A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

I’ve written quite a bit about theatre over the past few weeks – screen adaptation of the works of Tennessee Williams, William Gibson and Eugene O’Neill were all subjects of recent conversations, mostly since I’ve been covering years where these kinds of films were in vogue, with nearly every work of major American theatre getting…

One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

There are really only two reasons for anyone to actively seek out One-Eyed Jacks – this first is because it contains one of the rare truly villainous roles played by one of history’s finest character actors, Karl Malden. The second is to bear witness to the first and only film directed by Marlon Brando. Neither…

La Fille aux yeux d’or (1961)

It’s been noted that when making La Fille aux yeux d’or, Jean-Gabriel Albicocco was producing a film that existed more on the margins of late-period Italian neo-realism than the French New Wave, a movement he is often considered to be an early pioneer of, albeit one that isn’t particularly celebrated outside of a few films…

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

It would appear that third time was not the charm for Charlie Kaufman, since his most recent directorial effort was an attempt to adapt Iain Reid’s impenetrable I’m Thinking of Ending Things, a novel that seemed even too abstract for someone who has been making a career out of his penchant for the bizarre side…

An American Pickle (2020)

The year is 1920, the country is the Eastern European village of Schlupsk. Herschel Greenbaum (Seth Rogen) is a humble man who spends his life professionally digging ditches, which is difficult and tiresome work, but manages to win him the heart of his beloved, Sarah (Sarah Snook), who is initially unmoved by his flirtations, but…

Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Prick Up Your Ears begins with a murder, and ends in a suicide – and for the two hours in between, we’re presented with a wildly complex character study that traverses many different ideas, such as identity and sexuality, the importance of art, and the cultural perceptions of certain issues that tend to carry immense…

David Golder (1931)

Throughout her life, Mother Theresa made many profound statements, but one of the most striking was “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”, which is a stark reminder of how money is so actively pursued by the vast majority of us, often at the favour of the more important things…

California Suite (1978)

A divorced couple (Alan Alda and Jane Fonda) reunited briefly to determine who will have custody of their teenage daughter. A pair of doctors (Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby) who travel from Chicago with their wives (Gloria Gifford and Sheila Frazier) to spend a vacation together. A middle-aged everyman (Walter Matthau) flying in for his…

Lucky Grandma (2020)

Mrs Wong (Tsai Chin), more commonly known as Nai-Nai (“grandmother”) is an ordinary elderly, chain-smoking immigrant woman residing in the Chinatown neighbourhood of New York City. She has been widowed for some years, and as a result has passed the time engaging in a variety of activities, such as weekly consultations with a fortune-teller and…

In the Name of Christ (1993)

In a small village somewhere in the middle of Côte d’Ivoire resides Gnamien Ato (Pierre Gondo), a humble pig-farmer who tries to go about his life without getting in the way of anyone around him, but constantly becomes the subject of much derision, based on his status as the local laughingstock. However, after being assaulted…