The Next Reel Glossary

When the lack of excitement for a film is reversed by the surprisingly good experience the film turns out to be. The opposite of the Prometheus Effect. Usage: Dredd turned out to be a much better film than we expected it to be, so we experienced the Dredd effect when we saw it. Usage: It’s…

When an actor’s performance in the trailer doesn’t sell their performance but upon seeing the film, it’s clear that it is actually a genius performance. Origin: Anthony Hopkins was totally unbelievable as Richard Nixon in the trailer, but when Pete saw the film, he realized he’d been wrong and that Hopkins was genius. Usage: Hugh…

The spiritual opposite of the term of art, mise en scéne, this term goes to describe the action implied though not explicitly depicted in the frame of film. Origin: By focusing on a close-up of Indy’s face, the audience can’t see the German guards gathering just dehors de la scène. On the reveal shot, the…

An Oscar night when everyone seems to have dismissed what really should be winning awards and are instead piling Oscars on the foreign favorite. It doesn’t have to be a foreign film but seems to work best with them. Origin: In 1999, nobody cared that Roberto Benigni beat out Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Nick Nolte…

Using a nonsensical plot device to get rid of any antagonistic character, generally when in heavy pursuit of the protagonist and or others on the protagonist’s side. Origins: After Marion drives Indiana Jones and company off a cliff, they land on a conveniently placed tree that lowers down, dropping them somewhat gently into the river…

When a visionary joins forces with a film company and ends up having an affect on the company’s film quality. Origins: By partnering with Pixar, Steve Jobs could be said to have lent to the amazing quality the animation studio churned out for over a decade, simply due to his vision and belief in quality.…

An affliction when everyone is seemingly drawn to Diablo Cody and you don’t feel that she has the talent everyone else finds in her output. Can be used in relation to any artist you feel is seen through rose-colored glasses, but it is used best when discussing Diablo Cody. Origins: When Diablo Cody not only…

When one feels the incessant need to go back and tinker with anything finished long ago to modernize it or make it fit better with one’s own modern sensibilities, even if those sensibilities now fall outside of the original intent of what one set out to do in the first place.