The 2019 SXSW Film Festival had no shortage of laughs, thrills or outright drama when it comes to the shorts screening during the fest. Narrative Shorts Stepdaddy sees a reunion between Patricia (Lauren Blumenfeld) and Wyatt (Max Jenkins). The quick backstory is that the two of them did a work study for the same professor during their senior year. Anyway, Patricia brings wine so she’s more than a bit drunk. All the while, Wyatt is…
"SXSW 2019: The Shorts Program"Category: Film Festival
The River and the Wall is going to be one of the most-talked about documentaries of 2019 because of its timeliness in the current political environment. Some filmmakers inject themselves into the story for one reason or another. In this case, Ben Masters happens to be a wildlife filmmaker. Masters is joined by NatGeo Explorer Filipe DeAndrade, ornithologist Heather Mackey, river guide Austin Alvarado, and conservationist Jay Kleberg. Together, they make the journey down the 1200 mile trek of…
"SXSW 2019: The River and the Wall"
The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash is a beautifully made documentary that allows for the legendary singer to tell his own story. An audio recording of Johnny Cash reveals that his mother told him, “Don’t ever forget the gift.” What exactly is this gift? “Singing, writing for my voice–that’s the gift.” Through audio recordings from the 1990s, Cash discusses his childhood in Dyess, Arkansas. While growing up, the radio would be a source of…
"SXSW 2019: The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash"
If you’re unfamiliar with the story of 2018 Nobel Prize winner Jim Allison, you will certainly be familiar with his work after watching Breakthrough. Allison would take home the Nobel Prize in Medicine because of his role in curing cancer. The immune system’s role if we’re going to be precise. There would be plenty of non-believers along the way. It makes a lot of sense when one sits down to think about it. Science wasn’t…
"SXSW 2019: Breakthrough"
Who Let The Dogs Out seeks to get to the very bottom of just who was it that wrote the lyrics to the song made famous by The Baha Men. Had Ben Sisto not happened upon the song’s Wikipedia page, it’s quite possible that this film doesn’t happen. It’s all because of one name: Keith. Sisto sees the lack of a last name but only notices that Keith is a hairdresser. He does what any…
"SXSW 2019: Who Let The Dogs Out"
Go Back to China is a delightful coming-of-age dramedy from writer-director Emily Ting that puts a spotlight on diversity. I’d like to think that Crazy Rich Asians was the start. Not in the sense that all Asians on screen must be crazy or rich but that they can certainly act. Emily Ting’s self-autobiographical film succeeds in bringing the family drama to the forefront. We first meet Sasha Li (Anna Akana) on her birthday in LA. …
"SXSW 2019: Go Back to China"
Ernie and Joe shows how the San Antonio Police Department is leading the nation in how our country responds to mental health. Officers Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro may just be two members of the SAPD but their job is crucial. Both of them are among ten people working for the police’s Mental Health Unit. As we’ve seen over the years, our nation’s police forces are ill-equipped in responding to mental health calls. The documentary shows…
"SXSW 2019: Ernie and Joe"
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"
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"