It’s quite rare to find contemporary filmmakers who seem to be reinventing themselves, as well as their medium, with every new film they make. Jessica Hausner has been working for nearly a quarter of a century, the majority of that time spent in the proverbial shadows, making solid films that are not widely seen. It…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother (1975)
Throughout the history of literature, there are few characters quite as iconic as Sherlock Holmes, who has been the source of many productions in every conceivable medium for well over a decade, with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic creation becoming a part of the cultural vernacular in a way that very few other characters could…
Enys Men (2023)
Every few years, there is an artist that emerges that produces work that is simultaneously terrifying and exciting in equal measure. In terms of cinema, the arrival of any fascinating new voice is going to be notable, even if their work is not designed to be appreciated by that wide of an audience. A few…
Boeing Boeing (1965)
If you are looking for pure entertainment, you can easily find it by choosing any of the several comedies produced by major studios in the 1960s – the Swinging Sixties was not only influential when it came to music and fashion, with the humour that was brought along with it being quite remarkable, even if…
Tótem (2023)
Despite usually being associated with the carefree days of youth and the lack of proper responsibilities placed on us, childhood is not a particularly easy time, and the moment we start to take notice of the world around us is when our journey towards realizing some of life’s most challenging obstacles are waiting for us,…
Migration (2023)
As time has progressed, we have become slightly cynical of the dominance the two major animation studios have over the industry – The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation are the gold standard, but they have become increasingly lazy, producing works that aren’t nearly as ambitious or wholeheartedly brilliant as the ones made at their…
Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
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…
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…
The Postmodern Pelican 