Although food has been part of motion pictures since the silent era, for the most part it has been treated with about as much respect as movie extras: it's always been there on the screen but seldom noticed. For the most part filmmakers have settled on three basic ways to treat food: as a prop in which the food is usually obscured from sight or ignored by the actors; as a transition device to compress time and help advance the plot; as a symbol or metaphor, or in some other meaningful way, to make a dramatic point or to reveal an aspect of an actor's character, mood or thought process. This hugely expanded and revised edition details 400 food scenes, in addition to the 400 films reviewed for the first edition, and an introduction tracing the technical, artistic and cultural forces that contributed to the emergence of food films as a new genre--originated by such films as Tampopo, Babette's Feast and more recently by films like Mostly Martha, No Reservations and Ratatouille. A filmography is included as an appendix.

Practice with REA and Pass the PSSA! REA’s second edition of our Ready, Set, Go!® Reading & Writing test prep for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exam gets Pennsylvania students ready for this crucial high-stakes test. Specifically designed to boost essential reading and writing skills, this test prep provides all the instruction and practice eighth grade students need to excel on this important exam. Written in an easy-to-follow, student-friendly style, it’s perfect for classroom, family, or individual study. Fully aligned with the Assessment Anchors adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the review chapters cover every topic tested on the exam, including: word recognition, inferences and conclusions, main ideas, literary analysis, and writing and revising essays. Numerous drills and review lessons throughout the book enhance student vocabulary and literary analysis skills. Key tutorials reinforce writing skills and increase the reading comprehension abilities needed to succeed on the test. Color icons highlight the key concepts, questions, and activities in each chapter. A diagnostic Pretest pinpoints student strengths and weaknesses, and a full-length Posttest allows students to measure their progress and focus on areas in need of further study. Our confidence-building test tips help reduce test anxiety and boost test-day readiness for this important high-stakes exam. Whether used in a classroom, for home or self study, or with a tutor, this test prep gets Pennsylvania students ready for their important high-stakes exam, set to take on new challenges, and helps them go forward in their studies!

The American crime film has recently enjoyed a surge in popularity and proliferation, making it the most pervasive genre in contemporary cinema. Though it now tackles current issues, it continues to reference the classic narratives and archetypes established in the great crime pictures of past decades. The titles explored in this critical survey feature a variety of themes and show that the crime film genre has fused with other genres to create fascinating hybrids. Focusing on character and plot construction, the author highlights the gangster and film noir traditions that still run strongly through recent American cinema. Among the many filmmakers analyzed within these pages are David Lynch, Gus Van Sant, David Mamet, Werner Herzog, Sam Raimi, David Cronenberg and the Coen Brothers. Stuart Gordon, director of the cult classic Re-Animator, provides the lively and incisive foreword.

When movie fans talk about their favorite films, they most often mention one or two particular scenes that they never tire of watching. This witty and engaging volume catalogs more than 500 of the most memorable scenes in movie history. Organized by theme, it recounts the best scenes featuring everything from accountants and adoption to whistling and windows. This diverting work proves to be an indispensable guide for anyone who has ever used a movie reference to illustrate a point or express their feelings.