Category: Reviews

Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film as a director, ‘A Real Pain,’ takes a somewhat worn road-trip formula and uses it to probe deeper themes of familial tension, grief, and Jewish identity. Following cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) as they journey through Poland, the film combines quirky indie beats with somber reflections on… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: A Real Pain – Eisenberg’s sophomore effort

By now, people may have viewed feature films such as Monuments Men and Woman in Gold (2014) about stolen artworks in Europe. These films were shown in theaters and are likely available for streaming. These films were about art theft during WW II, and now a documentary film about a more current theft has been… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: Artifact War – Eye-Opening Documentary Uncovering Another Art Theft

In his heartfelt indie film Adjunct, writer-director Ron Najor plays the dual roles of leading actor and filmmaker. The film tells the story of a struggling academic who discovers the precariousness of his place in the academic world. Unassuming yet thought-provoking, Adjunct is a profoundly personal exploration of purpose and resilience in a system that… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: Adjunct – a heartfelt indie film

The film is good overall, but I had issues with it from the beginning. J.C. Doler’s first feature made its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, playing in their Dark Matters Features section. Genre fans will be able to view it at a second screening during the festival. Doler co-wrote the screenplay along with… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: The Fetch – Irish Folklore Learned in Childhood Surfaces in Trauma for Adult

Director Michael Vlamis’ ‘Crossword’ is an elegantly crafted thriller that dives into the haunting complexities of grief, obsession, and the painful fragmentation of a family dealing with the worst imaginable tragedy. The story follows Tessa (Aurora Perrineau) and James (Michael Vlamis), a couple torn apart by the accidental drowning of their young daughter. Each character… Continue reading Austin Film Festival: Crossword – a haunting thriller about unthinkable loss

If you quickly search for the short film Special Delivery on the internet, you will find various films with the title. Still, the one screening at the Austin Film Festival is the short romantic comedy from writer/director Emily Everhard. The film was a finalist for the Enderby Entertainment Fellowship Award, and today’s news from the… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: Special Delivery – 2024 Austin Film Festival Film Jury Award Winner

Directed and written by Dallas-native Angela Gulner, The Beldham arrives at the Austin Film Festival for the North American Premiere. In this psychological horror/family drama, there is not a moment when I could turn away from the screen to follow what was happening between the mother and daughter characters. The script is excellent, as are… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: The Beldham – North American Premiere of Psychological Horror/Family Drama