Episodic Storytelling
A story that unfolds in a series of episodes or segments.
Carjacking
Using force or intimidation to steal a car from its owner.
Focus
The sharpness of an image, created by the quality of a camera or adjustments made to a camera.
Racial Discrimination
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.
Racism
A central thematic issue of the film: The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
Three Strikes Laws
Popularized in the United States, Three Strikes Laws (formally known as habitual offenders laws) were put into place by governments to provide harsher punishments for habitual criminal offenders who had previously commited two crimes.
Academy Award for Best Picture
An Academy Award that has been presented annually since the ceremony debuted in 1929. This award is presented to the producers of the film and it is the only category in which every member is eligible to submit a nomination. The award for Best Picture is always presented at the end of the ceremony and it is considered the most prestigious honor.
Jihad
A holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty.
Long Colt
Also known as a .45 Colt, the Long Colt is a handgun cartridge that was adopted by the United States Army in 1873.
Incinerate
To destroy something by burning it.
Gangbanger
A member of a street gang.
Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher is honored as a martyr that was killed during the reign of the Roman Empire in the third or fourth century, C.E. There are many debates as to whether Christopher ever existed, if his name specifically applied to one person, or if Christopher was a title used to signify "Christ-bearer." According to legend, Christopher carried an unknown child across a river. Later, that child was revealed to be Christ. He has been celebrated as the patron saint of travelers, and various iconographic representations of his journey have been transformed into jewelry or knick-knacks.
HMO
An abbreviation for Health Maintenance Organization. HMOs collect fees from subscribers that then cover a range of medical services. These services are provided by physicians and healthcare workers that are also registered with the same HMO.
Cocktail Dress
A dress that is suitable for semiformal social occasions.
Farsi
The modern Persian language that is the official language of Iran.
747s
Short for "Boeing 747." These are American wide-body commercial jet airliners and cargo aircrafts.
UCLA
Abbreviation for University of California, Los Angeles. It is a public research university in the Westwood district of Los Angeles.
Mercedes
Abbreviation for "Mercedes-Benz." The brand is known for luxury vehicles, buses, and coaches.
Holster
A holder for carrying a handgun or other firearm, typically made of leather and worn on a belt or under the arm.
Einstein
Refers to Albert Einstein, the physicist born in Germany who formulated the theory of relativity. Used in slang to indicate when someone is very smart, but it can also be used sarcastically to demonstrate the contrary.
