Many people seem to have so many differing opinions on what is the greatest film of the 21st century – and the BBC recently bestowed that honour upon Mulholland Drive, a high point (perhaps the highest point) in the career of David Lynch. One film that has been tossed around as being one of the…
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
I am not someone who thinks that any film adaptation of a book is superior to its source material, but I am also not someone who vilifies the practice. I do think there are some truly extraordinary cinematic adaptation of great books (such as Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, which border on being…
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Full disclosure – Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette, also The Bicycle Thief) was the first film I watched this year – that is nearly nine months ago. The reason I am writing this review so late is simply because I couldn’t muster up the courage to do so – how do you write a review…
Love & Friendship (2016)
I have studied English Literature at university, and one course I enjoyed the most was that on satire – and through encounters with various notable satires of the past, I have discovered that one aspect of the arts that has always remained constant is that of comedy. The view that the past was dour and utterly serious…
Ghostbusters (2016)
In all my years of watching and loving films, I have never come across something quite like the reaction to the reboot of Ghostbusters, particularly the pre-mature response by many people who would refuse to see this film for a variety of reasons. I have never seen so much hatred thrown at a film, mainly…
Run Lola Run (1998)
I could mince words, give a long-winded and elaborate opening to make a very simple point, but I feel that would just a disservice, so I will come right out and say it – Run Lola Run (Lola rennt) is one of the best films I have ever seen, and while I don’t normally find…
Maggie’s Plan (2016)
Has there been an actress in recent years as divisive as Greta Gerwig? Many people will not know who I am referring to, mainly because she has almost exclusively stuck to independent comedies. She is certainly an acquired taste, and while many people think she is the very definition of why independent cinema is becoming…
Suicide Squad (2016)
I am going to try and remain as civil and professional as I can here – in the end, to make any sort of film is difficult, and to produce something that is seen by even a dozen people in a monumental achievement, and everyone that works on a film should be proud that they…
Queen of Earth (2015)
From the very first moment in Queen of Earth, you are instantly captivated. It begins in a very unconventional manner – Catherine (Elisabeth Moss) sits, an emotional wreck, screaming and weeping at her boyfriend who is about to leave her. We are not given any context or explanation, but the camera stays on her as…
A Hologram for the King (2016)
I am not exactly sure why I loved A Hologram for the King – but one thing is for sure, it was a fantastic film, and one I wasn’t expecting to enjoy as much as I did. Considering what an utter disappointment the similarly-themed Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was, I was hesitant about the entire “American…
The Postmodern Pelican 