They say friends are the family we choose – and just like family, they have a tendency to get on our nerves from time to time, as is the case with any kind of relationship, with the most meaningful usually being those that are built from a combination of love and frustration. This idea is…
Tag: comedy
Timestalker (2024)
Originality is such a valuable commodity in contemporary cinema, particularly because it seems so elusive – it has always seemed slightly unnerving the degree to which the industry relies on existing properties rather than embracing the potential of discovering some new, untrodden artistic concept or style. Yet, there are still some filmmakers who are firm…
The Second Act (2024)
While his work is divisive to the point where calling them an acquired taste would be enormously generous, it’s impossible to deny that Quentin Dupieux (otherwise known as Mr Oizo in some circles) is a filmmaker who has grown into one of the unique artistic visionaries of his generation and has continuously worked to redefine…
To Be or Not to Be (1983)
Perfection is impossible to replicate, but there is the possibility of producing something close enough to an approximation that we can at least be thoroughly entertained. As far as comedy goes, there are few films more flawless than Ernst Lubitsch’s masterful To Be or Not to Be, one of an elite group of films that…
Living Large (2024)
Anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong can relate to the sensation of being an outsider. Whether due to physical appearance, ability or a more intangible element, many of us have felt like we exist on the outskirts of society, merely being fodder for the gawking mockery and entertainment of those around us….
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The statement “they don’t make them like they used to” has been worn out to the point of exhaustion, but there are some occasions when even the most forward-thinking of viewers see a film and are struck by the realization that we may never see something quite like that ever again, which is both a…
Our Hospitality (1923)
There has never been another artist quite like Buster Keaton – there have been many terrific actors who have mastered the art of physical comedy, and even more tremendous directors that have managed to create new and exciting ways of telling these stories on screen, but rarely have we found people who can not only…
Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
While the debate around the exact film that kickstarted the screwball comedy genre continues to be a subject of considerable contention (with the general perception being that it can be reduced to the fascinating tug-of-war between Howard Hawks’ The Twentieth Century and Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night as the singular pioneering work), there are…
Father of the Bride (1950)
Behind every beautifully lavish wedding, there is usually a disgruntled parent whose responsibility is to bankroll the entire event, which is generally done with a combination of the insistence on giving their offspring a memorable day and the frustration of realising both the cost and time that goes into one of these endeavours. Yet, it…
Merlusse (1935)
For the most part, there are two kinds of teachers that we tend to remember long into our adult years – there are those who were exceptionally strong at their craft and treated their profession with nothing but pride, and then there are those who fall victim to the laziness and apathy that sometimes comes…
The Postmodern Pelican 