As a champion freediver, Jessea Lu describes in the early minutes of her own documentary, “7 Beats Per Minute,” the film’s title reflects the heart rate a freediver should target to ensure success during a competitive diving event. There’s no question such a sport sits as one of the world’s most dangerous, the act of holding one’s breath for a protracted length of time while engaging in any number of underwater activities.

Continue reading ‘7 Beats Per Minute’ Review: A Freediver’s Near Tragedy Gets The Drawn-Out Documentary Treatment [SXSW] at The Playlist.

1991’s severely underrated “Career Opportunities” revolved primarily around one night in the life of Frank Whaley’s department store custodian as he works a shift at employer Target while simultaneously romancing Jennifer Connelly, while “Dawson’s Creek” used a similar conceit in a season six episode, seeing Joey and Pacey locked overnight within the recesses of another retail giant; even Nickelodeon Magazine joined the fray with their 1990 premiere issue, hiding within its pages a short story about children stranded at a similar store and the misadventures that result.

Continue reading ‘Secret Mall Apartment’ Review: Art And Rebellion Collide In This Unique Time Capsule [SXSW] at The Playlist.

For anyone in the midst of, or having previously endured, the pains associated with the salad days of youth, that time-honored tradition of finding one’s unique voice while attempting to entrench oneself within the local population of similarly-aged peers as new feelings and emotions emerge on a seemingly daily basis is, at best, an uphill battle. At worst, it can serve to cripple a developing soul in ways adults may struggle to comprehend fully; it is for these reasons that any successes along the way need not be ignored but celebrated; friendships with like-minded individuals and membership in groups catered to one’s passions are more than a hallmark of these undeniably short years and could be seen as wholly necessary to a developing personality.

Continue reading ‘We Can Be Heroes’ Review: Role Playing Meets Teen Therapy In This Oddly Compelling LARPing Doc [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Music, by and large, can be seen as autobiographical; it’s far from uncommon for songwriters not to draw from any number of personal experiences encompassing, say, the lows of heartbreak and loss to life’s triumphs, all of which and more could easily reside within the average person as distant memories but attain a sort of immortality once this narrative is set to music. It could be as trivial a moment as anything the average member of society undergoes with every passing day or something so defining it can’t help but warrant a transformation into song, and when the medium of video uses said music, does it change yet again?

Continue reading ‘Songs From The Hole’ Review: A Hip-Hop Autobiography From Both Sides Of Prison Walls [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Given some of the star-studded titles that have closed out SXSW in previous years, a romantic comedy that could best be described as Harry Styles Wish Fulfillment might seem like an odd choice to round out the festival. But “The Idea of You,” a Michael Showalter adaptation of Robinne Lee’s book of the same name, proves that romantic comedies, when done well, are every bit as deserving of the red carpet rollout.

Continue reading ‘The Idea Of You’ Review: Anne Hathaway Shines In This Romantic Comedy Done Right [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Look, let’s be honest. From the opening seconds of its debut trailer, we all knew that Alex Garland’s “Civil War” would not be a pill that went down easily. Garland may have built his career around challenging visions of the future, but a film about a second American Civil War—in an election year, no less—is the kind of thing that gives even professional discourse writers a headache. 

So, if it helps, I have both good news and bad news.

Continue reading ‘Civil War’ Review: Alex Garland’s Latest Is Both Unforgettable & Challenging As Hell [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Very obviously trying to emulate the DIY approach of producers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Michael Felker’s lo-fi mind f*ck “Things Will Be Different” is both a fascinating debut and somewhat derivation of the filmmakers’ body of work. Clearly influenced by the Benson/Moorhead aesthetic and style, and sometimes slavish to their approach in a way that makes the film feel fairly familiar, this tiny, one-setting film may bring up more questions than answers.

Continue reading ‘Things Will Be Different’ Review: Sci-Fi Thriller Has More Questions Than Answers, But Still Intrigues [SXSW] at The Playlist.

It’s unlikely that two shows exist that are as wildly different as these. As the trio behind Duplass Brothers Productions continue to spread their combined wealth of talents over film, television, and streaming, the experience of taking in the pilots to their two latest series, “Ryley Walker & Friends” and, “The Broadcast, “offers a glimpse at projects loaded with as much promise as they are dissimilar.

Continue reading ‘Ryley Walker & Friends’ And ‘The Broadcast’ Reviews: Two Polar Opposite Duplass Brothers Pilots Overflow With Possibility [SXSW] at The Playlist.

In the introduction to the SXSW premiere of his movie, Dev Patel joked that he had recently stumbled across an internet article asking where he was now. According to Patel, that answer is simple: he’s been working on “Monkey Man,” the Mumbai-set actioner he wrote, directed, and starred in. Having now seen the film, I can confirm it’s the sort of thing that would absolutely drain several years of your life.

Continue reading ‘Monkey Man’ Review: Dev Patel’s Goes Into ‘John Wick’ Revenge Mode In Mumbai-Set Actioner [SXSW] at The Playlist.

