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SXSW 2012: ‘Pavilion’ a Van Sant-like look at childhood

Pavilion Directed by Tim Sutton Written by Tim Sutton USA, 2012 Pavilion follows faithfully, and proudly, in the tradition of naturalistic film-making that Gus Van Sant operates in when he’s not making Oscar winning dramas. But if director Tim Sutton is a technical descendant of Van Sant, he’s a spiritual disciple of Terrence Malick. According …

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SXSW 2012: ‘V/H/S’ is a mixed bag, as with most horror anthologies

V/H/S Written by Simon Barrett, David Bruckner, Nicholas Tecosky, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez, Chad Villella Directed by Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, Radio Silence USA, 2011 One of the most anticipated additions to the growing pantheon of “found footage” films this year comes in …

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SXSW 2012: ‘Compliance’ less a narrative than a descent into the depths of human weakness

Compliance Written and directed by Craig Zobel As it is with train wrecks, so it goes with Compliance, a thoroughly shattering film that is less a narrative than a descent into the depths of human weakness. Inspired by roughly 70 real world accounts, Compliance is the tale of a young fast food employee, here named …

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SXSW 2012: ‘Intruders’ is a bit too muddled and a bit too slight

Intruders Directed by  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Intruders is a cyclical examination of monsters and nightmares and where they come from and why they persist. To this extent, its a successful endeavour. But as a satisfying, complete narrative it is a bit too muddled and a bit too slight. Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo provides enough beautiful …

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SXSW 2012: ‘John Dies at the End’ bracingly surreal and charming

John Dies at the End Directed by Don Coscarelli Written by Don Coscarelli 2012, USA John Dies at the End, the new film from exalted director Don Coscarelli screened last night at The Alamo Drafthouse to a packed house full of hardcore genre devotees. John Dies, also having played earlier this year at Sundance, enjoyed …

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SXSW 2012: ‘Sinister’ is skillfully shot and truly chilling

Sinister Directed by Scott Derrickson Screenplay by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill USA, 2012 Four figures stand under a tree limb, hooded and noosed. Each figure’s noose rounds the limb and attaches to another branch which is slowly breaking away. As it falls, it lifts the four flailing bodies into the air, suffocating them. …

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Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky talk about bringing their film ‘Francine’ to life

Francine, the debut feature from co-directors Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky had it’s first SX screening yesterday having recently garnered some great reviews coming out of this years Berlinale. The filmmakers along with their star Melissa Leo, were kind enough to sit down with us before the screening to to talk a little about …

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A Conversation With David and Nathan Zellner about ‘Kid-Thing’

Kid-Thing, the latest feature from local indie film lynchpins David and Nathan Zellner, screened last night, coming home after a successful run at Sundance and Berlin. Today the pair along with their young star Sydney Aguirre sat down with me to discuss the film. We take a moment to get to know each other before …

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SXSW 2012: ‘Kid-Thing’ takes an anthropological approach to the coming-of-age tale

Kid-Thing Written by David Zellner Directed by David Zellner USA, 2012 Kid-Thing is a coming of age fable. That’s the filmmakers’ phrasing, not mine, and while it is surprisingly apt, the filmmakers forgo many of the customs and pitfalls of either genre to craft a wholly unique and pleasantly odd character study. The kid in …

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SXSW 2012: ‘Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies’ a fine primer on a well-publicized controversy

Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies Directed by Patrick Forbes UK/Germany, 2011 Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies functions as a primer to a far more intricate and convoluted tale. If you’ve at all followed the controversy that’s been trailing Wikileaks like a spurned pup since its inception, you likely know much of the raw data on display in …

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