'Movie 43' Review

Hardly a rebellious youth, I recall that one of the "edgiest" things I ever did in my childhood was trying to rent Kentucky Fried Movie at my local video store before I was 18. Because it was rated R, I needed my parents' permission, so the video store called my folks to ask them if it was OK that I was renting the movie. (Naturally, my parents had no idea what the hell this movie even was.) That's a fond memory, and I thought of it while watching Movie 43, which is a new generation's version of a sexually outrageous comedy made up of short films. And while it's not very good, it is rather fascinating. My review is up at Screen International.

(By the way, if you want to skip this movie and just see the best short in it, may I refer you to "Victory's Glory"? NSFW.)

Sundance 2013: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival

In the span of about a week, I saw 25 films at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but because I wasn't in Park City for the festival's entire run, there are still several titles I wish I could have seen: Escape From Tomorrow, The Spectacular Now, Fruitvale, Blue Caprice, Valentine Road, After Tiller, Toy's House, even jOBS. Those will have to wait, sadly, but I wanted to offer that caveat to the below ranking to suggest that it's far from a definitive overview of everything that was available at the festival. Nonetheless, this was my 2013 Sundance. Links lead to my reviews... (Update: I had forgotten to include the one film I saw before the festival, The Gatekeepers. It's added now.)

26. Very Good Girls
25. A.C.O.D.
24. May in the Summer
23. Prince Avalanche
22. Don Jon's Addiction
21. The East
20. Sightseers
19. Computer Chess
18. Magic Magic
17. Big Sur
16. Lovelace
15. S-VHS
14. In a World...
13. Touchy Feely
12. Breathe In
11. God Loves Uganda
10. Ain't Them Bodies Saints
9. Mother of George
8. Crystal Fairy
7. Fill the Void
6. Two Mothers
5. The Gatekeepers
4. Mud
3. C.O.G.
2. Upstream Color
1. Before Midnight

'Side Effects' Review

Someone who follows me on Twitter mentioned that he was very interested in seeing Side Effects, the forthcoming film from Steven Soderberg, but that the title just seemed so boring. Deceptively so, I say -- just like everything else in this twisty little thriller. My review is up at Screen International.

'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters' Review

Anybody else out there like Dead Snow? Norwegian horror movie from a few years ago? Very much tongue-in-cheek? Featured Nazi zombies? The filmmaker of Dead Snow, Tommy Wirkola, makes his Hollywood debut with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, and I wish it was nearly as fun. What can I say: There just aren't enough crushed heads for my taste. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Magic Magic'

Juno Temple is the best part of Magic Magic, a trippy psychological horror movie about a young American woman who's probably losing her mind on a vacation in Chile. Why is she losing her mind? Nobody knows and, frankly, I didn't care. It's all about mood with this movie, and the mood is incredibly funky. You can read my Magic Magic review over at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'A.C.O.D.'

Adam Scott is in danger of becoming the new Anna Faris. By this, I mean that he's an actor we all like whom we think should be a much bigger star than he is. But like Faris, he can't seem to make good choices. A.C.O.D. starts off with a funny premise but goes nowhere, unfortunately. For you Parks & Recreation fans, Amy Poehler is in this, too. She also is wasted in the movie. Really, everybody is. My review is up at Screen International.

Low - "California"

Yo La Tengo just released a new album, which I need to hear. (Hey, I've been a little busy.) But it got me thinking about other great indie bands whose members are married. Which led me to this particular favorite from Low.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'In a World..."

