Shelved: 5 Great, But Never Produced Animations

Have you ever wondered about animation ideas or projects that were in existence at some point (or even near-completion!), but, unfortunately, never saw the light of day? There are apparently many such cases, and, no wonder, as it is not just creativity and ideas that need to be considered, but also talent on offer, financing,…

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“Perfect Days” Review

Almost plotless, The Perfect Days does not break new grounds, but actor Kōji Yakusho shines bright, making the result a heart-warming tribute to Tokyo.

“The Boy and the Heron” Review

The Boy and the Heron is Miyazaki’s “fever-dream”, a symbolism-driven animated tour de force full of adventure, wonder and insight.

7 Films About the World of Miniature People

From Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina to Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and beyond, the public fascination with “little people” has transformed into the multitude of stories, which often juxtaposed the wider, often harsher world with these people’s smallness and vulnerability. Equally, many films followed suit, and below are seven films, from thought-provoking animations to experimental oldies,…

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“They Shot the Piano Player” Review

They Shot the Piano Player [2023] – ★★★ 🎵 The animation vividly introduces us to the great Brazilian pianist and the music scene of his time, but falls short of being an engaging investigation-focused drama. They Shot the Piano Player focuses on the investigative journey that one journalist (Jeff Harris) undertakes to find out what…

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Short Reviews: Big Night (1996), & Return to Dust (2022)

Big Night [1996] – ★★★★ They say there can never be two chefs in the kitchen, but Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci proved there can be two directors on a movie set and a glaring success. This drama-comedy is based on a book by Joseph Tropiano and set in the 1950s, telling of two very…

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“The Beasts” Review

The Beasts is a film of palpable tensions and unwavering conviction, showing that enmity can be subtle and insidious.

“The Eternal Daughter” Review

The Eternal Daughter [2022] – ★★1/2 “A good story can save poor [visuals], whereas good visuals cannot save a poor story.” That is what Japanese master animator Osamu Tezuka once said, and no matter how different the style of Joanna Hogg’s film is from any animation, this quote is equally applicable here. The Eternal Daughter…

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10 Great Films Set in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages – what other historical period excites our imagination as much? This is deemed to be a period of great uncertainty, religious mania, chivalry, and omnipresent death, a period of darkness and a period of sporadic light, depending what century you consider. Many film directors fell under its haunting spell, too, and some…

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“Song of the Exile” Review

Song of the Exile [1990] – ★★★★ Such recent popular films as Past Lives (2023) and Return to Seoul (2022) may be all about the themes of national and cultural identity, immigrant experience and making peace with the past, presenting these topics movingly and convincingly, but more than three decades before, Hong Kong director Ann…

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“A Simple Life” Review

A Simple Life [2011] – ★★★★ We will all grow old one day, or maybe are already, but have we ever wondered what our last years will really be like? We all want to believe that our sunset years will be comfortable and surrounded by the people we love, but loneliness among the elderly is…

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15 American Road Movies: A Genre of Its Own

An unparalleled sense of freedom. The vastness of a landscape. The romance of a road – no wonder America fell in love with a road movie. Apart from criminals on the run, road travellers in films are also often on a journey of some sort of “self-discovery”, and one’s physical journey often occurs in tandem…

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“The Masters of Time” Review: Heady with an Unforgettable Twist

The Masters of Time [1982] – ★★★★ French director René Laloux is known for mind-bending French animation Fantastic Planet (1973), which he made in collaboration with Roland Topor, but after its international success he also made two other animations – The Masters of Time (1982) and Gandahar (1987). The Masters of Time is a Franco-Hungarian production,…

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10 Great Films Set in Small-Town America

Summer is often associated with countryside-living, and, thus, now may be a perfect time to think about those films that tell of the lives lived outside big towns and cities. When one thinks about the hot season, one may conjure up long, lazy afternoons with a book, lawn picnics in the shade of trees, and…

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“Carrie” Review

Carrie [1952] – ★★★★ Scene: 1889; a charismatic and rich restauranteur catches sight of one shy and poorly dressed young woman who has just arrived to his upscale restaurant for a date she no longer wants. Another scene: a train is about to start its journey, a man is seen on the train, a girl is still…

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5 Great Speeches in Film

You may forget any film’s plot or characters, but you may never forget how that film made you feel. The power/memorability of speeches in film can be immense if handled right and in the hands of capable actors. Below are 5 memorable speeches found in films, coming from such great actors as Al Pacino, Mel…

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Remembering Henry Mancini

Henry Mancini (16 April 1924 – 14 June 1994) was a prolific American composer and pianist, creating scores for such films as Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Charade (1963) and Touch of Evil (1958), and writing such well-known songs as “Moon River” and “Days of Wine & Roses”. Below is his “The Pink Panther Theme” from…

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