Over a decade ago, a curious little film was released – the title was Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and (as the title suggests) centres on an anthropomorphic shell on his daily adventures. In subsequent years, a couple of sequels were released, each one beautifully made and just as endearing. The shorts were the…
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
While they have come to be seen as somewhat passé (despite frequent efforts to revive the genre), the big-budget musical adaptation is a remnant of the past – there was a period where it was at its peak and a few brief moments in which it seemed to be making a return, but it has…
Road to Perdition (2002)
Forgiveness is something we all seek at different points in our lives, but which we know is not always guaranteed, and even when it is received, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the past is immediately erased. The actions that led to that particular act of contrition can follow someone like a spectre, lingering in their…
The Heroics (2021)
There’s something quite peculiar about The Heroics (French: Les héroïques), a particularly off-kilter quality that persists throughout the film. Perhaps it’s the tone, which oscillates between hilarious and tragic with very little difficulty, often in the same scene. It could possibly be the narrative, which is about as meandering as the main character’s life. The…
One Body Too Many (1944)
Far too many people act surprised when they come across contemporary horror films that contain a comedic sensibility, as if the idea of blending humour and terror hasn’t been around since the Golden Age of Hollywood, being as pivotal to the development of both genres as any other element that is usually associated with them….
Warfare (2025)
For about as long as we have been observing human behaviour, there has been a focus on combat, whether physical or more theoretical. As a species, we tend to be predisposed to asserting our dominance and influence in one way or another, and it’s very common for these displays of strength to manifest in more…
Stir Crazy (1980)
It says quite a bit about Sidney Poitier’s reputation that upon watching Stir Crazy, the words “directed by Sidney Poitier” come as a genuine surprise, and even for those of us who knew that the esteemed actor and Hollywood icon was at the helm, it’s still difficult to believe. This isn’t a statement on his…
The Amateur (2025)
Revenge certainly is a dish best served cold – there have been countless works across every conceivable artistic medium about the idea of seeking those who wronged you in an effort to force them to pay for their wrongdoing. Entire sub-genres have been created on this topic, and it has been one of those universally…
Grand Hotel (1932)
One of the more unexpectedly compelling aspects of travelling is the chance to encounter people from all walks of life, and even without interacting with them directly, we are able to observe a brief moment in their lives. The experience of sitting in a hotel lobby and quietly watching the people passing by, taking note…
Baan (2024)
Where is home? Perhaps a more interesting question is what is it about a specific place that leads it to earn such a label, whether it is for an individual or a wider group of people? In her second feature directorial outing (following her well-received Ashore a few years ago), Leonor Teles, who had previously…
The Postmodern Pelican 