Sam O’Mahony’s The Wise Guy is a heartfelt, whimsical story of resilience, told through the eyes of Francis, an eleven-year-old whose life is turned upside down by his parents’ separation. Through a series of delicate, touching moments and vibrant characters, O’Mahony brings a narrative that is as much about finding one’s way in a fractured… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: The Wise Guy – a beautiful story of resilience
Category: Reviews
Austin Film Festival 2024: The Perfect Club – a fresh take on coming-of-age
Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: ANORA Is Not Only My Favorite Of The Fest, It Is One Of The Top Films Of The Year
When Fantastic Fest announced that Anora would get screened at this year’s festival, I knew I had to attend. Not only did the film’s trailer hook me, but I also had to be there because this is Sean Baker’s latest work (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket). This fantastic film lives up to my anticipation.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: ANORA Is Not Only My Favorite Of The Fest, It Is One Of The Top Films Of The Year
Movie Review: At the Gates – A Thriller for Survival When Affluence Takes Action
Written, directed, and produced by Augustus Meleo Bernstein, At the Gates is a drama-turned-thriller when a wealthy family has a change, creating some changes in their economic status. Marianne Barris (Miranda Otto) has had domestic help for a long time, with Ana (Vanessa Benavente) as her current employee. On the day Ana takes her teenage… Continue reading Movie Review: At the Gates – A Thriller for Survival When Affluence Takes Action
Austin Film Festival 2024: The Piano Lesson – a memorable opening night film
The Piano Lesson, the opening night film of the Austin Film Festival, is a profoundly moving directorial debut for Malcolm Washington, son of Denzel Washington, who co-produces alongside him. Starring John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, and the inimitable Samuel L. Jackson, this adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play brings the haunting drama of a family… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: The Piano Lesson – a memorable opening night film
Movie Review: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
Suppose your jam is a silly and goofy mix of physical comedy, gooey CGI aliens, and moderately bloody violence. In that case, you are probably already on board the Sony Spider Universe’s Venom train. While I have never completely loved this movie franchise, all three films have amused and entertained me to varying degrees. I… Continue reading Movie Review: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
AFF Movie Review: Norita – A Timely Documentary about a Courageous Woman Seeking Her Son
I have not been familiar with the “Desaparecidos” in Argentina all my life living in Texas. Still, it has been about twenty years since I worked with another publication. Someone first approached me with what had happened in Argentina a few decades prior. Although that publication declined to run a story then, I always remembered… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: Norita – A Timely Documentary about a Courageous Woman Seeking Her Son
Fantastic Fest 2024: Anora – what a RIDE!
Sean Baker’s Anora left a lasting impact at the 2024 Fantastic Fest, quickly becoming a favorite among festival attendees, including myself. This 138-minute whirlwind of comedy, drama, and tension highlights Baker’s talent for bringing vibrant characters from society’s fringes into the spotlight. Anora demonstrates his ability to combine entertainment with emotional depth and social critique,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: Anora – what a RIDE!
Movie Review: Killer Rental Screens at the debut of the Austin Horror Film Festival
Killer Rental, the feature film written and directed by Ben Hausdorff and Jonathan Kadin, had an exclusive screening at the first annual Austin Horror Film Festival this weekend. Killer Rental was among the films offered at the 25th edition of the Chicago Horror Film Festival in late September and was nominated for Best Feature. The… Continue reading Movie Review: Killer Rental Screens at the debut of the Austin Horror Film Festival
WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True
For cinephiles with soft spots in their hearts for romantic dramas like Love Story, We Live In Time is definitely for you. The film depicts an initially charming relationship between a man and woman whose meeting begins rather disturbingly. I will let my readers discover that on their own, but once the two connect, the… Continue reading WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True