From the basement of dingy jam sessions in Akron, Ohio, to arena rock success, a multiplatinum career, and multiple Grammy wins, “This is a Film About The Black Keys” tracks the unlikely rise of one of rock’s biggest duos. Directed by Jeff Dupre (“Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History,” “Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present”), the largely conventional rock doc doesn’t break the mold but engages, nonetheless, telling a captivating story of brotherhood, slow-grinding perseverance, weathering many personal storms, and the heavy tolls that success enacts.

Continue reading ‘This Is A Film About The Black Keys’ Review: Conventional, But Engaging Rock Doc Considers The Price Of Success [SXSW] at The Playlist.

It’s so hard to crack the black comedy nut, which can shatter with too little or too much earnestness, trauma, chuckles, and/or heavy thematic considerations. Gasps and giggles are needed in perfect balance to keep the pressure on without fragmenting the object, and it’s a trick “Audrey” pulls off with seeming ease. Broad, to be sure, but razor sharp and thematically consistent throughout its tight 92-minute runtime, the film by director Natalie Bailey is a surprising delight with both its heart and head in the right place.

Continue reading ‘Audrey’ Review: Aussie Black Comedy Brings Both Gasps & Giggles [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Confusion and how information is communicated, relayed, and delayed in a thriller can be a fantastic artistic weapon in the filmmaker’s toolkit. With his mathematic precision, filmmakers like Christopher Nolan can understand the Swiss watch nature of perfectly timed breadcrumbs of info that can preserve the mystery and keep an audience enraptured and on the edge of their seats. But the ace-in-the-sleeve of perplexing bewilderment is also a double-edged sword that must be wielded carefully.

Continue reading ‘Desert Road’ Review: Kristine Froseth Can’t Escape A Muddled Single Setting Survival Thriller [SXSW] at The Playlist.

The 2024 SXSW Film Festival is just a month away and today 50 new films and television programs were added to its slate. This is after the festival already revealed that highly anticipated projects such as “The Fall Guy” with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, “Road House” with Jake Gyllenhaal, “Idea of You” with Anne Hathaway, and Netflix’s “3 Body Problem,” among others.

Continue reading SXSW Announces 50 Films & TV Programs For 2024 Festival at The Playlist.

What a way to start your marketing campaign. The poster for Amazon Studios/Prime Video’s “Road House” movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal was released today, the trailer arrives tomorrow, and the always-mercurial director of the film, Doug Liman, has unfortunately picked the worst time to announce he’s boycotting the movie.

READ MORE: Amazon Dates Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Roadhouse’ For March, ‘Red One’ With Chris Evans & The Rock For November & More

Rumors swirled earlier this year that Liman was not happy with the treatment of the film and the fact that Prime Video would be releasing it on their streaming service only and would not be giving it a theatrical release.

Continue reading ‘Road House’: Director Doug Liman is Boycotting His SXSW Movie Because Amazon Won’t Release It Theatrically at The Playlist.

Well, it’s that time of year again, isn’t it? The Sundance Film Festival hasn’t even happened, the Berlin Film Festival line-up is not even out or complete, and we’re already looking ahead to March and the SXSW Film & Television Festival. There’s no rest for the wicked.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024

SXSW has unveiled its 2024 line-up, and the two biggest premieres in the headliner section are David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy” action comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, and “Babes,” a comedy and the directorial debut of Pamela Adlon, the creator of “Better Things,” which stars Ilana Glazer from “Broad City.”

“The Fall Guy,” which is the festival’s Centerpiece Screening, is described as a “big-screen love letter to action movies and the hard-working and under-appreciated stunt performers and crew members who make them” and co-stars Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham and Stephanie Hsu.

Continue reading SXSW Sets ‘Fall Guy’ With Ryan Gosling, Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’ & More For 2024 Line-Up at The Playlist.

For all the headlines written about Ben Affleck’s mid-career return to superhero movies, one still must wonder what movies we missed from Director Affleck while Actor Affleck was otherwise preoccupied. Even accounting for the commercial hiccup that was “Live by Night,” Affleck proved himself as a notable director in just a handful of films, putting himself on an upwards trajectory that was unceremoniously interrupted by his franchise work. So even setting aside the tabloid narratives about his personal life, Affleck’s return to the director’s chair in “Air” is something to be celebrated.

Continue reading ‘Air’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Sports Biopic Is Also His Industry Manifesto [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Watching “Beef,” the new series from longtime writer Lee Sung Jin produced by A24, is like observing a trainwreck. Only, instead of it being an accident that seems to come out of nowhere, two different drivers are operating separate locomotives hurtling toward each other. They could slam on the brakes or switch to a different track at any time, yet they are hellbent on destroying the other.

Continue reading ‘Beef’ Review: Steven Yeun & Ali Wong Are As Magnificent As They’ve Ever Been In Netflix’s Sublime Revenge Saga [SXSW] at The Playlist.

When it comes to R-rated comedies, no other film festival can hold a candle to SXSW. The Austin-based film festival is often the jumping-off point for some of the year’s highest-profile comedies; previous premieres have included films like “Knocked Up,” “21 Jump Street,” “Keanu,” and the work-in-progress debut of “Bridesmaids.” This means a stop at SXSW is an absolute no-brainer for any film resulting from the Judd Apatow producing tree.

