By Amanda Gilmore

This informative Documentary uncovers the story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worked together to create the opioid crisis.

Co-Directors Brendan FitzGerald and Nick August-Perna dive deep into the corruption from people at the top to the victims. We get to hear from people who illegally sold oxycontin, a lawyer attempting to hold the corporations accountable and one recovering addict. Through these subjects’ stories, a line is drawn directly from the pharmaceutical companies who know the drug is highly addictive, to the doctors who over-prescribe it, to the pharmacists who turn a blind eye. This clear line exposes a system of corruption and an atmosphere of claiming ignorance when approving suspicious requests.

This enthralling Documentary delivers complex information in a clear, easy way to understand. Unfortunately, there is so satisfactory resolution for The Oxy Kingpins, as the epidemic is ongoing. However, it leaves you with the hope that an upcoming Nevada court case brought against the companies will hold them accountable.

The Oxy Kingpins screens at SXSW: Tuesday, March 16 at 1 PM ET.

By Mr. Will Wong

Directed and written by Wes Hurley, this autobiographical Dark Comedy details his journey from a child fleeing the USSR with his mail order bride mother, to the United States. The Film through its central character Potato (Tyler Bocock), looks at his sexual identity and awakening with quirky humour as he goes through high school trying to conceal this part of his life from his adoptive father and homophobic schoolmates.

It also examines the American fetishization of Russians, but at the heart of the Film is the love story between mother (Marya Sea Kaminski) and son, her courage to create a better life for him at all costs even if it means being in a loveless union. And what would happen to Potato and his mother should his homophobic father John (Dan Lauria) find out about his sexuality?

The Film takes on a unique tone which goes from comedic to suspenseful but all parts entertaining. A few surprise appearances also including Mean Girls’ Jonathan Bennett as Jesus Christ!

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA streams at SXSW Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM is in-competition in the Narrative Features category. More here.

HOLLYWOOD SUITE announced today that it will be premiering Documentary Short What About Our Future? on Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 9pm ET.

Directed by Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos and Cláudio Cruz, the Film follows a group of teens who organized the largest climate strike in Vancouver’s history, which included appearances by famous environmental activists Greta Thunberg and David Suzuki.

There also will be a conversation brought to you by David Suzuki Foundation and Hollywood Suite taking place which you can register to be a part of, on April 29, 2021 at 7 PM ET. You can register here.

By Mr. Will Wong

Rachel Fleit directs this heartfelt and intimate portrait of the talented Selma Blair. After going public with her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2018, the Actress known for her roles in Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, Hellboy and many more fan favourites, has lived her life as an open book as she bravely battles against the illness.

Just picked-up by Discovery + in the U.S., the Film first will premiere at SXSW this week and without giving too much away, it grapples with a few things. Her relationship with her ailing mother, her love of her son Arthur and her own mortality as she elects to undergo Stem Cell Therapy, which has a 7% mortality rate.

Blair doesn’t hold back and we get all of her and her vulnerability – emotional and physical – which is almost too heartbreaking to watch at times. It is impossible not to love her even more after seeing this as she navigates her grief with a dash of humour. We can’t wait for you to see this too!

The concisely-told Film screens at SXSW Tuesday, March 16, 2021 3:00 PM to 4:29 PM and is part of the Documentary Feature Competition.

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of MY SALINGER YEAR starring Margaret Qualley (Once Upon A Time…. in Hollywood).

Synopsis:

In New York City in the late ‘90s, Joanna (Margaret Qualley) is a young aspiring writer who lands a day job at J.D. Salinger’s literary agency. While her eccentric, old-fashioned boss Margaret (Sigourney Weaver) assigns her to answer Salinger’s voluminous fan mail, Joanna struggles to find her own voice.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for a chance also!

Rules and regulations here.

