How To Be Alone (2019) SXSW 2019

A woman is left alone when her husband goes off for the night shift. She instantly goes into trying to remain sane and safe  by running down the rules of being alone at night.

Gloriously wonderful short film is as good as it gets on every level especially the entertainment one. Grand exploration of something we've all done- trying to fight the fear when left alone in a dark hose with a racing mind. While we know its all in our heroine's mind there is still chills as the dark images come calling.

No it is no truly scary hut more suspenseful and humorous, as director Kate Trefry manages to collide the fear with all fear with the silliness of what we are thinking. That a first time director can a horror comedy that works like this says volumes about her skill as a director. Please someone give her a feature film.

One of the great films of any length I've seen in 2019.

Highly recommended.

Nothing Stays the Same (2019) SXSW 2019

NOTHING STAYS THE SAME is probably one of the most important documentaries of 2019. I know it's a weird thing to say about a film about a music venue in Austin Texas that is trying to stay open, but it’s absolutely the truth. NOTHING STAYS...speaks to every town and village in America, and asks what happens when you allow crazy construction across your town when, more often than not, it is going to destroy the very thing that you are known for?

The film is the story of Austin Texas, specifically the the Saxon Pub. Austin has been known as a mecca for live music, and the Pub was considered one of the best venues to see great music. People from all over the world have gone to the pub and Austin, because they loved the music and the community that exists around it. The city was had once dozens of places like the Pub to see all sorts of music. However, as more and more people came to town costs rose and the venues that hosted live performances were driven out via taxes or problems with landlords, who either raised rents to impossible levels or simply kicked the tenants out to build apartments. The Austin music scene, as a result is dying.

This is the case with the Saxon Pub, which faces closure because the landlord got an insane offer from a developer who wants to build more apartments like the ones that surround it. As the bar faces an uncertain future, filmmaker Jeff Sandmann investigated what the loss of a legendary space such as the Saxon Pub would mean in the short and long term.

Filled with glorious music, NOTHING STAYS THE SAME is just a great film. A spot on examination on the crazy gentrification of not just Austin, but America, the film ponders what will happen to the city when music that once filled every corner of the city goes silent. What do you do when the cost of living in the city is so prohibitive to anyone who just wants to make music? Worse the venues the musicians once played in are closing. The reason that many people go or move to the city is rapidly disappearing. The city that once had a charming character is now becoming a land of dull apartment buildings.

Director Sandmann is to be commended. He has made a film that not only shows us what is in danger if our culture goes away, but also the battle to stop it. It’s a battle that is being fought across the country on all sorts of levels. While specifically aimed at music this is battle that libraries, museums and other cultural institutions are fighting across America. By showing us the battle for the Saxon Pub Sandmann makes the fight something we can all understand.

Not to put too fine a pint on it, NOTHING STAYS THE SAME is one of the  great films of 2019. Not only does it inform but it also entertains (as I said it filled with great music). This is a must see. And don’t let the fact the film runs just over an hour fool you, it has more information and emotional punch then films running twice or three times as long.

NOTHING STAYS THE SAME screens again on March 16th

Human Nature (2019) SXSW 2019

Human Nature is a look at our ability to splice genes and thus manipulate the lives and beings of every living thing on earth.

I am not certain what I think of Human Nature. While the film is full of great information and wonderfully doesn’t talk down to the audience, thus making it one of the best explorations of the subject in any media that I’ve run across. it has a couple of problems that kind of keeps me from jumping up and down and raving about it.

First the telling is so restrained that it never fully engages. I loved at what I was being told because the film simply and expertly gets the science across. The problem is it really straight forward. It remains on a single emotional level and stays there always tickling the head instead of the heart.

The other problem for me is it never really goes into the dark side. While the hubris of what happens in Jurassic Park is discussed, it is largely poo pooed as something that scientists would never do. Yes even the talking heads about how they might make changes to their children, while down sides like breeding kids to be super athletes is discussed the tone of it all always seems to be “yea we could do those things but other than for a purely good reason we wouldn’t do that”. While I would love to accept the altruism on it’s face I’ve been around the block to know that while saying they would all do the right things doesn’t mean that’s what would happen. Let’s face t there is too much money in doing evil.

