When Cameron (Mahershala Ali) first meets his duplicate—a genetically identical, lab-crafted doppelganger—a wave of visceral bafflement possesses him. And who wouldn’t lose composure in the presence of a three-dimensional reflection of oneself, which doesn’t only mimic you physically but will also inherit all of your memories and innermost thoughts so it can ultimately take your place after you perish?

READ MORE: Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films

Such existentialist, near-future sci-fi concept doesn’t register as what we could expect from Irish writer-director Benjamin Cleary, recipient of an Oscar for his humanistic short film “Stutterer.” On close inspection, however, this intriguing and sometimes revealing debut, “Swan Song” (the second film out this year under that title) evokes the same muted yearning of that smaller story also dealing with unconventional romantic endeavors.

Continue reading ‘Swan Song’ Review: Sci-Fi Drama Ponders Grief & Cloning Via A Remarkable Mahershala Ali [AFI Fest] at The Playlist.

Opening with notes audibly resembling a heartbeat monitor, before swaying into a diegetic sonata, this year’s Swiss Oscar entry “My Little Sister,” chillingly captures the frightening feeling of sitting beside a loved one in unspeakable pain, knowing there’s not a thing you or the medical staff can do about it. “Your mask,” a bed-side nurse reminds formerly renowned playwright, Lisa (Nina Hoss) after dozing off next to her twin brother, Sven (Lars Eidinger), an acclaimed actor in the Berlin theater scene, whose leukemia has become bellicose again.

Continue reading ‘My Little Sister’ Is A Precarious Performance Piece On The Fleeting Nature Of Life’s Preciousness [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

So far, between Kelly Oxford’s “Pink Skies Ahead” and Angel Kristi Williams’ “Really Love,” AFI Fest has delivered some incredible first-features from directors. Maya Cozier’s “She Paradise” is the newest addition to the team. From a narrative perspective, “She Paradise” reminds one of Numa Perrier’s “Jezebel.” Both films center themselves on young Black women who are liberated through their sexuality.

Continue reading ‘She Paradise’ Is A Love Letter To The Autonomy of Young Women [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

From “The Fog of War” to “Tabloid“, to “Mr. Death,” and “American Dharma,” there are a few good reasons why many hail Errol Morris as the master of the one-on-one interview doc. Morris knows that the deepest stories can be found in human transgressions, these transgressions often being the outward manifestation of people’s darkest secrets and desires.

Continue reading ‘My Psychedelic Love Story’: Errol Morris’ Latest Doc Is A Trippy Romance With A Dash Of Conspiracy [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

When you are belittled and threatened for being who you are at a developmental crossroads, it very well may affect your sense of belonging for the rest of your life. When you feel unsafe simply because of who you find yourself in love with, it can seem like the whole world is turning on you. Set a couple of decades before America’s “don’t ask, don’t tell,” era, “Uncle Frank” is a full-hearted film reflecting on homosexual prejudice, rigorously displaying how the hate directed towards one person can trickle down and impact the lives of everyone who cares for them.

Continue reading ‘Uncle Frank’ Features An Oustanding Cast In A Film That Sadly Lacks Subtext Or Subtlety [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

The blue-haired Winona (Jessica Barden), while driving, vents to an unseen man about living with her parents. She fumes, “I want to stick a fork into an electrical socket every minute that I’m there.” A recent-college dropout, the twenty-year-old Winona lives in arrested development with her parents in their Los Angeles suburban home. Winona is flirtatious and provocative. She tiptoes around her supposedly judgmental mom Pamela (Marcia Gay Harden) and works for her father Richard (Michael McKean), as an office assistant (a nepotistic position that requires little work of her).

Continue reading ‘Pink Skies Ahead’: Kelly Oxford’s Debut Is Charming And Irresistible [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

Adorned with sunglasses and in a pink fur-trimmed robe, Jean (Rachel Brosnahan) sits reclined on her patio chair as she sips champagne. Bobbie Gentry’s “I Wouldn’t Be Surprised” — one of the film’s many soulful needle drops — fills the ears. Jean doesn’t worry about much. The chic woman lives in a contemporary suburban home with her husband Eddie (Bill Heck), where her gravest trouble, in the opening minutes, is finding a pair of scissors to cut the price tag from her robe.

Continue reading ‘I’m Your Woman’: Rachel Brosnahan Is Staggering In Julia Hart’s Wickedly Entertaining Thriller [AFI Review] at The Playlist.

This year’s AFI Film Festival is unlike previous years in a few major ways. Of course, the biggest way is how the event is virtual, with passholders being able to purchase tickets for online screenings of this year’s selections. In addition, this is one of the most diverse festivals yet, with 124 Titles featuring 53% women-directed films and 39% BIPOC-directed films.

READ MORE: Cannes 2020 Is Back! Canceled Festival Is Revived With An October “Special” Event

All things considered, AFI Fest 2020 is rolling with the punches and still delivering some of the most anticipated titles of the year.

Continue reading AFI Fest 2020: Full Lineup Includes 4K Restoration Of Dennis Hopper’s ‘Out Of The Blue,’ ‘I’m Your Woman’ Premiere & More at The Playlist.

