Martin Scorsese is something of an enigma, which is certainly a new way to look at an artist who has come to be seen as one of the definitive voices in the history of cinema. He has somehow managed to both perfect certain genres, which have often come to be his most distinctive, as well…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Dog Eat Dog (2016)
What do you get when you combine Nicolas Cage at the peak of his descent into over-acting (and his gradual realization of his reputation, and the subsequent relishing in it), Willem Dafoe at his most excessive and Paul Schrader’s unhinged vision of crime and violence? The answer is Dog Eat Dog, the bewildering dark comedy…
Addams Family Values (1993)
In the small but fascinating canon of sequels that are better than the originals, Addams Family Values is one of the definitive examples. Barry Sonnenfeld, as I wrote in the previous review, did exceptionally well in bringing Charles Addams’ timeless creations to the screen in The Addams Family, and two years later seemed to not…
The Addams Family (1991)
Revisiting films from your childhood is always an interesting experience – very often the sensation of uncompromising nostalgia fools us into believing that these are still perfect films that are free of any discernible flaws and where the tender, fond memories we had when first encountering them are once again evoked by what is often…
End of the Century (2020)
Ocho (Juan Barberini) has just arrived in Barcelona – he was in Madrid for business, and has decided to take some time to explore the beautiful European architecture and culture. However, it isn’t long before he is on the prowl for a companion to pass some time with. He spots Javi (Ramon Pujol), and the…
The Innocents (1961)
When it comes to canonical horror films, there are some that carry the reputation of being so scary, it becomes an unnecessary burden on them, resulting in the experience of actually seeing them occasionally feeling like a disappointment. One film that this certainly does not apply to is Jack Clayton’s masterful The Innocents, a film…
Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
New York City is approaching the end of the Prohibition era, which means many people are looking for a quick buck. One such person is Apple Annie (Bette Davis), a street-smart beggar who rules the streets from behind her wicker basket, from where she sells apples to many of the locals, who see her as…
Victim (1961)
A young man (Peter McEnery), who is mostly known as “Boy” Barrett receives a tip-off that the police are after him. He recently stole a large amount of money from his employers, which the authorities believe was to fund his lifestyle. What they don’t realize is that his reason for committing the crime was far…
The Man with a Shotgun (1961)
Even before he came to be known for his more nihilistic dark comedies that were propelled by their sense of effortless cool and roots in absurdism, Seijun Suzuki was consistently playing with cinema. In the first five years of his career. Suzuki directed a staggering twenty-four films, each one a distinct work of genre storytelling…
One, Two, Three (1961)
Billy Wilder was frustratingly good at what he did. The moment he reached his peak as a filmmaker was one that ultimately changed cinema forever, with his work persisting as some of the most brilliant in film history. Whether one of his towering masterpieces, or a film that is less-discussed but still incredibly beloved, Wilder…
