January 4, 2023

Contributor Limelight: Max Bennion

Max Bennion has been lending his exemplary skills in film writing to our Contributing Writer collective since October of 2021, covering national and local films including our own Utah cinematic treasure, the Slamdance Film Festival. Check out his coverage of Slamdance exclusively at slugmag.com.

Articles by contributor

Film Review: Civil War

Film Review: Civil War
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Civil War is intentionally unemotional, apolitical and apathetic toward the American identity. … read more

Film Review: Riddle of Fire

Film Review: Riddle of Fire
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With so many charming kid performances, good vibes and slices of blueberry pie to go around, it’s disappointing that the ending leaves a bittersweet taste. … read more

Sundance Film Review: Skywalkers: A Love Story

Sundance Film Review: Skywalkers: A Love Story
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Part-thriller, part-romance and part-heist film, Skywalkers performs a delicate balance of genres that pays-off with a climax that elicited two cheers and a standing ovation from its premiere audience. … read more

Sundance Film Review: Handling the Undead

Sundance Film Review: Handling the Undead
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Handling the Undead is a well-crafted re-contextualization of a familiar monster that ruminates on how to mourn loss when it’s staring you in the face. … read more

Sundance Film Review: Good One

Sundance Film Review: Good One
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Good One explores teenage girlhood as 17-year-old Sam embarks on a weekend in the Catskills with her father and his longtime friend. … read more

Sundance Film Review: Will & Harper

Sundance Film Review: Will & Harper
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Will Ferrell and Harper Steele star in Will & Harper, where two lifelong friends embark on a cross-country road trip after one comes out as a trans woman. … read more

Pathfinder: Reclaiming the Native Narrative with Winding Path

Pathfinder: Reclaiming the Native Narrative with Winding Path
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The team behind Sundance film Winding Path strives to offer a counternarrative to Native stereotypes and reclaim the Wind River Reservation as a place for positive stories to be told. … read more

The Stories We Still Need: Queer Filmmaking in Utah

The Stories We Still Need: Queer Filmmaking in Utah
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These two local LGBTQ+ indie films prove that the Salt Lake film community is much broader and more diverse than what gets shown on the big screen. … read more

5th Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market Presented By Google Fiber @ Union Station

5th Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market Presented By Google...
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Celebrating its fifth year, Holiday Market provided plenty of opportunities for fun and finding the perfect gifts to complete attendees’ holiday shopping. … read more

Film Review: Thin Skin

Film Review: Thin Skin
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Despite a few weak performances, Thin Skin soars where it counts and paints a picture of an artist on the rise despite the pain of the darker sides of life. … read more

Film Review: Talk To Me

Film Review: Talk To Me
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Talk To Me is a brisk watch offering a clever concept, true terror beyond the fleeting nature of a jump scare. … read more

Film Review: Barbie

Film Review: Barbie
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Barbie doesn’t just make a toy seem real; it makes that toy’s literal and philosophical journey to reality the core of its story. … read more

Film Review: Egghead & Twinkie

Film Review: Egghead & Twinkie
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Egghead & Twinkie is a low-budget comedy that wears its heart and influences on its sleeve, and it’s sure to resonate deeply with its target audience. … read more

Slamdance Film Review: Mad Cats

Slamdance Film Review: Mad Cats
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Mad Cats is a joy to behold. When something’s this much of a blast, looks this good and has this much quality stunt work, how could it not be? … read more

Slamdance Film Review: A Perfect Day for Caribou

Slamdance Film Review: A Perfect Day for Caribou
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A Perfect Day For Caribou’s metaphor is a little obvious, but following Herman and Nate through their shared blood and flawed traits is a quiet fascination. … read more

Slamdance Film Review: New Religion

Slamdance Film Review: New Religion
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Having time and the ability to perceive it allows us a sense of history. In Keishi Kondo’s New Religion, history is enviable when you have so little of it. … read more

Film Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Film Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is yet another endlessly entertaining watch as well as a satisfying showcase of quality genre filmmaking. … read more

Film Review: Pivot Pals

Film Review: Pivot Pals
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Despite the apparent commentary on things like masculinity and grief, Pivot Pals’ ending message is a familiar one of kindness and friendship. … read more

Film Review: Squeal

Film Review: Squeal
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If you’re interested in an odd, international, indie-folk fairy tale that will leave you dizzy trying to discern meaning, then Squeal is worth the watch. … read more

Film Review: The White Fortress

Film Review: The White Fortress
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For all its solid performances, beautiful cinematography and interesting characters, The White Fortress is beautiful in moments but uninteresting in others. … read more

Film Review: We Were Hyphy

Film Review: We Were Hyphy
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For a documentary about 20-year old niche, cultural movement, We Were Hyphy is a testament to the craft and love of those behind it. … read more

Film Review: Compartment No. 6

Film Review: Compartment No. 6
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I was not on board at the start of Compartment No. 6, but it’s a testament to the original text, adaptation and the performances that, by the end, I am endeared. … read more

Slamdance Film Review: Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater

Slamdance Film Review: Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater
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Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater is a timeless, double-layered slice of youth and indie culture that is sure to gain praise. … read more

Film Review: American Night

Film Review: American Night
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Overstuffed and muddled by the nonlinear storytelling, the stylish-yet-mostly-standard American Night searches desperately for meaning. … read more

Film Review: Agnes

Film Review: Agnes
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Agnes, directed by Mickey Reece, explores the relationship between life, loss and religion in two distinct halves. … read more

Film Review: The Parker Sessions

Film Review: The Parker Sessions
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The Parker Sessions is an interesting concept that works most of the time due to its cinematography and a strong performance by Rachell Sean. … read more

Film Review: No Future

Film Review: No Future
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Shot with a somber haze in its framing, coloring and camera movement, No Future creates a sense of hopelessness, realism and slowness. … read more