I’m an English major from upstate New York who loves to learn people’s stories. Film is fascinating because it allows me briefly to enter anyone’s world. I’m captivated by a wide variety of experiences, from Piper Chapman’s life in prison in Orange is The New Black to Andrew Neiman’s struggle toward musical greatness in Whiplash.
It’s hard to generalize my taste in movies, but here are some of my favorites. I love Interstellar for the moral dilemmas each character faces, Spirited Away for creating a magical new world, Amélie for its quirky and eccentric characters, Grand Budapest Hotel for Wes Anderson’s amazing attention to color and detail, and Boyhood for the striking sense of intimacy you feel after watching the cast grow over the years.
In terms of analyzing films, I’m interested in how lovable characters are created. Why do people become obsessed with Tyler Durden from Fight Club or Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock? Why is Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker so legendary?
I’m also fascinated by what makes a scene memorable. Why do we still quote “Here’s looking at you kid” (Casablanca), “May the force be with you” (Star Wars), “Just keep swimming” (Finding Nemo), or “Life is a box of chocolates . . . you never know what you’re gonna get” (Forrest Gump)? What makes these lines stick with us?