who just so happened to be riding on the future plane that lost the engine. Since Donnie sacrificed himself, they would never board the plane in the future, and it would never lose an engine.

The whole point is to end the time loop, and Donnie can only accomplish this through his death. The engine falls into the past on October 30th, and the tangent universe replaces the prime universe.

Need more evidence that Donnie is caught in a time loop? Here you go:

  • Stabbing Frank’s Eye – When Donnie sees an image of Frank the Bunny in the bathroom mirror, he begins stabbing at his eye. This occurs before he journeys to the tangent universe, however, showing that Donnie remember Frank’s eye injury from a previous trip through the time loop.
  • Other Characters – A number of the characters in the film seem to have inside knowledge, suggesting that they realize they are living out the same moments in time over and over. Grandma Death is the most notable example of this, constantly checking her mailbox for the impending arrival of Donnie’s letter.
  • Frank’s Appearance – Frank the Bunny appears before the engine crashes, demonstrating that he has journeyed to the past from another point in the tangent universe. It is only by manipulating Donnie into killing him in the tangent universe that he is able to lead him down the proper path in the future.

Donnie Darko Ending

The ending of Donnie Darko mirrors the beginning of the film. Now that he’s completed his 28-day journey through the tangent universe, Donnie rests in his bed and awaits the impending arrival of the falling jet engine. It crashes into the house and kills him, but he manages to save his own universe in the process and dies a hero.

That concludes our Donnie Darko movie interpretation, and I hope you’ve found it to be both entertaining and informative. Whether you’re curious about the Donnie Darko ending or a more specific Donnie Darko explanation, this article should have done the trick. If you’re still confused, I might suggest an easier to understand film such as The Expendables or Friday the 13th.

The Shining Movie Interpretation

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The Shining Movie Interpretation

Released in 1980, The Shinning was directed by Stanley Kubrick and adapted from the best-selling horror novel by Stephen King. As with most works by the genius Kubrick, the film is riddled with symbolism, metaphors, and plenty of visual trickery designed to reward those viewers who pay close attention. For those of you who want a greater understanding of what to look for in this movie, I proudly submit this article designed to serve as an explanation of The Shining. Spoilers abound, however, so consider yourself warned.

Reception for The Shining

Before we dive into The Shining analysis, let’s take a minute to look at the film’s reception:

When it was originally released, the critical response to The Shining was positive but not overwhelmingly so. In later years, however, its status as a masterpiece of the genre has risen, with everyone from Roger Ebert to Martin Scorsese hailing it as a modern classic. For his part, Stephen King was disappointed in the film, saying that Kubrick left out or glossed over some of the book’s most important themes. His dislike of the movie has dulled over time, however, and he admitted in a later interview that he found the adaptation “dreadfully unsettling.” The film now holds a place on numerous rankings from the American Film Institute, including 100 Years…100 Thrills, 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains, and 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes (“Here’s Johnny!”).

Main Characters in The Shining

If you want to have The Shining explained, it’s first important to understand the main characters. Here’s a list of all those who play a major role in this horror classic:

  • Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) – A writer and recovering alcoholic who takes the job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. As the film progresses, Jack slowly loses his mind.
  • Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) – Jack’s meek and supportive wife. She’s finally forced to grow a spine when Jack flips out and tries to kill her and her son.
  • Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd) – The young son of Jack and Wendy, Danny is gifted with the ability to see glimpses of the past and the future.
  • Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) – An African-American chef at the Overlook Hotel who also possesses the abilities of ESP. He later received a telepathic sense that Danny is in trouble and journeys to the Overlook to help him. That’s when he runs into a deranged and axe-wielding Jack Torrance.
  • Delbert Grady (Philip Stone) – A former caretaker at the Overlook who went mad and murdered his family. His ghost appears to Jack Torrance and encourages him to do the same.

The Shining Explained – The Shining Analysis

As you watch The Shining, keep an eye out for the following themes and subtext. This is the meat of our The Shining interpretation.

