Movie Reviews

Two very different but rewarding character-driven comedy-dramas made their debuts at SXSW 2016.

The bad boy son of a West Texas preacher, returns to his hometown to become its preacher and to keep a promise to his father. His past and a variety of bad things, including a mysterious cosmic force, an ex-girlfriend, and a psychopathic vampire complicate this for him.

She wakes up injured but patched up and, alarmingly, chained to the wall in a serious underground bunker with ponderous, middle-aged Howard — a kind of anti-Santa Claus — and a young man named Emmett (John Gallagher Jr), who helped Howard build the bunker and was injured, he says, “fighting his way in.” Howard — a former Navy man and doomsday prepper — claims that there has been an apocalyptic attack, that the air outside is poisoned, that he has rescued rather than kidnapped Michelle, and that he would appreciate some appreciation.

Sometimes, when a movie plays at SXSW, it’s not just a screening, it’s a celebration. Last year, that was true about 'The Breakfast Club.' This year, the celebration was for the opening night premiere of Richard Linklater’s 'Everybody Wants Some.'

'The Trust', starring Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood, is a crime drama which combines the world of 'CSI: Las Vegas' with the violence and dark humor of a Quentin Tarantino film. Pretty good for beginners.

The Quedlinberg Treasure was stolen during WWII. When it was discovered, it was not in the hands of Europeans, but of an American citizen.

Not for those seeking thought-provoking storytelling, this President-in-peril thriller is strictly a guilty pleasure.

In a remote Turkish village five girls with playful innocence romp on a beach with some neighborhood boys. They are seen and what they have done is "criminal."

For fans of the classic Hollywood era, Trumbo is a pleasant look back akin to watching home movies more so than reading a history book.

Not everything weird at Sundance is gold.