Lupe is yet another film telling a story about a transgender woman and once again, there is a cisgender actor portraying the role. (EDIT: I covered the film remotely and didn’t have access to any press notes in early 2019 when I wrote my initial review. Now that the film is going to be available on HBO/HBO Max, I’m only learning through the press tour that the lead actor came out as non-binary. Had I…
"Cinequest 2019: Lupe"Month: March 2019
Mr. Jimmy portrays the efforts of one devoted Led Zeppelin super fan in his efforts to perfectly recreate their music on the stage. For all intents and purposes, Akio Sakurai is the very definition of a super fan. It’s not just about getting the music right but he truly goes overboard. Even the costumes must be absolutely perfect right down to their creases. But at what cost is Akio willing to go if it means recreating…
"SXSW 2019: Mr. Jimmy"
State of Pride takes a look at the LGBTQ movement and Pride celebrations as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising this summer. While Oscar-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman direct this film, it’s activist Raymond Braun who gets the stories on camera. Braun tells his own emotional story with regards to his coming out. But like anyone who has ever come out, you can’t help but feel empathy for his pain. In…
"SXSW 2019: State of Pride"
A Mexican family puts up a wall in The Wall of Mexico so as to stop their white neighbors from stealing their very special well water. Henry (Esai Morales) and Monica Aristas (Alex Meneses) hires Winfield resident Don (Jackson Rathbone) to serve as a handyman for their family. They are a very rich Mexican-American family and their two daughters are quite the degenerates. Don doesn’t know exactly why they are rich but only that they…
"SXSW 2019: The Wall of Mexico"
Tito is a film that focuses on a man who is being tormented by sexual predators but is told in a way that gives the film a feminist twist. Tito (Grace Glowicki) is the reclusive type but mostly because of the trauma he has faced in his lifetime. He wears a whistle in case of emergencies. The fear he lives with has led to walking with a hunch in his back. Moreover, he currently lives…
"SXSW 2019: Tito"
Romantic Comedy breaks down this particular comedy genre beat by beat while showing clips of many rom-com films in the process. Elizabeth Sankey narrates and directs this well-made documentary. Through her narration and interviews, Sankey breaks down everything we know about the genre. This isn’t only limited to present-day rom-coms but Sankey goes back to the classics. She grew up as any teenage girl does: learning about romance through the romantic comedy genre. The 1930s…
"SXSW 2019: Romantic Comedy"
Writer-director Tim Wilkime spoke with Solzy at the Movies about his new short film, Milton, screening during the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. Congrats on Milton being selected for the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. How thrilled are you for the opportunity? Tim Wilkime: Thanks! I’m very excited to be honoring the life of Milton at SXSW. How did you get the idea to make this film? Tim Wilkime: The idea for Milton came from a personal…
"SXSW 2019: Tim Wilkime talks Milton" Romantic Comedy director Elizabeth Sankey spoke with Solzy at the Movies ahead of the film’s North American premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. Congrats on Romantic Comedy being selected for the 2019 SXSW Film Festival! How thrilled are you for the opportunity to show the film in Austin? Elizabeth Sankey: I am so thrilled! It’s a dream come true. Never, ever thought it would actually happen. You grew up watching romantic comedies. Do you have…
"SXSW 2019: Elizabeth Sankey on Romantic Comedy"
Carl Laemmle is a very informative and fascinating documentary that profiles the pioneering founder of Universal Studios. James L. Freedman goes deep into the archives in a documentary that certainly targets both film nerds and the Jewish community. Carl Laemmle was a guy who left his hometown for a better life in America and he never forgot his roots. It didn’t matter that Germans didn’t like him in the 1930s. He saw what was happening to…
"Carl Laemmle: Universal Founder profiled"
Triple Frontier takes us to the Brazilian jungle as a a group of former Special Forces soldiers team up together for one last mission together. As the film starts, Santiago “Pope” Garcia (Oscar Isaac) is working with police in Brazil to take down Gabriel Martin Lorea. He soon learns information from Yovanna (Adria Arjona) that Lorea never leaves his money. After one mission fails, the first thing Pope does is track down William “Ironhead” Miller (Charlie Hunnam). …
"Triple Frontier: J.C. Chandor Can’t Miss"