There is something about John Irving’s books that are so profoundly cinematic, despite them being works that are often quite intimate and internal. He’s become quite a cherished writer in terms of putting together stories that are deeply sentimental, but still have a jagged edge to them, which hints at much deeper meaning lurking just…
Both Sides of the Blade (2022)
Claire Denis is one of our greatest living filmmakers, which is partially the result of her versatility and ability to tell a range of stories that transcend genre and convention, but keep the same fascinating spirit that makes her one of contemporary cinema’s greatest revolutionaries, even several decades into her filmmaking career. However, one subject…
On the Town (1949)
As far as movie musicals go, there are few images more iconic than that of three sailors in pristine white uniforms gleefully leaping off their ship in the harbour and setting off into the Big Apple, while singing about what a wonderful town New York City is. The images contained in On the Town essentially…
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
When it comes to iconic characters that are derived from popular television shows, there’s always a temptation to expand on their reputation by giving them their own films, and while many of these have been quite successful, there are an equal amount that are simply not very good, proving that what works in one medium…
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)
There is something so endearing about Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – the story lends itself to the kind of charming sentimentality that has good intentions, and notable avoids overly sickly sweet ideas in executing them. Based on the novel Mrs ‘Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico (which had itself been the subject of…
Adam’s Rib (1949)
While it is always wonderful to see gifted individuals in the film industry collaborating with a wide array of people, it is undeniable that certain people are better suited to working with certain people than others, not because they are limited, but rather due to the fact that they bring out the best in each…
The Verdict (1982)
Few directors have been able to produce work that feel as urgent as that of Sidney Lumet. Whether satirical or sobering, his films were always imbued with a sense of immediacy, which assisted massively in defining him as one of the great masters of the industry. In this regard, we can look towards The Verdict…
Matthias & Maxime (2019)
Appreciating and admiring an artist sometimes entails admitting that they too have their shortcomings, and not everything that they produce can be considered a masterpiece. This is unfortunately the case with Xavier Dolan, a filmmaker I hold a huge amount of reverence towards, with his films being some of the most extraordinary of the past…
Onoda – 10,000 Nights in the Jungle (2022)
The story of Hiroo Onoda is certainly fascinating – a soldier so dedicated to defending his nation while stationed on a remote island in the Philippines during the final days of the Second World War, he refused to surrender after the war was declared over, remaining an active soldier on duty for nearly 30 years…
Tender Little Pumpkins (1949)
I’ve always appreciated comedy above nearly every other genre, specifically when it comes to looking at a cultural landscape. Few other genres are capable of capturing the true spirit of a time and place, as well as the people who occupied it, more than those works that aim to make audiences laugh. Sometimes viewing these…
The Postmodern Pelican 