Film Threat » 2012 sundance film festival

I AM NOT A HIPSTER

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:54:21 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! “I Am Not a Hipster” is the kind of film you want to see again and for as deep and personal as it feels, it’s also highly entertaining and quite funny as well...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

WEST OF MEMPHIS

Mark Bell — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 13:18:53 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! I can't pretend to be some impartial reviewer capable of objective thought about all of this. I've followed the West Memphis Three story, and felt strongly of their innocence, for a while...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

BOBBY YEAH

Jeremy Knox — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 04:36:56 +0000

2012 FANTASTIC FEST SELECTION! Seriously, this is a must see. In fact, I’ll put it in simplest possible terms and come right out and say that no one can consider themselves true film buffs if they’ve never seen one of Robert Morgan’s films...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ROOM 237

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:01:59 +0000

2012 FANTASTIC FEST SELECTION! But at the heart of every conspiracy theorist is a desperate hope that they are right and having seen “Room 237,” I can’t completely discount every person’s take on the film or at least not every part of their insight...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

HELLO I MUST BE GOING

Whitney Borup — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 11:20:33 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! While "Hello I Must Be Going" might not offer any life changing moral lessons, it is a glimpse into family life and relationships that any film lover can appreciate...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ROBOT & FRANK

Whitney Borup — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 04:10:29 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! "Robot and Frank" is cute. Frank is cute, the robot is cute, and everything they do together is cute...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

SLEEPWALK WITH ME

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 04:12:03 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! "Sleepwalk With Me" very much reminded me of a take on “High Fidelity” with comedians instead of music snobs...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

MOSQUITA Y MARI

Mark Bell — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 04:10:19 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! Is there drama? Sure, of course, but this isn't the type of indie film where everyone dies at the end or where we're left with a cautionary tale of tragic consequences...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Michael Nordine — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:01:01 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASE! Unspoken sadness courses throughout the film, but humor punctuates it: not only from the many oddities on display but also Hushpuppy's sassy ruminations...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

Whitney Borup — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:55:35 +0000

It’s unusual to see sisters portrayed as loving and supportive, and it’s even more unusual to see that relationship at the center of a film...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

THE INVISIBLE WAR

Mark Bell — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:03:54 +0000

2012 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! Basically, the message from the military to potential rape victims is: if you get raped, it's your own fault...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

THE COMEDY

Don R. Lewis — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:01:11 +0000

OAK CLIFF FILM FESTIVAL 2012 SELECTION! “The Comedy,” or its apparent alternate title “Tim and Eric’s Mumblecore Harmony Korine Movie," is by far one of the most wildly inappropriate and pitch black comedies I’ve ever seen in my life..

Read More at FilmThreat.com

MEANING OF ROBOTS

Mark Bell — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:00:48 +0000

OAK CLIFF FILM FESTIVAL 2012 SELECTION! Matt Lenski's short portrait of self-proclaimed hoarder, filmmaker and custom robot-maker Mike Sullivan is as disturbing as it is memorable...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

SOMETHING FROM NOTHING: THE ART OF RAP

Scott Knopf — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 06:21:50 +0000

"Something from Nothing" is a must-see for real hip-hop heads...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ELENA

Michael Nordine — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:50:27 +0000

2012 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! Both Elena and "Elena" are oddly wired, and any attempt to understand either must be done on their own terms...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

COMPLIANCE

Don R. Lewis — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:30:59 +0000

2012 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! It will upset you and intrigue you and make you want to talk about it and learn more. To me, that’s a great piece of filmmaking and a powerful piece of art...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

TEDDY BEAR

Don R. Lewis — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:23:03 +0000

2012 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! I honestly had no clue what might happen next in “Teddy Bear” but constantly found myself hoping for the best...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

5 BROKEN CAMERAS

Don R. Lewis — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:51:01 +0000

2012 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! This is an important documentary in that it’s an on-the-ground look at what is happening to some small villages but the storyline is as straight and unchanging as the situation in the Middle East...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Scott Knopf — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:04:18 +0000

2012 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! For fans of Paul Simon’s music, and fans of “Graceland” specifically, there is a lot to enjoy here...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

THE PACT

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:00:10 +0000

2012 DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! “The Pact” is a bad, bad movie filled with cheap thrills and more plot holes than I’ve seen in a film since... I can’t remember when...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

JOHN DIES AT THE END

Michael Nordine — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:16:59 +0000

2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! What it expects of the audience is disproportionate to what it offers, and so we're left doing most of the work without getting much in return...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

LIFE AND FREAKY TIMES OF UNCLE LUKE

Mark Bell — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:43:45 +0000

2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! "La jetée" may be a classic, thought-provoking cinematic experience, but I had way more fun watching "Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke"...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

HELLION

Mark Bell — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:20:39 +0000

2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! "Hellion" is a well-lensed short that manages to keep you guessing for most of its runtime, ending in a most memorable fashion, making you wish the film would keep going...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

Mark Bell — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:15:27 +0000

2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! "Indie Game: The Movie" is more than just a film about video games, it's an examination of the artistic spirit and the latest evolution of independent artist...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL INTERVIEW WITH KEIICHI KOBAYASHI AND AI IKEDA of “ABOUT THE PINK SKY”

Nic Baisley — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:01:43 +0000

Director of "About the Pink Sky," Keiichi Kobayashi, and first-time actress Ai Ikeda talk (through their translator) with Nic Baisler during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival about making indie film in Japan, working together, and their experiences at Sundance...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL INTERVIEW WITH LUC DÉRY, KIM MCCRAW AND PHILIPPE FALARDEAU OF “MONSIEUR LAZHAR”

