“Bonnie And Clyde” and lovers on the lam narratives never cease to compel and fascinate us, perhaps because doing something naughty, illegal or perverse in the name of love is strangely really f*cking romantic. There’s a propulsion—the “on the run” side of things—that usually drives these tales, but when you ground it to a halt with a one-location detour, and add an equally transgressive romantic pair to the mix you can get some surprisingly interesting results.

Continue reading ‘Villains’ Examines The Twisted Lengths Couples Will Go For Love [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Considering how it’s nearly asking for it, how it could have easily been used against it, to re-employ the iconic “sometimes dead is better” line from Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary,” as well as Mary Lambert’s 1989 film adaptation, in the marketing is a bold move. Fortunately, the sleek, well-crafted, if somewhat muted “Pet Sematary” update by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer (“Starry Eyes”) nails the tone of one of King’s most sinister tales, creating a bleak depiction of our own mortality and the choices we make in life that will always haunt us.

Continue reading ‘Pet Sematary:’ Update Of Stephen King’s Novel Exudes More Visceral Thrills Than Sorrow [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

The opening title card of British comedian, director, and provocateur Chris Morris’ long-awaited follow-up to “Four Lions” reads “Based on 100 True Stories.” Morris’ targets and topics in “The Day Shall Come“— such as radicalism, racial profiling, law enforcement manipulation and entrapment, gentrification, exploitation of disenfranchised communities, etc.— often feels like 100 stories crammed into one. But what keeps the film mostly on track is its proudly confrontational nature, quick-witted dialogue, and performances to match.

Continue reading ‘The Day Shall Come’: Chris Morris Takes A Dark Comic Look At Tragic Consequences & Law Enforcement Abuse [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

“I really think the action in buddy comedies pulls punches today and I hate that and didn’t want to do it,” Michael Dowse, the director of SXSW-debuting film “Stuber,” said empathetically during the world premiere of his new buddy comedy and action film. And it’s clear the filmmaker took his own advice, probably a little too well, and possibly overcompensating as he crafts a comedy that’s really quite hyper-violent, a little nasty in tone, and never as funny as it should be.

Continue reading ‘Stuber’: Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista Are The Classic Buddy Cop Pair In This Surprisingly Violent Comedy [SXSW] at The Playlist.

As the guy who looks a little bit too much like Tom Hardy, actor Logan Marshall-Green (“Prometheus”) often suffer undue, unfair criticism from facetious, lazy writers (ourselves included; especially when what’s meant to be a dumb joke is taken too seriously) But after finally, and deservedly, breaking through with exciting style in 2018’s surprise smash hit “Upgrade,” he has proved his acting chops and has become a guy to keep an eye on.

Continue reading ‘Adopt A Highway’: Ethan Hawke Shines, But Logan Marshall-Green’s Directorial Debut Is A Little Lost [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Dogs will always be great movie material. Whether you’re a steadfast arthouse fanatic or stick strictly to Marvel flicks, dogs embody the connective link between every human heart. Seriously, how can you not smile when you see puppy eyes and wagging tails? An intrinsic magic exists within the connection between mankind and canines, and although “creative grooming” are not two words typically associated with this relationship, “Well Groomed” seeks to change your perception, or simply introduce you, to the world of competitive creative dog grooming.

Continue reading ‘Well Groomed’ Shines An Endearing Light On An Odd Subculture Of Outsider Art [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Rodney Evans (“Brother to Brother,” which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2004) returns to the screen with his deeply personal documentary “Vision Portraits.” Tracking four visually impaired artists suffering from RP (retinitis pigmentosa), including the filmmaker himself, Evans questions how these artists go about creating in visual mediums when their own sight is rapidly deteriorating. Oscillating between traditional documentary and experimental, subjective attempts to capture what it’s like to be impaired, Evans creates a moderately successful portrait of, what the film references as, the space between seeing and not.

Continue reading ‘Vision Portraits’ Is A Fascinating Documentary About How Artists Persevere After Losing Their Sight [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

There’s something about being an artist that few people teach you when pursuing that path: once you make it, your work – and more importantly, your life – is rarely your own, and it takes even more effort than the blood, sweat, and tears put into your art to assure some kind of privacy. It’s not uncommon for a performer to have a split persona between the person who goes out on stage and the individual writing the music and living their life behind closed doors.

Continue reading Terrence Malick-Produced Lil Peep Doc ‘Everybody’s Everything’ Is A Loving Tribute To A Talent Gone Too Soon [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Known for his guerilla approach to filmmaking, getting shit done efficiently and under budget, Robert Rodriguez is a multi-faceted creator with a passion for championing aspiring artists into the industry. He’s a writer, director, cinematographer, editor, do-it-all auteur and while many filmmakers of his stature may lose sight of those early adventures—those movies practically strung together with gum, tape and popsicle sticks— Rodriguez has never forgotten those roots and humble beginnings always putting a stake in the lessons it’s taught him along the way.