MY SALINGER YEAR is available now digitally and on-demand via Mongrel Media.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Nominations were announced today for the 93rd Academy Awards with Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and leading the pack this year is David Fincher‘s MANK with ten nominations. The Netflix release details the life and uphill battles of Citizen Kane Co-Writer Herman J. Mankiewicz. NOMADLAND which comes into the Best Picture race as an early favourite, had seven nominations.

While there weren’t many major surprises, Lakeith Stanfield finds himself up against his Judas and the Black Messiah Co-Star Daniel Kaluuya for Supporting Actor, with no Lead Actor in the race for the Oscar for the Film. While Jodie Foster was victorious at the Golden Globes, The Mauritanian wasn’t a factor in today’s nominations.

Complete list of nominees below:

Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Directing
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Original Screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger

Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People

Best Live-Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye

Best International Feature Film
Another Round
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time

Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul

Best Original Song
“Fight For You,” Judas and the Black Messiah
“Hear My Voice,” The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik,” Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“Io Si (Seen),” The Life Ahead
“Speak Now,” One Night in Miami

Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal

Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Mulan
Pinocchio

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio

Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet

Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet

The Oscars air live Sunday, April 25, 2021 on ABC at 8 PM ET.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

The 2021 Grammys were about female empowerment with female Artists taking home top prizes this evening at the socially-distanced ceremony hosted by Trevor Noah, which clocked-in at almost four hours.

Beyoncé became the most awarded female Artist of all time at the Awards, honouring Music’s best, bringing her hardware tally to 28 Grammys tonight.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift took home Album of the Year for folklore, her first of two Discs to be released in 2020. Swift became the first ever female Artist to take Album of the Year three times, previously winning with 1989 and Fearless.

H.E.R. took Song of the Year with I Can’t Breathe, a powerful track inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Megan Thee Stallion also was a big winner taking Best New Artist, also winning a Grammy for Best Rap Song with her collaboration with Beyoncé, the Savage Remix.

Record of the Year went to last year’s award-sweeping Billie Eilish for her track All I Ever Wanted. She also took Best Song Written For Visual Media with Bond theme No Time to Die.

Some performances from tonight:

Complete list of winners can be found here.

(Photo credit: Grammys)

Another new sneak peek at Disney’s CRUELLA surfaced tonight! This new re-imagination of the fashionable villain in 101 Dalmatians comes to theatres in May!

Synopsis:

Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

See the new Sneak Peek!

Disney’s CRUELLA arrives in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access Friday, May 28, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

By Mr. Will Wong

Taking place after the events of AVENGERS: ENDGAME, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER reunites Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) over six episodes as the duo take on a ruthless anti-patriotism group, the Flag-Smashers. The new Series continues Marvel‘s foray into Television, hot off the success of WandaVision. These two Series are just the first of least ten in development right now for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the MCU.

The Series in the vein of Buddy Cop Comedies like Rush Hour/Lethal Weapon and 48 Hours, pairs Sam and Bucky together as they cope with PTSD, exploring its emotional repercussion on these characters.

We were fortunate to join the Global Press Conference for THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER today. Speaking today were:

Anthony Mackie – Sam Wilson
Sebastian Stan – Bucky Barnes
Kevin Feige – Producer
Malcolm Spellman – Writer/Producer
Kari Skogland – Director

Interesting Canadian connections, the Series stars Canada’s Emily VanCamp, reprising her role as Sharon Carter, and Director Skogland hails from Ottawa and has been behind the lens on acclaimed Series like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Loudest Voice.

Mackie and Stan are asked about getting an opportunity and more room to explore new sides to their characters on THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER.

Mackie: “It’s always a surprise when the minds get together and the information trickles down to you. When I first read the Script, I was really happy and acknowledged the fact that Sam was from Louisiana, the best state in the union and New Orleans is the best city in the world. I had one request that if he was from Louisiana that he got to eat crawfish on camera. I don’t know who said ‘no’, but somebody said ‘no’. I don’t know if it was because they were out of season, but it was too much to eat crawfish.”.

