Years before he came to be seen as the very definition of tenacity in the form of his endeavour to adapt the titanic novel The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson was a lesser-known New Zealand filmmaker who simply wanted to direct stories that interested him, paying tribute to existing genres while forging his own…
Tag: review
Seconds (1966)
There are a few truly universal experiences, but one that I would be surprised if we didn’t all share is the collective desire to lead a different life. We all have regrets and yearn for certain aspects of our existence to be different, even if only slightly, and anyone who has not had the fantasy…
Parthenope (2025)
“Are you aware of the disruption your beauty causes?” These words are one of at least two dozen instances where someone refers to the beauty of a specific young woman, whose reaction usually ranges from humble gratitude to deep appreciation – and in this instance, its John Cheever, the deeply troubled American novelist on one…
Mountainhead (2025)
It seems that you simply cannot spend a moment on the internet without seeing someone complain about the ongoing financial crisis in which the majority of the global population is struggling to survive, while the rich simply get richer. The phrase “eat the rich” has never been more resonant than it is today, and while…
What Women Want (2011)
When it comes to remakes, the general rule of thumb is quite simple – either elevate the original material or make it different enough that it isn’t going to be needlessly compared to the source material, and is able to stand on its own. This is sometimes a challenge for directors who decide to remake…
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,…
Parting Glances (1986)
Nothing bounds a community together like shared trauma, and the most valiant of artists are those who are able to step forward in an effort to capture the intricacies of these challenges, particularly at a time when it was often difficult to tell such stories, Bill Sherwood is not a name that many can recall…
In a Year of 13 Moons (1978)
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they are supposed to make the decision as to who they want to be, or at least this is the social mandate that has been consistently communicated for as long as we have been sentient. As society has grown, so has the tendency to place individuals into…
Rafiki (2018)
For every city, there is usually at least one filmmaker that is its definitive poet laureate. New York City has Woody Allen, London has Mike Leigh, Tokyo has Yasujirō Ozu, Rome has Federico Fellini – the list goes on ad infinitum, and the act of pairing cities with specific filmmakers is often quite fascinating. Nairobi…
Time to Leave (2005)
Saying goodbye is never easy, but it’s often worse to lose someone without having the opportunity to express your love and affection, even if it is for the last time. This is one of the few blessings given to those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness – in cases where a disease can be…
The Postmodern Pelican 