They say family are the friends you can’t choose – at least this is a mangled version of a very popular sentiment that has been expressed countless times in the past when discussing the merits and flaws of a very particular kind of story, those which centre on family members finding out that they have…

It’s never a pleasant experience to encounter a small independent film, excited about the prospect of discovering a new gem, only to walk away disappointed. Regardless of how much I tried to give Joyride the benefit of the doubt, nothing came about that felt like it could be justification for this film’s existence. The feature-length…

Some filmmakers develop a specific style and spend their career mostly following that particular niche, and there are some that cast as wide a net as possible for the sake of constantly reinventing their craft, different styles and approaches to directing that keep everything exciting and unpredictable. In the case of René Clair, you never…

There has never been anyone quite like Jacques Demy, regardless of how many filmmakers claim to be heavily inspired by his work. A master of his craft, he spent decades tenderly constructing meaningful, daring films that were both visually stunning and narratively poignant, oscillating between comedy and drama with equal prowess and proving to be…

Very few would ever dare deny that Peter Bogdanovich was one of the greatest directors of his generation – a hardworking filmmaker who was able to run the gamut in terms of projects, directing in many different genres and oscillating between deeply personal works and those that would be a perfect fit for a journeyman…

About a decade ago (if not slightly earlier, it’s certainly up to debate), there emerged a new trend in cinema – assemble several iconic actors who are perhaps slightly older than they were at their peak, and place them in an effervescent, charming comedy that doesn’t push their boundaries or challenge them in any way,…

Growing up can be a challenge, especially if you are not the idealistic version of what is usually considered successful. The adolescent years can be truly treacherous, and once you reveal yourself to have interests or hobbies that fall outside the status quo, or even come from a community that is viewed as fodder for…

An old man sits silently at the table in his countryside kitchen, quietly drinking his coffee as he watches the sunrise across the idyllic valley in which he lives. Despite the simplicity of his life, he feels a crushing loneliness that he wishes to overcome, patiently waiting for some kind of companionship. It’s a familiar…

Over time, we’ve seen the development of a very specific kind of cinematic cliche – a stand-up comedian makes their way to the stage and begins to tell their story, which is usually filled with tragedy or some kind of serious subject matter that they are hoping to filter through a more comedic lens. It…

As is often the case with any cherished property, there is a contingent of devotees who claim that attempting to adapt it to another medium is impossible, which is particularly notable when it comes to film adaptations. While there are instances of certain directors botching attempts to pay tribute to existing works, very few concepts…