“The idea of Sam Wilson, he’s always evolved in the world of Marvel Comic Books and now he’s evolved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because if you remember when Sam Wilson first started out, he was a hustler from Harlem and as African-American culture evolved, Stan Lee evolved him in the Comic Book to different incarnations of himself. I’m excited for everyone to see the new and improved Sam Wilson.”.

Stan: “I always learn something about myself from this character. But ten years with this character, it’s impossible not to. You grow and you evolve with the character and I was pretty freaked out. Again, I felt like we had established the character a certain way and there were certain things I knew about him that I was comfortable with tonally in the movies and we had the contrast of going into this now and asking ‘What is he like now?’.”.

“Part of this was us really honing-in on his sense of humour so to speak, into the tone of the Series, particularly with is dynamic with Sam Wilson along with my own dynamic with Anthony – kinda just marrying the two. I think that was scary and exciting and Malcolm (Head Writer/Producer) really honed-in on that. I think we’re really finally zooming-in on his quest for identity in terms of really accepting his past and re-educating himself. The world that he’s in currently, the ideas and principles he might’ve lived by and been driven by at one point, no longer serve him the same way. He’s really an interesting trajectory when we start-out the Show and that’s always exciting for an Actor.”.

Mackie and Stan talk about their working dynamic together.

Mackie: “What I enjoy so much is that you can’t find two people further opposite from each other than Sebastian and I. But there’s a mutual respect, appreciation and understanding. We listen, learn and we teach each other. We’re friends and that’s a term I don’t think either of us would use lightly. I think because of that as Mr. T would say, ‘There’s no jibber-jabber‘. We allow ourselves to be our best selves and correct ourselves when we’re not our best selves. So you always look for that other person, that second hand. And I think that’s kind of our relationship. We allow ourselves to be ourselves.”.

Stan: “I think he said it best. I always believed you were always better because of the people you surround yourself with and I feel particularly in acting, the scenes and material, it’s always about the people that bring out things in you actually. I think in this particular situation it was important because I think about the tone and it was a fine line between making sure these characters were grounded real and deal with very serious issues. There’s sorta another piece to this about having fun, connecting and I always turn to Anthony for guidance in that and it works out.”.

The Series really focuses in on its characters in the aftermath of PTSD. Its stars elaborate on this.

Mackie: “To be able to go back and dive into his back story, his family and his surroundings only betters the character for the audience. We’re in a place now where we want the audience to know and learn these new characters especially since Kevin Feige killed Iron Man! (jokingly) We have to introduce these new characters to the audience and give them that relationship, that history that they’ve built over ten years. We have six episodes to play catch-up, post-Blip. It’s always great to learn more and give more from your character and have it not feel like heavy exposition and just like a good cinematic experience.”.

Stan: “The whole subject of PTSD and the experience they both share as soldiers and men who have served is one of the things that brings them together. There’s a bit of an honour code between and even though they come from different ideas and opinions of things, there’s a mutual respect. As everybody knows, PTSD isn’t something you’re just done with, it’s something that one has to continue to grow with to become better at dealing with. It’s a major part of our Show and grounds both of these characters in very realistic ways.”.

Producer Feige comments on the possibility of additional seasons to come.

Feige: “It’s one we get asked a lot more in Television because people expect it to be like things they’ve known before. We really did approach it like the Movies in that we better make this great or we won’t be able to make another one! If we were able to make another one, we’ve definitely got ideas. The slight difference is like in Wandavision, they will go back and forth between the Disney+ Series and Marvel Studios movies, so where characters show up and whether it be in Season Two or a Feature, we’re just not going to say who does what right this second.”.

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, we see Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) pass-on his shield to Falcon (Sam Wilson). Mackie is asked why it is so tough for his character to accept the shield.

