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…
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Moral ambiguity has always been the most notable quality when it comes to looking at how Todd Solondz makes his films, with the director himself even remarking on his tendency to go for more perverse stories, especially those that touch on issues much deeper than simply dark comedy. This has always been the case, as…
Young & Beautiful (2013)
While his days of being more intentionally controversial are more contained to the earlier stages of his career, where he was seen as somewhere between an agent provocateur and wunderkind of contemporary European cinema, François Ozon still tends to make films that can cause quite a stir, even if they’re done in a way that…
American Heart (1992)
There are so many layers to American Heart, that one can easily spend nearly the entire film trying to find the right entry-point into the world director Martin Bell presents us with. However, the most logical approach would simply be to drop anchor anywhere in the film, and allow yourself to just be immersed in…
The Munekata Sisters (1950)
Despite being one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation, to the point where he is considered a pioneer of an entire nation’s cinematic culture, Yasujirō Ozu has had a few films produced that are more obscure than others, regardless of the efforts many have put into preserving and distributing his work. For someone…
Empire Records (1995)
There came a moment in the 1990s when several young and burgeoning filmmakers believed that they were on the precipice of making the next teen classic. John Hughes had inspired many artists with his masterful and precise glimpses into the teenage experience, focusing on the angst and joys of being young – but it was…
The Postmodern Pelican 