As a film-going population, especially those of us who have a bit more of a critical eye when approaching art, cinema is most celebrated when it is ambitious and unexpected, showing an originality that allows it to stake its claim as something that has never been done before, or at least not done in that…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Ham on Rye (2019)
Every young filmmaker yearns to get the financing to make their feature directorial debut, and the current cinematic landscape, where many studios and independent financiers are giving these burgeoning talents the resources to realize their dreams, it is easier than ever. It’s rare that the results are anything less than utterly impressive, and many of…
Bigger Than Life (1956)
What is most fascinating – or perhaps even bewildering – about Bigger Than Life is the fundamental duality at its centre that creates something of a contradiction, since it is simultaneously a poignant product of a particular era, while still be truly ahead of its time. This kind of paradox is often found in the…
The Devil’s Disciple (1959)
The dawn of 1777 has just passed, and America (or rather, the Thirteen Colonies) has just signed the Declaration of Independence that would emancipate them from Great Britain, bringing their decision to become their own self-sufficient entity to the fore, a cause many are willing to fight for. However, not everyone is particularly pleased about…
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Something that is very important when talking about queer cinema is that it doesn’t always need to be serious – in fact, most of the greatest films on the subject of the LGBTQIA+ community have been the most charming, effervescent comedies ever produced. When it came to making But I’m a Cheerleader, director Jamie Babbit…
Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil (2017)
Mere words are not nearly enough to describe Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil – but that doesn’t mean we can’t at least try. Deranged, bizarre and entirely absurd, the feature-length directorial debut of Paul Urkijo Alijo is certainly something that should be witnessed more than it can be described. The film, which is based…
Moon Over Miami (1941)
Kay (Betty Grable) and Barbara (Carole Landis) are a couple of sisters and waitresses down on their luck somewhere in the heart of Texas, where they’re employed at a carhop, alongside their Aunt Susan (Charlotte Greenwood), who serves as the establishment’s grouchy cook. However, their luck seems to take a momentary turn for the better…
I’m So Excited! (2013)
When we think about Pedro Almodóvar, we often associate him with very deep, meaningful explorations of the human condition, films that merge socio-cultural discussions with queer imagery and profoundly moving stories of individuality. However, this stage of his career has only been functional for the past two decades, since he started out his career as…
Defending Your Life (1991)
What if, after we die, instead of going to whatever afterlife supposedly awaits us on the other side, we are put on trial, and forced to defend the choices we may throughout our lives. Should we succeed, we’ll be able to move onto the next plane of existence. If we fail, we’re sent straight back…
Early Spring (1956)
By this point, we’ve covered essentially everything that has to do with Yasujirō Ozu’s status as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time – someone whose work reflected a keen understanding of the human condition, and could resonate with audiences in a way that spoke to each one of us on a very personal…
The Postmodern Pelican 