It seems to be impossible to discuss contemporary American independent cinema without mentioning Nicole Holofcener, who has been at the helm of some of the most captivating and well-constructed comedies of the past quarter-century, having directed a number of terrific films that all carry the many exceptional traits that make her such an interesting filmmaker….
Pride (2014)
It would be blatantly untrue to say that this conversation coming on this particular day was not intentional, or that it was merely a coincidence that we chose to revisit this film at this specific moment. Now more than ever we see discourse surrounding identity and the importance of showing humanity in the face of…
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)
One of the great misconceptions about older cinema is that it was puritanical and void of any sensuality, rarely pushing the boundaries that we see in contemporary film. While it is true that we have grown a lot more comfortable with edgier content, this isn’t a recent development, and we can go back to the…
Divine Intervention (2002)
Every filmmaker tends to be driven by a different motivation for the stories they tell, and even those with the most diverse and versatile careers tend to have specific themes or ideas that flow through their body of work, establishing a very clear understanding of what they represent as artists. In the case of Elia…
Late August, Early September (1998)
As the classic adage goes, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and we’ve seen numerous filmmakers build their careers by mimicking the style of their artistic heroes, some of which have gone on to be highly influential in their own right, and for good reason. One such example is Olivier Assayas, who is objectively…
No Hard Feelings (2023)
Every genre is going to fizzle out at one point or another, which is only natural considering the cinematic landscape in which we exist – audiences are going to constantly shift in what they want to see, and the industry has to comply, or else risk not making a profit, which is unfortunately how the…
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
We’ve spoken often about the formula that drives a strong horror film, which is remarkably similar to the process that goes into the creation of an excellent action film, a genre that we have not explored in nearly as much depth, despite it containing some terrific and unforgettable films. The key comparison between the two…
Dalíland (2023)
If there was ever an artist who embodied everything about the counterculture movement, it would undeniably be the great Salvador Dalí, who essentially helped define what it meant to be a revolutionary artist, choosing to stand out decades before we started to see the virtue of refusing to fit into society’s pre-ordained categories. Many have…
Adam Resurrected (2008)
Paul Schrader doesn’t merely make films, he pushes boundaries. Very few screenwriters and film directors have been able to build such solid careers from controversy than him, with his work in the industry, which extends back over half a century, defining him as one of the most interesting voices, in an era where New Hollywood…
The Innocent (2023)
When he isn’t actively engaged in an acting career that has made him one of the most respected young performers in contemporary European cinema, Louis Garrel can often be found honing his craft behind the camera, carrying on the legacy left by two generations of filmmakers that came before him, and proving he is as…
The Postmodern Pelican 