First Reformed screened as a “Festival Favorite at SXSW. Paul Schrader’s film presents conundrum after conundrum, slippery slope after slippery slope. This drama as a twisting, stark thriller strikes at the heart of our questions about purpose, consequence and soul strength. When one has nothing to live for, does redemption …
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SXSW World Premiere: ‘The Director and the Jedi,’ Making ‘The Last Jedi’
The World Premiere documentary The Director and the Jedi by Anthony Wonke screened with great buzz as a “Spotlight” film at SXSW Film Festival. Mark Hamill appeared on the Red Carpet and stayed for the screening and the Q and A afterward with Rian Johnson. Naturally, fans crushed my feet …
Read More »SXSW Review: ‘Blindspotting’ Starring Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal
"Blindspotting" is an homage to Oakland, its vital neighborhoods, and street lifestyles. On the other hand, the storyline echoes warnings about race, class and social inequality that characterize yet move beyond Oakland, California.
Read More »SXSW 2018 Exclusive Interview: Filmmaker Jason Outenreath on His Immigration Documentary ‘They Live Here, Now’
The human rights filmmaker discusses his new feature-length documentary/narrative hybrid.
Read More »SXSW Film World Premiere: ‘Weed the People’ Abby Epstein, Ricki Lake
Opioids jeopardize the immune system and addict the patient. Cannabis alleviates pain and inflammation and promotes healing. Why can't citizens choose life and healing with a nontoxic herbal over chemical toxins which addict the user and destroy the liver and kidneys? This becomes one of the film's main themes. The desperate parents profiled in it chose life for their children. Cannabis oil was there for them. What if it wasn't?
Read More »SXSW Movie Review: ‘Brothers’ Nest’ – Memories Can Kill
'Brothers’ Nest', a world premiere at the SXSW Conference in Austin, provides a horrifying twist on getting together with the family. It is also a tour-de-force for director Clayton Jacobson, screenwriter Jaime Browne, and composer Richard Pleasance. This Australian team takes us to the outback and plays with our sense of right and wrong.
Read More »SXSW Movie Review: ‘Outside In’ Starring Edie Falco, Jay Duplass
Outside In screened its U.S. Premiere at SXSW Film Festival in the "Narrative Spotlight." Directed by Lynn Shelton, written by Lynn Shelton and Jay Duplass, the quiet drama/romance uplifts.
Read More »SXSW Movie Review: ‘Brothers’ Nest’ – A Darkly Comic Crime Thriller
Two bickering brothers plot the perfect murder in this jet-black comedy thriller.
Read More »SXSW Movie Review: ‘Boundaries’ with Vera Farmiga, Christopher Plummer
Director/screenwriter Shana Feste presented her engaging and robust feature world premiere 'Boundaries' at SXSW Film Festival.
Read More »SXSW 24 Beats Per Second: Making Friends with Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is the band credited with popularizing Southern Rock during the 1970s. Their hits such as "Sweet Home Alabama," "That Smell," and "Gimme Three Steps" are known to many people who probably couldn’t identify the band. 'If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd' was a revealing and touching portrait of artists gone too soon.
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