Just as a reminder, call 5.1 (2014) for Film Matters is still open — the deadline is September 1, 2013. So submit your end-of-spring-semester papers for consideration today! More details about the call are in the following (Word) document:
If you have any questions, please email Liza: palmerl AT uncw.edu
Thanks!
Film Matters is pleased to announce the release of FM 3.4, which includes the following peer-reviewed feature articles:
Not to mention, these fine featurettes:
And, as always, some strong reviews of recent books, films, and DVDs/Bu-rays by Jade Playle, Brendan Boyle, Melinda Miles, Abigail Anundson, Joshua D. Zich, and Matthew D. C. Stamm.
It’s a great issue, if we do say so ourselves — thanks to all our contributors! Read more about it here: http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-issue,id=2413/
And think about contributing to our next issue! Submit those end-of-semester papers for consideration in FM 5.1 today!
Katrina Hargrave asks: “A simplified definition of a world view is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. Since films are made by individuals and/or groups, for individuals and/or groups and are often about them, it stands to reason that within films one can find the expression of a world view or a particular set of world views (be it the writer’s, director’s, or character’s). What particular beliefs about life and the universe can you find articulated in your favorite films or films you’ve watched lately? Are there any two that have the same theme but express different beliefs? What films have you found to express a similar or dissimilar world view from your own and why?”
Curator Biography
Katrina Hargrave is a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her interest lies in cinematic storytelling and the creation of “image systems.” She’s currently obsessed with Korean films and loves anything by Studio Ghibli.
Casino Royale
For a game that’s been around for nearly two hundred years, it’s amazing how poker has boomed over the last decade. The abundance of online gaming sites and the introduction of the hole cam, which allows home viewers to see what hand the best players in the world have during tournaments like the World Series of Poker, have transformed a simple past time into a big business and a worldwide phenomenon. The appeal to the game comes down to a combination of skill and discipline common to most competitive sports, with the significant bonus that anyone can play, and that the game doesn’t require outstanding athletic abilities. Winning in poker doesn’t always come from the cards, but from how you play the table. A timely bluff can beat a better hand, and in the end, character trumps mathematics.
The game of poker is probably the most featured game or sport in the history of the movies. No western saloon was complete without it showcasing its card game, and in the movies, whenever a group of men had time to spend away, whether they were cops, cowboys, or gangsters – the only prop they needed was a deck of cards. Poker is a game of thrills and building suspense, with the stakes getting higher as the weaker hands fold by the wayside. It includes contrasting characters and there are many transformations to a good “poker face” than the cliche suggests. There are plenty of films about poker that fans can enjoy. Some of these movies aren’t entirely about poker, but feature at least one scene about that game. A perfect example of a poker movie is The Cincinnati Kid (1965), which starred the late Steve McQueen. Many will argue that the movie was a gentle rip-off of The Hustler (1961) by Paul Newman, with poker replacing pool. Nevertheless, it is still considered as one of the best films about poker that came out of Hollywood. Among the best films that featured poker during the last decade or so were Casino Royale (2006) of James Bond fame and Oceans Eleven (2001), which boasts of an all-star cast led by actors George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts.
Poker is an intriguing game with great recreational value, and it is now considered as a competitive sport where the best poker players compete for the honor of being crowned the best in the world. The game has been made more popular because of the proliferation of online poker sites that allow poker players easy access to their favorite card games anytime they want. Online poker sites like partypoker is a known leader in online gaming and allows social interaction among players through turn-based play and a chat feature. What makes online poker fascinating is that any player can compete and even play against the world’s best poker players. Many of today’s Hollywood celebrities started to develop their poker playing skills while playing online poker, with some moving on to play in celebrity poker tournaments.
J. Frank Allman asks: “What is your favorite holiday movie growing up and do you still watch it when that holiday comes around?”
Curator Biography
J. Frank Allman is a UNCW film student currently interning at Quiver Distribution in LA, California and pursing screenwriting and/or editing in the film industry.
Jason Zim asks: “What would we like to see from found footage in the future? Where will it go? Would we like something other than a horror film?”
Curator Biography
Jason Zim is a film studies major at University of North Carolina Wilmington. He aspires to work in film and constantly works on his own films. He graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism.
Christian Podgaysky asks: “In lieu of Mother’s Day, what film or films stand out to you as having particularly strong mother figures or interesting mother/child relationships?”
Curator Biography
Christian Podgaysky is an aspiring screenwriter majoring in film studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is also working towards minors in psychology and creative writing.
Laura Casteel asks: “What is the first movie you remember seeing as a child, and what impressions did it leave on you?”
Curator Biography
Laura Casteel is a freelance writer and filmmaker, as well as a poetry editor for Treehouse, an online literary magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @LauraCasteel, or check out her blog at http://considerablesetbacksblog.blogspot.com/.
Stephen Glawson asks: “Has post-apocalyptic cinema become little more than popcorn fare? Are thought provoking films like The Road (2009) and Wall-E (2008) the exception, not the rule for the genre?”
Curator Biography
Stephen Glawson is an aspiring filmmaker currently working on his Bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His areas of interest include directing, editing and acting.
Kevin Bahr asks: “In your opinion, what makes a film a ‘classic’? Does it have to be a certain age, and does it have to appeal to a particular group of people? Or is it something that can change depending entirely on the individual? Based on your answer, what are some of your favorite classics?”
Curator Biography
Kevin Bahr is a student of Film Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He has been a fan of all sorts of movies ever since a young age, when the first book he read was the TV Guide. Since then, he has worked as a screenwriter and director, with several projects in the pipeline. He believes in the power of movies, and that people should be open to all kinds of cinema.
