As arguably Japan’s foremost cultural critic, few filmmakers managed to as effectively explore the life and times of ordinary citizens quite as well as Yasujirō Ozu, whose work reflects a keen sense of interest in the human condition, which has fuelled so many of his incredible films. As is often the case with notoriously prolific…
Mother (1996)
As unheralded as a filmmaker as he may be, Albert Brooks certainly has quite a knack for telling stories that resonate with many viewers, in a way that is accessible and endearing, rather than being contrite in the way many mainstream comedies tend to be. A populist filmmaker, but one that uses his platform in…
The Girl and the Spider (2022)
Time is a concept that we all take for granted. We tend to perceive life as a linear series of events, days that turn into weeks, which subsequently turn into the variable months and years that we exist in the period that we all know quite simply as life. This is a peculiar way to…
Under Capricorn (1949)
When looking at the long career of Alfred Hitchcock, we can divide it into various distinct eras – there were the experimental 1970s, the provocative 1960s, the absolutely rivetting 1950s (his greatest decade) and the tumultuous 1940s. This decade in particular was notable for being the one that had some of the director’s most significant…
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
There are many ways to identify a great filmmaker, but one of the most reliable methods is whether they turn the most simple premise into a profoundly moving experience. In an industry driven by spectacle and artistic innovation, sometimes the most effective works entail a director simply having a good story, a room in which…
Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976)
Bernice Bobs Her Hair is a work of incredible artistic integrity, accomplishing in 45 minutes what even the most well-crafted feature-length film fail to do in twice the amount of time – it provides us with a deep and insightful glimpse into the human condition, carefully curated by a director who has rarely received much…
After Yang (2022)
One of the great joys of engaging with modern cinema is that we are given the chance to both relish in the work of the established masters, as well as find new talent that emerges, usually as a result of a wider set of stories being told by more diverse voices. One such example is…
The Third Man (1949)
Any work of art that carries the label of being one of the greatest works of all time is bound to result in some disappointment – but somehow, when it comes to calling The Third Man the greatest British film ever made, this somehow feels like a vast understatement. Carol Reed didn’t only make arguably…
Red Hook Summer (2012)
You can essentially divide Spike Lee’s career up into two broad groups – there are the unimpeachable classics, and then there are the films that are excellent, but have yet to receive the attention they deserve. Red Hook Summer certainly fits into the latter group, being the sixth entry into the Chronicles of Brooklyn, the…
Back to School (1986)
There are two categories of films that feature comedians in the central role – the first are vehicles made to showcase their talents, essentially working as a means to further monetize their popularity. The second are films that see the comedian playing against type, either taking on a more dramatic role, or one that isn’t…
The Postmodern Pelican 