Continue reading ‘Joy Ride’ Review: Adele Lim’s Raunchy Comedy Is An Instant Crowd-Pleaser [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Every once in a while, a piece of cinema comes along like an exciting breath of fresh air, a palate cleanser with just the right amount of everything it needs. “Americana” is one of them.

READ MORE: SXSW 2023 Preview: 25 Must-See Film & TV Projects To Watch

With calm confidence and a natural balance, writer-director Tony Tost strikes gold with this darkly comic crime thriller that hits every target it aims for.

Continue reading ‘Americana’ Review: A First-Rate Crime Thriller Infused With Altman, Tarantino, & Coen Brothers, Boasting An Ensemble Cast At The Top Of Their Game  at The Playlist.

“Please follow me.” With just three simple, courteous words, the lives of Diego and Elena are forever changed in the psychological drama “Upon Entry.” And after those three words are uttered early on in the suspenseful, methodical film by directors Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez, the tension only increases with each passing moment.

READ MORE: SXSW 2023 Preview: 25 Must-See Film & TV Projects To Watch

You see, Diego (Alberto Ammann) and Elena (Bruna Cusí) are a happy couple who has just landed in Newark from Barcelona and are on the cusp of beginning their new life in America.

Continue reading ‘Upon Entry’ Review: An Immigrant Couple’s Relationship Is Torn To Shreds In This Captivating Psychological Drama [SXSW] at The Playlist.

After having explored George Lucas, David Lynch, Hitchcock, and even William Friedkin in previous documentaries, Alexandre O. Phillippe turns his attention towards an unlikely subject, William Shatner, in his newest film, “You Can Call Me Bill.” Framed around a free-associative conversation with the famed actor, Phillipe’s new documentary might be catnip for any Trekkie but also represents something of a regression after the filmmaker’s probing “Lynch/Oz” last year. 

Continue reading ‘You Can Call Me Bill’ Review: Alexandre O. Phillippe’s Can’t Really Unpack The Complicated Enigma Of William Shatner In New Doc [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Filmmaker Liza Mandelup can make the promise of social media feel like a dream. In her feature debut, “Jawline,” she toggled back and forth between an established social media content farmhouse and a 14-year-old Tennessee upstart who struggles valiantly at breaking onto the live stream scene, both narratives reflecting and refracting each other. Mandelup is patently aware of the dazzling prize of our new and ever-changing social media economy, not only how it’s shaping our conceptions of self but also of labor.

Continue reading ‘Caterpillar’ Review: Liza Mandelup’s Engaging New Doc Opens Our Eyes To The Endless Struggle To Be Seen [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Every instance of abject grief, embarrassment, disappointment, and failure known only by teenage boys can be sourced to cosmological forces beyond their control or to a bummer ticket in the biological lottery. Imran J. Khan’s first feature, “Mustache,” opts to merge the two under the same awkward umbrella. If a lad can be betrayed by his own body, then certainly it’s within the universe’s power to provoke that betrayal, laying the groundwork for early body image issues dovetailing with hormonal, emotional, and cultural issues simultaneously.

Continue reading ‘Mustache’ Review: Imran J. Khan’s Coming Of Age Comedy Comes Up Short With Its Supporting Cast [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Larrimah, the small Australian town that gives Thomas Tancred’s documentary its title, has a population of 11. Or, at least, it had 11 people until one, Paddy Moriarty, went missing along with his dog in 2017. A portrait of an eccentric town that almost feels like a social experiment, just as much as it’s a murder mystery, “Last Stop Larrimah” is a shaggy, fascinating tale that marries Duplass Brothers-style absurdity (they act as producers here) with the ever-popular true-crime genre to pretty enthralling results. 

Continue reading ‘Last Stop Larrimah’ Review: A Shaggy and Compelling Murder Mystery About a Small Australian Town [SXSW] at The Playlist.

Married in 2013, while Oscar-winning filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin both had been making and shooting films before they met (Chin, “Reel Rock 7,” Vasarhelyi, “Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love“), the power of their collaborative work was instantaneous. 2015’s breathtaking high stakes “Meru” was one of the most harrowing mountain climbing docs ever made up until that point, and they managed to somehow even one-up it with their Oscar-winning doc, the vertiginous and death-defying “Free Solo.”

READ MORE: SXSW 2023 Preview: 25 Must-See Film & TV Projects To Watch

Since then, the duo has turned their love for the outdoors, the environment and landscape, and their innate curiosity about the natural world into some riveting documentaries, many of them fueled by the same ticking-clock adrenaline of “Meru” and “Free Solo” (see 2021’s Thai Cave rescue doc, “The Rescue”).

Continue reading ‘Wild Life’ Review: The Directors Of ‘Free Solo’ Craft A Heartfelt Tribute To The Conservationists Behind Patagonia, The North Face & Esprit [SXSW] at The Playlist.