Over the course of his prolific career, Aki Kaurismäki has made several hilarious films about truly miserable people, which has become something of his trademark, and a large reason why he is arguably one of his native Finland’s most celebrated directors. It’s not necessarily that he is focusing on the plight of his characters and…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
In the expansive canon of great American filmmakers, there are few names quite as cherished and respected as that of Steven Spielberg, who has worked laboriously to earn a reputation for assured quality and an exceptionally high calibre of film, becoming a brand unto himself. His work may not be universally loved, and his career…
The Little Mermaid (1989)
I have spoken quite regularly about the period in which the Walt Disney Company recovered from a couple of decades of mid-tier work by delivering a string of exceptional films that allowed them to regain a level of respectability (not that it was necessarily lost), and in the process create some of their most inspiring…
Renfield (2023)
One of the unfortunate realities that we all have to face when it comes to cinema is that some of the most ambitious ideas tend to be wasted on mediocre talents, or manifest in a way that is disappointing to say the least. One of the most recent examples of an exceptional concept not reaching…
Angel (1937)
As is often the case with filmmakers that define an entire era of cinema, it is difficult to choose the standout in a director’s career when nearly everything they make has some incredible artistic relevance, so much so that it becomes a challenge to even compare their greatest works, since they are all magnificent and…
Moving On (2023)
One of the many fascinating quirks about the film industry is that if an actor puts in enough work early in their career, and maintains a level of decency and respectability, there comes a point where they are given carte blanche to spend their time however they see fit, without any risk of being viewed…
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
While it has become something of a frustration when studios commission a sequel to a film based on the original’s success (since it plays into the perception that Hollywood lacks originality and always wants to pursue what they know as being successful), we don’t often realize the risk that can come when doing so, since…
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Kelly Reichardt is a peculiar filmmaker, and I mean that with every iota of respect I can muster. She is a truly original storyteller, and someone who has made a profound impact on independent cinema, albeit in ways that are not actually strikingly clear on the surface. What makes her so fascinating is that her…
The Evil Dead (1981)
The trope of the “cabin in the woods” horror (which focus on a group of characters that venture into some rural, isolated part of the world and find themselves confronted with sinister forces, whether tangible or supernatural) has become so taut and overworked, it seems impossible to fully comprehend where it started, if such a…
Love Like Poison (2010)
While she has only directed three films, each one of the works constructed by Katell Quillévéré feels like complex, vibrant glimpses into the collective consciousness, a daring and provocative series of images, each one coming together to tell moving and poignant stories. She is truly one of our most fascinating young talents, and an absolutely…
The Postmodern Pelican 