Animation Outlaws is a documentary that manages to revisit the touring film festival that is Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation. If you aren’t familiar with Spike Decker or Mike Gribble, you’re in for a treat. Many now-famous animators got their start thanks to Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation. The original touring festival–started in 1977–would soon gave way to the Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation later on. The promotion techniques they used would get…
"Slamdance 2020: Animation Outlaws"Month: February 2020
Aisling Chin-Yee joined Solzy at the Movies in a phone interview this week to discuss her new film, The Rest of Us, opening in theaters and VOD this weekend. The film premiered during the Toronto International Film Festival in the in the Discovery program. Based on a screenplay by Alanna Francis, the film stars Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, Jodi Balfour, and Abigail Pniowsky. How honored were you to premiere The Rest of Us during TIFF?…
"Aisling Chin-Yee talks The Rest of Us"
Olympic Dreams is now playing in theaters and available to purchase on VOD this weekend after almost a year following its SXSW premiere. During SXSW, I sat down with to writer/director Jeremy Teicher and writer-actress Alexi Pappas to discuss the film, which also stars actor-writer Nick Kroll and a pair of Olympics, Gus Kenworthy and Morgan Schild. Cross-country skier Penelope (Alexi Pappas) has her first event shortly after the Opening Ceremony takes place during the…
"Olympic Dreams Now In Theaters And VOD"
Ordinary Love is about a couple dealing with a cancer diagnosis years into their marriage and the tensions that come with it. Cancer is something that hits close to home for many families. If your own immediate family hasn’t faced the challenge, there’s a high chance that it’s been faced by a cousin, aunt, or uncle. Maybe even a grandparent. The BRCA gene is one that runs high in the Jewish community. It’s one of…
"Ordinary Love Is A Tough Watch"
Tahara focuses on pair of young Jewish women who are grieving the loss of their Hebrew school classmate following a suicide. Carrie Lowstein (Madeline Grey DeFreece) and Hannah Rosen (Rachel Sennott) are best friends. When we first meet them in Tahara, they are Hebrew school classmate Samantha Goldstein’s funeral. Following this, they attend a session run by Moreh Klein (Bernadette Quigley) allowing for them to learn the Judaic teachings on grief. It’s a film that…
"Slamdance 2020: Tahara"
Film and television composer John Swihart spoke with Solzy at the Movies during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival about working on Dinner in America. How thrilled are you to be back at Sundance with Dinner in America? John Swihart: I’m pretty psyched. This movie was a lot of fun. It’s always fun to find out your film made it onto the list to get premiered here so we’re really excited about it. How did you…
"John Swihart talks Dinner in America"
Dick Cavett and Robert S. Bader sat down with Solzy at the Movies during the 2018 SXSW Film Festival to discuss Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes. Almost two years after the film first held its world premiere during SXSW, audiences will be able to watch these two greats go at it against each other. The film is available to watch on HBO this evening and will later be available to watch on…
"Dick Cavett, Robert Bader talk Ali & Cavett"
The 2020 Sundance Film Festival has come and gone but a number of films left their impression on me by the time that the film festival ended. The altitude hit me a bit more than expected this year. As such, I didn’t get to see as many films as I would have preferred to see. There were times this year that required sleeping in if it meant staying as healthy as I possibly could during…
"Sundance 2020: The Solzy Awards"
Ford v Ferrari is one one of the most exhilarating films of 2019 and audiences can now bring the film home today on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, or DVD. Listen, I’m not a racing fan by any means whatsoever. However, this did not stop me from being on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film. I didn’t even mind the 152 minute running time mostly because I didn’t even notice it! My cap…
"Ford v Ferrari Is Now Available On Home Video"
Writer-director Kitty Green sat down with Solzy at the Movies last week to discuss her new film, The Assistant, from Bleecker Street. The Assistant is currently playing in theaters after screening in the Spotlight program during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. How thrilled were you to premiere The Assistant at Telluride and then be selected for Sundance? Kitty Green: I’m not sure. Thrilled is a weird word. I knew that Telluride was an interesting place…
"Kitty Green talks The Assistant"