In the 1980s, Reno, Nevada, witnessed an event that captured the world’s attention over several days. A large bomb had been placed in the town’s largest casino, Harvey’s Wagon Wheel. It included many failsafes to prevent diffusing and was so well constructed that the Bomb Squad could do nothing to prevent an explosion. Finally, they… Continue reading SXSW 2026: I GOT BOMBED AT HARVEY’S
Category: Festivals
SXSW 2026: THE LIFE WE LEAVE
Micah Truman worked in China for many years. He and his wife then left for the U.S., where he continued his career in finance. After learning about the new science of human composting, he contacted the inventor and learned as much as he could about the subject. Over a few years, he founded the company… Continue reading SXSW 2026: THE LIFE WE LEAVE
SXSW 2026: MY BROTHER’S KILLER
t’s pretty rare when a documentary film about a thirty-year-old unsolved murder uncovers a viable lead to the actual perpetrator, but My Brother’s Killer is a perfect example of one. Our victim, Billy London, was a product of the eighties, a time when people did not freely declare themselves to be gay. He knew exclusion,… Continue reading SXSW 2026: MY BROTHER’S KILLER
SXSW 2026 – Over Your Dead Body: a fun, energetic mix of action, comedy, and thriller
Over Your Dead Body is one of those films that knows exactly what it is—and embraces it with a grin, fitting the theme that SXSW programmers appeared to promote for this festival – graphic violence and broken people. Directed by Jorma Taccone, the premise is deliciously simple: a dysfunctional couple heads to a remote cabin under the… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Over Your Dead Body: a fun, energetic mix of action, comedy, and thriller
SXSW 2026: OVER YOUR DEAD BODY – A Suprisingly Great Remake of An Also Great Norwegian Film
At the 2021 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, I enjoyed a hilarious, yet tremendously violent, action-comedy-thriller from Norway titled The Trip. In the U.S., this movie didn’t get a theatrical release, but it was picked up by Netflix, so it probably didn’t get the attention it deserved, and unfortunately, it became a faded memory for… Continue reading SXSW 2026: OVER YOUR DEAD BODY – A Suprisingly Great Remake of An Also Great Norwegian Film
SXSW 2026-Normal (on 35mm): wildly inplausible and wholly fun!
I saw Normal (on 35mm) at its U.S. premiere during SXSW 2026, and it’s the kind of film that feels like it’s quietly sizing viewers up before deciding how far it’s going to go. Directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Bob Odenkirk, it opens with a sense of stillness that feels almost deceptive. The town… Continue reading SXSW 2026-Normal (on 35mm): wildly inplausible and wholly fun!
SXSW 2026: NORMAL– Action Odenkirk Is Back!
On the fourth evening of the festival, the SXSW programmers gave us a rare treat–they screened a movie on 35mm film. These days, it is pretty rare to see a modern movie in theaters presented in the old-school format. For most cinephiles, watching movies this way happens only maybe once or twice a year. The… Continue reading SXSW 2026: NORMAL– Action Odenkirk Is Back!
SXSW 2026 – Margo’s Got Money Trouble: now streaming on Apple TV
I’ve now seen the first three episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and I’ll say this up front—I liked it more than I expected, even if I’m still a little unsure about parts of it. It’s clever in ways that sneak up on you, and while it definitely feels geared toward a female audience, there’s… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Margo’s Got Money Trouble: now streaming on Apple TV
SXSW 2026- Edie Arnold is a Loser: lost me
Edie Arnold is a Loser ended up being, unfortunately, my least favorite film of SXSW 2026—and not the note I wanted to end the festival on. I went in with reasonable expectations, especially knowing it was a Buzz screening, but I still expected something sharper, funnier, or at least more cohesive than what we got.… Continue reading SXSW 2026- Edie Arnold is a Loser: lost me
SXSW 2026 Review: A Cowboy in London at State Theatre
When the SXSW Film and Television Festival announcements were made for 2026, I absolutely knew there were two films at the top of my list. On March 15, it was Los Lobos Native Sons, and on the final day of the festival, March 18th, was A Cowboy in London by filmmaker Jared Christopher, who directed,… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Review: A Cowboy in London at State Theatre