Mackie: “Sam Wilson went on this Avengers journey over six movies with Steve Rogers (Captain America) because of his respect and admiration for Steve. He says in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, ‘When Captain America shows up at your door, you answer.'”.

“There’s still people out there who appreciate camaraderie and friendship. Sam is one of those people. He enjoys his friend. Just like everyone else, you don’t want to see Steve Rogers go away. Because just like Captain America was your captain, he was Sam Wilson‘s captain. That’s why at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he’s holding Steve‘s shield and says, ‘It feels like someone else’s, it feels like it’s yours’, because he was a fan just like everyone else.”.

“Sam Wilson is just a regular guy who won the lottery just because Black Widow knocked on his door and needed a place to hide. And he fell in love and was hoping to have a spinoff with Black Widow.“. (he jokes again)

The stars are asked about the difference between Stunt Work for TV and Film.

Stan: “It was pretty on-par with the films and actually even more evolved and intense. Definitely for Falcon it feels like the action really intensified, even for Bucky as well. We’re always finding new ways to have them evolve with their action sequences, but it’s totally the same as the movies.”.

Mackie: “The great thing about what we were able to do with this is that nothing was watered-down. The same stunt guys we work with on the films are the same guys who choreographed and did all of our stunts on the Show. Because of that, the stunts are really amazing. Kari (Director) had a great idea of taking weaponry away, so there’s a lot more hand-to-hand combat, it’s more assertive and more utilizing our strengths instead of something else. Because of that, the stunt guys had a field day. Some of the stuff you see is us, but we had amazing Stuntmen go in to kick ass for us.”.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is just one of many productions that was impacted by the Pandemic. Director Skogland explains how it worked out for the better even.

Skogland: “The story didn’t really change, though yes, we had to pivot reacting to everything that was happening in the world. What really was exciting was that once we were shut-down through COVID, we just didn’t skip a beat and went right into Post-Production. We were able to continue editing and sharpening the pencil. While the world was changing, we were really able to sharpen our focus. When we went back, we really knew what we were going for and shooting to finalize the Series.”.

This Series will contain many surprises and new characters. Mackie and Stan are asked which characters they are most excited for. Note, Stan fumbles a bit recalling the name of his favourite, which Mackie teases him about, only for Stan to snap-back and reveal that Mackie seen from waist-up only, isn’t even wearing pants.

Stan: “One character I think that sounds really, really cool is Oscar Isaac‘s Moon Knight. I heard that story and thought ‘That’s going to be amazing!’. That’s got my vote.”.

Mackie: “Okay, so you had to bring-up that I wasn’t wearing pants! I would have to say that She-Hulk is an interesting character. Kevin, I’d really like to spend some time in Blade world. I remember they were shooting Spider-Man 2 in Harlem on 25th Street and there was this restaurant where I was sitting outside having lunch with a friend, who was the manager of the restaurant. I was a huge Tobey Maguire fan and I saw Joy Bryant and she had one line and said “It’s Spider-Man!“. And I called my Agent and said, “Damn! I better have one line in one of these movies!”. So Kevin, I want to be the Joy Bryant of She-Hulk or Blade!”.

Head Writer and Producer Spellman is asked about the bigger message to take away from this Series.

Spellman: “I think what worked out really nicely was that where Endgame leaves-off, Thanos has really created a situation where the entire world is dealing with one single issue, which is very familiar to what’s going on today. Everything is born from that. The villains in the Series are responding to that. In fact, every villain in the Series would tell you he/she is a hero. The hero is always responding to that in their personal lives and a story plot is born from one single organic thing in this continuum from what happens after Endgame. That sorta galvanizes and affects everyone on the planet at the same time and creates a nice cohesion and direct lineage to the MCU.”.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER arrives on Disney+ Friday, March 19, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Entertainment)

SXSW 2021 kicks-off March 16 and runs through March 20, 2021 this year. Team Mr. Will is thrilled to bring you coverage virtually this year, giving you the scoop on some of the hottest titles to premiere at the Festival. The Film Festival component of SXSW includes digital Premieres, Screenings, and Q&As, a total 75 films, 84 short films, 30 special events, 5 episode premieres, 6 episodic pilots and more.

