“No animals were harmed in the making of this film” is what we first see when Barking Dogs Never Bite begins. It is a pretty standard warning for many films, but never before has such a disclaimer been more appropriate and relieving. I have to say, I love it when films try to push the…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
The Fortune Cookie (1966)
Quickly think of your favourite comedy film duos. If you thought of Laurel and Hardy, or Abbott and Costello, or Dudley Moore and Peter Cooke, you wouldn’t be wrong. They were all magnificent. However, the duo that stands out for me as the most brilliant and iconic of all time is that of Jack Lemmon…
Top Five (2014)
I think Chris Rock is a very talented comedian and actor, but even I was dubious when I saw his attempt at making a Woody Allen-esque comedy. However, it wasn’t as much of a trainwreck as I expected, and while I was hoping for so much more, I thought it was a great film nonetheless….
Xenia (2014)
Greek cinema can sometimes be dependent on telling heavy stories about social injustice or overwhelming problems. In fact, a lot of European cinema can be like that. So when a sweet and quirky little film like Xenia comes along, we have to stop and just appreciate the brilliance. It may be a film with as…
How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
There are some films that are just masterpieces, but are very rarely recognized as one. I previously reviewed Bedazzled, one of the most underrated films ever made, and definitely one of the funniest British films I’ve ever seen. I am sure you can imagine the incredible sense of bewilderment when the next film I watched…
Transamerica (2005)
Anyone who reads my reviews knows that my favorite kinds of films are most certainly independent films. There is nothing better that finding a brilliant indie film, that pushes boundaries that mainstream films never dare to do. One such film is Transamerica, a touching and sweet little indie dramedy that teaches us the complexities of…
Bedazzled (1967)
Oh dear, the classic “man sells his soul to the devil” story, how it has become the epitome of film cliche. I wasn’t expecting much, because so many films have that theme of the pathetic individual with a pathetic life selling their pathetic soul to the charming human embodiment of Satan for a shot at…
After Hours (1985)
Is there any name in cinema today with more heft and credibility than Martin Scorsese? The ultimate master of filmmaking, he is not only the greatest living filmmaker but one of the greatest and most influential directors of all time. These days, Scorsese can do almost anything and be hailed as a saint. However, the…
Ex Machina (2015)
So far, I have seen only a small handful of 2015 releases, but each one of them have been absolutely stellar, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see my Best of the Year list being topped by three films – Mad Max: Fury Road, Spy and my latest obsession, the absolutely brilliant science fiction thriller…
The Interview (2014)
There are groups of people in this world that would always prevent a film like The Interview succeeding – there will always be detractors to this type of humor, or to the stars of this film, or to the subject matter. However, I stand firmly on the side of the divide that really looks forward…
The Postmodern Pelican 