This week the annual SXSW festival starts. The fe.stival takes over Austin Texas and is much more than just films. I’ve been told If I went I’d have a blast, but trying to balance the fest with work has always been difficult.
As we’ve done in years past we will be covering a good number of the films. There are some truly great titles playing and we’ll have reviews as soon as the embargoes drop.
If you need some direction as to what you see might I direct you to some truly great films:
WE CAN BE HEROES is the story of a camp I could have used as a kid. It's a place where kids can go and have live role playing games. One of the great films of the fest
DICKWEED is the true story about a kidnapping gone wrong that goes really weird. Trust me on this you will be talking to the screen.
SECRET MALL APARTMENT one of my favorite directors returns with the story of a bunch of people who manage to build a hidden apartment in a shopping mall and live there for four years before anyone discovers them. It's a crazy story you need to see.
SEW TORN is crazy. A woman who trying to save her sewing store stumbles on to a drug deal gone wrong. Does she try to commit the perfect crime? Call the Cops? Walk away? I'm not telling, but you need to watch this to find out.
THIS IS A FILM ABOUT THE BLACK KEYS. This is a film that shows us the group and their creative process and it's glorious. If you are a fan of the group you'll know why it's going to be talked about for years. If you're not a fan watch this film you will become one. See this with a great sound system.
And as this posts I'm still seeing films so expect lots of reviews.
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If you were up late last Sunday night you might have read by brief take on DUNE PART 2. I mentioned that a couple of things that bothered me about the film as a representation of the book and that I wouldn’t discuss it since people hadn’t seen the film. However since the film is out and people have seen it I just wanted to discuss briefly, what bothered me.
The first thing that bothered me is the shift away from the characters to the intrigue. We get more overt moves by Lady Jessica. While it was always implied, is a little too overt. Paul’s change after taking the Water of Life is too abrupt. It wrecks the romance with Chani and by the time the ending comes his words ring hollow. It is no longer a great love because Chani is pushed aside. Also the way Villeneuve writes it Paul Marrying the emperors daughter is a slap. We don’t get the notion he is doing it for politics but all his love is with Chani (the statement that it will be a barren and loveless marriage is removed). Indeed as the film ends they are not together which makes me wonder what is going to happen with the end film.
The choice to alter the ending, that the Freman have a strangle hold on the spice and they don’t dare attack him or Arrakis is lost with the joyful ending that the Freman are going on a Holy War. Why the hell is jihad a good thing? (I am also not a fan of the change of Stilgar into a giddy fanatic)
As a film on its own terms DUNE PART 2 is a great film, but I as a representation of the book It is only a shadow.
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I saw the first preview of ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE on Broadway this week.
I don’t think it’s fair to review a play this early, but while the cast is good, the staging needs work.
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AQUAMAN 2 is amusing.
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More festival stuff over the next week.
I'll have a piece on the Oscars next weekend.
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