SXSW March 11th-March 20th

SXSW March 11th through the 20th and we are still watching films and editing interviews with Q & A’s so you can get the inside story on films, cast and crew coming soon to theaters near you.

STILL WORKING 9 – 5 – On the 40th Anniversary, Watch our interview with Director/Producers Gary and Larry Lane, and Camille Hardman telling us about making the documentary about how the original film was made talking to the the original cast and producers. Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dabney Colman, Rita Moreno, Allison Janney and more luminaries tell about it being the first film with 3 leading ladies and about how it how it shook up women and the workplace as well as the Hollywood studio attitudes. But has anything changed? The film deals with sexual harassment, equal pay, promotions, and passage of the ERA and more women’s issues. See how Dolly came up with the song for the film and a new rendition sung by Dolly with Kelly Clarkson. Don’t miss this one, it’s filled with fun and facts as relevant as today.

THE LOST CITY – There are a lot of fun surprises and good chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in this funny, self-deprecating action adventure. Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is a writer known for books about exotic places in romance-adventure novels. But she’s got writer’s block since her husband died. Alan (Channing Tatum) tries to embody the sexy, bulked up, cover model “Dash” on her action adventures, even though he’s nothing like him. On a book tour with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who wants her to lead him to The Lost City in her book and its treasure. Alan, trying to live up to his image, follows into the jungle to try to save her but watching the two and their misadventures makes you wonder who is going to save who.  See portions from the Q & A here. 

SPLIT AT THE ROOT – Immigration is still a big issue in America, particularly for families whose children were separated from them at the border or taken out of facilities and shipped elsewhere. Watch our conversation with Rosayra Pablo Cruz, Julie Schwietert Collazo (co-founder Immigrant Families Together), with Executive Producer, Lana Parilla, Producers, Maria Grasso and Miranda Bailey. The film, also produced by Rosario Dawson and Marti Nixon, and directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton, shows two mothers, separated from their kids while seeking asylum, along with a Facebook post by a mom in Queens, raised a huge outcry from women across the US. The result became a movement. Immigrant Families Together was born to do what the government couldn’t, and still isn’t doing enough, to reunite parents with their children separated by the Zero Tolerance Policy. More than 2,ooo kids are still separated from their parents.

WeCRASHED – We saw the documentary on WeWork and were curious to see how Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway were going to portray this eccentric cult like couple who built a multi-billion dollars business, then took the money and ran. Leto plays fast-talking, wheeler-dealer Adam with a slight Israeli accent, and Hathaway plays his soft-spoken adoring wife as the ethereal, yoga instructor. Self-important narcissists all the way, their portrayals are spot on. With the talented Kyle Marvin (The Climb) as Adam’s business partner, Miguel McKelvey. Directors John Requa, Glenn Ficcara and Writers Drew Crevello & Lee Eisenberg keep you curious about what these two narcissists in love are going to do and get away with next. Watch a portion of the Q & A where Hathaway says getting into character was easy once Leto came on set. We only saw the first episode, but want to see their road to wealth and ruin in the rest of the series on Apple TV+.

LINOLEUM – Jim Gaffigan in a dual role in this curious film that plays with the timeline of two men and their children. Gaffigan plays the host of a fun science TV show for kids. His show gets no respect from the TV station since it’s relegated to a late night slot. He’s a dreamer who wants to be an astronaut. When a satellite crashes into his suburban back yard, he decides it’s a sign to rebuild the space capsule. His wife and daughter see it as folly and a midlife crisis. Interwoven, there are scenes with the rich guy in town who has a strained relationship with his son. Are they somehow connected? Will the rocketship take off? Find out more watching our interview with Director Colin West who relays what it was like to work with Gaffigan playing two roles, with Tony Shaloub as a geriatric therapist, and with Rhea Seehorn, Katelyn Nacon, Gabriel Rush, and Amy Hargreaves.

SERIOUSLY RED – Starring Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Krew Boylan Daniel Webber, and Thomas Campbell. Everybody loves Dolly Parton. But when Raylene “Red” Delaney (Krew Boylan who also wrote the film) decides that impersonating Dolly is her ticket to fame and finding herself, all kinds of dramedy results. It’s peppered with Dolly-isms and a lot of surprises.  The costumes by Tim Chappel, hair and makeup by Cassie Hanlon are outrageously fun. This is the first dramatic feature directed by Gracie Otto (Under the Volcano) Seeing Red’s incredibly tumultuous journey of self-identity filled with fake hair, artificial boobs and a romantic liaison with Kenny Rogers. Featuring a catalogue of classic Dolly Parton hits, as well as from Elvis, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Kylie Minogue and more. Watch our interview with stars Krew Boylan and Daniel Webber who impersonate Dolly and Kenny, coming soon. 

