I don’t think there is anything that is simultaneously beneficial and harmful to a film than hype. There are some films that are just hyped up so much and given the status of being essential viewings right from the beginning, and usually many people do enjoy the film, but many others find themselves somewhat disappointed,…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Toni Erdmann (2016)
Let me be blunt and straightforward – Toni Erdmann is a masterpiece. It is arguably one of the best films of the year (and perhaps even the very best). Not only is it one of the most wonderful films of 2016, it is one of the most brilliant comedy films ever made. I was taken…
Elle (2016)
In my review for Things to Come, I called Isabelle Huppert the greatest actress in the world. I don’t think I have ever uttered something more truthful, and my belief in this fact is only amplified by the fact that Huppert is frequently beyond outstanding in nearly everything she does. Perhaps it is her performance…
Drive (2011)
The word “masterpiece” is thrown around quite a bit these days, and usually, when applied to a film, it often refers to works of towering European neo-classicism. I didn’t initially believe a film about a stunt driver would be one of the greatest films of all time, and perhaps a contender for greatest film of…
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
Werner Herzog is nothing if not utterly audacious. Ignoring his incredible career as a narrative filmmaker, we can isolate his career just to his documentaries and still see an incredible filmmaker at work. He has covered some vast subjects, such as criminals on death row (Into the Abyss), explorers in Antarctica (Encounters at the End…
Passengers (2016)
I watched this film about two weeks ago when I was on holiday in Portugal. Perhaps you can attribute it to the fact that it was cold, or the fact that I was in a cinema instead of enjoying the beautiful country I was in, but I found myself hating Passengers more than I’ve hated…
It’s Only the End of the World (2017)
Oh, Xavier Dolan. How is it possible that there is a filmmaker so talented, yet so unbelievably messy in some of his cinematic pursuits? I jumped at the opportunity to watch It’s Only the End of the World (Juste la fin du monde) while I was in Europe, and I have to say that despite…
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2017)
Two weeks ago, the world was absolutely shaken by the loss of two incredible artists – Carrie Fisher, the iconic actress and writer known for her star-making turn in the Star Wars series, and Debbie Reynolds, one of the last remaining connections between the Golden Era of Hollywood and the modern world of entertainment. They…
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Last February, Leonardo DiCaprio won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Now while I do follow awards season, I don’t use that as a barometer of quality, and I try and keep awards prospects out of my reviews of films, because some of the best films never came close to the Academy Awards. The reason…
Captain Fantastic (2016)
In a cinematic landscape where nearly every mainstream film is a remake, reboot, re-imagining or sequel, or an adaptation or true-life story, independent cinema constantly comes to the rescue, creating fascinating and original stories. One such film is Captain Fantastic, one of the most bizarrely wonderful little films I’ve seen in a while, and proof…
The Postmodern Pelican 