Reel Arguments collects an integrated series of essays addressing the role of film as social criticism. By looking at films and the creators of such films as Alice in the Cities, Enemy of the State, The Conversation, Falling Down, City of Hope, and Matewan, Light persuasively argues that film can be both highly philosophical and influential on public debates over issues of moral, political and social importance. Light brings new insights into the readings of these films covering a range of issues: identity politics, urban landscapes, the politics of space, and the unexpected ethical dimensions of technology.