Continue reading ‘Red 11’: Robert Rodriguez’s Latest Is Part Genre Thriller, Part Instructive Filmmaking Teaching Tool [SXSW] at The Playlist.

As much a portrait of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival as the eponymous comedian behind it, “It Started as a Joke” features a who’s who of Brooklyn’s alternative stand-up scene, just like the event itself. In addition to Eugene Mirman, this documentary includes appearances–and jokes–from Kumail Nanjiani, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Ian Black, Michael Che, Kristen Schaal, Wyatt Cenac, Bridget Everett, John Hodgman, Reggie Watts, H.

Continue reading ‘It Started As A Joke’ Is A Loving Tribute To Eugene Mirman’s Comedy Festival [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

The definition of family is not beholden to the idea of blood. Like anyone, blood relatives are completely susceptible to being rotten individuals, regardless of who they are providing for. The people who look after you are your family. Not unlike Hirokazu Kore-eda’s recent and beloved “Shoplifters,” Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz’s deeply-moving “The Peanut Butter Falcon” tackles the idea of finding beautiful familial relationships in unexpected places to fill that void in the heart.

Continue reading ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’: Shia LaBeouf Shines In This Funny, Heartwarming Adventure [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

From “Miracle” to “Chariots of Fire” to “Eddie the Eagle” and more, there are dozens of movies recounting the most triumphant moments in Olympic history lionizing the determination of the athletes and the significance of the moment. Yet none of them dropped you into the setting of the Olympics figuratively much less literally. This is what precisely makes writer, director and cinematographer Jeremy Teicher’s “Olympic Dreams” unique and something of a game changer for the genre.

Continue reading ‘Olympic Dreams’: Nick Kroll Delivers A Winning Dramatic Turn, But The Movie Never Crosses The Finish Line [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

David Fincher is the type of filmmaker that can make just about any type of film or TV project and we’ll watch it without question. Hell, he could make a cat food commercial, and film fans would probably analyze it for its style. But in the world of modern filmmaking, where theater multiplexes are dominated by superheroes and other genre fare, it would appear that to get the big budgets, directors have to include superpowers in their blockbusters.

Continue reading David Fincher Says He Might Be Open To Making A Superhero Film But Not With A “Pre-Existing Mask” at The Playlist.

As an adult, it’s often difficult to remember how much life there is ahead of you. As a middle schooler, it’s nearly impossible. It constantly feels like you’re stuck in a perpetual cycle of awkwardness, confusion, frustration, and self-doubt. You also assume that everything is going to be the same from that moment on for the rest of your life, that you’ll have the same exact friends, the same interests, meet your middle-to-high-school sweetheart, marry them, and spend the rest of your lives together.

Continue reading The Raunchy & Undeniably Sweet ‘Good Boys’ Gets By On The Chemistry Between Its Young Leads [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

How would you like to spend your daily rush hour drive working, watching a movie, or even taking a nap? That’s the appeal of self-driving cars for a majority of the population, never mind the opportunities it could provide for mass transit, transportation for the elderly and disabled, or commercial use. But are we willing to give up the undeniable satisfaction driving can provide, that thrill of cruising the open road and singing along to the radio just a little bit too loudly?

Continue reading ‘Autonomy’: An Exciting & Revolutionary Technology Gets A Reserved & Conventional Documentary [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

A radically inspired, hyper-fresh, and even slightly overcooked take on the high school teen comedy— a dynamite, stylish mash-up of “Superbad” and John Hughes for “Lady Bird” overachievers and “Eighth Grade” keeners — actress Olivia Wilde’s “Booksmart” is something just shy of a sensational masterpiece and miracle, a coming of age classic for the Thank U, Next Generation.

Continue reading ‘Booksmart’: Olivia Wilde Crushes A Superdope Friendship Goals Teen Comedy For The ‘Lady Bird’ Generation [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

“Casey. That’s a very feminine name,” says Sensei (Alessandro Nivola) – the instructor at a small karate dojo – to Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), a milquetoast, thirty-something accountant who has decided to take up martial arts after being brutally accosted on a nightly walk to buy dog food for his dachshund. Casey says he’s the kind of person who feels intimidated by other men, uncomfortable in their presence, struggling to connect with them on any sort of level.

