WALKING OUT (2017) review
written by: Andrew J. Smith and Alex Smith
produced by: Brunson Green and Laura Ivey
directed by: Andrew J. Smith and Alex Smith
rated: PG-13 (for bloody injury images, some thematic elements and brief strong language)
runtime: 95 min.
U.S. release date: January 21, 2017 (Sundance) and October 6, 2017 (limited)
If you’re yearning to get back to freezing mountain ranges visiting Utah in “Wind River”, you might be interested in “Walking Out” which places us in the unforgiving terrain of Montana. Both films premiered at Sundance this year and can now be seen in select theaters. Apart from their wintry environment, they are very different films, “Wind River” being a harrowing procedural and “Walking Out”, a tale of a father/son struggling to survive harsh elements. It’s the third feature from brothers, Andrew J. Smith and Alex Smith, both of whom directed and wrote the adaptation of David Quammen’s American short story, a compelling wilderness adventure that transfers affectively to the big-screen. Read more…
Interview with WALKING OUT actor Josh Wiggins
He was first noticed back in 2014, when at fourteen years-old, Josh Wiggins appeared in writer/director Kat Candler’s “Hellion” alongside Aaron Paul and has since managed to built an impressive body of work so early in his career. His work has been steady since that debut, showing up in films like “Max” with Thomas Hayden Church, “Lost in the Sun” starring Josh Duhamel and “Mean Dreams”, alongside the late Bill Paxton. That’s all within a three-year span and later this month he can be seen in “The Bachelors”, sharing the screen opposite Oscar winner, J.K. Simmons. But, before then audiences can find the now nineteen year-old in theaters in “Walking Out”, in which he shares the lead with Matt Bomer. Like in this other roles, Wiggins exudes a prominent confidence and openness in “Walking Out” and I recently chatted with him on the phone about his experience making this movie. Read more…
LITERALLY, RIGHT BEFORE AARON (2017) review
written by: Ryan Eggold
produced by: Ryan Eggold, Ross Kohn, Cassandra Kulukundis & Nancy Leopardi
directed by: Ryan Eggold
rated: not rated
runtime: 101 min.
U.S. release date: April 22, 2017 (Tribeca Film Festival) and September 29, 2017 (limited/VOD/Amazon/iTunes)
Have you ever received a call from an ex that you still not quite over and you haven’t spoken with since the break-up? Someone you were good friends with and you just can’t figure out what went wrong? You may want to know what’s going on in their life, but you know it’ll just be too hard when you find out that he or she is doing just fine, maybe even great, without you. That’s how writer/director Ryan Eggold’s dramedy “Literally, Right Before Aaron” starts off and these are just some of the questions and themes the stuck main character, played by Justin Long, navigates as he comically and tragically finds himself in awkward and painful situations, revolving around the girl he still has a thing for. Read more…
If you’ve been watching television closely, you may recognize actor Ryan Eggold, who’s been been working as an actor for over a decade in shows like the CW’s “Veronica Mars”, HBO’s “Entourage” and FX’s “Dirt”. In 2013, he could be seen in three films, “Lucky Them” with his Toni Collette where he displayed his singing/guitar-playing chops, “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her” (along with its 2014 companion) with Jessica Chastain and the indie drama “Beside Still Waters”. That same year he starred as Tom Keen in NBC’s hit crime thriller “The Blacklist”, (Season Five us airing now) where he can currently be seen in a role that viewers mostly know him from. Now he adds the role of director to his resume, expanding his short 2011 “Literally, Right Before Adam” into a feature-length romantic comedy that draws from his own personal experience. Read more…
THE KING’S CHOICE (2016) review
written by: Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Jan Trygve Røyneland
produced by: Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae
directed by: Erik Poppe
rated: unrated
runtime: 133 in.
