Film Review: Refuge

Year: 2021 Runtime: 78 minutes Directors: Erin Bernhardt and Din Blankenship By Morgan Roberts How do we unlearn hate? How do we break past our prejudices to love those who look and live differently than us?  In the documentary film, “Refuge,” we see just that. Chris Buckley is a veteran who returned from combat, traumatized and looking to make sense of what he endured.  Instead, … Continue reading Film Review: Refuge

Lynn Shelton

On Lynn Shelton, Messy 30-Somethings, and the Beauty of Complexity

By Morgan Roberts This is part personal, part film dissection. Do you remember the first time you saw a film from your favorite filmmaker? Do you remember the wonder? The awe?  The vibrating magic that seared through your soul as a creative paradigm shift happened to you? I remember mine.   I was in my last year or so of undergrad. I was attending school … Continue reading On Lynn Shelton, Messy 30-Somethings, and the Beauty of Complexity

Film Review: The Magician’s Elephant

Year: 2023 Runtime: 99 minutes Director: Wendy Rogers Writers: Martin Hynes (Screenplay by), Kate DiCamillo (based on the book by) Actors: Noah Jupe, Brian Tyree Henry, Mandy Patinkin, Natasia Demetriou, Benedict Wong By Tom Moore The directorial debut of Wendy Rogers, “The Magician’s Elephant,” is a quaint, animated tale about the seemingly impossible being possible that’s easy to like even if it suffers from some … Continue reading Film Review: The Magician’s Elephant

Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 80 minutes Director/Writer: Kattia G. Zúñiga Actors: Ariana Chaves Gavilán, Cala Rossel Campos, Fernando Bonilla, Joshua De Leon, Milagros Fernandez, Gabriela Man By Rosa Parra Latin American cinema, Central American cinema in particular, isn’t given the necessary attention and acknowledgment it deserves. “Sister & Sister” (Las Hijas) is an example of why this type of cinema should be talked about alongside the … Continue reading Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

Art for Everyone: SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 106 minutes Director: Miranda Yousef By Joan Amenn Disclaimer: I am not a fan of the works of Thomas Kinkade, who is the subject of this documentary by Miranda Yousef. Why am I reviewing it then? Because I am a fan of artists and films that tell their stories so I hoped to gain new insight into someone who I did not … Continue reading Art for Everyone: SXSW 2023 Review

Film Review: Unseen (2023)

Year: 2023 Runtime: 76 minutes Director: Yoko Okumura Writers: Salvatore Cardoni, Brian Rawlins Actors: Jolene Purdy, Midori Francis, Michael Patrick Lane, Missi Pyle, Ren Hanami By Tom Moore Director Yoko Okumura’s feature debut, “Unseen,” defines “doing a lot with a little” as her strong direction, two incredible central performances, and one killer premise all come together for a highly engaging and entertaining thrill ride. “Unseen” … Continue reading Film Review: Unseen (2023)

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life: SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 80 minutes Director: Dan Covert Writers: Amy Dempsey, Dan Covert, Erik Auli, Tara Rose Stromberg By Joan Amenn Nominated for a Grand Jury Award at this year’s SXSW, “Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life” is an intriguing look at an artist who has managed to create ubiquitous images and yet, remain relatively unknown. Geoff McFetridge’s work can be seen everywhere from movie titles … Continue reading Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life: SXSW 2023 Review