  • Claustrophobia vs. Agoraphobia – The Overlook Hotel is a massive structure, and it somehow manages to invoke elements of both claustrophobia and agoraphobia at the same time. The sheer enormity of the property becomes frightening, as madness and danger seems to lurk around every corner. On the other hand, the enclosed hallways and hotel rooms create a sense of isolation and suffocating danger.
  • The Perils of Alcoholism – Jack really begins his descent into madness when he falls off the wagon courtesy of a ghostly bartender in the Overlook.
  • The Destruction of the Family Unit – The Torrance family has problems from the beginning thanks to Jack’s drinking problem, but it slowly unravels completely thanks to his madness and the supernatural presence of the Overlook.
  • The Struggle Between Words and Images – Jack relies on words as a writer, while his son Danny gets glimpses of the past and future courtesy of images in his head. These worlds collide eventually, with the mad author trying to murder his own son in a twisted Oedipal conflict.
  • The Slaughter of Native Americans – The Overlook is built on top of an Indian burial ground, and some have interpreted the repeated rivers of blood to represent all those who died at the hands of the white man. In addition, the final shot of the photograph on the wall shows that it was taken on July 4th, a date that would celebrate the founding of the United States and guarantee the eventual downfall of the American Indians.
  • Modern Fairy Tale – Some have also described The Shining as a modern fairy tale, with Danny as the child hero at odds with a mad giant (in this case, his father). The film itself also features references to Hansel and Gretel.
  • Architecture – The architecture of the Overlook, as shot by Kubrick, is meant to leave viewers feeling disoriented and uneasy. Furniture seemingly moves from one room to another, doors exist that can’t possibly lead anywhere, and a number of other examples that seem to defy physical logic.
  • The Photograph – No discussion of The Shining ending would be complete with mentioning the photograph in the final shot, showing Jack Torrance at the Overlook during a party in 1921. Kubrick himself dispelled any doubt when he stated that Jack was a reincarnation of a previous employee of the Overlook.

I hope you’ve found our The Shining movie interpretation to be useful, and those looking for The Shining explanation or The Shining meaning should also feel equally at home. Now that you’ve had The Shining explained, run on out and buy yourself a copy on DVD or Blu-ray. You won’t regret it, as Stanley Kubrick was truly a master of the medium.

No Country for Old Men Movie Interpretation

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No Country for Old Men Movie Interpretation

Winner of the Best Picture Oscar, No Country for Old Men was just one of many critical darlings from filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. While it’s not as heavy on symbolism as some of their previous works (Barton Fink, for example), it does deal with a number of issues that are worth examining. Therefore, we proudly present this No Country for Old Men explanation, which he hope will tie up any loose ends and provide you with additional incentive to watch it again. If you’ve yet to see the film, be warned that this article contains a number of spoilers.

No Country for Old Men Reception

The critical reception for No Country for Old Men was almost universally positive, and it made over $170 million at the box office against a budget of $25 million. It was also a major hit on the awards circuit, winning four Academy Awards (Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay), two Golden Globes (Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor), and three BAFTA awards (Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actor).

No Country for Old Men Plot

This No Country for Old Men interpretation wouldn’t be complete without a summary of the plot, so here goes:

Set in 1980 West Texas, the film revolves around a Vietnam veteran named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) who stumbles across the aftermath of a drug deal gone bad. He takes two million dollars that he finds at the scene, unaware that a tracking device is hidden within the satchel containing the money. Hitman Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is hired to recover the cash, and he wastes no time in racking up a body count (including several with a captive bolt pistol). This gets aging lawman Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) involved, and soon all three men are playing a lethal cat-and-mouse game against the backdrop of the Texas/Mexico border.

No Country for Old Men Analysis

Those looking for No Country for Old Men meaning need look no farther, as this section details some of the film’s most common themes and metaphors.

