If there is a theme with which Hollywood has had its longest and most passionate love affair, it would be that of its ingenuity. The industry loves the sound of its voice, and the more celebratory a work based around the concept of filmmaking is, the more admired it tends to be. We can see…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Modern Times (1936)
The specific moment that signalled the transition between the sound and silent era has been a subject of debate for decades, especially amongst those who are eager to promote possible alternatives to those canonically referred to as pioneering works. Officially, it was Al Jolson and his distinctive voice that first captivated the audience’s attention in…
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
If there is one lesson the past few decades of filmmaking have taught us, it is if you are a well-known musical artist, your life will inevitably be converted into a lengthy biographical feature – these films tend to be commercially successful and audiences are predisposed to enjoying them, solely because they use the music…
To Sir, with Love (1967)
“How do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?” – Lulu’s quietly confident voice poses this challenging question in a song that has been prominent on compilations of easy-listening hits for over half a century now, to the point where it sometimes feels like it is almost seen as a parody…
Madame Web (2024)
When all is said and done, humanity will be divided into two factions: those who believe in the power of Madame Web, and those who reject it. Like any masterpiece that takes time to grow into its status as a cult classic, this film has been severely misunderstood, and perhaps even abused, if we are…
Chuck & Buck (2000)
Despite having been working consistently on both film and television for around two decades, it has only been in the last couple of years that we have found Mike White to be getting the recognition he deserves – an artist with the ambition of a great independent filmmaker and the vaguely deranged mind of someone…
The Taste of Things (2023)
Do we eat to live, or live to eat? For once, this adage isn’t be used to scorn those of us who enjoy an extra helping at the tail-end of our meals, but rather as an entry-point into a discussion on The Taste of Things (French: La Passion de Dodin Bouffant), in which director Trần…
Divorce Italian Style (1961)
If there is one subject that art loves more than any other, it would be love – there is even a theory that the impetus that absolutely any work of art can be traced back to being about romance in some form, even if only slightly. However, much like any subject, the more popular it…
Society of the Snow (2023)
A quick glance at the overall premise of Society of the Snow (Spanish: La sociedad de la nieve) may mislead you into thinking that this is a very conventional story of survival. However, as we have come to learn, J.A. Bayona does not make conventional films, so when he sought to tackle the story of…
Birth (2004)
Jonathan Glazer has always been something of an enigma when it comes to looking at his artistry – a director who has mastered the art of short-form filmmaking who moves into directing longer projects, but who takes considerable breaks between films, making him one of the more elusive directors of his generation. In nearly a…
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