There is a moment in Love & Mercy where a young Brian Wilson, played by Paul Dano, is standing in a recording studio, and is confronted by his father, who tells him that he has peaked and that The Beach Boys are going to be forgotten in a few years. It is the typical moment…
Sicario (2015)
Denis Villeneuve is a filmmaker capable of making thrilling drama and emotional brilliance, and as a visual storyteller, he is absolutely phenomenal. With the release of his sadly underrated Prisoners two years ago, Villeneuve has started to gain somewhat of a mainstream following, which resulted in him being able to do a large studio film,…
Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
When are we planning to recognize Jim Jarmusch as one of the greatest cinematic talents of all time? I know that those of us who place him amongst the greatest filmmakers to ever live is small but passionate, but why is he destined to forever stay the symbol of the underrated independent cinema scene? Is…
An Appreciation of…John Waters (1946 – present)
Well, this has been a piece I’ve been itching to write for over a year now, but never really got the chance to, mostly because I was terrified – I love John Waters, and I think he’s one of the greatest independent filmmakers of all time. However, he is truly a divisive figure in film…
Life Itself (2014)
I might have just watched the greatest documentary film of all time. Life Itself doesn’t tell the story of great obstacles facing humanity, or of the awe-inspiring limits of the human spirit. It doesn’t tell of great wars or historical milestones that changed our world. Instead, Life Itself tells the story of one man who…
Paper Moon (1973)
One of the biggest shames I’ve ever encountered in my journey of being a film lover is that Peter Bogdanovich is not more highly regarded. Sure, cinephiles adore him, but why is he hardly ever included in lists of the greatest filmmakers of all time, when he certainly belongs on such lists? His streak between…
Two Days, One Night (2014)
Who doesn’t love a good social drama every now and then? The Dardenne Brothers (Luc and Jean-Pierre) are seen as masters of Belgian cinema, and absolute geniuses at creating captivating drama about society. Their most recent film is Two Days, One Night, a harsh and unflinching look at the realities of a particular aspect of…
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)
“No animals were harmed in the making of this film” is what we first see when Barking Dogs Never Bite begins. It is a pretty standard warning for many films, but never before has such a disclaimer been more appropriate and relieving. I have to say, I love it when films try to push the…
The Fortune Cookie (1966)
Quickly think of your favourite comedy film duos. If you thought of Laurel and Hardy, or Abbott and Costello, or Dudley Moore and Peter Cooke, you wouldn’t be wrong. They were all magnificent. However, the duo that stands out for me as the most brilliant and iconic of all time is that of Jack Lemmon…
Top Five (2014)
I think Chris Rock is a very talented comedian and actor, but even I was dubious when I saw his attempt at making a Woody Allen-esque comedy. However, it wasn’t as much of a trainwreck as I expected, and while I was hoping for so much more, I thought it was a great film nonetheless….
The Postmodern Pelican 