Jeff Baena has written a lot of things over the last few years that have broken the mold and done something new for the comedy genre by not delivered the typical trope movies. He and his now wife, Aubrey Plaza,… Read More ›
In Theaters
“Spaz” explores the failed success of cinematic CG artist Steve Williams. [SXSW Film Festival]
Steve Williams. This is a name anyone who loves movies should know, but how many people can honestly say they know of Steve Williams, or Spaz as he was known to friends? He is the reason why James Cameron’s Abyss… Read More ›
“A Lot of Nothing” delivers on a whole lot of something. [SXSW Film Festival]
“Messy” defined by Mirriam-Webster’s Dictionary is as follows: “marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt.” Mo McRae’s feature debut A Lot of Nothing is absolutely messy, but in the best way possible. The movie starts off being one thing and then,… Read More ›
30 Helens agree: “Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks” is a hilarious and heartfelt tribute to comedy legends who’re still at it. [SXSW Film Festival]
You can get a sense of a person by the comedy they ingest or reference. Often, their humor is shaped by those they enjoy or admire, so you can tell what they find sacred or profane. It’s the same thing… Read More ›
Regina Hall and Zoë Renee bring the damn house down with their performances in “Master.” [SXSW Film Festival]
One of the larger debates during my senior year of high school was the rift between my Black friends debating the merits of attending a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) or that of a Primarily White Institute (PWI), and… Read More ›
Mishandled situational comedy “Millie Lies Low” results in audience frustration. [SXSW Film Festival]
There are movies that lend themselves to the elements and take advantage of them to their benefit. Then there are movies that ignore what the story lays out for them and try to become something they really aren’t. Unfortunately, in… Read More ›
Lovecraftian “The Cellar” wastes an interesting concept on a poorly constructed foundation. [SXSW Film Festival]
At some point in your life you’ve had the hair on your neck stand on end with the feeling of not being alone. It could be in the comfort of your living room, full lights on, or on a midnight… Read More ›
Colin West’s “Linoleum” is a frustrating yet rewarding watch. [SXSW Film Festival]
There are rare instances in films where casting decisions are made that are uncharacteristic to the lead’s background, such as casting comedians in very dramatic roles. Linoleum does that feat very well, giving us a very uncharacteristic character for Jim… Read More ›
Writer/director Reggie Yates’s “Pirates” is a jam and a half, filled with youthful energy, positivity, and hope for the future. [SXSW Film Festival]
In my lifetime, no New Year’s Eve has felt more enormous, more life-changing, more open to possibilities than NYE 1999. Take out the fact that it was a tumultuous time for me personally, the whole world was unsure if all… Read More ›
“I Love My Dad” is cringeworthy in the worst ways and worth it in the best ways. [SXSW Film Festival]
Writer, director, and actor James Morosini delivers one of the strongest movies of 2022 thus far that will certainly be a conversation starter for award season. I Love My Dad is one of the most uncomfortable viewings audiences will experience… Read More ›
You’ll want to linger after you “Stay the Night.” [SXSW Film Festival]
I love a good romance. Perhaps because reality is unpredictable, often heart-wrenchingly so, there’s comfort in a romantic tale. The key in sticking the landing is the perspective of the creative team, as well as the talent in front of… Read More ›
“Seriously Red” is a love letter to impersonators and the celebrities they embody. [SXSW Film Festival]
There is something truly magical about movies that are just effortlessly charming, endearing, and whimsical. Then there is something extraordinary when one writes and stars in the feature and pulls off that ever so delicate balance of amazement. In Gracie… Read More ›
The message of Augusto Sandino’s “A Vanishing Fog (Entre la niebla)” stays with you long after the credits roll. [SXSW Film Festival]
In recent years, Colombia has really begun to reveal itself as a very interesting home for strange, introspective indie cinema in a way I don’t think anyone expected. With global voices taking the mainstream stage and with storytellers unafraid to… Read More ›
Nyla Innuksuk’s humorous action horror “Slash/Back” tackles colonialization armed with heritage and the strength of community. [SXSW Film Festival]
Nyla Innuksuk tells a coming-of-age alien invasion story rooted in Inuit culture and legends in her debut feature film, Slash/Back. In Slash/Back, Innuksuk manages to knit together a movie that both pays homage to the “kids on bikes” movies she… Read More ›
Make room on your annual October watchlist for Bill Posley’s “Bitch Ass.” [SXSW Film Festival]
There are very few movies instantly recognized as a crowd favorite, but when they’re discovered in that sweet spot of magic, one would do quite literally anything to witness said film with a packed audience. Bitch Ass, the new horror… Read More ›
Short film “Everything Will Be All Right” packs a feature-length emotional punch. [SXSW Film Festival]
In the current circumstances we live in, and have lived in for the last two years, we sometimes have to remind ourselves that everything will, in fact, be all right. We need that deep breath, that reconciliation with ourselves that… Read More ›
Cringe and comedy more than pay off in “Pretty Problems.” [SXSW Film Festival]
There is nothing particularly fun about watching a couple who’s on the rocks try to break free of their mold and cannot fathom why or how they’ve been invited to an extravagant weekend. Well, there is nothing fun about that… Read More ›
Unravel a wild unknown mystery with Allison Otto’s documentary “The Thief Collector.” [SXSW Film Festival]
When I was a kid, I remember my paternal grandparents traveling constantly. They would bring back foreign currency, bobbles, and even stuffed animals from their adventures to give to me, my siblings, and cousins — mementos of their trips which… Read More ›
Your time is well invested in documentary “Diamond Hands: The Legend of WallStreetBets.” [SXSW Film Festival]
There are documentaries that expose some of the darkest parts of the world and then there are nature documentaries, but there is also literally everything else in between that one could possibly fathom. Shoes? You bet there’s a documentary. A… Read More ›
Documentary “Still Working 9 to 5” captures all the humor, real issues, and hard work surrounding the classic comedy. [SXSW Film Festival]
December 19th, 1980, is memorable for two reasons: it’s the day I was born and Colin Higgins’s 9 to 5 hit theaters. It, a workplace comedy featuring three female leads, went up against the likes of Robert Altman’s Popeye and… Read More ›