BYOD: BRING YOUR OWN DOC – EPISODE 80 – 2013 SXSW DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL PART 2: “WE ALWAYS LIE TO STRANGERS,” “THESE BIRDS WALK,” “TPB-AFK”

We continue bringing the brightest shining docs from SXSW 2013 with profiles on three films and interviews with their makers. “We Always Lie To Strangers,” “These Birds Walk,” and “TPB-AFK” are all featured…

Posted on March 28, 2013 in Bring Your Own Doc, Features by

ZERO CHARISMA

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! This is an all-around well-made film that is impossible not to fall in love with, even if you don’t recognize any of the names involved with the production…

Posted on March 19, 2013 in Reviews by

HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION! It’s a near-perfect portrait of an actor who never became a household name and yet has earned the admiration of generations of filmmakers…

Posted on March 19, 2013 in Reviews by

SHORT TERM 12

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION SELECTION! There’s a real understated power to “Short Term 12″ that I appreciated because, for such a touchy subject, it’s easy to clumsily manipulate an audience. Instead the film opts for layers of terrific writing, filming and character development combined with simple brush strokes that add depth to characters and situations rather than going for low hanging, tear-jerking fruit…

Posted on March 19, 2013 in Reviews by

GO FOR SISTERS

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! The early scenes between Hamilton and Ross are fascinating in their depth of character but the protagonists become cogs in the machine as the trio keeps finding clues and getting deeper into the seedy underbelly of the Mexican drug scene…

Posted on March 18, 2013 in Reviews by

MUSEUM HOURS

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL SXGLOBAL SELECTION! Cohen has given us a brilliantly meditative work that isn’t just for lovers of fine art or art museums, but a look into how the world outside is reflected by artists…

Posted on March 18, 2013 in Reviews by

FILM THREAT PODCAST – EPISODE 80: DON SURVIVED SXSW 2013

Conversation focuses mostly on Don’s tales of the 2013 SXSW Film Festival, his bold prediction that “Short Term 12″ is the right distributor away from Oscar glory and the dangers of 6th Street in Austin exposed… or someone was exposed… or something…

Posted on March 18, 2013 in Podcasts by

KELLY + VICTOR

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL VISIONS SELECTION! Based on Niall Griffiths’ novel, Kieran Evans’ “Kelly + Victor” is an intense study of the fine line between tenderness and aggression in romantic relationships…

Posted on March 17, 2013 in Reviews by

CHEAP THRILLS

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL MIDNIGHTERS SELECTION! Pat Healy nails his performance as Craig, providing us with someone who dives headfirst into a cesspool of moral ambiguity. We understand the pressure he is under to provide for his family, we can feel his mental and physical pain…

Posted on March 16, 2013 in Reviews by

LOVES HER GUN

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! Geoff Marslett’s “Loves Her Gun” studies the fine line between rational and irrational fear, as well as what it means to feel safe. Modern United States culture seems designed to perpetuate fear, whether it be by the government, news networks or entertainment media. Fear and violence cripples us, it makes us crazy, it makes us turn on each other…

Posted on March 16, 2013 in Reviews by

THE BOUNCEBACK

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! Poyser’s oh-so-frank approach to sexuality goes much further than any Hollywood movie I have ever seen; but it is mimed, so it seems innocent and playful. Let’s just say that I will never look at a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex the same way, ever again…

Posted on March 16, 2013 in Reviews by

THE EAST

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION! There are several storylines early on that have huge potential only to be sort of cast aside for the admittedly more exciting high drama and personal conflict in the film. As a result the film feels oddly long even though there was rarely a moment I wasn’t engaged…

Posted on March 16, 2013 in Reviews by

HOURS

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! When the doctor tells Nolan that his wife is dead, it’s delivered with insincere dialogue and an awkward camera angle. And that lack of believability and professional filmmaking continues throughout the piece, leaving it without the realistic grounding it needed to be emotionally resonant…

Posted on March 15, 2013 in Reviews by

SPRING BREAKERS

Korine doesn’t live by Hollywood rules. He smashes the shit out of them and makes the films he wants to make. He’s not weird for the sake of being weird. He’s just fucking weird. Take it or leave it…

Posted on March 15, 2013 in Reviews by

GOOD NIGHT

2013 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! Throw Alex Karpovsky, Todd Berger, Jason Newman and Chris Doubek into a room together and some sort of cinematic magic is going to happen; but there is also no doubt that it is the emotionally dynamic duo of Adriene Mishler and Jonny Mars who turn “Good Night” into something that is truly special…

Posted on March 15, 2013 in Reviews by

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