Continue reading ‘The Art Of Self-Defense’ Is A Darkly Funny Look At The Effects Of Toxic Masculinity [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Over the first few days of SXSW, we saw films from Jordan Peele, Seth Rogen, and Matthew McConaughey, just to name a few. But perhaps the film that surprised us the most, and the one that we ultimately fell in love with, is “Boyz in the Wood.”

The UK film, that we lovingly described in our review as a Midnight Movie, is a genre mixture of comedy, horror, and…hip-hop?

Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’ Exclusive Clip: Police Have Difficulty Knowing The Difference Between Drugs And Feces In This SXSW Comedy at The Playlist.

Like “Blue Valentine,” a previous contender for Worst Date Movie of the Year™, “Pink Wall” is a nonlinear tale of a romance gone wrong. But with his directorial and screenwriting debut, actor Tom Cullen intentionally doesn’t leave the audience as devastated as that Derek Cianfrance film did. He offers an insightful portrait of a relationship in decay that doesn’t make us question the concept of love in general, instead offering an intimate view into the world of one couple at various points in their lives together, letting us see both the good and bad moments.

Continue reading Tom Cullen’s ‘Pink Wall’ Is An Intimate, Realistic Look At A Failing Relationship [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

In a time where successful (and inspired) studio romcoms seem to be migrating to Netflix and the theatrical version often carries something of a bland connotation, the tricky-sounding Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron rom-com and aptly-titled “Long Shot”—from the seemingly-dubious romantic political comedy genre—feels like an unlikely winner from the outside. But as a hilarious, emotional, heartfelt and topical comedy, not at all afraid of its genuine romance movie roots—it’s delightful, a roaring good time and massive crowdpleaser that should carve an ear-to-ear smile on even the biggest skeptic’s face.

Continue reading ‘Long Shot’: Charlize Theron & Seth Rogen Blow The Roof Off In A Terrific, Hilarious & Sincere Romantic Comedy [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

In this age of streaming and homogenous theater chains, it’s hard to say if teenagers still know the term Midnight Movie. But that’s a shame, because it essentially refers to movies made for a teenage sensibility and the ingredients haven’t changed much since these movies were actually shown late at night – start with a healthy dose of sneering at authority, throw in some wild music and visual styles to scare off the old fogies, sprinkle in some drugs and violence (the weirder the better), add a light garnish of political outrage and voilà, a Midnight Movie, and “Boyz in the Wood” is a perfect example of this subgenre of film.

Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’: Filmmaker Ninian Doff Crafts A Love Letter To The Bonkers Midnight Movie Genre [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

As will surprise no one who has seen a film directed by Lynn Shelton (“Laggies,” “Your Sister’s Sister“), empathy lies at the core of “Sword of Trust.” But after the seriousness of her last feature, “Outside In,” Shelton turns back to comedy with this shaggy, often hilarious, indie starring Marc Maron, Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins, and Jon Bass as characters Shelton clearly cares about but doesn’t mind us laughing at.

Continue reading Lynn Shelton’s ‘Sword of Trust’ Is Hilarious & Emotional Thanks To Marc Maron & The Great Cast [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

In Jordan Peele‘s “Us,” Zora Wilson (Shahadi Wright Joesph) asks her family, “Are we just going to ignore the world’s problems?” after reading a conspiracy theory-like headline about fluoride in the water. After a pause, the radio changes to “I Got 5 On It” by Luniz, prompting the Wilson family to pivot on the topic and sing along and discuss the song’s meaning, because let’s face it, it’s inarguably more “fun” to deconstruct a beloved ’90s hip-hop hit than to bring down the mood with talk about politics, racism, fake news or environmentalism.

Continue reading Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ Is An Eerie & Muddled Examination Of A Fractured America [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

For many kids, when you reach a certain age and you begin to understand just how badass martial arts are, you immediately sign up for karate. Why? Well, the short answer is you want to be a ninja. The long answer is that your parents want you to do something that gets you out of the house and might get your heart beating a bit faster than when you sit alone and play video games.

Continue reading ‘The Art Of Self-Defense’ Teaser: Jesse Eisenberg Takes A Suburban Karate Class To Help Become A Real Man at The Playlist.

It’s been interesting to see Austin and the SXSW Festival explode over the years. Not only has film and music grown, but the festival’s become a trailblazer for tech, interactive, comedy, sports, and much more; SXSW just keeps expanding. Throughout it all, however, the festival has shown very-few-to-no growing pains which is astonishing considering all the expansion. Moreover, the film festival committee and programmers haven’t lost sight of what they do and have continued to deliver their eclectic mix of crowd-pleasing, raucous comedies, and mainstream efforts mixed in with under-the-radar, about-to-breakthrough indies, breakout documentaries and so much more.

Continue reading SXSW Film Festival Preview: 16 Movies To See at The Playlist.