As far as contemporary filmmakers go, few are genuinely exciting as Radu Jude, whose rise from acclaimed but obscure Romanian auteur to arthouse darling who has decided to redefine what cinema represents has been nothing but extraordinary. My own admiration for his work is certainly well-documented, and he continues to be such a surprising and…
Tag: review
The Blob (1958)
There is a misconception that art, particularly cinema, becomes better as time progresses and new developments emerge, since many believe that having access to cutting-edge technology and more expansive resources somehow equates to quality and artistic merit. While this may be true in a few cases, no film has ever truly benefited primarily from an…
Dance First (2023)
The act of paying tribute to some cherished artist or public figure in the form of a film is a pretty challenging endeavour, particularly because it requires a writer or director to stand at a structural crossroads, choosing their preferred approach to examining their life’s story. Do you explore it from start to finish (the…
It Is In Us All (2023)
Once someone has been through a traumatic incident, they are likely going to return to the place in which it happened, either physically or psychologically. This is a phenomenon that has been observed among many individuals who have suffered some kind of trauma or tragedy, either witnessing something horrifying or experiencing anything that could cause…
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
There are few names that evoke the same kind of passionate reaction in terms of capturing the very spirit of theatricality than Tennessee Williams, who wrote his final play over forty years ago, but whose spectre still lingers in the culture. This is particularly true since his work tackles themes relating to American life, exploring…
We Used to Know Each Other (2019)
Being in love is a wonderful experience, but maintaining it is another matter entirely, which is something that the protagonists of We Used to Know Each Other have to learn for themselves. A very simple independent comedy directed by Robert G. Putka, who wrote the screenplay in conjunction with Hugo de Sousa, who also happens…
The Skin of Sorrow (2010)
More than half a century before Oscar Wilde committed pen to paper in order to write The Picture of Dorian Gray, we had a similarly-themed story on behalf of the equally important literary genius Honoré de Balzac in the form of La Peau de chagrin (commonly translated as “The Magic Skin”), which is also focused…
The Best Films of 2024
Another year, another opportunity to sample from the creative and innovative minds of the many fantastic filmmakers who have defined the cinematic landscape over the past several months, introducing us to some of the most exciting works of fiction and non-fiction. As with any year, there are various masterpieces and misfires, to the point where…
It’s Not Me (2024)
I have always maintained that Leos Carax is such an ingenious filmmaker, he could make even the most abstract and unconventional ideas seem engaging and captivating. This is exactly what he did in It’s Not Me (French: C’est pas moi), his ambitious and utterly bewildering attempt at self-reflection, and his most recent offering. The film,…
One of Them Days (2025)
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…
The Postmodern Pelican 