The gang is back in taking second servings for DC's more family-friendly comic book film, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. That is if you can define this as "family-friendly." Considering the content is slightly darker than the first film, I doubt you can. As children-turned-muscular adult bodies, Billy Batts (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi) and company find … Continue reading Review: ‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ – A Sequel That Doesn’t Strike Twice
SXSW 2023: A24’s ‘Beef’ Springs to Life with Wong and Yeun’s Darkly Comic Performances
As television continues to bring in movie stars to headline their projects, stars get the chance to play out of type. This allows performers to flex their acting muscles and often tell stories that audiences may not associate with them. Netflix hopes that Beef, the new series from Lee Sung Jin, draws you in with … Continue reading SXSW 2023: A24’s ‘Beef’ Springs to Life with Wong and Yeun’s Darkly Comic Performances
SXSW 2023: ‘If You Were the Last’ – A Lovely Lo-Fi Sci-Fi Romance
In a post-Covid world, the concept of isolation is all too real. However, even in the most dire circumstances, we reach out for connection from those around us. If You Were the Last takes this idea a bit further. Director Kristian Mercado delivers one of the year's cutest and most unique visual spectacles. His lo-fi … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘If You Were the Last’ – A Lovely Lo-Fi Sci-Fi Romance
SXSW 2023: ‘Swarm’ Thrills with Bloody Extravagance and Explicit Sexuality
The anti-hero has long found a place on television. From Walter White to Tony Soprano, series focusing on men misbehaving have long found success. Unfortunately, for women, this approach has been poignantly less effective. Yet, in the last five years, some of these swings have brought a more experimental and funny approach to television. Created … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Swarm’ Thrills with Bloody Extravagance and Explicit Sexuality
SXSW 2023: ‘BlackBerry’ Examines the Rise and Fall of a Tech Giant
Many of us had a BlackBerry phone at some point. This author had one for all of high school until the iPhone took over the market. The famed device allowed more forms of communication than any before and helped revolutionize the cell phone world. Yet anyone under thirty may only remember the fall from grace. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘BlackBerry’ Examines the Rise and Fall of a Tech Giant
SXSW 2023: ‘Cora Bora’ Lands Big Laughs Amongst Tragedy
How one recovers from tragedy varies by the person. Many try to move on with life, while others attempt to escape everything that reminds them of the trauma. Director Hannah Pearl Utt examines a young woman who loses herself in the aftermath of one such event. Starring a very funny Megan Stalter, Cora Bora asks … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Cora Bora’ Lands Big Laughs Amongst Tragedy
SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
The comedy about directionless people feeling the pressure of arrested development has been a staple of indie cinema for years. Popularized by films at Sundance throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a reliable method of storytelling. Yet there are stories that can break through the genre for one reason or another. Peak Season … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
Sci-fi rarely gets credit for its ability to cross-pollinate genres. Yet many films in the genre borrow elements from other stories to tell a complete story. It's rare to see a full-fledged rom-com/sci-fi mashup, but Molli and Max in the Future pulls off the challenge. Directed by Michael Lukk Litwak, the futuristic romance takes advantage … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
SXSW 2023: ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ Shows Heart – Literally
Oftentimes, the best magical realism begins with a simple idea or metaphor. How we communicate those metaphors is very much in question, though. Director Kim Albright and screenwriter Julia Lederer take the idea of "giving one's heart away" quite literally. The resulting sci-fi drama is both a wonderful reflection on the power of love and … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ Shows Heart – Literally
SXSW 2023: ‘A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone’ Shows Promise
What does it take to make a big change in your life? How do you change your circumstances to find a place you belong? Creator Kevin Yee puts these questions front and center of his pilot for A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone. Set to debut in competition at the 2023 SXSW Film and … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone’ Shows Promise