Here are some of Team’s most anticipated titles of SXSW 2021 which should be on your radar:

MR. WILL (Twitter: @mrwillw)

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA

Wes Hurley writes and directs this quirky autobiographical Dark Comedy details his journey from a child fleeing the USSR with his mail order bride mother, to the United States in search of a better life. In-competition as part of the Narrative Features program, the Film examines the pressures of a young man to conceal his sexuality and what it means for him and his mother to continue hiding it. Above this, the coming-of-age story navigates the new immigrant experience as a high schooler and what it’s like, adding a bit of inclusion and diversity to the programming slate at SXSW. It screens 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

WOMEN IS LOSERS

Lissette Feliciano directs and writes this Feature starring Lorenza Izzo (Once Upon a Time…. in Hollywood). The Dramedy centers on a young woman named Celina‘s (Izzo) world is turned upside down when she gets pregnant and the cycle of poverty that occurs when her family aren’t supportive and it is up to her to rewrite her destiny with an empowering message. And Canada’s Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) also stars! WOMEN IS LOSERS is in-competition in the Narrative Features program and streams Tuesday, March 16, 2021 10:55 AM.

DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL

Global Superstar Demi Lovato made headlines after being rushed to the hospital following an opioid overdose. This Documentary goes deep as she speaks candidly about her ordeal and demons over the past decade, opening SXSW 2021. The four-part DocuSeries directed by Michael D. Ratner, arrives on YouTube Originals March 23, 2021, but we will have a chance to see it first at the Festival, followed by a Q&A. So stoked to hear about the star’s re-claiming back of her own life and lessons learned. The Film screens Tuesday, March 16, 2021 7:00 PM with Q&A to follow at Tuesday, March 16, 2021 9:00 PM.

INTRODUCING SELMA BLAIR

Selma Blair is the first star I ever took a Selfie with and I’ll never forget that moment and how kind she was to me! Blair has been very open about her battle with Multiple Sclerosis and this Documentary directed by Rachel Fleit, bravely recounts her journey dealing with mortality and self-acceptance. This is about empowering and inspiring in the face of crippling disability and we can’t wait to be uplifted and hear Blair speak openly. This Film just got picked-up by Discovery+ so there will by a chance for all to see soon. This screens Tuesday, March 16, 2021 beginning 3:00 PM.

THE LOST SONS

This Documentary from Ursula Macfarlane is a story so unbelievable you have to see it to believe. The story centers on a man named Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped at a young age only to be reunited with his parents by the FBI. Case closed. But then growing-up he always felt there was something different about him from his family and when he decides to delve deeper, a whole world unbeknownst to him is unravelled. We see at what cost truth comes at. Riveting storytelling which will rivet you. THE LOST SONS screens beginning Tuesday, March 16, 2021 5:00 PM.

AMANDA GILMORE (Twitter: @GilmoreAmanda)

VIOLET

This was my most anticipated of SXSW 2020 and thankfully they’ve included it in this year’s lineup. It follows a film development executive whose “guiding voice” has been lying to her about everything. It stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, Justin Theroux, and more.  This screens Thursday, March 18, 2021 5:00 PM.

HERE BEFORE

Writer-Director Stacey Gregg is making her feature-directorial debut with Here Before. It’s a psychological thriller, starring the ever-talented Andrea Riseborough, and follows a bereaved mother who begins to questions her reality. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 1:00 PM.

LANGUAGE LESSONS

Natalie Morales is making her feature-directorial debut and starring in this drama about a Spanish teacher (Morales) and her student (Mark Duplass), who develop an unexpected friendship. Critics are already praising for its exploration of platonic love. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 3:00 PM.

