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Slamdance Film Review: On The Sly: In Search of the...
Starting innocently enough as a documentary of a fan trying to score an interview with their favorite musical artist, On the Sly turns into a decade-long search for Sly Stone, the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone and composer of hit classics like “Everyday People” and “Thank You.” … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Kate Can’t Swim
“Kate Can’t Swim,” directed by Josh Helman, can almost be described as a post-coming of age film as Kate (Celeste Arias) starts to feel unsettled right as her life is seemingly falling into place. Artistically, all of the elements are in place for a visually stunning cinematic experience. “Kate Can’t Swim” shows on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ballroom and Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Gallery. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Jia (The Family)
Patient and poised, Shumin Liu’s feature-film debut is a measured masterpiece. From muted start to wrenching denouement, Shumin Liu brings a considered and stylish sensibility to the ordinariness that imbues The Family’s story. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: The Children Send Their Regards
The Children Send Their Regards is relentlessly eye-opening and excruciatingly detailed in its examination of the corruption that pervades throughout the clergy—and throughout a society with a legal system and statue of limitations that protects the abusers over the abused. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Weather House
“Weather House” depicts a post-apocalyptic world where humans are driven to the brink of extinction via extreme and sudden temperature shifts. While the film does not give us many clues as to how the world came to be this way, it does show what a certain, cult-like group does in order to ensure its survival. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Dim the Fluorescents
Fitted with long scenes, on-point characters and justly over-the-top dialogue, Dim the Fluorescents is as imaginative and entertaining as are Audrey and Lillian’s sensational corporate demonstrations. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Dave Made a Maze
Slamdance Film Festival’s “Dave Made a Maze,” directed by Bill Watterson, is a quirky, absurd comedy with a touch of horror-movie antics, starting with Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani) learning that her boyfriend Dave (Nick Thune) is inside of a cardboard mass. “Dave Made a Maze” plays Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 23 at 10:30 a.m. in the Ballroom. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Withdrawn
Director Adrian Murray’s first feature film, “Withdrawn,” is somewhat of a dry farce that manages to be both entertaining and subdued. The broke, basement-dwelling, band-tee-wearing Aaron spends his days mostly alone, preoccupying himself by playing video games, trying to solve a Rubik’s Cub and also trying to find ways to pay bills that he can’t afford. When he finds a lost credit card, Aaron decides to hatch a defrauding scheme. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Bogalusa Charm
Bogalusa Charm chronicles the people of Bogalusa, who narrate their own interwoven histories as part of the collective lore of the town. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Strad Style
Danny Houck is a 32-year-old eccentric. He wears a long scarf around his head at almost all times, and he has a mania for violins. In particular, he’s obsessed with the two greatest violinmakers in musical history, the Masters of Cremona: Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu. Director Stefan Avalos’ “Strad Style” has us cheering for Danny from beginning to end. … read more