  • Hunter and Hunted – Almost all characters in No Country for Old Men alternate between being the hunter and the hunted. The hitman hunts for Llewelyn Moss, while the sheriff hunts for both Chigurh and Moss. Carla Jean Moss is later hunted down by Chigurh, while he’s hunted himself earlier by fellow hitman Carson Wells. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, while not pursued by an actual person, it hunted by the most dangerous predator of all: time.
  • Nihilism – In No Country for Old Men, the good guys do not win. Innocent people die, the hero is murdered off-camera by a bunch of anonymous Mexicans, and the lawman retires feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. This theme is common in many films from the Coens, with Blood Simple and Fargo being fine examples.
  • Fate and Free Will – Anton Chigurh seems himself as an agent of fate, relentlessly tracking down people and sometimes giving them a chance to live or die according to the toss of a coin. He also acts as an agent of fate when it comes to Sheriff Bell, as the elderly lawman is forced to examine his career and step down due to the inevitable march of time. The notion of free will is perfectly demonstrated during the scene between Chigurh and Carla Jean Moss, as she’s offered a shot to beat fate but exercises free will and declines the coin toss. Of course, this is when the element of nihilism comes into play, as Carla Jean is murdered in cold blood for no real reason.

No Country for Old Men Ending

The No Country for Old Men ending normally leaves viewers asking two distinct questions. One, did Anton Chigurh kill Carla Jean Moss, and two, what were the significance of the dreams talked about by Sheriff Ed Tom Bell? I’ve got both of your answers below, in keeping with our claim of providing you with an No Country for Old Men analysis.

First up is the fate of Carla Jean Moss. She refuses to play along with Chigurh’s request that she wager her life on a coin toss, and we next see him exiting her house and checking the soles of his boots. While it’s not shown on-screen, there’s little doubt that Carla Jean met her maker. Why else would a hitman be checking his boots other than to make sure he didn’t have any blood on them? The original Cormac McCarthy novel also makes this clear, so those holding out hope for Carla Jean might as well give up.

As for the dreams talked about by Sheriff Ed Tom Bell with his wife, the first involves losing “some money” that his father had given him, and the second revolved around he and his father riding horses through a snowy mountain pass. His father goes ahead, carrying fire in a horn, and Bell realizes that his father will be waiting for him up ahead.

I interpret the first dream as Bell’s shame over failing to solve the case presented throughout the movie. The “money” discussed could simply be a metaphor for another kind of capital, the kind a former sheriff would hand down to his son when the latter took office. When his career ended on a down note, Bell may have felt as though some of this familial capital was lost in the process.

The second dream is obviously about death. His father has proceeded him in death, so he rides on ahead through a dark and uncertain landscape. But he carries a fire to stave off the terror of the afterlife, silently assuring his son that his family will be waiting for him in the afterlife.

Now that you’ve had No Country for Old Men explained, I hope you’ll either take the opportunity to see it for the first time or watch it again. Either way, you’ll be amazed at the subtle directorial skills of the Coen brothers and their longtime collaborators such as Roger Deakins and Carter Burwell. It’s also a damn entertaining yarn, filled with rugged individualists, sudden violence, and plenty of commentary on the nature of fate and death.

Lost Analysis – End of Lost Meaning

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Lost Analysis – End of Lost Interpretation

The end of the television series Lost provided a great deal of discussion material for fans of the show, with many finding it to be a fitting way to say goodbye to their old pals from Oceanic Flight 815. Others were outraged by what they perceived as a cop-out by the creators of the show. But whether they loved it or hated it, viewers tuned in to “The End” to the tune of 13.5 million Americans.

In case you’re still confused by the end of Lost, we humbly offer up this Lost explanation in the hopes that it will cause the throbbing pain in your head to subside. There’s plenty of Lost interpretation to be had, as well as an explanation of the Lost ending.

The Basic Premise

In case you’ve never seen the show, here’s a basic (and I mean basic) overview of the show. Oceanic Flight 815 crashes while en route to America, and the survivors wind up on an uncharted island. Over the course of the show’s six seasons, they attempt to get rescued, deal with the violent individuals already on the island, return to the island after escaping, and generally make sense of what the hell is going on. Oh, and there’s also some time travel and parallel universes.

Major Characters from Lost

Any Lost analysis should begin with a look at the show’s main characters, especially those who play a prominent role in the final episode of the series. Keep in mind that these characters are far too detailed to be summed up in a couple of sentences, so this is only meant as a rough guideline as part of our Lost interpretation.

  • Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews) – A former member of the Iraqi Republican Guard, Sayid is haunted by the deaths of those he loved. After escaping from the island, he spends some time as an assassin for Benjamin Linus.
  • Desmond Hume (Henry Ian Cusick) – A former monk and military man who crashed on the island while undertaking a boat race around the world. Plays a pivotal role in the later stages of the series, especially when it comes to defeating the evil Man in Black.
  • Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) – The leader of the Others, and a manipulative killer. As the series progresses, he slowly begins to yearn for redemption.
  • Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey) – A pilot who was supposed to fly Oceanic Flight 815. He later winds up on the island anyway, and he’s instrumental in helping some of the survivors to escape.
  • Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) – A skilled surgeon who generally serves as the leader of the crash survivors. He dates Kate, but their break-up drives him to alcoholism and suicidal thoughts. Chosen by Jacob as the new guardian of the island, Jack successfully defeats the Man in Black (although he’s mortally wounded in the process).
  • Hugo “Hurley” Reyes (Jorge Garcia) – A lottery winner who winds up on the island, Hurley remains upbeat despite a weight problem and continual bad luck. He eventually succeeds Jack as the island’s new guardian.
  • James “Sawyer” Ford (Josh Holloway) – A con artist searching for the man he holds responsible for his family’s death, Sawyer slowly transforms from a smartass anti-hero to full-fledged good guy during the course of the series.
  • Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) – A wanted fugitive who murdered her abusive stepfather, Kate is a capable woman who carries on romances with both Jack and Sawyer.
  • John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) – Confined to a wheelchair, John Locke finds himself able to walk after winding up on the island. He becomes the leader of the Others, gets murdered by Benjamin Linus, and is eventually inhabited by the sinister Man in Black.

Of course, the series finale of Lost brought back all the characters from the past, and in some cases they even got to take part in the action (Boone, Shannon, etc.). The ones listed above, however, were some of the major movers and shakers during “The End.”

Lost Ending Explained – End of Lost Analysis

So what’s the Lost meaning in regards to the final minutes of the show? To me, there are two distinct options, although other fans of the show may have their own theories.

  • Option 1 – Everything that was shown during the series (including time travel and sideways worlds) actually happened. Those who lived and/or escaped the island went on to live out full lives. When all those lives were concluded, they met again at the church in the afterlife and moved on to Heaven.
  • Option 2 – Everyone died when Oceanic Flight 815 crashed, and the events that played out through the series were the result of the characters trying to find redemption and come to grips with the end of their lives. Once this had been accomplished–whether through self-sacrifice, escaping the island, etc.–they were ready to move on to their eternal reward.

And don’t forget about the final shot of the plane’s wreckage that pops up after the credits have rolled for “The End.” We once again see the island’s beach and the wreckage of the plane. This could be interpreted in two ways.

  • Lost Interpretation #1 – It’s simply a reminder that everyone died in the crash and have now moved on into the next world.
  • Lost Interpretation #2 – It’s a commentary on the circular nature of existence. Throughout the series, wreckage from previous visitors to the island were shown. Flight 815 is now just another mysterious relic to be puzzled over by future visitors to the island.

While a full-fledged Lost explanation isn’t possibly in the short space I allotted for this article, I still hope I’ve been able to shed a little light on some of the final episode’s more bothersome questions. If not, there are plenty of other resources available on the Internet to provide you with insight and discussion. And just remember, asking to have Lost explained is like trying to figure out a complicated puzzle; it’ll drive you crazy, but it’s oh-so-satisfying when you finally make a breakthrough.

Usual Suspects Movie Interpretation

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The Usual Suspects Movie Interpretation

The Usual Suspects isn’t a hard movie to figure out, but that doesn’t stop people from searching for “Usual Suspects analysis” and “Usual Suspects explanation.” If you’re scratching your head after seeing this Academy Award-winning heist film, be sure to keep reading. And if you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to hold off on reading this until you do. That’s because spoilers lurk around every corner, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.

The Usual Suspects hit theaters in 1995, and it was shot on a $6 million budget and inspired by the famous line from Claude Raines in Casablanca. The film made over $23 million at the box office, and it would net Oscars for Kevin Spacey (Best Supporting Actor) and Christopher McQuarrie (Best Original Screenplay).

