Streets of Fire, the epitome of 1980s romantic action movies, begins with a crowded nightclub. The beautiful and talented (and here quite youthful) Diane Lane begins singing a rousing song that none other than Meat Loaf would go on to record later on. It is a joyous, energetic introduction, filled with 1950s decor combined with…
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Smart satire and broad comedy are both very popular forms of humour, but they very rarely overlap. A great example is seen when we look at the smart, neurotic humour of Woody Allen, and the more lowbrow, but equally excellent, work of Mel Brooks. Both were excellent filmmakers that carved out their niches in Hollywood….
Barton Fink (1991)
Very rarely is a film made about writers, which is strange considering how they are mostly responsible for creating the stories we see on screen. I am sure anyone who tries to write regularly, either as a hobby or as part of their career, can relate to the hilariously tragic story of Barton Fink. With…
Freaks (1932)
In today’s society, a film like Freaks would never be made. Despite showing the titular characters not as monsters, but as people like this film did, it would have been very difficult to actually make a film like this. That’s why Freaks is a very special, unique film that has aged incredibly well and its…
Gone Girl (2014)
Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see in Gone Girl. I was expecting a conventionally good thriller. I was not expecting a twisted, macabre and terrifying tale of the dangers that lurk in the minds of the most normal people. Simply described, it is about Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) whose…
Calvary (2014)
Brendan Gleeson – what an underrated actor. The brooding, sinister Irish character actor has had some brilliantly memorable roles. However, it is his performance as Father James, the kindhearted Catholic priest in a remote Irish small town that truly shows off his range as an actor. The McDonagh Brothers (Martin and John Michael) have singlehandedly…
What Just Happened (2008)
Robert De Niro might just be the greatest living actor, and part of that is attributed to the fact that he is able to do comedy and drama equally well. In comedies, he usually plays a grumpy, emotionless intellectual dealing with other people who get on his nerves. It has become a character De Niro…
The Great Escape (1963)
Gosh, they just don’t make movies like this anymore. Filled with bravado and adrenaline, but constantly stays away from becoming overly masculine. It is a gruff, entertaining adventure film that defines a by-gone era of filmmaking. Assembling a cast that is the very definition of true action star – Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles…
Bad Words (2014)
Actors trying out directing is something I find fascinating. In his directorial debut, Jason Bateman gives directing a try, and while this may not be the most notable debut for a actor-turned-director, it was a very unique and fun film. Bateman has been cast usually as well-meaning and soft-spoken intellectuals. Therefore it came as no…
Bernie (2011)
Richard Linklater is an oddity – he is capable of making so many different kinds of movies and twisting genres and stories, each one being a complete stranger to the one before. Those of you who follow my reviews know that I proclaimed Before Midnight the best film of 2013, and unless something impresses me…
The Postmodern Pelican 