By Liz Lopez Sources: Film Rise, SXSW, Fandango This past March, director/screenwriter Matthew Newton (“Three Blind Mice,” “From Nowhere”) had his film at the SXSW Film Festival, “Who We Are Now” in the Narrative Spotlight category (U.S. Premiere). In case you missed the film at the festival, the feature film has begun a theatrical release… Continue reading SXSW Film News: “Who We Are Now” Begins a Theatrical Release This Month
Category: Festivals
SXSW 2018 Review: FIRST REFORMED
Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed” stars Ethan Hawke in a Brilliant Performance By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Writer/director Paul Schrader (“Taxi Driver,” “American Gigalo,” “Raging Bull” among the many he has written) presents his latest work, “First Reformed” that debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last fall and was screened in the Festival Favorites of… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: FIRST REFORMED
SXSW 2018 Review: LEAN ON PETE
By Jan Hamilton This is a tough film that never resorts to sentiment. Most of the characters are not nice. Some are inept, dishonest users. 15 year-old Charlie (Charlie Plummer), our lead, is being raised by his easy-going dad Ray (Travis Fimmel), a man who spends most of his time chasing women. Basically, Charlie must… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: LEAN ON PETE
SXSW 2018 Review: EIGHTH GRADE
By Jan Hamilton Usually, comedies about school focus on a group of kids, detailing their triumphs and tragedies. This very special film follows just one misfit girl, who tries to join a popular group and gain some friends. Kayla (Elsie Fisher) is very self-confident when she films her series of self-help videos from home. She… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: EIGHTH GRADE
SXSW 2018 Review: A VIGILANTE
By Jan Hamilton As the film begins, Sadie (Olivia Wilde) furiously punches a heavy bag. Focus and determination are evident. It’s almost as if the punching bag is a person she’d like to obliterate. The film zips through scenes from her life: from the first time she arrived at a battered women’s group, her slow… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: A VIGILANTE
Film News: SXSW Documentary “Garry Winogrand: All Thing Are Photographable” to be featured at Austin Public Library
By Liz Lopez Source: SXSW and Austin Public Library Friends Foundation, Library Foundation The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation is host of a presentation and discussion of Garry Winogrand’s life and work that will include author Geoff Dyer discussing a selection of Winogrand photographs based on passages from his recently published… Continue reading Film News: SXSW Documentary “Garry Winogrand: All Thing Are Photographable” to be featured at Austin Public Library
SXSW 2018 Review: JINN
By Jan Hamilton Summer (Zoe Renee) is not a typical African-American high school senior from Southern California. Her mother Jade (Simone Missick) is a TV weather forecaster and local celebrity. Summer wants to dance and has applied to an art school for college. She also is trying to define herself–exploring her sexuality, establishing beliefs, and… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: JINN
SXSW 2018 Review: FIRST LIGHT
By Jan Hamilton Sean (Theodore Pellerin), a tall, thin teen, is doing his best to take care of his skateboarding brother and his almost comatose grandmother. One rare night, he sees Alex (Stefanie Scott), a girl from his childhood at an outdoor party. Though they haven’t spoken in years, they briefly argue and she goes… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: FIRST LIGHT
SXSW 2018 Review: DAMSEL
By Jan Hamilton Damsel, written and directed by the Zellner Brothers, the filmmaking duo known for the wonderful film Kimiko the Treasure Hunter, is a western comedy, though not quite in the vein of Blazing Saddles. Robert Pattinson (of the Twilight series) is Samuel, an earnest young man who enlists the aid of a preacher… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: DAMSEL
SXSW 2018 Review: PROSPECT
By Jan Hamilton This is a sci-fi thriller with a dad named Damon (Jay Duplass) and Cee (Sophie Thatcher), his young teen daughter, working on a distant planet, looking for a strange sort of gem. It seems to be found in a living plant/animal and must be carefully harvested or else it gets ruined by… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: PROSPECT