As a duo, Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen made a formidable pair, with their collaborations bringing us several incredibly musical comedies that almost entirely defined the genre and made it a cultural sensation during its peak. Together they co-directed four films together (with several other collaborations, whether Donen serving as a choreographer on a few…
The Muse (1999)
Steven Phillips (Albert Brooks) used to be a big deal in the world of screenwriting – emphasis on “used to”. He has recently managed to pick up a humanitarian award, which gives him a sense of accomplishment and importance, until he realizes how worthless it actually is, since the terms surrounding it are far more…
Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000)
In theory, based on their individual careers, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and François Ozon should not blend together as incredibly as they do in practice. They’re both artists that represent different styles and eras of filmmaking, with any sense of significant overlap between them (outside of Ozon’s outward admiration for the esteemed German filmmaker) being very…
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
There are many lessons to be learned from The Bridges of Madison County – the miraculous nature of chance encounters, and the incredible challenges that come with bidding farewell to someone whose time in your life may be short, but their impact on it absolutely immeasurable. As one of the more unconventional films the oddly…
Street of Shame (1956)
Any cursory analysis of classic Japanese cinema will return a number of great filmmakers, but most notably consist of four names of artists who almost single-handedly defined the filmmaking landscape for most of the twentieth century, despite them coming from slightly different generations for the most part. They are Akira Kurosawa, Mikio Naruse, Yasujirō Ozu…
Luca (2021)
As we’ve seen over the years, Disney-Pixar often make use of a variety of sources, whether directly or simply through mere allusion, when creating their films. Oftentimes, it’s easy to see what inspired a particular film, whether it be an existing text, a social idea or the most abstract concept. However, while watching their latest…
Pete ‘n’ Tillie (1972)
The promotional material for Pete ‘n’ Tillie, Martin Ritt’s ambitious adaptation of a short story by iconic provocateur Peter de Vries, stated boldly that “the honeymoon is over, time to get married”. There have not been many films that have been quite as sharp in exploring the trials and tribulations of a couple throughout their…
Affair in Trinidad (1952)
The reasons for the creation of Affair in Trinidad aren’t too abstract – years after burning up the screen in the iconic film noir Gilda, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford were in fierce demand, especially in collaboration with one another. It didn’t take too long for the on-screen (and off-screen) lovers to reunite in the…
Hôtel des Amériques (1981)
Somewhere in the coastal town of Biarritz sits a hotel – in it resides Gilles (Patrick Dewaere), the son of the owner of the establishment, and a young man who has just returned from a trip to New York City. One evening, he is almost run over by a passing motorist, who turns out to…
So My Grandma’s a Lesbian! (2021)
We’ve all encountered them from time to time – the mindless, continental European comedies that are cheaply produced and tossed out on video-on-demand or streaming platforms for a quick diversion after a long day. They’re a dime-and-dozen, and while they can be very entertaining, they’re not always particularly good. However, there are some instances where…
The Postmodern Pelican 