And despite my nitpicks I like the film. I love that the film beautifully lays out everything you need to know to have at least a basic understanding of the subject. I just wish it was a little more realistic and a little more exciting.

Well Groomed (2019) SXSW 2019

A look at several competitive dog groomers and their quest to win the award for being the best WELL GROOMED is review proof. There is nothing that I can say about this film that is going to have any effect on its intended audience. Those that want to see it will do so and love it and those that don't  will hate it.

As you can see from the poster above the sort of grooming we are talking about is not simply making a dog look normal. That would be too easy. Instead it involves cutting and coloring the air on the dogs so that they are creations that involve mermaids, dinosaurs or characters from Alice in Wonderland. Its wild and crazy and amazing .

The film follows several of the groomers as they go through the cycle of shows and work on their designs. We get a good idea of the sort of people who strive to be the best in a competition that really is out there.

I don’t know what to say. I have no idea if this film is high art but it is a great deal of fun. It’s a wild ride full of laughs and smiles and lots of disbelief. Disbelief that people can do what they do and at the fact that people would want to do it.

If you want a wild ride you must buy a ticket. If you’re not sure if the film is for you, look at the picture above. If it delights you then buy a ticket. If you get a lemon face stay away (and have your sense of fun looked at by a doctor).

WELL GROOME D screens again today Monday, March 11th at 5:00 PM at Alamo Lamar and Thursday, March 14th at 2:45 PM at Alamo Lamar

Days of the Whale (2019)SXSW 2019

Catalina Arroyave's DAYS OF THE WHALE is a gem of a film. While the film certainly chose to world premiered at SXSW because it's street artist characters were certain to connect with the festival goers, the film is much more special and alive to simply remain connected to one segment of the film going audience.

The film follows artists Cristina and Simon who are part of a community of young artists in Medellin in Columbia. Struggling to get their art seen they also have to deal with the problems of being, young, in love and living in a city here gangs hold say over some parts of life. When a threat is left on a wall by one of the gangs, the pair decide to paint over it with a mural, thus creating a conflict between themselves and within their community.

I don't know where to start so much in this film is wonderful.  The story is compelling, the art is amazing, the sense of place is near perfect...there is so much I want to say in the hope of getting you to see the film I don't know where to start. However probably the best  reason is the cast which is as good as they come. Headed by Laura Tobón and David Escallón the cast never seems to be acting only living their lives. Better yet Tobón and Escallón work so well together that they are one of the great romantic couples I've ever run across. Their affection for each other is tactile and bleeds off the screen.  Watching the pair together I kept thinking I want that level of connection in my life.

I really love this film a great deal and I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you what I think the film is. Never mind what I think the film is, other than great, just go see it. Go see it and see a world that is more real and a live than the one you are living in some bland office somewhere.

Highly recommended.

DAYS OF THE WHALE made its world premiere as part of the Global section at the 2019 edition of the SXSW Film Festival, last night in Austin, Texas, It will make its national premiere at the Cartagena International Film Festival in Colombia, March 6-11.

Ernie and Joe (2019) SXSW 2019

I’ve seen a lot of documentaries so far in 2019 and Ernie and Joe is the first film I think has a shot at an Oscar. This portrait of two officers in the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit is a quiet stunner. It’s a film that will open your eyes and make you wonder why other police departments aren’t doing the same thing.

Opening with the two men answering a call to a court house where a man with mental issues refuses to leave a waiting room because he doesn’t feel safe. The two men sit down with the man, winning his trust and assuring him that if he goes with them all would be alright. He trusts them and goes off with them. The film then follows the men through their days, at home, at seminars and on patrol.

I don’t know what to say except this is a great film.

Vital and important this is a film that shows us something that could change the way the police operate. This film clearly shows us how one properly trained officer can make a difference. At a seminar one of the officers tells the story of how a woman called 911 saying she was going to shoot herself. The police responded with a tactical squad plus many other additional officers. As they were trying to decide how to handle it he called the woman up and talked her into putting the gun down and coming out. What could have (and in other places would have) ended tragically ended happily. Granted that doesn’t always work, we do hear of lives lost, but we also have our eyes opened to the possibility of saving more lives.

But he film does more than just show us the men working. We get to see them at home as well where we see the lives they lead and the toll the job is taking on them. We get a sense of the people it takes to do this job effectively.

You must see this film. Not only must you see the film we must use it as a rallying cry to get the police to change what they are doing.

And yes I really think that if the Oscars can get their collective heads together and realize that the best films don’t always need to be flashy or music filled this film could be taking Oscar gold.

ERNIE AND JOE screens again today Sunday, March 10th at 3:00 PM at Alamo Lamar and Friday, March 15th at 6:00 PM at Alamo Lamar

Leave The Bus Through The Broken Window (2019) SXSW 2019

Andrew Hevia decides to go to Hong Kong to cover an international art show but is completely unprepared for the trip not speaking the language, understanding the culture or knowing anything about Chinese history. He flounders and begins to turn the camera on himself.

Bittersweet and darkly funny, LEAVE THE BUS THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOW is wicked documentary about a guy in a place he probably shouldn't have been. Yes, he manages to get along and make something of the trip, but its clear he is in way over his head and is just fumbling his way along. It makes for an amusing and sad experience especially in light of the narration, which read by an mechanical female AI voice and comes across as judgmental.

Say what you will about Hevia's wanderings, the film has a glorious sense place and you really get a sense of the city of Hong Kong better than almost any other film you'll see. This is the ground level huan Hong Kong and not one made up for the cameras. I want to compare it to the home video footage that a friend of mine shot on their trip to China. While normally saying something is home movies is a bad thing, in this, and the case of my friend's footage, it's a good thing because its not images and places that look good, but rather where people dwell. You are in their world and we are better for it.

This film is a kick in the pants. Beautifully put together it is long enough to make us feel like we've had a meal and short enough never wear out its welcome.  This is the sort of hidden gem thatI'm going to be recommending to friends as it makes its way through the various festivals.

Highly recommended

LEAVE THE BUS screens again at SXSW as follows:

Sunday, March 10 at 1:45PM - Alamo Ritz 2

Wednesday, March 13 at 3:00PM - Alamo Lamar C

Mr Jimmy (2019) SXSW 2019

Portrait of Akio Sakurai aka Mr Jimmy, who played Jimmy Paige's music note for note in small clubs in Japan until the man himself saw him and gave him an ovation. He then went to America to try and make his mark as part of Led Zepagain.

Good looking and good sounding documentary is going to be a love it or loath it for most people. If you are a huge fan of Zeppelin and Paige then there is a good chance you will love the film since the film has a great deal of the legendary group's music expertly played. If you're not a fan of music or you don't click with Mr Jimmy's obsessive nature this is going to be a long haul as the film spends a lot of time allowing him to talk of his obsession (he even ants his costumes exactly the same as Paige's) and showing us form over content  sequences that don't really do much other than look good and kind of ape the arty sequences in THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME.

I found myself in the second group early on as Jimmy was going on about the way a Paige jacket sat on his shoulder and my interest began to wane. I probably could have pulled myself back from the brink if there seemed to be more to Jimmy than his obsession, but there really isn't. This is a man who lives to play but for me that simply isn't enough to support a two hour documentary.

On a purely technical level director Peter Michael Dowd has made one of the best looking films of the year. Filled with incredible images and stunning sequences  Dowd has made a film that takes us to the heart of obsession and makes us shake hands with it. I would love to see what else he can do with a story. At the same time I really wish he could have made me care about his subject more. Yes I stayed to the end through Dowd's skill in putting sound and image together but not because I really cared about his subject.

MR JIMMY premiered last night at SXSW and plays again on the 11th and 14th. Mr Jimmy will be performing on the 13th at midnight at the Dirty Dog Bar.