When one of your favorite films is The Shining, it will take quite a film to terrify you. The latest in a rapidly rising trend of possession films is a wonderful little horror film that combines shock horror and period drama to create quite an entertaining film that hearkens back to late period Hitchcock. What makes The…
Me and Orson Welles (2009)
Orson Welles was an odd fellow – one of the most ambitious filmmakers and genius performers ever to live. However, his life has been shrouded in reports of him being difficult or a diva, it doesn’t surprise me. I often wondered why a film didn’t actually explore this side of him. Then I discovered a…
Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
The French New Wave is quite an odd period of filmmaking – for once, filmmakers could depart the silly mainstream and actually use this newly-found genre to make minimilistic passion projects and express their love of nihilism (can one love nihilism though). To me, two films represent the apex of the French New Wave –…
The State of the Oscars: Best Supporting Actor (The Winners)
This category is very near locked, but we could definitely see an upset, and there is always the chance that any of the nominees could receive a surge of support. THE NOMINEES: Barkhad Abdi as Abduwali Muse in Captain Phillips Bradley Cooper as Richie DiMasso in American Hustle Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave Jonah Hill as Donnie…
An Appreciation of…Harold Ramis (1944 – 2014)
One of the most consistently genius but tragically underrated players in comedy has sadly died at the age of 69. Harold Ramis is the man behind Groundhog Day, one of the most iconic and beloved comedies of all time, and one that revolutionised what comedy can go and to which limits it can go, and which…
The State of the Oscars: Best Supporting Actress (The Winners)
We come now to a category that is probably my favorite because there are three amazing performances in it. I think this category could pretty much go to any of the three ladies nominated, but there seem to be two overwhelming frontrunners, both of which are mediocre at best. THE NOMINEES:Sally Hawkins as Ginger in…
Gravity (2013)
Not many films completely take me by surprise and seriously hit me in the face with how amazing they are. Gravity was one such film. It stands as one of the most marvellous achievements in technical filmmaking and was absolutely spectacular from start to finish. One must realize that this film may appear boring –…
The State of the Oscars: Best Actress (The Winners)
Why I am even doing a piece about Best Actress confuses me – this award is so clearly going to Cate Blanchett, and no one else comes close. But I will try and justify a win for the others, just because on the slight chance there is a shocking upset. THE NOMINEES: Amy Adams as…
Santa Sangre (1989)
I have always embraced weirdness, especially in films. To me, Klaus Kinski was far more interesting than Jimmy Stewart, and Johnny Depp is superior to Tom Cruise – but only in terms of keeping one interested and always guessing as to what is next. This interest I have in “weirder” people naturally led me to…
The State of the Oscars: Best Actor (The Winners)
The Oscars are in 10 days, so that means I am going to roll out my list of Oscar predictions. I wait until the last minute because I am not content to judge until all the major precursors have gone by. Golden Globes, SAG, BFCA and BAFTA usually can tell me a lot about who…
The Postmodern Pelican 