SXSW 2021 is Virtual this year. We have been attending for a decade. So glad it’s back this year after being cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic. Here is a list of the films we are seeing this time out, including episodic series, and panel discussions on film, technology and even music.
DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL – Pop icon singer/songwriter reveals her bouts with drugs, alcohol and depression that came too close to costing her life. Dramatic story of her childhood, her addicted father who died young, and her relationships with her family, managers, choreographer, assistants, and friends who were witnesses trying to help her manage the highs and many lows of her career. Director Michael D. Ratner shows her well collected history and uses animation to depict the drug overdose. Sad tale showing so many incidents, cries for help, repetitive behavior with many raw interviews from those who know her well telling same story over and over. Could have used some judicious editing, but it’s a raw tale of self destruction and Lovato’s comeback. Lessons to be learned. Series available on You Tube.
THE FALLOUT– Writer Director Megan Park has creates a startling experience of a high school shooting and the emotional fallout from the point of view of Vada who survived. It not only deals with her inner turmoil, but that of her friends, their relationships and with her family (Julie Bowen, John Ortiz). How they try to get her therapy (Shailene Woodley) when she checks out and acts out. Excellent performances by all, particularly Jenna Ortega in the lead as Vada, plus her friends, played by Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Rapp. Chilling and real to the end.
NOT GOING QUIETLY – Poignant, emotional, and inspiring documentary about Ady Barkan, the activist with ALS who keeps fighting, even as his symptoms continue to debilitate him. Diagnosed in 2015 as only having 3-4 years to live, Ady is still going strong. Directed by Nicholas Bruckman, this meticulously follows, with archive and new video, his courage, energy and persistence to confront politicians to improve access to better health care for all. Bruckman shows how Ady’s wife, Rachael (a professor and author) is there for him all the way helping create the love they share as a family with son Carl and new baby, Willow. This film is so compelling, it’s sure to get to you as it did to us.
MADE FOR LOVE – (TV series) Hilarious and disturbing at the same time. Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs), Billy Magnussen, and Ray Romano in an absurd dark romcom about a tech billionaire genius using his wife as the most precious piece of technology in the world. When she tries to escape the chase is on to get back his wife of 10 years, now his most valuable possession. Episodic with some very quirky characters. Cristin Milioti’s wide eyes are put to good use in this surprisingly engaging series. Ray Romano is totally devoted to his sidekick sex doll. The panel was hilarious. Streaming April 1st HBO MAX
LANGUAGE LESSONS – Writer/Director Natalie Morales is paid by Adam’s husband, Will, (Desean Terry) to surprise Adam (Mark Duplass) with 100 Spanish lessons online from Cariño (Natalie Morales) as a gift for his birthday. What starts as a fun refresher for Adam, becomes a lesson in listening, reacting to life’s ups and downs, and developing an unexpected friendship. Intriguing how their unusual relationship develops over time on line. Sensitive and entertaining in this time of COVID or any time. Interesting and well structured with very real performances.
VIOLET – Olivia Munn in the most layered role yet. She is a highly successful Hollywood film developer for a fancy firm who constantly second guesses herself hearing nervous and negative voices in her head. Director Justine Bateman has these voices literally written on the screen as well as voiced by Justin Theroux while showing Violet’s face of doubt and indecision deciding how to handle situations as she meets up with phonies her real friends, platonic hunk, Red (Luke Bracey) and an important ex-boyfriend. The most disturbing messages come from her abusive mother, long gone, but still in her head. Sensitive study of the voices many of us never face head on.
GENIUS: ARETHA panel – Cynthia Erivo, Executive Producer Brian Grazer, Suzan-Lori Parks, Jennifer Bryan, Anthony Hemingway, in an insightful talk about the new National Geographic/HULU series how they put together the 8-part series on the life and music of Aretha Franklin. Erivo gave a sample of her singing (“I Never Loved a Man the Way That I Loved You”), acapella. They talk about the using black and white for her childhood scenes, and recreating Aretha’s style and costumes from her concerts for the movie. Streaming now on HULU. See our full review at https://moviesandshakers.com/genius-aretha/.
INTRODUCING SELMA BLAIR – Riveting and intimate look revealing every emotion the actress experienced and is still living with after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Hers is a long and painful journey of surgeries and isolation that continued during COVID19 isolation. You see her battle the disease head on and the support she gets during the ups and downs of dealing with a totally new life. It also touches a nerve as she talks about her difficult relationship with her caustic mother.
THE END OF US – What happens when a couple breaks up when COVID hits and they have to stay together? Directors Steven Kanter and Henry Loevner create all kinds of dramedy. Ben Coleman and Ali Vingiano play the couple who have both lost their jobs. He’s an actor wannabe and she works in an office, or did! New sleeping arrangements and a controversy over social distancing with an outsider (Derrick DeBlasis) create some touchy situations. The skeleton cast and crew used an airbnb for the set during the pandemic. See our interview with Ben and Steven revealing the ups, downs and funny stuff during production.
