As far as I am concerned, Martin Ritt made one of the greatest films in the history of English-language cinema in the form of his dark social western, Hud, a landmark of filmmaking. This film was so magnificent and powerful in both its themes and the deep exploration of some striking ideas, it made him…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Cairo Station (1958)
“The train is about to leave” Something that is both a blessing and curse when looking at art produced by groups that are sorely under-represented in the media is that the canon from which we draw the most significant works is much smaller, so it’s easier to find the masterpieces without having to sift through…
Lingua Franca (2020)
One needs to wonder whether, when they were conceiving of the proverbial American Dream in the early 20th century, whether the collective of writers and intellectuals ever considered that the most poignant and effective demonstration of their ideas would come from a film made by a transgender immigrant from the Filipinos. Regardless of whether this…
Separate Tables (1958)
In the canon of great filmmakers, one who is rarely ever mentioned outside of a dedicated, small group of devotees, is the wonderful Delbert Mann. The main reason why he has resided in relative obscurity, despite demonstrating remarkable longevity in the industry, as well as collecting an impressive array of collaborators throughout the years, is…
A Private Function (1984)
The year is 1947, and Great Britain is still recovering from the ravages of the Second World War. Rations are constantly being decreased, and the quality of life is rapidly declining, meaning many are struggling to get a proper meal on the table. Two people who are feeling the burden more than most are genial…
Brink of Life (1958)
One of the great mysteries of cinema has always been how Ingmar Bergman was capable of being so prolific, often producing at least one film a year during his peak, but yet managed to make nearly every one of them a profound and insightful work that looks deep into one aspect of the human condition….
Heartbeats (2010)
It’s difficult to imagine a time in which Xavier Dolan wasn’t an omnipotent presence in the contemporary arthouse. A filmmaker who has shown the ability to be both prolific and an exceptional craftsman, Dolan as become a staple of many conversations as to the current generation of filmmakers. However, there was a time in which…
Down to Earth (1947)
There is a major new sensation that is about to take Broadway by storm – a brand new musical review entitled Swinging the Muses is about to open. The production is the brainchild of Danny Miller (Larry Parks), a young and promising playwright and actor, who is about to make his debut on stage with…
The Song of Songs (1933)
During the early parts of the twentieth century, Lily (Marlene Dietrich), who has only known the life of a farmer’s daughter, undertakes the uncertain journey from her small village to Berlin, where she hopes to grow into a functional woman, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a modern city. She is set to work…
Friends with Money (2006)
Nicole Holofcener is such an enigma of a director, or rather the films she makes are. Throughout her career, she’s remained steadfast in her conviction to explore the trials and tribulations of a small group of characters who represent both her own neuroses as an artist ingrained in the alternative school of filmmaking, and the…
The Postmodern Pelican 