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….
Xenia (2014)
Greek cinema can sometimes be dependent on telling heavy stories about social injustice or overwhelming problems. In fact, a lot of European cinema can be like that. So when a sweet and quirky little film like Xenia comes along, we have to stop and just appreciate the brilliance. It may be a film with as…
How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
There are some films that are just masterpieces, but are very rarely recognized as one. I previously reviewed Bedazzled, one of the most underrated films ever made, and definitely one of the funniest British films I’ve ever seen. I am sure you can imagine the incredible sense of bewilderment when the next film I watched…
Transamerica (2005)
Anyone who reads my reviews knows that my favorite kinds of films are most certainly independent films. There is nothing better that finding a brilliant indie film, that pushes boundaries that mainstream films never dare to do. One such film is Transamerica, a touching and sweet little indie dramedy that teaches us the complexities of…
Bedazzled (1967)
Oh dear, the classic “man sells his soul to the devil” story, how it has become the epitome of film cliche. I wasn’t expecting much, because so many films have that theme of the pathetic individual with a pathetic life selling their pathetic soul to the charming human embodiment of Satan for a shot at…
The Postmodern Pelican 