Others were captivated by the Sundance comedy In a World..., the feature debut of writer-director-star Lake Bell. Me, I though it was quite clever and funny, but it's also rather thimble-deep. Still, plenty of laughs, which is sadly rare in most comedies. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Big Sur'

You may remember that a few years ago I interviewed the Polish brothers after they took issue with a post I wrote about the direction of their career. I very much enjoyed our conversation and had been curious about their forthcoming work, Big Sur, which is based on the Jack Kerouac novel. I've seen the film now, and it's very much a continuation of the moody, melancholy aesthetic they brought to their last film, For Lovers Only. And if you love the National, their music is all over the thing, to striking effect. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Lovelace'

Back in 2010, directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman premiered Howl on opening night at the Sundance Film Festival. They return to the festival this year with Lovelace, about '70s porn star Linda Lovelace. This is one of those films that Will and I covered a decent amount back during The Projector days, so I was curious about the finished product. Now I've seen it, and I think it works, although I do have some reservations. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Very Good Girls'

For those of you who have been hankering for a movie that brings together Elizabeth Olsen and Dakota Fanning, you are in luck: Very Good Girls is here. This coming-of-age drama has a sweetness that can't obscure the fact that, really, you've seen all this before. I go into more detail over at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'C.O.G.'

I haven't read the David Sedaris essay that serves as the inspiration for C.O.G., but I can only hope it's as compassionate and moving as the film that's been made by writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez. This drama about a young man who travels to Oregon to get away from it all features a superb performance from Denis O'Hare but, really, the whole cast is excellent. This is a lovely, small-scale story that grows richer as it moves along. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'The East'

I liked Sound of My Voice, the first film from director Zal Batmanglij and star Brit Marling, but unfortunately their second, The East, is much like their previous effort, just slicker. It's a smooth-running thriller, but it doesn't add up to a whole heck of a lot. You can read my thoughts over at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints'

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is part of Sundance's U.S. Dramatic Competition, and if the jury decides to give out a prize for Best Terrence Malick Impression, this movie will win hands down. At first, writer-director David Lowery's appropriation of Malick's poetic style feels derivative, but as the film went along, well, I succumbed to Ain't Them's genuine beauty. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Prince Avalanche'

I get the impression that I'm less enamored by Prince Avalanche, the new film from writer-director David Gordon Green, than other people are. This comedy has its charms, but I ultimately found it too minor to really engage with. When you get to see it, maybe you'll disagree. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Before Midnight'

How many trilogies get better with each film? The Lord of the Rings, right. Anything else? I can't think of any others, either. Until now. Richard Linklater's Before Midnight isn't flat-out lovely like Before Sunset, but the emotional complexity of the thing is rather remarkable -- heroic, even. Watching the film last night at its Sundance premiere, I was reminded of a line by Robert Christgau about Bob Dylan's Love & Theft: "It's profound, too, by which I mean very funny." That's a great way of describing this movie as well. My rave is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'S-VHS'

No, this isn't a still from Spring Breakers. It's S-VHS, the sequel to last year's indie cult sensation V/H/S. That means more horror shorts, more found-footage fun and, sadly, more stupid wraparound narratives getting in the way. But with that said, the new film is better than the first. You can read my review at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Breathe In'

Before talking about Breathe In, it's probably important to remind you that I was a fan of director Drake Doremus' last film, Like Crazy. Not everyone is, I realize, so let me say that his new movie is a deeper, more poignant experience. But, god, do I wish it didn't lose its way near the end. My review of Breathe In is at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Touchy Feely'

Touchy Feely, the latest from writer-director Lynn Shelton, isn't as good as Humpday or Your Sister's Sister. But it still moved me, even if it does strain a little too hard for a feel-good vibe. Still, when it comes to Shelton, I forgive a lot. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2013 Review: 'Two Mothers'

Naomi Watts and Robin Wright are both excellent in Two Mothers, which is said to be based on a true story. Two longtime friends, Lil and Roz, find themselves in unlikely romantic entanglements: Lil is sleeping with Roz's son, and Roz is sleeping with Lil's son. How could such a thing happen? This very nuanced and thoughtful romantic drama seeks to provide the answers. There was a smattering of nervous laughter throughout this film's premiere last night at the Eccles, but I attribute that to audience expectations. They were thinking Two Mothers would be a bedroom farce when, in fact, it's a boldly straight-faced look at an impossible situation. My review is up at Screen International.