Adventure, excitement, a Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast craves precisely these things! However, D&D fans would have to wait a very long time before they would see their beloved game well represented on the big screen Well, that time has finally come. I was able to behold the magic, action, and beautiful worlds revealed during this… Continue reading SXSW 2023: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
Category: Reviews
Lo-tech Sci-Fi Rules at SXSW 2023 – If You Were the Last
Space-themed love stories aren’t unique. Like most rom-coms (sci-fi or otherwise), regardless of the setting, most play out like every other. Director Kristian Mercado delivers one of the best films of SXSW 2023. Like another SXSW offering, Molli and Max in the Future, If You Were the Last, starring Anthony Mackie and Zoe Chao, proves… Continue reading Lo-tech Sci-Fi Rules at SXSW 2023 – If You Were the Last
SXSW -Painting the History of Tetris as a Thriller. Who knew?
No one would ever imagine that the simple and highly addicting video game TETRIS’ global release and subsequent popularity stemmed from a spy-like story involving international company wars and the Russian government. Such is the case, and director Jon S. Baird and screenwriter Noah Pink share the remarkable story of one man’s effort to bring… Continue reading SXSW -Painting the History of Tetris as a Thriller. Who knew?
SXSW 2023: AIR
The programmers delivered yet another treat to the festival attendees for the second “Special” screening and closing night headliner of SXSW. The film was the latest offering from filmmaker Ben Affleck, and his movie tells the true story behind arguably the most iconic labels in athletic shoe history. While everyone knows how this story plays… Continue reading SXSW 2023: AIR
Scrap – A Character-driven Tale that Takes on Timely Themes
Purely character-driven tales can challenge even the most astute directors. Without relying on action sequences, CGI, or special effects, a director must trust their cast to engage and connect with the audience. Writer-director and star Vivian Kerr’s feature film, Scrap, touches on a variety of relationship issues as it explores a bond between a sister… Continue reading Scrap – A Character-driven Tale that Takes on Timely Themes
SXSW 2023: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
When the programmers at Austin’s largest media and arts festival announced their schedule for this year’s Film & TV section, two “Special” unnamed screenings were programmed on Monday, March 13, and on the closing night of Saturday, March 18. These secrets lasted only briefly, as their titles were revealed days before their screening dates. The… Continue reading SXSW 2023: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
SWSX: Americana Offers a Twist on Traditional Western Crime Dramas
When I learned I could have an attendant accompany me to screenings at SXSW because I am ADA qualified, I enlisted my granddaughter. With her help, I would not have to carry bags or endure the pain associated with doing certain things myself. I had pre-set my schedule, so off to the movies, we went.… Continue reading SWSX: Americana Offers a Twist on Traditional Western Crime Dramas
SXSW -Flamin’ Hot More Sugary than Spicy, but FUN Nonetheless
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos! I grew up in South Texas, and I love super-spicy food. I, along with countless others, loved it when Frito-Lay launched its “Flamin’ Hot” line of products. Eva Longoria, who grew up in Corpus Christ, not as far south as I decided to make her directorial debut with the story (a version)… Continue reading SXSW -Flamin’ Hot More Sugary than Spicy, but FUN Nonetheless
SXSW 2023: RAGING GRACE
Undocumented immigration is not only a heated subject in America but also controversial in the UK. Writer/director Paris Zarcilla offers an insightful but haunting glimpse into the experience of an unauthenticated Filipina domestic employee. Joy (Max Eiggenman) struggles as a single mother to raise her daughter Grace (Jaeden Paige Boadill) and provide for both of… Continue reading SXSW 2023: RAGING GRACE
SXSW: Low-Tech Surprises Coupled with Charm Make Molli and Max in the Future FUN
We have come to expect high-dollar special effects, vivid computer-generated imagery, and wild action in movies these days, especially science fiction. Molli and Max in the Future, which screened at SXSW 2023, from writer/director Michael Lukk Litwak, stays focused on the leads’ quirky chemistry and not on special effects, offering up an out-of-this-world rom-com filled… Continue reading SXSW: Low-Tech Surprises Coupled with Charm Make Molli and Max in the Future FUN