Appendage SXSW 2023

SXSW 2023: ‘Appendage’ Literalizes the Monster Inside Us All

Those who struggle with negative self-talk know that it's difficult to overcome. Simply saying nice things about oneself can help. Yet, even that process feels impossible if you are inclined to beat yourself up. Writer/Director Anna Zlokovic brings this struggle into the real world. In Appendage, a young woman is forced to confront the monster … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Appendage’ Literalizes the Monster Inside Us All

Riders on the Storm SXSW 2023 Red Bull Studios

SXSW 2023: ‘Riders on the Storm’ Delivers a Harrowing Look at the Fall of Kabul

For decades, athletics have been used to signal a belief in national pride. The Olympics, World Cup, and World Baseball Classic allow athletes to become international celebrities. For Kalakov Mulakhil and Khaiber Azbarzada, the stakes are far higher. The nephews of a famed athlete who was executed in Afgahnistan's Civil War, they hope to bring … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Riders on the Storm’ Delivers a Harrowing Look at the Fall of Kabul

One Fine Morning Mia Hansen-Løve

Review: ‘One Fine Morning’ – A Choice Between Love and Responsibility

Few directors quite hit the heart of an internal struggle like Mia Hansen-Løve. Her film Bergman Island was sneakily one of the best films of 2020. Her quiet ability to put her protagonists through mental and emotional anguish makes her stories feel remarkably human. This case proves true again for One Fine Morning, her latest … Continue reading Review: ‘One Fine Morning’ – A Choice Between Love and Responsibility

The Artifice Girl SXSW 2023

SXSW 2023: ‘The Artifice Girl’ Tells a Tale of Evolving Artificial Intelligence

What does it mean to play God in the era of artificial intelligence? Does the creation of a new technology mean we know own its future direction? The Artifice Girl, from director and writer Franklin Ritch, examines these questions over three acts. While the film could easily adapt to the stage, the moral questions become … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘The Artifice Girl’ Tells a Tale of Evolving Artificial Intelligence

Gary Young Pavement Louder Than You Think SXSW 2023

SXSW 2023: ‘Louder Than You Think’ – The Unlikely Story of A Drummer and Pavement

The lo-fi movement in alternative rock did not start with Pavement, but the band quickly earned a spot at the top of the industry. Their breakthrough album, Slanted and Enchanted, became one of the most influential records of the decade. While Pavement would go on to bigger things in the future, the three-piece band featured … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Louder Than You Think’ – The Unlikely Story of A Drummer and Pavement

SXSW 2023 Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life

SXSW 2023: ‘Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life’ – A Portrait of a Rebel as an Artist

Changing the art world is far from an easy task. Many artists work their whole life for the opportunity to make an impact and never get their work to the right people. Geoff McFetridge found lifelong collaborators at an unusual time in his life. Yet the journey of an artist does not end there. The … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life’ – A Portrait of a Rebel as an Artist

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

Tetris 2023 SXSW Taron Egerton

SXSW 2023: ‘Tetris’ Lines up Behind Taron Egerton’s Energetic Performance

The battle to deliver good movies based on popular video games took a while to win. Yet films like Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog proved it's possible to succeed in the genre after decades of struggle. However, Apple TV+ decided to take a different approach to their game-based film. Tetris, from director Jon … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Tetris’ Lines up Behind Taron Egerton’s Energetic Performance

SXSW 2023: ‘Art For Everybody’ Examines the Downfall of Thomas Kinkade

Nearly every American has seen the work of Thomas Kinkade. The famed "painter of light" became a worldwide celebrity. His work may not hang in many museums, but it became a populist item to collect for millions of Americans. At its peak, his company estimated one in twenty Americans owned a piece of his art. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Art For Everybody’ Examines the Downfall of Thomas Kinkade

SXSW 2023: ‘Citizen Sleuth’ Questions the Ethics and Journalist Value of True Crime Podcasting

The struggle to make a podcast has plagued most content producers. Yet in each show, there's always a chance that you step over an ethical line. For True Crime podcasts, this issue is amplified. Not only do you have a story to tell, but the names used will change the lives of those you mention. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Citizen Sleuth’ Questions the Ethics and Journalist Value of True Crime Podcasting