Festival Coverage
Slamdance Film Review: Vipaka
Former therapist/current life coach Thomas Carter (Anthony Mackie) has just released his self-help book and is on the road to success when his brother, Ben (Mike Epps), shows up and threatens to unearth haunting moments from Tommy’s past. In an attempt to make some quick cash to pay off his troubled brother, Tommy adds several additional days to his book tour and takes on a new client named Angel (Forest Whitaker). … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Joy de V.
In her debut feature film, Nadia Szold presents a nostalgic look back at the classic film noir period. Joy de V takes place in a version of New York heavily shrouded in organized crime, where Roman (Evan Louison), a small-time con-artist whose biggest scam is receiving disability checks by pretending to be crazy, and his seven-month-pregnant wife, Joy (Josephine de La Baume), live happily in a small apartment.
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Slamdance Film Review: Where I Am
In 1999, writer Robert Drake was brutally attacked by two local men and left for dead in Sligo, Ireland. The assault left Drake horribly crippled: unable to walk without a sense of balance, he is now confined to a wheelchair, and has difficulty speaking or paying attention for long periods of time. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: The Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants
Opening with Gavin McInnes—the “Godfather of Hipsterdom” and one of the co-creators of Vice Magazine—going around and asking famous comedians how to be funny, The Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants is a lot of fun. After turning his book tour into a comedy tour, McInnes gets his BFF from high school, Steve Durand, drunk and takes advantage of him… I mean, gets him to agree to go on the tour with him… yeah, that’s it. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Domestic
In this heartfelt film, Romanian director Adrian Sitaru takes us along on his investigation of humanity’s relationship with the animals we love, the animals we eat and the difference between the two. Focusing on the lives of a small, tight-knit Romanian community, Domestic is a charming examination of how relationships with animals can help us deal with life, and with death, without taking itself too seriously. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Terms and Conditions May Apply
In this eye-opening documentary, Cullen Hoback draws viewers’ attention to the plethora of reasons of why we should take a second look before clicking the “I Agree” button on the various Terms and Conditions documents we’re constantly bombarded with online. From things like GPS data being sold to police departments to Carrier IQ—a software program that documents everything you do on your smartphone—to the massive NSA eavesdropping center in Bluffdale, UT, there are many reasons for us to rethink all the personal information we upload on a daily basis. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The World According to Dick Cheney
No matter whether you admire or despise him, former Vice President Dick Cheney has unquestionably left a permanent mark on our nation’s political history. Directors R. J. Cutler and Greg Finton gain impressive and intimate access with Cheney and explore the politician’s staggering transformation as a screw-up from Wyoming who flunked out of Yale (twice) and was arrested for multiple D.U.I.s to one of the most powerful and influential men in our nation’s capitol. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Touchy Feely
In this hip, light drama, Lynn Shelton returns from last year’s Sundance success (Your Sister’s Sister) with Rosemarie DeWitt as her leading lady once again, this time, in a quiet and, well, touchy feely kinda flick. … read more
Sundance Film Festival: C.O.G.
Adapted from an essay of the same name in Sedaris’ 1997 autobiographical book, Naked, the film couldn’t have been more in-line with Sedaris’ dry wit and humorous yet terrifying experiences. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Without Shepherds
Following the lives of six very different people, Without Shepherds provides a fresh, encouraging view of the occasionally tumultuous country of Pakistan. The film weaves together stories from Imran Khan, a former cricket star and rising politician; Vaneeza Ahmad, a feminist-empowering fashion model; Arieb Azher, an enlightened musician; Mohammed Ibrahim, a student and ex-mujahid; Laiba Yousafzai, a female reporter/journalist; and Abdullah Khan, a truck driver providing for his large family. … read more