Nic Baisley — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:02:52 +0000

Oscar-nominated director Philippe Falardeau and his producers Kim McCraw and Luc Déry talk with Nic Baisley during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival about their latest project which they adapted from a one-man play, "Monsieur Lazhar"...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL INTERVIEW WITH MADS MATTHIESEN AND KIM KOLD OF “TEDDY BEAR”

Nic Baisley — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:39:58 +0000

Nic Baisley talks to "Teddy Bear" director Mads Matthiesen and lead actor Kim Kold talk about making indie films in their country, their experiences so far at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, and similarities between Kim and his character in the movie...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER ANDREW AHN

Nic Baisley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:35:21 +0000

LGBT filmmaker Andrew Ahn talks with Nic Baisley during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival about making "Dol (First Birthday)" as a way to come out to his parents, Korean culture, and trying to anticipate the audiences for his movies...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

LAS PALMAS

Whitney Borup — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:36:04 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! If you still lack the motivation to find this short and consume it multiple times, consider this little tidbit: the baby drives a motorcycle and smokes cigarettes. Classic...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL…

Whitney Borup — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:36:03 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! Because the film fails, I believe, to move away from stereotypes with Jesse, the gay friend whose characterization Justin Long lisps and sashays his way through...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

L

Michael Nordine — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:12:55 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! "L" is most certainly strange, but the movie itself never acknowledges as much. It instead offers itself at face value as though in a self-induced trance, unaware or indifferent to whether we might join in...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

LAY THE FAVORITE

Michael Nordine — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:06:43 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! Its proficiency as lighter fare aside, the film's rare ventures into more serious territory feel forced. Put simply, the characters (Hall's in particular) aren't suited for it...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ETHEL

Whitney Borup — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:01:34 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! If you are looking for an inspiring, optimistic, personal documentary, please see this film and be awed...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

RED HOOK SUMMER

Scott Knopf — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:40:01 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! Once your brain adjusts to the over-the-top, stage-styled performances, there’s a strong chance Spike Lee’s latest effort, "Red Hook Summer," will come off as a poignant project with a lot to say...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

SHADOW DANCER

Scott Knopf — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:37:19 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! Andrea Riseborough deserves to be one of 2012’s breakout stars. Her performance as Colette McVeigh is outstanding...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

RED LIGHTS

Whitney Borup — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:35:31 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! This could have been a fun, "X-Files"-esque exploration of paranormal phenomena. Instead, it is an extremely earnest failure that is still fun to watch, but only because of the unintended laughs...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*

Scott Knopf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:26:49 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! Gertten spends his second banana film defending his first banana film without offering enough factual information to really defend either...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

FOR ELLEN

Scott Knopf — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:32:56 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! In fact, there were many opportunities for this film to take expected, clichéd turns but Kim’s taste level is strong enough to avoid them each and every time...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

FILLY BROWN

Scott Knopf — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:25:51 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! This will be the performance that puts Gina Rodriguez onto people’s radars. It’s hard to believe that she wasn’t an emcee before starting this project...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

MY BROTHER THE DEVIL

Scott Knopf — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:52:09 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURE SELECTION! Sally El Hosaini has produced a tremendous debut feature. All of her actors, from the leads to supporting players deliver noteworthy performances...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

BONES BRIGADE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Scott Knopf — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:21:55 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES FEATURES SELECTION! This is the coolest documentary I’ve ever seen. That’s the sentence that kept running through my head as I watched "Bones Brigade"...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

BLACK ROCK

Scott Knopf — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:21:53 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL MIDNIGHT SELECTION! "Black Rock" is an intense thriller that does a lot of things right...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ME @THE ZOO

Don R. Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:25:28 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! I liked “Me @the Zoo” (incidentally, the film title derives from the title of the first ever YouTube video) best when the filmmakers cast their eye on Internet celebrity culture and how completely insane it can become...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

VALLEY OF SAINTS

Mark Bell — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:19:44 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! It is a tale of enduring friendship, cautionary statement on the importance of the ecosystem and environment, a love story and a patriotic ode...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

DETROPIA

Don R. Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:05:46 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! “Detropia” is a fascinating look at where our country is headed, not where it might be headed...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

PAYBACK

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:03:00 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! These are all intriguing stories (some more than others) but the lack of a through-line left me feeling a little free-falling at times...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

YOUNG & WILD

Mark Bell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! "Young & Wild" impresses from the get-go by establishing itself as an indie film that is going to be as raw and real as that independence would imply...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Whitney Borup — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:18:55 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHTS SELECTION! This hopeless, dirty, consumptive world is what makes the book so interesting, and what this adaptation capitalizes on...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

ABOUT THE PINK SKY

Michael Nordine — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:01:59 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! It simply wanders aimlessly for far longer than it needs to, neither arriving anywhere interesting nor taking any worthwhile detours along the way...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

THE D WORD: UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:21:14 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES SELECTION! If I were dyslexic, particularly at a younger age when one is known to feel all alone in the universe, I'd appreciate this documentary so much more for both trying to educate the ignorant and keeping such a positive perspective...

Read More at FilmThreat.com

THE LAW IN THESE PARTS

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:20:58 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has long been a complicated and divisive issue. I'm not going to pretend that I understand it entirely, and I'm definitely not going to pretend that I can speak authoritatively about it...

Read More at FilmThreat.com