Originality is a concept that is becoming increasingly more optional as Hollywood lays out their future plans, and there is ultimately very little point in resisting or wishing that the system would change – the industry is simply becoming overrun with sequels, reboots, revivals and remakes, a quartet of terms that have divided audiences and…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Rafiki (2018)
For every city, there is usually at least one filmmaker that is its definitive poet laureate. New York City has Woody Allen, London has Mike Leigh, Tokyo has Yasujirō Ozu, Rome has Federico Fellini – the list goes on ad infinitum, and the act of pairing cities with specific filmmakers is often quite fascinating. Nairobi…
Drop (2025)
The more famous a filmmaker, the more likely it is that entire generations will be in search of ways to emulate their work – and very few directors have been the source of as much imitation as Alfred Hitchcock, whose exceptional and prolific career spurred half a decade of young directors who sought to draw…
Time to Leave (2005)
Saying goodbye is never easy, but it’s often worse to lose someone without having the opportunity to express your love and affection, even if it is for the last time. This is one of the few blessings given to those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness – in cases where a disease can be…
Party Girl (1995)
There was a very specific point somewhere between the late 1980s and early 1990s where many films tended to gravitate towards exploring the folly of youth – no longer were teenagers and young adults viewed as world-weary, complex individuals worried about their future (as was the case with the iconic films made by John Hughes),…
National Anthem (2024)
Some people are born to be a part of a community, others have to spend their formative years navigating a hostile world to find a sense of belonging. In both cases, it is clear that we all exist to fit in somewhere, even if only on the margins, and finding the right place for ourselves…
Zombeavers (2014)
At some point in the last few decades, we found the concept of the B-movie losing a lot of meaning, undoubtedly the result of filmmakers become far more self-aware, and the rise of the “so bad, it’s good” approach to genres that were often considered to be nothing more than filler, done to capitalise on…
The Killing of Sister George (1968)
One of the most important moments in the history of Hollywood was when Robert Aldrich, the gifted journeyman director behind some of the most successful films the industry ever produced, decided to step aside from making blockbusters and instead opted to make a trio of films that are starkly different in terms of story and…
Materialists (2025)
At some point in our youth, we encounter the dreadfully trite adage “there is someone for everyone” – it’s often used to comfort someone who feels lonely and has struggled to see any romantic spark in their humdrum life. For about as long as we’ve been sentient and developed the desire for relationships (whether in…
Rope of Sand (1949)
We all appreciate a solidly made, well-constructed adventure film. Hollywood was well-aware of this fact, with the classical era being filled to the brim with stories that take place in the furthest corners of the world (the more exotic, the better), and focus on valiant heroes that overcome every obstacle without acquiring so much as…
The Postmodern Pelican 