The thriller genre is one that often appears to occur on something of a binary scale, much like horror, its closest generic cousin – it is either derivative and plays upon a set of preordained ideals, or it is thoroughly unique, either having a highly original premise or an audacious execution to some more common…
Clemency (2019)
Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge) is a prisoner currently on death row, having been found guilty of the murder of a police officer fifteen years before. His parole hearings continuously result in his appeals being rejected, and his legal team, led by his dedicated friend and lawyer Marty (Richard Schiff) does whatever they can to ensure…
Bed Among the Lentils (1988)
“Geoffrey’s bad enough, but I’m glad I wasn’t married to Jesus” These words resound as the first statement made in Alan Bennett’s Bed Among the Lentils, his lengthy dramatic monologue that serves as a showcase for the incredible Dame Maggie Smith, who does what is undeniably amongst her finest work here. I genuinely believed I…
The Edge of Heaven (2007)
Yeter (Yeter Öztürk) is a middle-aged prostitute operating out of a small town in Germany, where she is constantly accosted by locals who deride her for forgetting about her heritage. She encounters Ali (Tuncel Kurtiz), a fellow Turkish immigrant who becomes a regular customer. Less a way of satiating his desires, and more of a…
High School (1968)
Frederick Wiseman revolutionized the documentary – in many ways, he essentially invented the modern form of non-fictional filmmaking, alongside the work done by other renegade auteurs such as the Maysles Brothers and Shirley Clarke, who sought to represent reality in a way that was honest, poignant and direct, with the results often being fascinating studies…
Oliver! (1968)
Like any art form, cinema tends to oscillate between trends, with new ideas replacing the old, which subsequently go out of fashion, and either resurface as loving throwbacks to the past or disappearing completely, being remnants of a past era, where the popularity of that genre or set of conventions can never be fully replicated…
Pretty Poison (1968)
Two individuals cross paths quite unexpectedly and are launched into a situation where they find themselves unable to resist committing crimes, as well as falling deeply in love through the process. Dennis (Anthony Perkins) has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital, where he has been residing for several years after committing an act of…
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Henry II (Peter O’Toole) rules over England and the many colonies and territories that form part of his kingdom. However, the broader issues of his empire are not his concern at the moment, but rather a more pressing issue is at hand – the arrival of the young French king (Timothy Dalton) puts Henry in…
Good Boys (2019)
Sometimes, we need a film like Good Boys to remind us of the incredible power of foolishness. A film made from the perspective of almost complete narrative disregard, but done with the earnestness of someone who was intent only on entertaining more than contributing anything meaningful, it’s a wonderful exercise in escapism, where we can…
Suzanne (2013)
Two sisters, Maria (Adèle Haenel) and Suzanne (Sara Forestier) were raised in a working-class environment by their widowed father (François Damiens), a cross-country truck driver who has done his best to give his girls the best possible life, in lieu of having a mother to help guide them through some of the more challenging moments….
The Postmodern Pelican 