At SXSW2017: LET THERE BE LIGHT

March 12, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

Science! That’s got to be the immediate reaction to Let There Be Light, the new documentary about scientists who are, essentially, attempting to create a star in order to solve our energy crisis. Directed by Mila Aung-Thwin and Van Royko, the film primarily centers on the work of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), “one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today.” Based in southern France, engineers and scientists from 35 nations are working to build the world’s largest tokamak,... Read more

At SXSW2017: SIGNATURE MOVE

March 12, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

Signature Move (written by Lisa Donato and Fawzia Miriam and directed by Jennifer Reeder) is the type of film that we need right now, beautiful, light, funny, and overflowing with diversity. It presents viewers with a vision of America, Islam, and LGBTQ communities that flies in the face of preconceived notions and news coverage of them. (more…) Read more

At SXSW2017: STRANGER FRUIT

March 12, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

You have to watch a film like Stranger Fruit through two lenses to appreciate its flawed importance. It was one of the most buzzed-about films leading into SXSW. It will be interesting to see how viewers respond to it and, more importantly, what, if any, effect it has on the Michael Brown case. (more…) Read more

At SXSW2017: TROPHY

March 12, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

I missed Trophy at Sundance, so I was glad for the chance to screen it at SXSW. It could be one of the better documentaries of the year (releasing widely later this Summer). Focusing on big game hunters/hunting, it also speaks to our global economical, political, spiritual, and environmental crises. Thankfully, it’s not simply a scathing critique of a niche market, but rather a complex take on a host of divisive topics that makes for one of the more complex... Read more

At SXSW2017: AMERICAN GODS

March 11, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

It’s not just about the tech, films, and music at SXSW anymore, and one of the highs of the festival is sure to be the premiere of American Gods, the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s divine novel. It premieres on Starz on Sunday, April 30th. Read on for a recap of the pilot. (more…) Read more

At SXSW2017: 2 PIGEONS

March 11, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

It’s only day two here at SXSW, but 2 Pigeons will likely be not only my favorite Midnighter, but one of my favorite films overall. It’s a truly unique narrative that’s wickedly funny and grotesque and a perfect example of the effectiveness of single-location filmmaking. (more…) Read more

#KillerSerials: THE PATH S2, E8

March 8, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discusses the latest episode of The Path, now streaming on HULU. They talk about Cal’s desparate attempts to fundraise (or friend-raise!), Eddie’s drug-fueled spiritual journey, and the secret Cal’s mom wants to share from her deathbed. Take a listen after the jump. (more…) Read more

A Feud of Biblical Proportions

March 7, 2017 By Richard Lindsay

So far, Ryan Murphy’s Feud, featuring Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis, has delivered an entertaining take on one of the great rivalries in Hollywood history. One character in the show calls it a “feud of biblical proportions.” Which biblical feud she’s talking about I’m not sure. Cain and Abel comes to mind. Or perhaps the one between Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. Murphy has to walk a fine line here. He has to... Read more

“Goodbye, Pleasure, I Must Be Getting On…” – A review of Sondre Lerche’s “Pleasure”

March 6, 2017 By Benjamin Griffin

Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche has always been a man of textures. From tropicalia tinged smooth folk balladry to Costello-like pop rock freak outs, Lerche’s career has been one of sonic exploration marked by only two constants: endless energy and hopeless romanticism. Whether he’s playing old school jazz or dipping his toes into neo-psychedelia, Lerche always shows up with a spring in his step and his heart on his sleeve. Well, that was until about 3 albums ago now with his... Read more

Seeing the Unseen in MOONLIGHT

March 2, 2017 By J. Ryan Parker

Film has the power to make the invisible visible. It can also force viewers to witness what they have previously refused to see. The critically-acclaimed Moonlight (winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture) does just that, transporting viewers to a place and time and into peoples’ lives that aren’t often the subject of most theatrical releases. (more…) Read more