When it comes to the concept of the comedy-of-manners, few films are more spiritually and narratively guided than Ruggles of Red Gap, in which director Leo McCarey (arguably one of the pioneers of comedy during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and someone whose work in both humour and melodrama are some of the greatest in…
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Notes on a Scandal is perverted, deranged and filled to the brim with some of the most unbelievably grotesque characters in the history of cinema – and it also happens to be one of the most deliciously off-the-wall dramas of the past two decades. Richard Eyre’s adaptation of the novel by Zoë Heller is an…
Introduction (2022)
Few directors work as hard as Hong Sang-soo, at least not in terms of the sheer volume of output they provide. It has become almost a tradition for adherents of arthouse cinema to playfully refer to the director’s tendency towards constantly being producing work, and he seems to perpetually be in a state of creating…
The Long Day Closes (1992)
There is a small but dedicated faction of the film community that genuinely believes Terence Davies to be one of the greatest directors of his generation. While his work is often very small and intimate, it’s difficult to watch any of his films and not feel like there is a lot of truth to this…
Aftersun (2022)
While she is mostly remembered for her groundbreaking work as a photographer, Diane Arbus was an exceptionally gifted social critic, and the commentary that surrounds her art is almost as intriguing as the photographs themselves. However, one of her most important statements on the nature of art comes in the form of the statement “a…
Rancho Deluxe (1975)
If there was ever a filmmaker that warranted a much better reputation than the one he has, it would be Frank Perry. Despite being someone with a keen directorial vision, a strong eye for detail and a forthright dedication to telling memorable stories, he has remained relatively obscure in comparison to some of his contemporaries….
The Menu (2022)
There are few terms in cinema that are more prominent but indescribable than “Hitchcockian”, which we know as referring to films that evoke the spirit of the brilliant Alfred Hitchcock, whose career as the master of suspense is nothing short of revolutionary. There are many signs that a film meets the thresholds to be labelled…
An Ideal Husband (1947)
Oscar Wilde’s legacy has never been more secure than it has been since the advent of cinema. The great Irish wordsmith was very quickly committed to film when a range of artists decided that they would mount small but captivating productions and preserve them on film for both audiences that weren’t witness to the incredible…
TÁR (2022)
On nearly all occasions, I try my best to avoid hyperbole when writing about films. Rarely is anything said that isn’t entirely meant, and the act of speaking in absolutes is not a technique that I tend to use regularly unless it is necessary, which is increasingly sporadic considering the wealth of very good but…
Cluny Brown (1946)
When it comes to directors that set the foundation for the film industry, few have been more influential than Ernst Lubitsch, a filmmaker that established the gold standard for many genres, most notably that of the romantic comedy. Not too many artists have entire motifs named after them, and when the likes of Billy Wilder…
The Postmodern Pelican 