Sometimes the most memorable films are the most simple. No one understands this better than Andrew Bujalski, who has quietly risen from obscurity to become one of the more fascinating young filmmakers in contemporary independent cinema. Some of his films have been so abstract and intimate, they border on being almost non-existent, such as the…
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
When someone asks me why I admire Spike Lee, I normally point to any of his tremendous films such as Jungle Fever, 25th Hour, She’s Gotta Have It or Do the Right Thing, a film I consider to be the greatest film ever made by an American director. This year, he may have just proven…
F for Fake (1973)
I want to be Orson Welles when I grow up, honestly. I don’t think there has ever been a more fascinating cinematic figure than Welles, who never fails to surprise me with his exceptional skills, both as a performer and as a filmmaker, being someone whose career helped set the foundations for modern cinema. A…
Branded to Kill (1967)
Branded to Kill is the kind of film that makes me want to realize my dream of becoming a filmmaker so I can make films just like this. Perhaps not a film I could absolutely understand, it is one that exhibits an impressive amount of sheer audacity, and if there is something I admire in…
Zama (2018)
What a terrific film Lucrecia Martel has made with Zama. A powerful historical drama that transports the audience into the past, with the director’s meticulous style and dedication to her narrative providing a substantially fascinating journey to a period that has been somewhat under-represented in contemporary literature. I have mentioned it before, but I find…
Speed Racer (2008)
A decade ago, a film called Speed Racer was released. I was still a cinematic neophyte, and thus I took the thoughts of the critics as being the gospel truth and considering this film received an almost overwhelmingly negative response, I opted to skip it and go for something a bit more acclaimed. Now, having…
Let the Sunshine In (2017)
I initially felt awful for not enjoying this film, mainly because there were so many elements in it I normally love. It is a lighthearted French romantic comedy featuring one of the greatest actresses of her generation, directed by one of the most formidable filmmakers France has seen in recent decades. There was so much…
Female Trouble (1974)
I’ve expressed my utter adoration and admiration for John Waters on so many occasions. I find his work so engaging and unconventionally charming, not to mention one is not likely to find someone so suave and endearing as him. Yet, every time I watch one of his films, I find myself wondering exactly why it…
Educating Rita (1983)
I remember seeing a film on television when I was much younger. It was early on in my days a film lover, and thus I had a very rudimentary knowledge. Yet, there were two names I did recognize – yet I didn’t recognize the actors in the film. The film was Educating Rita, and those…
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Diversity in the arts is important. This is less of an opinion and more of an objective fact. Mainstream media has a tendency to often give attention to some groups over others, and the bigger the production, the less likely it is to find diverse representation, because of the outdated notion that audiences are attracted…
The Postmodern Pelican 