The Usual Suspects

The film revolves around five cons who meet in a police line-up, so let’s begin by taking a look at each:

  • Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne) – A former dirty cop who’s trying to go straight. He once faked his own death to avoid an investigation.
  • Roger “Verbal” Kint (Kevin Spacey) – A con artist with cerebral palsy. Walks with a limp.
  • Michael McManus (Stephen Baldwin) – A professional thief with a short temper.
  • Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro) – A professional thief who pulls jobs with McManus and speaks in broken English.
  • Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak) – An ill-tempered criminal who specializes in hijacking.

The Usual Suspects Plot

Con artist Verbal Kint is the survivor of a massacre at the harbor of San Pedro Bay, and he’s interrogated by U.S. Customs Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri). Wanting to know the whole story, Kujan convinces Kint to talk. Since he’s already gotten near immunity, Kint obliges by starting the tale six weeks earlier when five cons meet one another in a line-up.

While sitting in a cell, they decide to team up and rob corrupt members of the New York City police department. Then they’re off to L.A. to fence their loot, and they get talked into pulling a job. The assignment goes bad, and they wind up stealing heroin (even though they were told it was jewels).

Soon after, they’re blackmailed into pulling a job for Keyser Soze, a mythical crime figure with a fearsome reputation in the criminal underworld. They are to head to the docks and destroy a shipment of cocaine, and they also have the option to stick around and take the $91 million that the buyers are supposed to be bringing.

When they begin their assault on the docks, the members of the group are picked off by a mysterious man. Verbal is the only member to survive, which leads us back to the present. Satisfied with his story, the agent allows Verbal to leave.

Sitting in the office, the agent soon realizes that much of the story was a fabrication, as Kint had taken story details from items on the walls and desk of the office. He races to catch up with him, but Kint has already managed to get into a waiting car and escape.

The Usual Suspects Explained

Those looking for the Usual Suspects meaning shouldn’t have to think too hard. There’s really not a lot of subtext or symbolism to wade through, and the ending is pretty cut-and-dried. So if you’re looking for some sort of Usual Suspects interpretation, you’ll need to go to a site that’s far more pretentious than this one. Ask a fan of Black Swan; they can probably give you a recommendation.

It is fun, however, to try and remember all the lies told by Verbal Kint throughout the film. For those of you who are too lazy, here’s a list of lies told and what inspired them.

  • Keyser Soze – A legendary figure in the criminal underworld. Sort of like the bogeyman for cons.
  • Barbershop Quarter in Skokie, Illinois – Kint made up this lie after seeing the words “Quartet, Skokie, Il” on a pinboard in the room where he was being interrogated.
  • Bricks Marlin – “Bricks” comes from a name on the pinboard, while “Marlin” comes from a picture of a man standing beside a marlin he caught fishing.
  • Redfoot - Taken from the name “Redfoot” on the pinboard. A picture of an obese person inspired the description that Redfoot is “orca fat.”
  • Mr. Kobayashi – Kobayashi is written on the bottom of the coffee mug used by the agent interrogating Kint.
  • Picking Beans in Guatemala – The word “Guatemala” is found on the pinboard.

The Usual Suspects Ending

There’s no chance that the audience will truly know the truth about Keyser Soze until Agent Kujan begins to puzzle things out in the closing minutes of the film. By this time, of course, Kint is already outside of the police station and moments away from being a free man. While some may feel that director Bryan Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie have manipulated and deceived the audience, please note that it was ultimately Agent Kujan’s mind that betrayed us (and him).

That wraps up our Usual Suspects movie interpretation, and I hope you’ll agree that this film is one of the most clever and inventive to come down the pipe in quite some time. While other sites might want to blow smoke up your ass with all kinds of Usual Suspects analysis and Usual Suspects meaning, we humbly strive to cut through all the pretentious nonsense and take the film for what it is: an entertaining neo-noir that keeps viewers guessing right up until the end, but concludes with an explanation that’s both logical and easy to grasp.