THE FALLOUT

Canadian actress and filmmaker Megan Park is making her feature-directorial debut at the fest. It follows student Vada as she navigates the emotional impacts of a school tragedy. It’s got a powerful cast consisting of Shailene Woodley, Jenna Ortega, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, and more. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 5:00 PM.

THE SPINE OF THE NIGHT

This Midnighter animated film has a killer Cast consisting of Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, and more. It’s being described as an ultra-violent, fantasy epic about dark magic falling into sinister hands. This screens Thursday, March 18, 2021 9:00 PM.

DAVE BALDWIN (Twitter: @davemabaldwin)

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION

Harry Shum Jr. (who you will remember from Crazy Rich Asians, the Shadowhunters TV series and last fall’s romantic drama All My Life) leads this Midnighter as a ’90s Video Archivist who gets involved a conspiracy around pirated broadcasts. Sight unseen, that sounds like a film that plays in the same sandbox as David Cronenberg’s legendary horror film Videodrome. I am not expecting a film that is nearly as grotesquely gnarly as that, but I cannot help but be intrigued by whatever Director Jacob Gentry has cooked-up here. Since it is screening on Day 1 of the Film Festival, I will not have to wait long to find out. Premieres Tuesday, March 16, 2021, 9:00 PM.

CLERK

When I was in High School, I worshipped at the altar of Kevin Smith. The man had a gift for writing hilariously-profane dialogue and had the means of injecting the kind of quiet poignancy you would never expect from stoner comedies. Clerks remains one of the biggest influences on my writing career, so having the opportunity to be among the first to see a Documentary on the life and times of Smith has me breathlessly anticipating Director Malcolm Ingram’s film. This was one of the films that was supposed to be at last year’s Festival, so here is hoping there is a great reason why they waited for this year’s Festival to premiere. Premieres Wednesday March 17, 2021, 1:00 PM.

LANGUAGE LESSONS

I am weary of getting excited about films that receive praise and buzz after premiering in Berlin, but I am willing to make an exception for Mark Duplass. The multi-hyphenated Actor and Filmmaker stars here with Natalie Morales as a student who develops a friendship with his Spanish teacher over Zoom classes. Duplass’ independent work tends to stumble into the personal and the natural, and I expect Language Lessons to fall along the same lines. There is an inventiveness that comes with telling a story over Zoom (just ask last summer’s super effective Horror chiller Host), so I may be setting my expectations a bit too high – but I have faith that I will really enjoy this one. Premieres Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 3:00 PM.

THE FEAST

I am a fan of Midnight movies, can you tell? This one concerns a wealthy family, their guests, a fancy dinner and the mysterious server tending to their every need. It certainly sounds like something creepy is amiss just from the logline, and the mysterious still accompanying it of a woman staring at a broken shard of glass has my curiosity piqued. And did I mention it is spoken entirely in Welsh? Sounds like the only thing missing is the screaming crowd I won’t possibly be able to replicate around me. Premieres Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:00 PM.

HOW IT ENDS

I was not able to watch HOW IT ENDS at Sundance in January, so I was very excited to see it pop up in the “Festival Favourites” section on the SXSW schedule. The story revolves around the personal journey Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones, who Co-Wrote/Co-Produced/Co-Directed with her husband Daryl Wein) takes on her way to an end of the world party and everyone she runs into along the way. I have been a longtime fan of Lister-Jones’ work in Film and Television (her character Fawn Moscato on New Girl still cracks me up), so I am intrigued to see how funny a film about an asteroid hurtling towards Earth can be. With a Supporting Cast featuring Nick Kroll, Lamorne Morris, Charlie Day, Whitney Cummings and Olivia Wilde, this one feels bound to be something special. Premieres Thursday, March 18, 2021 3:00 PM.

More on the Festival here.

Bookmark this link and visit daily during the Festival for our most updated Reviews!

(Photo/video credit: SXSW)