Capitalism can easily be reduced to a straightforward question: Do we live to make money, or do we make money to live? For the protagonist in Earthworm Tractors, based on the syndicated stories and later bestselling novels by William Hazlett Upson, both the stories and the novels somehow manage to be true. Alexander Botts, whose…
Tag: comedy
The Navigator (1924)
There has never been an artist quite like Buster Keaton, and I doubt that we will see anyone like him ever again – and with each passing film of his that I watch, I become more assured of this, which has essentially become a sacrosanct fact by this point, and one that very few have…
That Certain Feeling (1956)
Nothing burns brighter and more intensely than an old relationship that has been rekindled – there is something about falling in love all over again with someone you considered to be your soulmate that is quite rare, but extremely special when it happens. For the characters in That Certain Feeling, it poses quite a problem,…
My 5 Wives (2000)
There are certain subjects that have become the fodder for comedians looking for a quick laugh by aiming at the low-hanging fruit, to the point where misinformation can exist purely for the sake of cheap humour, leading to audiences being misled into thinking something to be true, when in reality it is the opposite. Yet,…
Zombeavers (2014)
At some point in the last few decades, we found the concept of the B-movie losing a lot of meaning, undoubtedly the result of filmmakers become far more self-aware, and the rise of the “so bad, it’s good” approach to genres that were often considered to be nothing more than filler, done to capitalise on…
Calamari Union (1985)
A gang (consisting of a group of men all named Frank, and then later an additional member named Pekka, all of which seem to lack last names) meets in an abandoned building and begin outlining a plan for their upcoming escape from working-class Helsinki, which they are intending to complete within a few hours, given…
Snack Shack (2024)
Friendship is something that comes and goes with time, and the connections we form in our younger years do not always carry through as we grow older and begin to move on separate paths. This doesn’t necessarily invalidate those who manage to hold onto those lifelong friendships. Still, it does lend itself to some very…
The Most Charming and Attractive (1985)
We all yearn to improve ourselves – but change starts within, and it can only be accomplished through small but significant steps to making a difference in our own lives. Some of these changes are exceptionally easy, others take time and effort, and in both cases, the rate of success is not always consistent, and…
Storm in a Teacup (1937)
There is something about stepping into a small town that can be truly exhilarating. Whether returning home or visiting for the first time, many quaint hamlets have their charms and eccentricities and can be the location of some delightful adventures. This is the initial impetus behind Storm in a Teacup, a film directed by Ian…
Easy Money (1983)
We all dream of becoming repulsively rich, to the point where money means nothing other than being the fuel that propels a lavish, over-the-top lifestyle – or at least this is what the general culture seems to think is the case, since everyone is seeking ridiculous amounts of wealth, which is either a result of…
The Postmodern Pelican 