At the beginning of this year, I proclaimed Richard Linklater’s masterpiece Before Midnight as the best film of 2013. I then favourably reviewed the entire Before Trilogy and his slacker masterpiece Dazed and Confused. I came to the agreement that Richard Linklater is a supremely talented filmmaker, but only until today did I realize he…
Lucy (2014)
Luc Besson is a director who makes some very risky choices, and this has been both a gift and curse for him, as it can either give him a remarkable film, or a complete failure. Luckily, his latest film is the former, and while it is possibly one of the most divisive films of the…
Misery (1990)
There are some films that just gain a reputation, and become legendary based on that reputation. All too often, these films very rarely live up to their reputation. However, Misery’s reputation for being the ultimate film about obsession and insanity lives up to the legend it has received. It is as terrifying and brilliant as…
The Heat (2013)
What do you get when you combine the lovely Sandra Bullock and the hilarious Melissa McCarthy? You get The Heat, and while it does not compare to Paul Feig’s masterpiece Bridesmaids, it is pure comedic gold and one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a while. Buddy cop movies are so popular these days…
Chef (2014)
In this day and age of social media and designer cookery, a film combining the two was inevitable. Luckily, the man to do it was Jon Favreau, who put the big-budget aside and set off to making one of the most charming films of the year. Centred around Carl Casper (Favreau), a neglectful husband, an…
Divergent (2014)
Film adaptations of young adult survival novels – how many more of these are we going to have to sit through? The Harry Potter films were more than eight films – they are a decade of childhood-defining magic. Fair enough, The Hunger Games films are highly beloved because of their impressive productions values and genuine…
Jersey Boys (2014)
Clint Eastwood is a cinema icon, and while not all of his directorial efforts are good, I do give the man kudos for his gutsy decisions regarding projects. Jersey Boys may not be the great masterpiece Clint was trying to make it, but it is a really good time and a fun film. The key…
One Hour Photo (2002)
As an actor, there was one thing Robin Williams excelled at – he could effortlessly do broad, hilarious comedy or do the complete opposite and become an intense dramatic actor. His work in One Hour Photo is probably his best dramatic work, and proves that Robin Williams is much more than a comedian – he…
This Must Be the Place (2011)
Ever seen a film that is well-made, but you get the idea the filmmaker had no idea what he was doing? That is what Paolo Sorrentino’s almost-masterpiece This Must Be the Place is a perfect example of. I really wanted to like this film, but sadly it just had one too many flaws. The central…
An Appreciation of…Robin Williams (1951 – 2014)
This is actually quite difficult to write, because how do you honor someone like Robin Williams? A man who defined my childhood through his energy and brilliant comedic performances. It is incredibly difficult to choose the right words, and I don’t think any of us can possibly express our sadness. However, this is not an…
The Postmodern Pelican 