Much like I suspect would be the case with many people, I first became acquainted with Sean Baker in 2015, when he had a major breakthrough with Tangerine, an extraordinarily ambitious dark comedy about two transgender sex workers that was notable for both its unconventional narrative, the fact that it was shot entirely on an…
Hard Truths (2024)
“You can’t buy time. You can’t sell it either” There are many reasons to adore the work of Mike Leigh. His meticulous attention to detail when it comes to developing his characters, his astonishing ability to capture every aspect of everyday life (which is often the reason he is considered a founding member of an…
Between the Temples (2024)
“Give me your hand and I’ll give you mine” Everyday life comes with various challenges, which should resonate with the vast majority of us who are forced to navigate day-to-day obstacles simply to meet the minimum criteria to be considered a functional human being. Yet, despite these shared challenges, it’s our individual response to them…
Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia (1974)
It tends to be quite a rare occurrence to find a film marketing itself as exactly what it intends to deliver, and avoiding any sense of unnecessary hyperbole for the sake of drawing attention to itself – and in its honesty, it actually veers towards being quite remarkable in its own right. This is the…
Sing Sing (2024)
Starting a discussion on a film with a personal anecdote is not always appropriate, since the conversation should be about the artistry on display, rather than a bundle of memories. However, while watching this film, I was reminded about a visit I took during high school to a local prison as part of an educational…
La Moustache (2005)
The key to the success of any good film is often quite simple – have a good story and execution that matches or overtakes the level of ambition that went into its conception. Obviously it is integral to add other elements for the sake of diversity, but good art is really just a matter of…
Conclave (2024)
Society consists of several different factions into which we all fit, even if we don’t realize it or even actively strive to be completely detached from any classification, with some being more mysterious than others. For well over a thousand years, one of the most intriguing sections of society has been the leadership of the…
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949)
Very few filmmakers made as much of an impact on comedy as Preston Sturges, whose invaluable contributions to cinema have made him one of the most endearing figures in Hollywood history, with his efforts as both a writer and director setting the foundation for the concept of a comedic auteur and not many artists can…
A Real Pain (2024)
Everything is a matter of perspective – what some may find uncomfortable may be far easier for others to handle, and when it comes to some of life’s most challenging inevitabilities, we all tend to deal with them differently. Pain is something we all experience in some way or another, whether it is physical or…
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
The greatest works of art normally come from the most unexpected of sources, as evident by the fact that a small-scale horror comedy produced on a shoestring budget by Roger Corman and a few of his friends has become the foundation for perhaps the most offbeat and brilliant musical in the history of the medium….
The Postmodern Pelican 