Yes, we should be entirely way done with 2021, but permit us to close the books on this difficult year with one last belated feature whose title is not meant to be a backhanded compliment to the films, nor scolding and yes, generally relative as many people did see them, but not most (and yes, there will be some overlap with our Best of 2021 coverage, though it’s minor)

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2021

While most of us remain inside with far too many streaming options dangled in front of our eyes,  it doesn’t appear general audiences will be returning to theaters for movies that contain anything less than three Peter Parkers uniting on screen anytime soon.

Continue reading The 25 Best Films Of 2021 You Didn’t See at The Playlist.

After a year that changed our relationship with movie-going, it would seem that things are trying to inch back into a semblance of “normalcy.” Theaters are reopening, and as people continue to receive their vaccinations, more and more will be looking to enjoy films on the big screen – especially those like the musical “In The Heights” or broad comedies and terrifying horror films which thrive on audiences feeding off of each other’s energy.

Continue reading 11 Movies to Watch in June: ‘Zola,’ ‘Sparks Brothers,’ ‘Luca’ & More at The Playlist.

What would you do to escape your small town in hopes of a better future? For the young woman at the center of “Holler,” she’s willing to do things that aren’t necessarily legal to ensure she can pay for college and leave her Southern Ohio town.

READ MORE: ‘Holler’: Jessica Barden Shines In A Drama About Scavenging The American Dream [Review]

With “Holler” arriving in theaters next month, we are thrilled to give our readers a chance to see an exclusive clip from the new drama.

Continue reading ‘Holler’ Exclusive Clip: Jessica Barden Barely Scrapes By In New Indie Drama at The Playlist.

Last year, we saw the film “Hillbilly Elegy” get roasted by critics for its depiction of poverty through the lens of white Americans. The film had a number of issues, including questionable politics, but it was clear that there’s a large group of people who don’t necessarily want a Trump-era film about how white people struggle. And on the surface, the new drama “Holler” looks like another one of those films.

Continue reading ‘Holler’ Trailer: Jessica Barden Struggles To Make Ends Meet In Forgotten America at The Playlist.

“Holler” is not the first film to chronicle the human toll of the flight of industry from the American Rust Belt to China and other countries abroad, but it might be the most direct.  “Holler” makes the subtext text by focusing on an Ohio group of scrappers, crews illegally stripping abandoned old factories and institutional buildings for raw metal that can be sold to Asian buyers. Writer-director Nicole Riegel uses this conceit, with expressive shots of breaking into haunted factories to rip copper from the walls, as an effective cinematic representation of the economic forces that have torn apart these communities. 

Continue reading ‘Holler’: Jessica Barden Shines In A Drama About Scavenging The American Dream [Review] at The Playlist.

Often, when you grow up in a small town, it’s almost impossible to find your way out. For many, poverty means that you’re pretty much stuck in your current station in life without much hope for ever finding something better. And that’s the situation that faces young Ruth in the new film “Holler.”

READ MORE: SXSW 2020 Announces Lineup Including Judd Apatow’s ‘The King Of Staten Island’ As Opening Night Film

The independent film is set to make its debut at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and in honor of the film’s premiere, we’re thrilled to offer our readers an exclusive look at a clip from the upcoming drama about a young woman willing to do whatever it takes to improve her life.

Continue reading ‘Holler’ Exclusive Clip: Jessica Barden Stars In The Upcoming SXSW Drama at The Playlist.