Director-screenwriter Bastian Gunther’s feature film that formed part of the 2020 SXSW Film Festival (Narrative Spotlight) lineup, One of These Days, is the filmmaker’s story inspired by actual events in Texas. There used to be contests hosted by auto dealerships or others where contestants were to keep their hands on a truck for the most… Continue reading ONE OF THESE DAYS
Category: Reviews
BREAKOUT
Director Brandon Slagle (Battle for Saipan) co-wrote the Breakout screenplay with writers Robert Thompson and Devanny Pinn, an action/crime feature. When most people read the synopsis, they might think this is just another criminal who wants out of prison, and we have a predictable story. In this case, I can’t deny some scenes usually appear… Continue reading BREAKOUT
SHOWING UP
Art is a rather complex concept. Art can have no rhyme or reason but still reflect some genuine feelings, ideas, or observations by the artists. Art can also be simplistic, primary, and even silly. Writer/director Kelly Reichardt explores these ideas on a much simpler and more humble level with her new film Showing Up. With… Continue reading SHOWING UP
RENFIELD
As the title of this movie indicates, Renfield stands front and center in this new comedic action/horror feature. Most iterations of the Renfield character present him as a raving, mentally unstable, devoted servant of Dracula. While he isn’t precisely a babbling lunatic, he has his problems. There usually is a limited amount of depth to… Continue reading RENFIELD
ON A WING AND A PRAYER
On a Wing and a Prayer is the 2023 movie released on Amazon, based on the true story of a family that survives an airplane flight. This film is separate from the many other movies released with similar titles in 1944, 1992, 1998, and 2015 as is noted on IMDb (aside from a TV series… Continue reading ON A WING AND A PRAYER
HUNT CLUB
Hunt Club is an action thriller starring Mena Suvari, Casper Van Dien, and Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke. It is directed by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas (Just Swipe), based on a screenplay by David Lipper (The Unwilling) and John Saunders (Beach Massacre at Kill Devil Hills). I read the title and the synopsis, and it sounded very… Continue reading HUNT CLUB
SXSW – Hypnotic and Air Special Screenings and Affleck Shines
It’s always a treat when SXSW announces its secret or surprise screenings. This year both included Ben Affleck. The first, Hypnotic, is an edge-of-your-seat thriller from director Robert Rodriquez and the other, Air, is a fact-based drama about Nike and the Michael Jordan line of “Air Jordan” sneakers. While Affleck wasn’t in attendance for Hypnotic,… Continue reading SXSW – Hypnotic and Air Special Screenings and Affleck Shines
PAINT
From 1983 through 1994, painter Bob Ross hosted the PBS show, The Joy of Painting, on PBS. This movie is probably different from his story. Writer/director Brit McAdams has conceived of a comedy film based very loosely on the impact of Bob Ross and his program. The movie is intended as a parody of Ross… Continue reading PAINT
RETURN TO SEOUL
Writer and director Davy Chou’s film, Return to Seoul, is about Freddie (Park Ji-min), a Korean adoptee raised in France who takes an unannounced trip to Seoul. When the protagonist gets introduced, she is dining (and drinking) with some new friends, Tena (Guka Han) and Dongwon (Son Seung-Beom). She shrugs off the idea they mention… Continue reading RETURN TO SEOUL
COUNTRY GOLD
An official selection of Austin’s celebrated Fantastic Fest, the Fantasia International Film Festival, and the Glasgow Film Festival, Country Gold, Director Mickey Reece’s country music comedy, co-written with John Selvidge, is exclusively on Cinedigm’s indie discovery platform Fandor to stream for U.S. audiences. A theatrical roadshow was held recently with Fantastic Fest Presents screenings at… Continue reading COUNTRY GOLD