I LOVE YOU DAD – Writer/Director James Morosini stars as the son in this truly touching but uncomfortable film based on his own strange and estranged relationship with his own Dad. Patton Oswalt plays Chuck who is desperate to be part of his son’s life, but has failed royally in the past, missing or cancelling every important occasion. His son, Franklin, despondent and depressed, blocks Dad on his phone and Facebook to keep from being hurt again. But Chuck gets the crazy idea to impersonate a cute waitress, Becca (Claudia Sulewski) on social media to keep up with his son’s life. Franklin bites, but what develops is a sexy digital love relationship with Becca, but in reality is his Dad.  Franklin decides he has to meet her himself! There’s lots of nervous laughter watching this awkward father son relationship. It’s hard to imagine Morosini and his father having a similar situation, but they did! Great performances from all as you sit there shouting, “NO, please don’t go there!”

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH – We think will be a break-out movie of the year. We had already screened this once, but saw online here again because it made such an impression. Writer/Director/Producer Cooper Raiff demonstrates he’s a force to be reckoned with. Starring  Dakota Johnson, Leslie Mann and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante this is more than an engaging rom com. It’s the sweet and sensitive story of love from multiple ages and angles. This film is filled with heart about longing for love and romance and finding a special connection. Raiff plays a recent college graduate still trying to find his way in the world, but sensitive to the needs of others, as well as himself. Dakota Johnson shows depth in her mysterious but tender performance. And Burghardt is captivating as her autistic daughter who is so candid, lovable and smart. This film is a definite crowd pleaser and Raiff is definitely someone to watch.

THE LAST MOVIE STARS – Impressive and creative directing by Ethan Hawke for this project to pay homage to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in a documentary on their life and marriage. Hawke gathered an incredible list of A-listers to be the voice of these stars along with the people who knew them to produce this 6-part documentary. George Clooney and Laura Linney are the voices of Newman and Woodward. Also taking roles are Melanie Griffith, Sam Rockwell, Billy Crudup, Sally Field, Zoe Kazan, Karen Allen, Steve Zahn, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Oscar Isaac, plus famous directors. We saw the first chapter of this series with Richard Linklater conducting the Q & A with Hawke after the film. Through long lost transcriptions of interviews with the actors and those close to them, we learn about their road to stardom, their first meeting as understudies on Broadway,  intimate details of their courtship and long marriage, and how they became The Last Movie Stars. 

TOMORROW’S HOPE – See our interview with Co-Producers Tamra Raven and Aaron Steinberg who talk about making their Tomorrow’s Hope documentary about “Educare, ” Started in the 1970’s, concerned and enterprising teachers got together to create a bright, colorful, safe place to educate and inspire young children living in the gang and crime-ridden Robert Taylor Housing Projects on Chicago’s South Side. Meet three children and their families who got involved with Educare and helped change the course of their children’s lives continuing with higher education. Learn about “Educare’s” history and success, now in 25 cities across the America.

APOLLO 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood – It took more than a decade for Writer/Director Richard Linklater to create this extremely detailed animated semi-autobiographical look at life in 1969 leading up to the first moon landing. It’s told mainly through the eyes and imagination of young boy, Stan, (Jack Black) who grew up in Houston, a city of the future with suburbs growing fast around the big cities. It also puts a microscope to being part of a big family at that time. Even more important, the film shows the impact and excitement landing on the moon had on the hearts, minds and dreams inspiring Americans at that time. Animation supervisor, Tommy Pallotta, has a hand drawn retro look that flows well with sounds reminiscent of that era leading to the thrill of landing on the moon. This Herculean animated effort seems to run long, but is every bit compelling.

TONY HAWK: WHEN THE WHEELS FALL OFF – Tony Hawk set the standard for skateboarders long ago and this film shows what it did for him as a kid and why he was always so driven to be the best at “vertical skating,” creating the most dangerous and difficult tricks. Hawk was awkward as a kid growing up in San Diego, but found his niche practicing incessantly to exhaustion or injury. Incredibly well shot footage never seen before shot by Producer/Director Sam Jones shows Hawk trying and failing, doing the same tricks over and over again until it works, incredibly stubborn and committed  to succeed. Interviews with Hawk, and prominent skateboard figures who skated with him and against him include Stacy Peralta, Rodney Mullen, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Neil Blender, Andy MacDonald, Duane Peters, Sean Mortimer, and Christian Hosoi. It’s a miracle Hawk can still walk and he is still doing it! DuPlass Brothers, Producers.