Essays - THE ROLLING TAPE

Essays

June 22, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

Six Unexpected Awards Contenders So Far in 2026

Believe it or not, half the year is already gone. Apart from the obvious mega blockbusters — Obsession, Backrooms, and Project Hail Mary, whi...

Essays

June 12, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

40 Years of Saving Ferris: A Look Back at the Impact of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’

“Yep, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss i...

Essays

May 23, 2026 · by Nandita Joshi

The Unmatched Buddy Road Trip: Cannes Celebrates 35 Years of ‘Thelma & Louise’

Each year, the Cannes Film Festival commemorates an artist, film, or creative institute by featuring them as the face of the festival on its ...

Essays

May 23, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

Hollywood’s Sequel Safety Net: Are Studios Too Afraid to Bet on Originals?

Studios are terrified of original stories. The 2026 slate is dominated by highly anticipated sequels, such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Aven...

Essays

May 21, 2026 · by Nadia Arain

"Do You Want to Talk to Her?" How 'Obsession' Effortlessly Handles Male Entitlement and Consent

Warning: This article discusses spoilers for ‘Obsession.’ Unleashed into theaters on Friday, May 15, Curry Barker’s Obsession has alre...

Essays

May 21, 2026 · by Carson Burton

‘Top Gun’ and Tom Cruise’s 40-Year Battle to Save Cinema

Early on in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), we see Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell rushing to take off in an experimental, hypersonic plane h...

Essays

May 15, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

Peeling Back The Layers of What Exactly Shrek’s Legacy Is 25 Years Later

It’s odd to recognize it as such, considering what one may assume upon viewing it at first glance, but Shrek is undeniably one of the most si...

Essays

May 7, 2026 · by Carson Burton

20 Years of ‘Mission: Impossible III’ and How It Changed The Franchise For The Better

One could argue that the 1986 hit “A Matter of Trust” by Billy Joel is actually about Mission: Impossible III. “… I've lived long enou...

Essays

April 21, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

Two Decades of Game Adaptation Lessons and the 20th Anniversary of ‘Silent Hill’

Two decades after Silent Hill brought Team Silent’s 1999 classic game to the big screen, it’s worth stepping back into the mist. The psycholo...

Essays

April 17, 2026 · by Nadia Arain

‘Kick-Ass’ at 16: A Bad-Mouthed Love Letter to Comic Books Pre-MCU

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) dominates the cultural zeitgeist and discussion around superhero films, there have always been critiqu...

Essays

April 10, 2026 · by Sara Ciplickas

Bob Fosse and Charli XCX: Separating the Art from the Artist

We’re all familiar with the phrase “separate the art from the artist,” but what if the art is about the artist? If the art involved is a form...

Essays

April 9, 2026 · by Claire May Lewis

Robert Pattinson is the Modern Moviegoer’s Dream

2026 is shaping up to be the year of Robert Pattinson. If you’ve been to the movie theater recently, you had the chance to see up to three tr...

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