Category: Reviews

AFF Movie Review: Bite to Bite – The Bluefin Tuna Journey

The feature documentary, Bite to Bite by local Austin filmmaker Kelly Lipscomb, celebrated its World Premiere at the Austin Film Festival. Lipscomb not only directed the film but also served as Director of Photography and one of the producers, alongside Matt Tisdale and Robbie Schallert. From the Canadian waters to Japan, the film follows a… Continue reading AFF Movie Review: Bite to Bite – The Bluefin Tuna Journey

AFF 2025 Review: Sacrificios- A Haunting Tale of Grief and a Parent’s Action

The 32nd Annual Austin Film Festival hosted the World Premiere of the feature film Sacrificios (Sacrifices), seen by audiences for the first time anywhere, as stated in an interview with Director Mauricio Chernovetzky and co-writer Alexander Ioshpe. They stated during the interview that they had not yet seen the film together in a theater and… Continue reading AFF 2025 Review: Sacrificios- A Haunting Tale of Grief and a Parent’s Action

AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances

Premiering at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, Crystal Cross surprised me in the best way. On paper, it sounds like just another indie road movie—two strangers with baggage hitting the road—but Richie James Follin’s debut as writer, director, and star elevates that premise into something much more heartfelt. It’s a story of love, hope, and… Continue reading AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances

FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded

I entered Shelby Oaks at Fantastic Fest 2025 with fairly modest expectations — the premise sounded quite familiar, and I half-expected another typical horror mystery. Instead, I left surprised by how much the film stayed with me. It’s not perfect, but it’s smarter, eerier, and more emotionally grounded than I expected, with moments that truly… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded

SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE – A Meditative Examination Of The Making Of The Nebraska Album That Feels Incomplete

I am a solid fan of Bruce Springsteen. I have grown to appreciate his songwriting as I have matured and have come to appreciate his artistry, along with the tremendous talents of his backing musicians. So, I was naturally stoked to see a cinematic take on Bruce. I was sold with the casting, because, even… Continue reading SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE – A Meditative Examination Of The Making Of The Nebraska Album That Feels Incomplete

BLUE MOON Showcases the Acting Range Of Ethan Hawke

Written by Robert Kaplow and directed by Richard Linklater, Blue Moon is a film that could be easily adapted into a great stage play. The movie mostly takes place in one location and is heavily driven by dialogue. This style is an absolute dream for actors wanting to display their range and talents, particularly that… Continue reading BLUE MOON Showcases the Acting Range Of Ethan Hawke

REGRETTING YOU: A Very Messy Film Despite Its Cast

I have never read Colleen Hoover’s books, but my first encounter with her work was through the screen adaptation of her popular novel, It Ends With Us. While I found the cinematic interpretation deeply flawed, I hoped Regretting You would offer a bolder, more compelling vision. Despite strong casting based on previous performances, the film… Continue reading REGRETTING YOU: A Very Messy Film Despite Its Cast

Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne

Though not the typical Fantastic Fest movie, I was nevertheless thrilled that the programmers included this incredible film by writer/director Mary Bronstein. It is definitely not a very entertaining or amusing film (though it has its moments of fun and humor), but it is undoubtedly a phenomenal experience. Leading the film’s cast is the lovable… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne

FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns

Black Phone 2 proves that some nightmares never really end. Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written with C. Robert Cargill, the film picks up four years after Finn killed his abductor and escaped, leaving him the only survivor of The Grabber. Finn, now a teenager, carries a hard-earned edge, while his sister Gwen is still haunted… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns