A shot from my front-row seat to the Q & A for The Fall Guy.By Abe Friedtanzer
I had the pleasure of being back in Austin for the fourth time for the SXSW Film and TV Festival, which began on Friday, March 8th and officially concluded Sunday, March 17th. During my time there, I got to see 27 in-person films and screened 17 additional films, as well as the first two episodes of season three of Hacks, which premieres in May on Max (and is just as good as ever).
As usual, most of what I saw was really terrific. It was good to see major releases like Monkey Man and Civil War ahead of their theatrical releases with an enthusiastic crowd, though neither compared in quality to The Fall Guy, which was a lot of fun. Two streaming releases coming next month also make my top ten, and I’ll hope...
I had the pleasure of being back in Austin for the fourth time for the SXSW Film and TV Festival, which began on Friday, March 8th and officially concluded Sunday, March 17th. During my time there, I got to see 27 in-person films and screened 17 additional films, as well as the first two episodes of season three of Hacks, which premieres in May on Max (and is just as good as ever).
As usual, most of what I saw was really terrific. It was good to see major releases like Monkey Man and Civil War ahead of their theatrical releases with an enthusiastic crowd, though neither compared in quality to The Fall Guy, which was a lot of fun. Two streaming releases coming next month also make my top ten, and I’ll hope...
- 3/18/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Games like Mafia or One Night Ultimate Werewolf are fun because they give people the chance to take on roles and to use critical thinking skills to deduce who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. But they also have the potential to create very awkward moments by bringing out real emotions betrayed under the guise of playing a part, and to create divisions in friendships based on harsh truths accidentally revealed. Sundance hit It’s What’s Inside, which was acquired by Netflix ahead of its SXSW premiere, dials that up a few levels in the best possible way…...
Games like Mafia or One Night Ultimate Werewolf are fun because they give people the chance to take on roles and to use critical thinking skills to deduce who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. But they also have the potential to create very awkward moments by bringing out real emotions betrayed under the guise of playing a part, and to create divisions in friendships based on harsh truths accidentally revealed. Sundance hit It’s What’s Inside, which was acquired by Netflix ahead of its SXSW premiere, dials that up a few levels in the best possible way…...
- 3/17/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
It’s rarely comfortable to hear the kinds of things that people say to those they hire to work in their homes. Most grin and bear it, letting a reductive comment or offensive statement go for the sake of keeping a paycheck and not starting something. The protagonist of We Strangers does something different, utilizing the gullibility of one woman whose house she cleans to make some extra money and realizing that it will only make her more valuable. It’s only a half-calculated gamble, which defines most of what this vexing main character does…...
It’s rarely comfortable to hear the kinds of things that people say to those they hire to work in their homes. Most grin and bear it, letting a reductive comment or offensive statement go for the sake of keeping a paycheck and not starting something. The protagonist of We Strangers does something different, utilizing the gullibility of one woman whose house she cleans to make some extra money and realizing that it will only make her more valuable. It’s only a half-calculated gamble, which defines most of what this vexing main character does…...
- 3/17/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
Abe Friedtanzer
Do you still have the keys to the places you used to live? They might be good for sentimental value, or, if you’re feeling like some casual criminal activity, worth trying to see if the landlord or new owner didn’t actually change the locks. That concept is part of the premise for 7 Keys, an intoxicating, whirlwind thriller about two people who meet and go on a “property porn tour” of London while getting to know each other in a very intimate way. It’s wild and intense and overall quite a unique experience…...
Do you still have the keys to the places you used to live? They might be good for sentimental value, or, if you’re feeling like some casual criminal activity, worth trying to see if the landlord or new owner didn’t actually change the locks. That concept is part of the premise for 7 Keys, an intoxicating, whirlwind thriller about two people who meet and go on a “property porn tour” of London while getting to know each other in a very intimate way. It’s wild and intense and overall quite a unique experience…...
- 3/16/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Siblings have surely wished for a brief frustrated moment when they were young that they were only children, and parents might have also momentarily considered whether their lives would be easier if they hadn’t had a child. But those thoughts shouldn’t linger much, and if they do, it’s probably not a good thing to say out loud. Audrey tells an entertaining story of three people who find that things are a lot breezier when one member of their family is in a coma and no longer actively complicating their lives…...
Siblings have surely wished for a brief frustrated moment when they were young that they were only children, and parents might have also momentarily considered whether their lives would be easier if they hadn’t had a child. But those thoughts shouldn’t linger much, and if they do, it’s probably not a good thing to say out loud. Audrey tells an entertaining story of three people who find that things are a lot breezier when one member of their family is in a coma and no longer actively complicating their lives…...
- 3/16/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
What could possibly go wrong when a woman stuck in an unfamiliar place decides to join up with five guys on a hunting trip? Some hazing, seemingly good fun, and then a less pleasant turn of events, as portrayed in Hunting Daze, an interesting specimen screening in the Midnighters section at SXSW that goes from strangely serene to quite unsettling over the course of its brief seventy-nine minutes…...
What could possibly go wrong when a woman stuck in an unfamiliar place decides to join up with five guys on a hunting trip? Some hazing, seemingly good fun, and then a less pleasant turn of events, as portrayed in Hunting Daze, an interesting specimen screening in the Midnighters section at SXSW that goes from strangely serene to quite unsettling over the course of its brief seventy-nine minutes…...
- 3/15/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
The notion of consent is something that should have always defined all relationships, yet it’s only come to prominence as an expected condition of any romantic or sexual interaction in recent years. Revisiting traumatic interactions can be very triggering, but doing so in a safe and supportive space can prove therapeutic. The documentary Roleplay looks at the fascinating process being implemented to open eyes to the reality of sexual assault on campus through an experimental theater program...
The notion of consent is something that should have always defined all relationships, yet it’s only come to prominence as an expected condition of any romantic or sexual interaction in recent years. Revisiting traumatic interactions can be very triggering, but doing so in a safe and supportive space can prove therapeutic. The documentary Roleplay looks at the fascinating process being implemented to open eyes to the reality of sexual assault on campus through an experimental theater program...
- 3/15/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
How much do we actually want to know about the products we use? It’s easy to write off potentially problematic labor processes or ingredients for the sake of convenience, though that’s probably not the smartest idea long-term. Those who would rather not turn a blind eye to unnerving science and would prefer to be in the know will find plenty to learn - and be endlessly disturbed about - in the documentary Plastic People, which dissects just how far we’ve already gone in terms of our indulgence in a problematic industry…...
How much do we actually want to know about the products we use? It’s easy to write off potentially problematic labor processes or ingredients for the sake of convenience, though that’s probably not the smartest idea long-term. Those who would rather not turn a blind eye to unnerving science and would prefer to be in the know will find plenty to learn - and be endlessly disturbed about - in the documentary Plastic People, which dissects just how far we’ve already gone in terms of our indulgence in a problematic industry…...
- 3/14/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Driving on a long road trip alone across the country brings with it its share of risks, especially for a woman. Encountering a few sketchy characters and breaking down somewhere far from help are well within the realm of possibility. But getting trapped somewhere and finding it impossible to leave is considerably less likely, even if it does make for a solid movie premise. That’s the situation in which one woman (Kristine Froseth) finds herself as she tries to head to a home that it seems increasingly like she’s never going to see again…...
Driving on a long road trip alone across the country brings with it its share of risks, especially for a woman. Encountering a few sketchy characters and breaking down somewhere far from help are well within the realm of possibility. But getting trapped somewhere and finding it impossible to leave is considerably less likely, even if it does make for a solid movie premise. That’s the situation in which one woman (Kristine Froseth) finds herself as she tries to head to a home that it seems increasingly like she’s never going to see again…...
- 3/11/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
It’s chilling to contemplate how many people have been classified as 'other' or 'undesirable' throughout history. As a result many have been subjected to horrific and dehumanizing treatment. Conditions perceived as abnormal and deplorable have often been used to justify incarceration or forced rehabilitation. We Were Dangerous looks at a group of girls deemed incorrigible and forced to work towards becoming socially acceptable women, and a few who refused to let their personalities be erased by a repressive and backward-thinking society…...
It’s chilling to contemplate how many people have been classified as 'other' or 'undesirable' throughout history. As a result many have been subjected to horrific and dehumanizing treatment. Conditions perceived as abnormal and deplorable have often been used to justify incarceration or forced rehabilitation. We Were Dangerous looks at a group of girls deemed incorrigible and forced to work towards becoming socially acceptable women, and a few who refused to let their personalities be erased by a repressive and backward-thinking society…...
- 3/10/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
People are never quite as far apart as they seem. While a parent surely changes as a result of having to now put someone else first, a part of their old self still remains, even if it’s hidden. An unexpected death prompts an unusual connection for one young woman and her mother in the insightful, entertaining, and creative The Queen of My Dreams, screening at SXSW…...
People are never quite as far apart as they seem. While a parent surely changes as a result of having to now put someone else first, a part of their old self still remains, even if it’s hidden. An unexpected death prompts an unusual connection for one young woman and her mother in the insightful, entertaining, and creative The Queen of My Dreams, screening at SXSW…...
- 3/10/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
The grass is always greener on the other side, and it’s easy to imagine that things might be better if only something was different. Natalia Santa’s sophomore feature Malta, which makes its world premiere at SXSW, follows a woman named Mariana (Estefanía Piñeres) who is looking to get away from her life in Bogotá, Colombia and has become fixated on the island of Malta as somewhere she could be free from it all. Unfortunately for her, she’s not headed anywhere with any particular urgency…...
The grass is always greener on the other side, and it’s easy to imagine that things might be better if only something was different. Natalia Santa’s sophomore feature Malta, which makes its world premiere at SXSW, follows a woman named Mariana (Estefanía Piñeres) who is looking to get away from her life in Bogotá, Colombia and has become fixated on the island of Malta as somewhere she could be free from it all. Unfortunately for her, she’s not headed anywhere with any particular urgency…...
- 3/9/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
No two people feel the exact same way about any film. Thus, Team Experience is pairing up to debate the merits of this year’s Oscar movies. Here's Abe Friedtanzer and Cláudio Alves on The Holdovers…
Abe: Cláudio, it is always my pleasure to talk about films with you even though I know our tastes rarely overlap. In fact, when I met you in-person at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, you noted that we were barely seeing any of the same films. I was only in Toronto for three and a half days and saw a whirlwind eighteen films in that time, the best of which was The Holdovers. My editor decided to hold my review for the theatrical release, which proved somewhat underwhelming, but fortunately there was plenty of awards acclaim for the film to keep my enthusiasm up about this gem.
I remember seeing Sideways twenty...
Abe: Cláudio, it is always my pleasure to talk about films with you even though I know our tastes rarely overlap. In fact, when I met you in-person at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, you noted that we were barely seeing any of the same films. I was only in Toronto for three and a half days and saw a whirlwind eighteen films in that time, the best of which was The Holdovers. My editor decided to hold my review for the theatrical release, which proved somewhat underwhelming, but fortunately there was plenty of awards acclaim for the film to keep my enthusiasm up about this gem.
I remember seeing Sideways twenty...
- 3/8/2024
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
No two people feel the exact same way about any film. Thus, Team Experience is pairing up to debate the merits of this year’s Oscar movies. Here's Abe Friedtanzer and Nick Taylor on Poor Things…
Nick: Hello Abe! Congratulations on Poor Things winning the Team Experience Award for Best Picture. I’m glad a film that moves, sounds, and dresses in such an offbeat manner has become such a critical and popular hit. It’s always nice to see weird art winning. That being said, I don’t count myself as a fan of Poor Things, and have a lot of complaints I could throw at its many, many, unapologetic excesses. Still, I like starting these Split Decision panels on notes of praise, and I’d really love to hear what you think of Poor Things.
Abe: Hey Nick! Always happy to chat about movies. I had the pleasure...
Nick: Hello Abe! Congratulations on Poor Things winning the Team Experience Award for Best Picture. I’m glad a film that moves, sounds, and dresses in such an offbeat manner has become such a critical and popular hit. It’s always nice to see weird art winning. That being said, I don’t count myself as a fan of Poor Things, and have a lot of complaints I could throw at its many, many, unapologetic excesses. Still, I like starting these Split Decision panels on notes of praise, and I’d really love to hear what you think of Poor Things.
Abe: Hey Nick! Always happy to chat about movies. I had the pleasure...
- 3/6/2024
- by Nick Taylor
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
I find that going into movies knowing as little as possible is always an advantage, though it can be difficult when something has a big budget and has been relentlessly advertised. Fortunately and perhaps miraculously, all I knew of Argylle before sitting down to watch was the tagline from the billboards I’ve seen plastered all over Los Angeles:
“The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.”
With those expectations, I imagined excess and entertainment, which this film sort of delivers…...
I find that going into movies knowing as little as possible is always an advantage, though it can be difficult when something has a big budget and has been relentlessly advertised. Fortunately and perhaps miraculously, all I knew of Argylle before sitting down to watch was the tagline from the billboards I’ve seen plastered all over Los Angeles:
“The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.”
With those expectations, I imagined excess and entertainment, which this film sort of delivers…...
- 2/2/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Pedro Pascal in Freaky Tales | Sundance Institute
This was my ninth time being in Park City for the Sundance Film Festival, and even though a family occasion meant I only arrived on Sunday (the festival started Thursday), I still saw twenty-five films in person and three before the fest. I did three days of five movies back-to-back, which is an incomparable thrill that can also prove quite exhausting. Fortunately, there was plenty of good fare worth remembering, and some of it is even coming soon to a screen of some sort near you!
Because there’s just so much playing, I didn’t actually see most of the official award winners, but you can peruse that list here. For my “jury of one,” here are my top ten films and a few other assorted honors. My reviews, if available, are hyperlinked, as well as notes on distribution if available.
Pedro Pascal in Freaky Tales | Sundance Institute
This was my ninth time being in Park City for the Sundance Film Festival, and even though a family occasion meant I only arrived on Sunday (the festival started Thursday), I still saw twenty-five films in person and three before the fest. I did three days of five movies back-to-back, which is an incomparable thrill that can also prove quite exhausting. Fortunately, there was plenty of good fare worth remembering, and some of it is even coming soon to a screen of some sort near you!
Because there’s just so much playing, I didn’t actually see most of the official award winners, but you can peruse that list here. For my “jury of one,” here are my top ten films and a few other assorted honors. My reviews, if available, are hyperlinked, as well as notes on distribution if available.
- 1/29/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
John Early in "Stress Positions"
Since March 2020, a number of films and TV series have addressed the life-altering Covid-19 pandemic in their storylines. Often it’s fodder for comedy, since looking back at people furiously wiping down groceries and staying far, far apart from each other can be humorous in retrospect. In some cases, it’s just an extra obstacle to make life a little bit harder and more complicated. In filmmaker Theda Hammel’s feature debut, Stress Positions, staying afloat in a chaotic and isolating time is a considerable challenge for its memorable characters.
John Early stars as Terry, a recently divorced Brooklyn resident watching over his nineteen-year-old nephew from Morocco, Bahlul (Qaher Harhash), as he recovers from an accident...
John Early in "Stress Positions"
Since March 2020, a number of films and TV series have addressed the life-altering Covid-19 pandemic in their storylines. Often it’s fodder for comedy, since looking back at people furiously wiping down groceries and staying far, far apart from each other can be humorous in retrospect. In some cases, it’s just an extra obstacle to make life a little bit harder and more complicated. In filmmaker Theda Hammel’s feature debut, Stress Positions, staying afloat in a chaotic and isolating time is a considerable challenge for its memorable characters.
John Early stars as Terry, a recently divorced Brooklyn resident watching over his nineteen-year-old nephew from Morocco, Bahlul (Qaher Harhash), as he recovers from an accident...
- 1/28/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Police reform is a hot-button issue, with calls from the left to "defund the police" and responses from the right that “blue lives” matter. Complicating those concepts is the fact that every American has grown up with the police as an established reality. Considering what something else could look like requires an acknowledgment that it hasn’t always been this way and perhaps shouldn’t be. Yance Ford’s documentary Power looks at the history of the police and how that’s shaped where we as a country now.
So much of present-day policing stems from racist institutions, beginning with slave catchers as the original model for police forces, which first began in Boston and quickly spread throughout the country...
Police reform is a hot-button issue, with calls from the left to "defund the police" and responses from the right that “blue lives” matter. Complicating those concepts is the fact that every American has grown up with the police as an established reality. Considering what something else could look like requires an acknowledgment that it hasn’t always been this way and perhaps shouldn’t be. Yance Ford’s documentary Power looks at the history of the police and how that’s shaped where we as a country now.
So much of present-day policing stems from racist institutions, beginning with slave catchers as the original model for police forces, which first began in Boston and quickly spread throughout the country...
- 1/27/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
Before we get the shortlist on Thursday, here’s today’s volley, on Best International Feature, from Elisa Giudici and Abe Friedtanzer...
The Zone Of Interest feels like a lock in this race.
Abe: Hi Elisa! I'm excited to talk about one of my favorite categories, Best International Feature! This year we have 88 submissions from all around the world. While I'm still hoping to catch more in the next few weeks, I think I've managed to track down a good number of the top contenders. Interestingly, this year's likely frontrunner is from a country that rarely gets noticed, in part because most of its films simply aren't eligible. That would be the United Kingdom, which has quite an intense feature in The Zone of Interest, a haunting portrait of the commandant of Auschwitz and his family, who live right next to the infamous concentration camp but live quite the serene life.
The Zone Of Interest feels like a lock in this race.
Abe: Hi Elisa! I'm excited to talk about one of my favorite categories, Best International Feature! This year we have 88 submissions from all around the world. While I'm still hoping to catch more in the next few weeks, I think I've managed to track down a good number of the top contenders. Interestingly, this year's likely frontrunner is from a country that rarely gets noticed, in part because most of its films simply aren't eligible. That would be the United Kingdom, which has quite an intense feature in The Zone of Interest, a haunting portrait of the commandant of Auschwitz and his family, who live right next to the infamous concentration camp but live quite the serene life.
- 12/19/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
by Abe Friedtanzer
Thirty years ago, Meg Ryan and David Duchovny were at the height of their popularity. Ryan starred opposite Tom Hanks in one of the definitive romantic comedies, Sleepless in Seattle, and Duchovny was headlining, along with Gillian Anderson, what would become one of the most popular series of the 1990s, The X-Files. While Duchovny has starred in other series like Californication and Aquarius, and a few films since, you have to go back to 2015 for Ryan’s last screen credit, her directorial debut Ithaca. The two are back together in Ryan’s second try at directing, What Happens Later, a film that falls flat early on and doesn’t get much better after that…...
Thirty years ago, Meg Ryan and David Duchovny were at the height of their popularity. Ryan starred opposite Tom Hanks in one of the definitive romantic comedies, Sleepless in Seattle, and Duchovny was headlining, along with Gillian Anderson, what would become one of the most popular series of the 1990s, The X-Files. While Duchovny has starred in other series like Californication and Aquarius, and a few films since, you have to go back to 2015 for Ryan’s last screen credit, her directorial debut Ithaca. The two are back together in Ryan’s second try at directing, What Happens Later, a film that falls flat early on and doesn’t get much better after that…...
- 11/5/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By: Chris James, Eurocheese and Abe Friedtanzer
Reunions happen in the most unlikely of places. In this case, three The Film Experience writers ran into each other at the World Premiere of Matt Brown’s film Freud’s Last Session at the AFI Film Festival.
The fun of festivals is always to find out what are the similarities in everyone’s schedules and the differences. Since Chris, Abe and Eurocheese were all seeing Freud’s Last Session, All of Us Strangers and American Fiction during the festival, we thought it would be fun to have a round table to compare and contrast their opinions on the films. What did they love and what did they hate?...
Reunions happen in the most unlikely of places. In this case, three The Film Experience writers ran into each other at the World Premiere of Matt Brown’s film Freud’s Last Session at the AFI Film Festival.
The fun of festivals is always to find out what are the similarities in everyone’s schedules and the differences. Since Chris, Abe and Eurocheese were all seeing Freud’s Last Session, All of Us Strangers and American Fiction during the festival, we thought it would be fun to have a round table to compare and contrast their opinions on the films. What did they love and what did they hate?...
- 11/3/2023
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Following Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Oscar nomination for Best Director for Drive My Car two years ago and his win in the Best International Feature category, it’s fair to assume most foreign-language cinephiles will be seeking out his work if they weren’t already. I had the chance to see Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, his other 2021 film, which was very different but just as interesting in its own way. Now, Hamaguchi’s latest, Evil Does Not Exist, is touring the festival circuit, with previous stops at Venice, Toronto, and New York, among others, before the currently running AFI Fest…...
Following Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Oscar nomination for Best Director for Drive My Car two years ago and his win in the Best International Feature category, it’s fair to assume most foreign-language cinephiles will be seeking out his work if they weren’t already. I had the chance to see Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, his other 2021 film, which was very different but just as interesting in its own way. Now, Hamaguchi’s latest, Evil Does Not Exist, is touring the festival circuit, with previous stops at Venice, Toronto, and New York, among others, before the currently running AFI Fest…...
- 10/27/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Courtesy of TIFF
There are many things to be angry about in today’s world, including the inaction by governments around crucial issues. Activism takes many forms and often has specific aims, but the goals of a protest movement can also be wildly unattainable. The very funny A Difficult Year pokes fun at that notion with its story of two opportunists who become involved with an anti-commercialization group for all the wrong reasons...
Courtesy of TIFF
There are many things to be angry about in today’s world, including the inaction by governments around crucial issues. Activism takes many forms and often has specific aims, but the goals of a protest movement can also be wildly unattainable. The very funny A Difficult Year pokes fun at that notion with its story of two opportunists who become involved with an anti-commercialization group for all the wrong reasons...
- 9/22/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Courtesy of TIFF
Those who are confused by the current situation in the Middle East have a long, even more complicated history to consider that explains some of the roots of today’s issues. Shoshana takes place in 1938, when the British control Mandatory Palestine and the Nazis are beginning to conquer Europe. Two separate Jewish underground armies exist, the Haganah and the Irgun, each fighting for their vision of the future Israel, and tolerated and vilified to different degrees by the British forces trying to keep the peace. At the center is Shoshana (Irina Starshenbaum), a Jewish woman romantically involved with English police officer Thomas Wilkin (Douglas Booth)…...
Courtesy of TIFF
Those who are confused by the current situation in the Middle East have a long, even more complicated history to consider that explains some of the roots of today’s issues. Shoshana takes place in 1938, when the British control Mandatory Palestine and the Nazis are beginning to conquer Europe. Two separate Jewish underground armies exist, the Haganah and the Irgun, each fighting for their vision of the future Israel, and tolerated and vilified to different degrees by the British forces trying to keep the peace. At the center is Shoshana (Irina Starshenbaum), a Jewish woman romantically involved with English police officer Thomas Wilkin (Douglas Booth)…...
- 9/22/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
It always feels a little strange to watch a Christmas movie long before the holiday season, but that just means getting into that wintry mindset ahead of time! El Sabor de la Navidad, a Spanish-language comedy from Mexico, is notable because it’s produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and stars Mariana Treviño, who is the best reason to watch last year’s A Man Called Otto. It’s a lighthearted portrait of an extended family and others connected to them trying to get through a holiday that brings far too many conflicting personalities together…...
It always feels a little strange to watch a Christmas movie long before the holiday season, but that just means getting into that wintry mindset ahead of time! El Sabor de la Navidad, a Spanish-language comedy from Mexico, is notable because it’s produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and stars Mariana Treviño, who is the best reason to watch last year’s A Man Called Otto. It’s a lighthearted portrait of an extended family and others connected to them trying to get through a holiday that brings far too many conflicting personalities together…...
- 9/22/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Courtesy of TIFF
Western films tend to deal with violence in some capacity, presenting a world either defined by lawlessness or exploring what it means to set up a system of law and order to ensure that it isn't. When everyone has a gun and collecting bounties is a popular pastime, it can be difficult to instill a sense of moral consequences in a society that may not be interested in it. The Dead Don’t Hurt weaves a love story into a portrait of a town on the edge of becoming modern. A bleak view of humanity emerges...
Courtesy of TIFF
Western films tend to deal with violence in some capacity, presenting a world either defined by lawlessness or exploring what it means to set up a system of law and order to ensure that it isn't. When everyone has a gun and collecting bounties is a popular pastime, it can be difficult to instill a sense of moral consequences in a society that may not be interested in it. The Dead Don’t Hurt weaves a love story into a portrait of a town on the edge of becoming modern. A bleak view of humanity emerges...
- 9/15/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Courtesy of TIFF
By Abe Friedtanzer
The intersection of inherently comedic characters and unexpectedly dramatic situations can be a difficult thing to get right, but when it is, it’s quite satisfying. Uproar introduces a misfit protagonist who uses humor as a defense mechanism to mask his own discomfort with and uncertainty about his identity, and it warmly and effectively traces his journey towards self-discovery and an untapped passion for activism...
Courtesy of TIFF
By Abe Friedtanzer
The intersection of inherently comedic characters and unexpectedly dramatic situations can be a difficult thing to get right, but when it is, it’s quite satisfying. Uproar introduces a misfit protagonist who uses humor as a defense mechanism to mask his own discomfort with and uncertainty about his identity, and it warmly and effectively traces his journey towards self-discovery and an untapped passion for activism...
- 9/14/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
There’s a reason that there are so many films about the Holocaust. The attempted conquest of Europe and the whole world by the Nazis resulted in millions of innocent lives lost and countless others irreversibly altered. Fortunately, there were more than a few people who made the brave decision to stand up for those who couldn’t advocate or fight for themselves. These stories typically make for poignant cinematic tales. The latest is Irena’s Vow, which stars Sophie Nélisse as a Polish nurse who risked her life to safeguard a group of Jews…
Like La Rafle, The Zookeeper’s Wife, and A Hidden Life, this film centers on someone who was not Jewish but who found herself significantly disenfranchised when the Nazis invaded her country...
There’s a reason that there are so many films about the Holocaust. The attempted conquest of Europe and the whole world by the Nazis resulted in millions of innocent lives lost and countless others irreversibly altered. Fortunately, there were more than a few people who made the brave decision to stand up for those who couldn’t advocate or fight for themselves. These stories typically make for poignant cinematic tales. The latest is Irena’s Vow, which stars Sophie Nélisse as a Polish nurse who risked her life to safeguard a group of Jews…
Like La Rafle, The Zookeeper’s Wife, and A Hidden Life, this film centers on someone who was not Jewish but who found herself significantly disenfranchised when the Nazis invaded her country...
- 9/10/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel in "Shrinking," now streaming on Apple TV+.
Isn’t this supposed to be a comedy category? Yes, two of the shows with a questionable genre distinction -- Barry and The Bear – are represented here, but all five men chose relatively serious fare as their episode submissions. Before we dig in, let’s start with a mention of the three eligible nominees from last year who didn’t make the cut this time around. Donald Glover, a past winner of this category, had his last shot for Atlanta, and Steve Martin missed out on a repeat bid for season two of Only Murders in the Building. Most lamentably, Nicholas Hoult was somehow not selected for The Great. How that’s possible is beyond me, but fortunately the five men who did make the cut are all worthwhile…...
Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel in "Shrinking," now streaming on Apple TV+.
Isn’t this supposed to be a comedy category? Yes, two of the shows with a questionable genre distinction -- Barry and The Bear – are represented here, but all five men chose relatively serious fare as their episode submissions. Before we dig in, let’s start with a mention of the three eligible nominees from last year who didn’t make the cut this time around. Donald Glover, a past winner of this category, had his last shot for Atlanta, and Steve Martin missed out on a repeat bid for season two of Only Murders in the Building. Most lamentably, Nicholas Hoult was somehow not selected for The Great. How that’s possible is beyond me, but fortunately the five men who did make the cut are all worthwhile…...
- 9/6/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
There are a number of tech-related crash and burn stories that have made their way to the big and small screens recently. It’s remarkable to watch the rise and falls of certain magnetic leaders and come to understand how their big ideas managed to ultimately be their undoing. The Dropout and Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber are two worthwhile television examples. A recent IFC Films theatrical release, BlackBerry, now available to rent, is also very much worth checking out.
It's hard to remember a time before the iPhone, but this film looks at a crucial moment before Steve Jobs and Apple changed everything. The opening titles identify it as a fictionalized version of true events, though it’s never made quite clear what authenticity remains in the finished product...
There are a number of tech-related crash and burn stories that have made their way to the big and small screens recently. It’s remarkable to watch the rise and falls of certain magnetic leaders and come to understand how their big ideas managed to ultimately be their undoing. The Dropout and Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber are two worthwhile television examples. A recent IFC Films theatrical release, BlackBerry, now available to rent, is also very much worth checking out.
It's hard to remember a time before the iPhone, but this film looks at a crucial moment before Steve Jobs and Apple changed everything. The opening titles identify it as a fictionalized version of true events, though it’s never made quite clear what authenticity remains in the finished product...
- 8/31/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By: Christopher James
Emmys voting closed yesterday, but it will be a while before we know who our winners are.
Currently, the Primetime Emmys are scheduled for Monday, January 15th on Fox. The Creative Arts Emmys will take place the weekend before on Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th, with an edited version of the ceremony airing on Fxx on Saturday, January 13th on Fox. The reason for the push is the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes, which The Film Experience stands with the striking members.
Since voting has closed, there’s nothing more that nominees or studios can do to curry votes or campaign. We’re in a holding period. That doesn’t mean the coverage will stop, but it does mean we can space it out more before we head into Oscar madness.
Expect weekly category analyses across the comedy, drama and limited series/TV movie fields each Tuesday,...
Emmys voting closed yesterday, but it will be a while before we know who our winners are.
Currently, the Primetime Emmys are scheduled for Monday, January 15th on Fox. The Creative Arts Emmys will take place the weekend before on Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th, with an edited version of the ceremony airing on Fxx on Saturday, January 13th on Fox. The reason for the push is the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes, which The Film Experience stands with the striking members.
Since voting has closed, there’s nothing more that nominees or studios can do to curry votes or campaign. We’re in a holding period. That doesn’t mean the coverage will stop, but it does mean we can space it out more before we head into Oscar madness.
Expect weekly category analyses across the comedy, drama and limited series/TV movie fields each Tuesday,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Aubrey Plaza and Theo James in The White Lotus. Photograph by Fabio Lovino/HBO
Sixteen nominees for supporting actor and supporting actress are drawn from a mere four drama series, and two of them netted just a single mention apiece. That’s fourteen bids for two juggernauts from HBO, The White Lotus and Succession. The former is up one nomination from last year while the latter breaks even in these races, but two of its supporting contenders from last year, Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook, got promoted to the lead race (and may be able to win there). Despite heavy internal competition, I think last year’s winners have a good shot at repeating, but let’s look closely at all the nominees and the episodes they’ve submitted for consideration…...
Aubrey Plaza and Theo James in The White Lotus. Photograph by Fabio Lovino/HBO
Sixteen nominees for supporting actor and supporting actress are drawn from a mere four drama series, and two of them netted just a single mention apiece. That’s fourteen bids for two juggernauts from HBO, The White Lotus and Succession. The former is up one nomination from last year while the latter breaks even in these races, but two of its supporting contenders from last year, Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook, got promoted to the lead race (and may be able to win there). Despite heavy internal competition, I think last year’s winners have a good shot at repeating, but let’s look closely at all the nominees and the episodes they’ve submitted for consideration…...
- 8/22/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri in FX's The Bear
With only fourteen nominees, the comedy supporting categories still have nearly double the shows represented by the drama supporting categories’ sixteen recognized individuals. Both supporting actor and supporting actress contain two sets of double nominees, but it’s hardly the overwhelming domination that exists on the drama side. There are also five past winners and a handful of fresh faces that make these two races well worth watching...
Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri in FX's The Bear
With only fourteen nominees, the comedy supporting categories still have nearly double the shows represented by the drama supporting categories’ sixteen recognized individuals. Both supporting actor and supporting actress contain two sets of double nominees, but it’s hardly the overwhelming domination that exists on the drama side. There are also five past winners and a handful of fresh faces that make these two races well worth watching...
- 8/17/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
It’s rare to find a truly endearing comedy that deals well with the nuances of parenting and deftly handles dramatic moments in a compelling way. I’d argue there are two vastly underappreciated such shows, Trying from Apple TV+ and Breeders from FX. The former was renewed for a fourth season almost a year ago, and the fourth and final season of the latter is officially here. If you haven’t seen either, now is the time to check them out, and I would highly recommend starting with the lovely Breeders, which you can find on Hulu.
Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard star as parents who are struggling to stay afloat. Their disciplinary strategies aren’t always the same...
It’s rare to find a truly endearing comedy that deals well with the nuances of parenting and deftly handles dramatic moments in a compelling way. I’d argue there are two vastly underappreciated such shows, Trying from Apple TV+ and Breeders from FX. The former was renewed for a fourth season almost a year ago, and the fourth and final season of the latter is officially here. If you haven’t seen either, now is the time to check them out, and I would highly recommend starting with the lovely Breeders, which you can find on Hulu.
Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard star as parents who are struggling to stay afloat. Their disciplinary strategies aren’t always the same...
- 8/4/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Hiam Abbass
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series and Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series are two of the races where only two HBO series are represented, and they also happen to contain nominees from the exact same two shows: The Last of Us and Succession. Before we get to the people recognized and the work they did (spoiler alerts for both series), let’s take a look at the history of these categories and whether this has happened in the past...
Hiam Abbass
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series and Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series are two of the races where only two HBO series are represented, and they also happen to contain nominees from the exact same two shows: The Last of Us and Succession. Before we get to the people recognized and the work they did (spoiler alerts for both series), let’s take a look at the history of these categories and whether this has happened in the past...
- 7/28/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
The show blog must go on.
In lieu of the WGA and SAG strikes, the Emmys have officially moved away from their September 18th date. This is the first time the Emmys have postponed their date since 2001, after the September 11th attacks. No new dates have been announced for both the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmys. It stands to reason that the show will not be rescheduled until the strike ends. As stated earlier on the site, The Film Experience stands with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their quest for fair wages. Hopefully, all production (including our beloved award shows) can return once the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) agrees to negotiate with the guilds in earnest.
In the meantime, all this means for us is that there’s just more time to celebrate the amazing work of television that is being honored this year.
In lieu of the WGA and SAG strikes, the Emmys have officially moved away from their September 18th date. This is the first time the Emmys have postponed their date since 2001, after the September 11th attacks. No new dates have been announced for both the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmys. It stands to reason that the show will not be rescheduled until the strike ends. As stated earlier on the site, The Film Experience stands with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their quest for fair wages. Hopefully, all production (including our beloved award shows) can return once the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) agrees to negotiate with the guilds in earnest.
In the meantime, all this means for us is that there’s just more time to celebrate the amazing work of television that is being honored this year.
- 7/28/2023
- by Christopher James
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Melanie Lynskey in The Last of Us
As Chris reported, Emmy nominations were announced yesterday and four shows absolutely dominated. I want to take a look at what happened in comparison to my predictions, which shows faltered, and most importantly, grapple with the notion that those four shows are indeed terrific yet them being omnipresent so that other shows barely registered is still disappointing. I also want to share the nominations I saw that got me particularly excited...
Melanie Lynskey in The Last of Us
As Chris reported, Emmy nominations were announced yesterday and four shows absolutely dominated. I want to take a look at what happened in comparison to my predictions, which shows faltered, and most importantly, grapple with the notion that those four shows are indeed terrific yet them being omnipresent so that other shows barely registered is still disappointing. I also want to share the nominations I saw that got me particularly excited...
- 7/14/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Anthony Carrigan and Michael Irby in Barry
Whereas the drama series race can only bring back three of last year’s nominees, six of the comedy honorees are eligible again this year (Hacks and Curb Your Enthusiasm are the two that aren’t). It’s also the final season of heavyweights like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Barry, and Ted Lasso along with two other past nominees, Atlanta and Dead to Me. There’s a slate of new shows in contention, like The Bear, Wednesday, Shrinking, and Poker Face, and it’s important not to forget the show that’s on the rise and likely to be the one to beat this year: Abbott Elementary.
The true challenge of predicting these races is the number of nominees in each based on the number of submissions on the ballot, especially in comparison to the drama categories. Both supporting races only have seven nominees,...
Anthony Carrigan and Michael Irby in Barry
Whereas the drama series race can only bring back three of last year’s nominees, six of the comedy honorees are eligible again this year (Hacks and Curb Your Enthusiasm are the two that aren’t). It’s also the final season of heavyweights like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Barry, and Ted Lasso along with two other past nominees, Atlanta and Dead to Me. There’s a slate of new shows in contention, like The Bear, Wednesday, Shrinking, and Poker Face, and it’s important not to forget the show that’s on the rise and likely to be the one to beat this year: Abbott Elementary.
The true challenge of predicting these races is the number of nominees in each based on the number of submissions on the ballot, especially in comparison to the drama categories. Both supporting races only have seven nominees,...
- 7/9/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Eisenberg in Fleishman Is In Trouble
Maybe it’s just been a busy year, but I feel like I’m very out of the loop with this whole slate. As is my practice I watched the first episode of just about everything, but with a few notable exceptions, like Fleishman Is In Trouble, The Patient, Ms. Marvel, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, I didn’t actually make it to the end of many of this past seasons contenders for limited series. In most cases, it wasn’t lack of interest but rather time. That’s going to make for an unusually hectic summer when I’m inevitably going to try to finish up all of the eventual nominees. Fortunately, I have been paying attention to the heavy hitters in awards buzz. That doesn't help narrow down the contenders much, though, since the field feels wide open.
Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Eisenberg in Fleishman Is In Trouble
Maybe it’s just been a busy year, but I feel like I’m very out of the loop with this whole slate. As is my practice I watched the first episode of just about everything, but with a few notable exceptions, like Fleishman Is In Trouble, The Patient, Ms. Marvel, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, I didn’t actually make it to the end of many of this past seasons contenders for limited series. In most cases, it wasn’t lack of interest but rather time. That’s going to make for an unusually hectic summer when I’m inevitably going to try to finish up all of the eventual nominees. Fortunately, I have been paying attention to the heavy hitters in awards buzz. That doesn't help narrow down the contenders much, though, since the field feels wide open.
- 7/5/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
The White Lotus, now competing as a drama this year
By Abe Friedtanzer
This is a very competitive year for drama at the Emmys. Last year, Succession and The White Lotus scored fourteen and eight acting nominations, respectively, and The Handmaid’s Tale, which wasn’t eligible last year, picked up ten the year before that. If they show up in similar numbers this year, that accounts for thirty-two spots, and there are only forty acting nominees in total! Changes in voting rules mean that it’s unlikely shows will dominate quite so much, but the first two of those are still extremely popular. And while other awards bodies have largely abandoned The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s worth noting that Emmy voters sometimes stick by shows longer (see Killing Eve).
Exactly three of last year’s nominees for Best Drama Series are back in contention, and they’re all expected to...
By Abe Friedtanzer
This is a very competitive year for drama at the Emmys. Last year, Succession and The White Lotus scored fourteen and eight acting nominations, respectively, and The Handmaid’s Tale, which wasn’t eligible last year, picked up ten the year before that. If they show up in similar numbers this year, that accounts for thirty-two spots, and there are only forty acting nominees in total! Changes in voting rules mean that it’s unlikely shows will dominate quite so much, but the first two of those are still extremely popular. And while other awards bodies have largely abandoned The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s worth noting that Emmy voters sometimes stick by shows longer (see Killing Eve).
Exactly three of last year’s nominees for Best Drama Series are back in contention, and they’re all expected to...
- 7/2/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
The Roy siblings, all now leads for Succession
Emmy voting is officially open with the release of this year’s ballots. As usual, it’s an exhausting list to process, in part because it’s harder to notice who’s missing than to raise an eyebrow at the surprise inclusions. As always, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series boasts the most contenders, though that number is only 345 this time around, down almost 100 from last year. Is there less TV on? Because it certainly doesn’t feel way. Coincidentally, 345 is also the number of pages you need to scroll through in order to see all the acting submissions...
The Roy siblings, all now leads for Succession
Emmy voting is officially open with the release of this year’s ballots. As usual, it’s an exhausting list to process, in part because it’s harder to notice who’s missing than to raise an eyebrow at the surprise inclusions. As always, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series boasts the most contenders, though that number is only 345 this time around, down almost 100 from last year. Is there less TV on? Because it certainly doesn’t feel way. Coincidentally, 345 is also the number of pages you need to scroll through in order to see all the acting submissions...
- 6/16/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
On April 7, Neon released “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” from director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber. The film based on Andreas Malm‘s 2021 book of the same name is about a crew of environmental activists who plot a daring plan to disrupt an oil pipeline. The timely thriller stars Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane and Marcus Scribner.
Following its premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” became an instant hit with critics. It currently holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “An explosive adaptation of Malm’s treatise, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ delivers a high-stakes eco-thriller ignited by riveting and complex antiheroes.” Read our full review round-up below.
See April 2023 movies: 24 most anticipated releases
Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com) writes, “Daniel Goldhaber’s kinetic, riveting ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ was like nothing else I saw at TIFF.
Following its premiere at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” became an instant hit with critics. It currently holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “An explosive adaptation of Malm’s treatise, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ delivers a high-stakes eco-thriller ignited by riveting and complex antiheroes.” Read our full review round-up below.
See April 2023 movies: 24 most anticipated releases
Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com) writes, “Daniel Goldhaber’s kinetic, riveting ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ was like nothing else I saw at TIFF.
- 4/7/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
by Abe Friedtanzer
Kiersey Clemons is a superb talent who has proven her ability in films like Hearts Beat Loud and Asking for It. She is once again magnetic in writer-director Tayarisha Poe’s follow-up to Selah and the Spades as a bride that no one seems to truly notice or care about being happy. The Young Wife isn’t nearly as depressing or foreboding as another miserable wedding movie, Melancholia, but there’s still a sense something could go seriously wrong at any moment, and only its title character would notice.
Onscreen text invites audiences to the party - it’s not a wedding - of Celestina (Clemons) and River (Leon Bridges). A horde of people descend on Celestina’s home, each arriving with their own energy and distinctly ignoring the vibe she’d like to have on her big day...
Kiersey Clemons is a superb talent who has proven her ability in films like Hearts Beat Loud and Asking for It. She is once again magnetic in writer-director Tayarisha Poe’s follow-up to Selah and the Spades as a bride that no one seems to truly notice or care about being happy. The Young Wife isn’t nearly as depressing or foreboding as another miserable wedding movie, Melancholia, but there’s still a sense something could go seriously wrong at any moment, and only its title character would notice.
Onscreen text invites audiences to the party - it’s not a wedding - of Celestina (Clemons) and River (Leon Bridges). A horde of people descend on Celestina’s home, each arriving with their own energy and distinctly ignoring the vibe she’d like to have on her big day...
- 3/18/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
by Abe Friedtanzer
There are many ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has forever changed the world. Among the hardest-hit industries has been food, with in-person restaurants closed for an extended period of time and many typically available items scarcely found throughout the early months of the pandemic. The road to recovery has been a difficult one and has sadly forced many longtime establishments to shutter permanently. Festival Favorite documentary Food and Country, stopping at SXSW after its premiere at Sundance, looks at the deeper history of food in America and the tectonic shift that has recently happened.
Food writer Ruth Reichl is the guide for this educational journey, one that starts decades ago when quick cooking was advertised as the new hot thing...
There are many ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has forever changed the world. Among the hardest-hit industries has been food, with in-person restaurants closed for an extended period of time and many typically available items scarcely found throughout the early months of the pandemic. The road to recovery has been a difficult one and has sadly forced many longtime establishments to shutter permanently. Festival Favorite documentary Food and Country, stopping at SXSW after its premiere at Sundance, looks at the deeper history of food in America and the tectonic shift that has recently happened.
Food writer Ruth Reichl is the guide for this educational journey, one that starts decades ago when quick cooking was advertised as the new hot thing...
- 3/17/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
by Abe Friedtanzer
There are many diseases and medical conditions that may be known by name to a large percentage of the public without there being any true understanding of what they are. One of the most prominent is Als, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease with an unpromising life expectancy for those diagnosed. As the stirring new documentary No Ordinary Campaign explores, there is much that can be done to combat Als, but there are important changes required within the system to help offer hope to those who are currently facing a death sentence.
At the center of No Ordinary Campaign is Brian Wallach, who met his wife Sandra while working on President Barack Obama’s campaign and was diagnosed with Als at age thirty-seven...
There are many diseases and medical conditions that may be known by name to a large percentage of the public without there being any true understanding of what they are. One of the most prominent is Als, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease with an unpromising life expectancy for those diagnosed. As the stirring new documentary No Ordinary Campaign explores, there is much that can be done to combat Als, but there are important changes required within the system to help offer hope to those who are currently facing a death sentence.
At the center of No Ordinary Campaign is Brian Wallach, who met his wife Sandra while working on President Barack Obama’s campaign and was diagnosed with Als at age thirty-seven...
- 3/17/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
by Abe Friedtanzer
From the sound of its title, you might think that Bloody Hell is a violent horror film. But in fact it’s a mostly (and significantly) blood-free exploration of what it’s like to be a teenager that doesn’t quite fit in. It’s described as a “traumedy” about a sixteen-year-old girl shaken by the news of a reproductive condition that will play heavily into both her sex life and her potential to become a future mother...
From the sound of its title, you might think that Bloody Hell is a violent horror film. But in fact it’s a mostly (and significantly) blood-free exploration of what it’s like to be a teenager that doesn’t quite fit in. It’s described as a “traumedy” about a sixteen-year-old girl shaken by the news of a reproductive condition that will play heavily into both her sex life and her potential to become a future mother...
- 3/16/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
By Abe Friedtanzer
It should surprise virtually no one that there are tremendous issues with the healthcare system in the United States today, and that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are a big part of those problems. The award-winning limited series Dopesick showed just how detrimental the prescription of excessively powerful drugs can be. A new documentary premiering at SXSW, Pay or Die, looks at another side of the coin: the exorbitant cost of medication necessary to a person’s survival and the dire consequences of falling short…...
It should surprise virtually no one that there are tremendous issues with the healthcare system in the United States today, and that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are a big part of those problems. The award-winning limited series Dopesick showed just how detrimental the prescription of excessively powerful drugs can be. A new documentary premiering at SXSW, Pay or Die, looks at another side of the coin: the exorbitant cost of medication necessary to a person’s survival and the dire consequences of falling short…...
- 3/12/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
Team Experience has been teaming up to discuss the various Oscar races. Here's Christopher James, Abe Friedtanzer and Nathaniel R...
Chris: It's been a while since Best Actor was the most exciting and unpredictable race of the evening. Heading into last weekend, it was truly a three man race between Austin Butler (Elvis), Brendan Fraser (The Whale) and Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin). Now that both BAFTA and SAG have made like Brendan Gleeson and passed over Farrell, I sadly feel like he has dropped out of contention for the win. Of the nominated five, he was my personal vote. He knows how to dramatize Pádraic's hurt, while also finding the comedy in his tragedy. With just the crinkle of an eyebrow, he communicates such emotional vulnerability, a level to which we don't often see men rewarded for showing.
The race is now a photo finish with BAFTA/Globes...
Chris: It's been a while since Best Actor was the most exciting and unpredictable race of the evening. Heading into last weekend, it was truly a three man race between Austin Butler (Elvis), Brendan Fraser (The Whale) and Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin). Now that both BAFTA and SAG have made like Brendan Gleeson and passed over Farrell, I sadly feel like he has dropped out of contention for the win. Of the nominated five, he was my personal vote. He knows how to dramatize Pádraic's hurt, while also finding the comedy in his tragedy. With just the crinkle of an eyebrow, he communicates such emotional vulnerability, a level to which we don't often see men rewarded for showing.
The race is now a photo finish with BAFTA/Globes...
- 3/10/2023
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Team Experience is discussing the various Oscar categories. Here's Abe Friedtanzer and Juan Carlos Ojano.
Abe: It's always a pleasure to talk awards with you, and I'm excited to dive in to the Animated Feature race this year. While I wish that we could have been discussing out-of-the-box choices like Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood, Eternal Spring, or Little Nicholas, Happy as Can Be or even mainstream fare that for some reason didn't click like Lightyear and The Bad Guys, there are five worthwhile nominees that did make the cut. I know that I had to seek out The Sea Beast once nominations were announced since I hadn't yet streamed that title, while the other four didn't come as much of a surprise. Going into this race, it feels like Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio is the clear favorite. But it didn't net any other Oscar nominations, which many thought it would.
Abe: It's always a pleasure to talk awards with you, and I'm excited to dive in to the Animated Feature race this year. While I wish that we could have been discussing out-of-the-box choices like Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood, Eternal Spring, or Little Nicholas, Happy as Can Be or even mainstream fare that for some reason didn't click like Lightyear and The Bad Guys, there are five worthwhile nominees that did make the cut. I know that I had to seek out The Sea Beast once nominations were announced since I hadn't yet streamed that title, while the other four didn't come as much of a surprise. Going into this race, it feels like Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio is the clear favorite. But it didn't net any other Oscar nominations, which many thought it would.
- 2/22/2023
- by Juan Carlos Ojano
- FilmExperience
Team Experience is discussing each Oscar category in the lead up to the ceremony. Here's Abe Fried-Tanzer and Nick Taylor to discuss Visual Effects.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever
Abe Fried-tanzer: Hey Nick! Here we are discussing the category with the most stages of finalists, giving us a window into what could have been. I appreciated the inclusion of interesting choices like Bardo, Good Night Oppy, and Rrr on the initial twenty-wide list, and was pulling for Nope and Thirteen Lives to move on from the next stage of ten. But none of that happened, and we’re left instead with five very different choices, none of which are based on original material.
There are some intriguing stats to share about these nominees, like that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever placed, but its predecessor (which scored a Best Picture mention) didn't in the same race...
Black Panther Wakanda Forever
Abe Fried-tanzer: Hey Nick! Here we are discussing the category with the most stages of finalists, giving us a window into what could have been. I appreciated the inclusion of interesting choices like Bardo, Good Night Oppy, and Rrr on the initial twenty-wide list, and was pulling for Nope and Thirteen Lives to move on from the next stage of ten. But none of that happened, and we’re left instead with five very different choices, none of which are based on original material.
There are some intriguing stats to share about these nominees, like that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever placed, but its predecessor (which scored a Best Picture mention) didn't in the same race...
- 2/20/2023
- by Nick Taylor
- FilmExperience
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