HYSTERICAL – This film details the challenges female comedians face in contrast to males in the field. Interviews with Nikki Glaser, Sherri Shepherd, Rachel Feinstein, Kelly Bachman, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes and so many more. The spotlight is immense disparity on how they are treated on tour and at clubs where getting time on stage is hard to get and get paid equally for it. Eye-opening view of mysogynistic behavior in entertainment. You have to have thick skin to be a female standup comedian.
WE ARE THE THOUSAND –This film will rock you. Seeing 1,000 Foo Fighter fans pound, strum and belt out their song, “Learn to Fly” was an incredible undertaking and joyous experience for the participants. If you’ve ever wished you could meet your idol, this film is for you. Fabio Zaffagnini got 1,000 drummers, guitarists, and singers to come to Cesena, Italy, at their own expense, to perform the song. Why? To get Dave Grohl’s attention so Grohl would do a concert in Italy so Fabio could meet him. It took a GoFundMe, and a lot of planning, to make the You Tube that got over 60 million views and Grohl’s attention. See our interview with Director Anita Rivaroli for how they set up this massive outdoor performance and how they shot the documentary using so many cameras, drones and a crane. So inspiring, you can’t help but smile.
TOM PETTY: Somewhere You Feel Free – A rare look at rock legend Tom Petty with long lost 16mm film of he and his band working on their iconic 1994 “Wildflowers” album. Director Mary Wharton mines the archive showing him songwriting and his personal relationships with wife and daughter. Interviews at that time with producer Rick Rubin and Heartbreakers Mike Campbell, Benmont Trench and others reveal more, This film gives an intimate portrait of Petty and his ability to bare his emotion writing songs that touched his fans. Wharton incorporated his words, “Somewhere You Feel Free” from the interview about the album she did with Petty for VH1 in 1994. We didn’t know that much about him personally, but this film made an impression. Will be listening again.
THE SPARKS BROTHERS – Edgar Wright in his directorial debut chronicles the life, music, travels, and influence of The Sparks Brothers. Ron and Russel Mail have been writing and performing for 6 decades and they’re still going strong. Ron writes and Russell sings weird songs. They are billed as your favorite band’s favorite band drawing loyal fans for their creativity and musicality. Never heard of them? You will never forget them once you see this film. Due to be released in June.
ALONE TOGETHER – When popstar, Charli XCX, got frustrated and bored not being able to perform for her fans or record a new album during COVID, creativity kicked in. She reached out on zoom to collaborate with her followers for themes and lyrics for her songs. They even sent videos of themselves as they were baring their souls to each other. Her goal was to record an album in quarantine via zoom in 4o days with help from her fans. Seeing Charli XCX communicate and become emotionally involved in their lives and in hers is a very personal journey. This film pulls you in as you learn her backstory from childhood adoption to becoming an internet singing sensation with millions of followers.
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SOPHIE AND THE BARON – A charming film looking at the collaboration between young artist Sophie Kipner and legendary Rolling Stone photographerBaron Woman, known as The Baron. She draws free hand without looking taking one of his iconic shots at Woodstock and embellishes creating another version of his work. The friendship they build in the process is beautiful to watch as they learn more about each other imparting their creative process working together.
DEAR MR. BRODY – The bizarre tale of Michael Brody, the 20-year-old heir to the oleo margarine fortune who wanted to give away a billion dollars to anyone in need in the 1980’s who wrote him a letter. His good intentions created headlines and chaos as the letters and stories poured in. The film shows his whirlwind marriage, the birth of his son, the media frenzy and the legacy of letters, unopened till recently, left behind. Archive footage and the contents of the letters themselves are absolutely fascinating. And his attempt to get President Richard Nixon to stop the Viet Nam war is a head scratcher. Well documented from start to finish.
LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD – Known as “the world’s greatest domino toppling artist,”20-year-old Lily Hevesh is a master engineer and artistic architect who builds complicated, colorful towers and paths with the purpose of destroying them. Jeremy Workman had his work cut out for him not only directing, but shooting and editing this film showing how Lily works, in detail. He cleverly gets you to know the soft-spoken young Lily, leading up to her poignant backstory as a Chinese orphan adopted by a couple in the midwest who supported her creative talent which has been seen on late night TV shows and Toy conventions. It is frustrating yet fascinating to watch her domino creations fall systematically into a piles of plastic pieces.
WeWork: Making and Breaking of a $47 billion Unicorn – Watching the creator of WeWork and his wife manipulate their hires under the guise of building a socially conscious, high end, avant grade concept, is hard to watch knowing the real motive. The charismatic Adam Neumann not only took advantage of his employees and clients, but got independently rich and richer once he was exposed. The company which created state-of-the-art office space went bankrupt. Neumann and his wife left with a fortune and WeWork may be living again under new ownership. What a world!
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