U.S. release date: August 22, 2017 & September 29, 2017
There’s been a slew of biographical World War II films lately telling “little known” stories. From last year’s procedural “The People vs. Fritz Bauer” to this year’s “Alone in Berlin” and “13 Minutes”, all three of suspenseful tales focusing on German overthrow from within. There was also “The Exception” this year, which saw a German soldier snooping around Dutch resistance in search of a spy. The suspenseful Norwegian-Irish production “The King’s Choice” is another such film, a fascinating slow-burner that has a specific focus and a surprising nuanced approach to characterization. This, coupled with a notable build-up of tension throughout the film, makes director Erik Poppe’s film a compelling viewing experience. Read more…
The 3rd Annual Irish American Movie Hooley
Wait a minute, what’s a Hooley? Don’t worry, it’s a real thing – I Googled it. It’s an Irish party; typically an evening of traditional music and dance. That makes sense. I can picture that. For the 3rd time, the Gene Siskel Film Center, here in Chicago, will be presenting the Irish American Movie Hooley, a party (er, festival) celebrating stories revolving around Irish Americans. From September 29th through October 1st, the Film Center, along with Hibernian Transmedia invite you to the party, where three recent films will be featured each night. That’s not all! The Emerald Loop Bar and Grill hosts an opening night party on Friday, September 29th – see details below…. Read more…
THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED (2017) review
written by: Joyce Chan, Yimeng Xu and Yuan Li (screenplay) & Lan Bai Se (novel)
produced by: Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Yuet-Jan Hui and Felicia Tang
directed by: Derek Hui
rated: unrated
runtime: 106 min.
U. S. release date: September 27, 2017 (Asian Pop-Up Cinema 2017 Season V)
Sophia’s Choice Presents does a fine job selecting films for their seasonal Asian Pop-Up Film Festival from a variety of countries, but also from a variety of genres as well. So, when I see a comedy positioned in the festival line-up, I’m immediately interested, since any break from the drivel that passes as comedies from American studios, is always welcome. My pleasant viewing experience of “This is Not What I Expected” could easily be summed up in the film’s title. I certainly wasn’t expecting such a lively and fun comedy that incorporates fine cuisine with the age-old opposites attract plot line. It’s like ordering a mysterious Special of the Day and being pleasantly surprised with what’s placed on the table in front of you.
BRAD’S STATUS (2017) review
written by: Mike White
produced by: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Bernad and Sidney Kimmel
directed by: Mike White
rated: R (for language)
runtime: 101 min.
U.S. release date: September 15, 2017 (NY/LA) & September 22, 2017
I was reminded of it seven years ago, when I was asked to speak at my twenty-year high school reunion. By speak, I mean standing in front of a room full of peers who have become doctors, lawyers, musicians and teachers. By “it” I mean that feeling you inevitably get when you look at where you’re at in life compared to everyone else from high school (or college, for that matter) and those feelings of intimidation and insecurity start to weigh you down – or maybe that’s just me. It’s in our nature to compare ourselves to others, from family members to colleagues, but what I was soon reminded of was that we’re all the same, regardless of what our proposed status is. It’s taking Brad a lot longer to realize that. Read more…
THE TIGER HUNTER (2016) review
written by: Lena Khan and Sameer Asad Gardezi
produced by: Megha Kadakia, Lena Khan and Nadia Khan
directed by: Lena Khan
rated: unrated
runtime: 94 min.
U.S. release date: September 22, 2017 (limited)
If this summer’s “The Big Sick” was your first exposure to certain South Asian customs and traditions, such as prearranged marriage and you find your curiosity piqued, then check out “The Tiger Hunter”. It follows the immigrant experience as a whole more than it deals with the pressure of meeting your future spouse, although marriage definitely is on the mind of our protagonist here. The dramedy is a warmhearted fish-out-of-water period piece from director Lena Khan, making her feature-length debut and it comes across almost like an autobiographical tale, or at least an amalgam of assimilation stories that have been passed down. The refreshingly sweet and wholesome tone of the story feels like the kind of movie that no one makes anymore – free of lewd laughs or cynicism and (gasp) full of heart. Read more…
TIFF 2017 Round Up
Another Toronto International Festival (TIFF) has come and gone, this time with fanfare about the films themselves equal to the criticism leveled at the Festival’s organisational structure. Whether it was the love-it-or-hate-it reaction to pedestrian-only Festival Street, aggro celebrity security, concerns over high prices and low attendance, a poorly-designed online ticketing system, or the nightmare of navigating long lines and late start times, people had strong feelings all-around. Read more…
