In my review of The Big Lebowski, I mentioned how the term “cult film” is thrown around very loosely. Very few films that are dubbed “cult films” actually are. Cult films are oddities and are so unique and far-removed from the mainstream canon, they can never truly be considered crowd-pleasers, and therefore a big slice…
Black Snake Moan (2006)
I want to talk for a moment about typecasting – sometimes, earlier in their career, an actor plays a role so well, they are permanently cast in that type of role. Some of them use it to their advantage, and some of them desperately try to expand their career horizons. Samuel L. Jackson has been…
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The term “cult classic” has become quite the buzzword to describe any offbeat, obscure film that isn’t popular by the mainstream, and one that simply does not meet the tastes of most people, despite critical acclaim or box office numbers. However, only a few films can be considered real cult classics, which are simply films…
An Appreciation of…Kathy Bates (1948 – present)
There is something about some actors that is just endearing – they feel more than just performers – they feel like family. To me, there is no actor working today that comes across more likeable and homely like Kathy Bates. To me, Kathy remains one of the greatest actresses to ever live, and is comparable…
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
I think Seth MacFarlane is one of the more divisive figures in the comedy industry right now – some people find him dreadfully unfunny and tasteless, and others think he is a comedy genius. I fall into the latter category – I may not love everything he does, but I do know that there have…
Mary and Max (2009)
What is the purpose of cinema? I’d say above anything else, it is to entertain us. It does that by stirring up emotions in us – joy, laughter, sadness, anger, terror – and I’d argue the stronger the emotions elicited from a film are, the better the film is. Think about it – films we…
Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
From the very beginning of Jim Jarmusch’s masterpiece, Only Lovers Left Alive, you are drawn into this bleak world and it is impossible for one not to be captivated by the intense brilliance that Jarmusch brings to this story, and you instantly realize you are watching something very special. Vampires have become such a part…
Man on the Moon (1999)
There are some actors, and I won’t mention names, that do what they do for the paycheck, and particularly those in comedy who have a substantial fanbase who don’t need to do anything brilliant or inventive to make money, other than just appear on screen once a year. Jim Carrey is one actor who constantly…
Ed Wood (1994)
The amount I love this film isn’t fair. To call Ed Wood a masterpiece that will rival the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfather seems awfully wrong – after all, it never shows up on these lists as greatest films of all time, and it isn’t really given much attention by the general public,…
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise – has there ever been a more divisive actor? While he has had some memorable performances, his entire public perception is that of a man who has fallen into a pit of self-parody and plain weirdness. Its a shame, because if you take his personal life out of the equation, you will see…
The Postmodern Pelican 