Fall Film Festival Season is in full swing. Well, sort of. Venice kicked off the festivities with a mixture of in-person screenings and digital presentations, while TIFF is continuing that trend currently. And in October, the AFI Film Festival is set to begin, with its 34th edition being completely online. Though it won’t have in-person screenings, it does appear that the festivities are kicking off with quite a bang, as the film “I’m Your Woman,” starring Rachel Brosnahan, is set as the Opening Night feature.

Continue reading Rachel Brosnahan’s ‘I’m Your Woman’ To Kick Off The All-Digital 2020 AFI Film Festival at The Playlist.

The always awards-friendly AFI Film Fest already has its opener set with Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim.”  Today, the Hollywood based event revealed that George Nolfi’s “The Banker,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie, will close the festival on Nov. 21.  “The Banker” is set as Apple’s first theatrical release before eventually debuting on the company’s new Apple TV+ app.

In a statement from the American Film Insitute, Michael Lumpkin, Director of AFI Festivals, noted, “‘The Banker’ joins a remarkable group of films being released this year that openly confront centuries of racism and injustice in our country, while celebrating the brave individuals whose activism has created real change.”

According to an official synopsis, the film “centers on revolutionary businessmen Bernard Garrett (Mackie) and Joe Morris (Jackson), who devise an audacious and risky plan to take on the racist establishment of the 1960s by helping other African Americans pursue the American dream.

Continue reading Apple Goes Prestige As ‘The Banker’ Set To Close 2019 AFI Film Fest at The Playlist.

The fall film festival circuit is ramping up, and it’ll be a nice change from what has been a pretty disappointing summer movie season. The Toronto International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and New York Film Festival have all announced their full lineups, while the Telluride Film Festival will unveil its goods on Thursday. Additionally, the AFI Film Festival has thrown its first salvo into the crowded festival landscape.

Continue reading 2016 AFI Film Fest Opens With World Premiere Of Warren Beatty’s ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ at The Playlist.

AFI Film Fest: Ridley Scott Talks ‘The Martian, His Influences, ‘Alien’ & More

Continue reading AFI Film Fest: Ridley Scott Talks ‘The Martian, His Influences, ‘Alien’ & More at The Playlist.

AFI Film Fest Review: Adam McKay's 'The Big Short' Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, And Brad Pitt

Continue reading AFI Film Fest Review: Adam McKay’s ‘The Big Short’ Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, And Brad Pitt at The Playlist.

AFI Fest: 'James White,' 'Mustang,' 'Ma' Lead Audience Award Winners

Continue reading AFI Fest: ‘James White,’ ‘Mustang,’ ‘Ma’ Lead Audience Award Winners at The Playlist.

AFI Fest: Johnny Depp Talks ‘Black Mass,’ Auditioning For The Coen Brothers, Working With Scott Cooper & More

Continue reading AFI Fest: Johnny Depp Talks ‘Black Mass,’ Auditioning For The Coen Brothers, Working With Scott Cooper & More at The Playlist.

AFI Review: 'By The Sea' by Angelina Jolie Pitt, Co-Starring Brad Pitt and Mélanie Laurent

Continue reading AFI Review: ‘By The Sea’ by Angelina Jolie Pitt, Co-Starring Brad Pitt and Mélanie Laurent at The Playlist.

Angelina Jolie Pitt's 'By The Sea' To Open AFI Fest

Continue reading Angelina Jolie Pitt’s ‘By The Sea’ To Open AFI Fest at The Playlist.

Review: Slow-Burning And Rewarding 'A Most Violent Year' Starring Oscar Isaac & Jessica Chastain

Continue reading Review: Slow-Burning And Rewarding ‘A Most Violent Year’ Starring Oscar Isaac & Jessica Chastain at The Playlist.

AFI Review: 'Selma' Directed By Ava DuVernay, Starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo & Oprah Winfrey

Continue reading AFI Review: ‘Selma’ Directed By Ava DuVernay, Starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo & Oprah Winfrey at The Playlist.

AFI Fest Review: Clint Eastwood’s ‘American Sniper’ Starring Bradley Cooper And Sienna Miller

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'American Sniper' Loads Up AFI Fest Secret Screening

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AFI Fest: Paul Thomas Anderson Talks ‘Inherent Vice’ Influence ‘Mondo Hollywood’ With Director Robert Carl Cohen

Continue reading AFI Fest: Paul Thomas Anderson Talks ‘Inherent Vice’ Influence ‘Mondo Hollywood’ With Director Robert Carl Cohen at The Playlist.

New Look At David Oyelowo As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In ‘Selma'; 30 Minutes Of Footage To Debut At AFI Fest

Continue reading New Look At David Oyelowo As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In ‘Selma’; 30 Minutes Of Footage To Debut At AFI Fest at The Playlist.

The actor-turned musician confirmed to the world that he was done with his acting career for good this weekend when he turned up in Los Angeles at the AFI Festival screening of James Gray’s “Two Lovers,” which is allegedly his last film (it co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow).

Phoenix let it be known by writing in plain and simple “bye!

Continue reading Joaquin Phoenix: That’s A Wrap at The Playlist.

“The movie is still being finished, but we were so excited to show Doubt and help our friends at AFI Fest and the American Film Institute at the same time.

Continue reading AFI Gets Its Happy Opening With ‘Doubt’ at The Playlist.