By David Baldwin

It is the late 1980s and Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) is looking for a hit. The Video Game Designer and salesman is hemorrhaging money, but may have found his salvation in a game called Tetris. He is not the only one who wants a piece of it though, and once he learns that the IP rights belong to the Soviet Union, Henk decides he is going to travel behind the Iron Curtain and negotiate for them himself.

Did that sound convoluted? Well, there are a whole lot more rights-related shenanigans where that came from on top of family drama and light Nintendo-related nostalgia. Some of the story has been clearly embellished (particularly a bit cribbed from the Oscar-winning Argo), yet it stays grounded enough to keep your attention. I loved how Lorne Balfe incorporated the music from Tetris into his Score, yet could have done without the recurring neon-soaked 8-bit motif anytime a setting changed.

While Henk’s story is straight-forward enough, it feels like it is at odds with the bigger tale Director Jon S. Baird and Writer Noah Pink are more interested in telling: the dying days of the Soviet Union and all the corruption that goes with it. The shady individuals, the double-crossing deals, the KGB, the spying, Gorbachev, all of it is fascinating and often downright terrifying. There are a whole lot more of these elements in the Film than you might imagine – considering it is called TETRIS – and I think it suffers from having them smashed-together with Henk’s story.

TETRIS is a well-made film despite these qualms and I enjoyed watching it. Egerton is just as charismatic and committed as always, and his chemistry with Nikita Yefremov, who plays Tetris architect Alexey Pajitnov, is wonderful. Had Baird and Pink focused more on that budding friendship or made a separate movie about the inner workings of the USSR, then we could have had a much more cohesive picture about one of the most ultra-popular pieces of media ever created, rather than the messy film we did get.

TETRIS screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 15 at 6:00pm at Paramount Theatre

Mar 16 at 5:15pm at Alamo Lamar E

By David Baldwin

PAY OR DIE follows the stories of three families who have a connection to Type 1 Diabetes and are struggling with the price of insulin in the United States. More specifically, it centers around Nicole Smith-Holt, her activism, and her lobbying to get a new health bill passed in Minnesota – named Alec’s Law after her late son who died from diabetes complications – that would force pharmacies and insulin makers to provide emergency supplies of insulin to diabetics in need for a more reasonable price.

PAY OR DIE is not so much a discussion around insulin and Type 1 Diabetes, so much as it is a full-blown Horror film. I sat, riveted in my seat, listening to the startling statistics and stories around insulin prices, Diabetics who have been forced to stretch their insulin reserves as long as possible and have survived, and the family members mourning the loss of the ones that did not. It is absolutely harrowing hearing these tales, and often flabbergasting and downright disgusting. Filmmakers Rachael Dyer and Scott Alexander Ruderman rightfully take Big Pharma to task here repeatedly, comparing the insulin prices to other countries and showing just how much they fleece from these individuals with a terminal disease. It outright includes an entire section where a mother and her 11-year-old daughter (both with Type 1 Diabetes) drive from Seattle to Vancouver to buy up supplies for nearly five-times less than what they would have paid in the US.

For someone who has a minimal understanding of the US healthcare system, PAY OR DIE is a necessary watch that will have you crying and raging in your seat. My only complaint was around the timeline the film sets for itself. It is chronological in terms of the profiles of each family, yet bounces around almost erratically between them with no real sense of what year we are in. We are at one point following a young woman navigating a recent diagnosis in 2020 alongside Covid-19, and then suddenly back in time to Smith-Holt leading rallies at Eli Lilly headquarters. It does not take away from the central message or theme of the film thankfully; it just would have benefitted from being more cohesive and cleaner edited.

PAY OR DIE screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 11 at 3:15pm at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 13 at 3:00pm at Alamo Lamar C

Mar 16 at 2:30pm at Alamo Lamar B

Premiering at SXSW ’23 in its Film & TV program this Saturday, we get a new look at BEEF!

Synopsis:

BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series.

Missed it at SXSW ’23? It arrives on Netflix on April 6, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Paramount Pictures Canda x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, hot off its acclaimed premiere at SXSW ’23!

Screenings take places as follows:

TORONTO

Date: Saturday, March 25th

Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Yorkdale Cineplex Cinemas

VANCOUVER
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

MONTREAL – ENG
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Cinemas Forum

MONTREAL – FRE
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Cinemas StarCité

CALGARY

Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start

Location: Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

Synopsis:

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. In the comments there please indicate your City. Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

#DNDMovie is in theates March 31, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

By Amanda Gilmore

Award-Winning Filmmaker Dawn Porter brings us this engrossing Documentary about one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. Porter uses all-archival footage and the 123 hours of personal and revealing audio diaries that Lady Bird recorded during her husband’s administration.

Through Lady Bird’s audio diaries, we get a look into many pivotal events throughout US history. That’s because LBJ’s time in office was one of the most tumultuous and significant periods in modern American history that included the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Porter doesn’t glaze over these monumental moments but rather delves deep into the movements, protests and the bills passed. We’ve heard of these historical moments from today’s viewpoint, however, this Documentary gives insight into this important period from someone inside the White House while it was all happening.

This engrossing Documentary shows the impact Lady Bird had during her husband’s time in office. She was a voice of reason for LBJ and spoke her mind when she knew her opinion needed to be heard. It’s captivating to listen to phone calls she made to her husband informing him of how he should be handling certain situations. These conversations, and all the other times she voiced her opinion, are inspirational for women of all ages — both then and now. 

The one major takeaway about Lady Bird‘s legacy, as her passion for the environment. It was due to her that Nixon form the National Environmental Policy Act. It’s clear that her focus on environmental issues proves she was a woman and catalyst ahead of her time.

Although she’s been considered one of the least understood First Ladies, The Lady Bird Diaries proves that she was an intelligent political strategist and had a deep understanding of people.

The Lady Bird Diaries screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 10 at 5:00pm at ZACH Theatre

Mar 14 at 6:15pm at Rolling Theatre at The Long Center

By Mr. Will Wong

Luchina Fisher‘s THE DADS is timely and important. The 11-minute Documentary Short brings six fathers together for a fishing trip in Oklahoma, but this is far from just a dudes’ getaway flick.

We learn these men are actually fathers to trans and LGBTQ+ children. Together, they swap stories of their biggest fears, including one of them whose son is black and trans, worrying every day for his safety. Another is the father of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who is 1998 was beaten, tortured and left to die. Here we are in 2023 with so much work left to do and if anything, the Film leaves us with a message of hope through the uncertainty, exploring fatherhood and masculinity through a fresh lens.

This is far too urgent a matter to be explored over 11 minutes only, but in its short screen time, Fisher‘s message is impactful. We are hoping there might be an expanded version of THE DADS to come or a follow-up to come.

THE DADS screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Documentary Shorts Program 2 at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Mar 12, 2023

2:15pm—3:46pm

Documentary Shorts Program 2 at Alamo Lamar D

Mar 16, 2023

6:45pm—8:16pm

By David Baldwin

Diego (Alberto Ammann) and Elena (Bruna Cusí) are immigrating from Spain to the United States in the hopes of starting a new life. They have landed in Newark with all the necessary approvals and have three hours before their connecting flight leaves for Miami.

That is how UPON ENTRY opens, with the remainder of its 74-minute running time composed of anxiety, confusion and an endlessly grueling interrogation after Diego and Elena are taken to a secondary inspection area when the authorities discover some inconsistencies with the pair. No minute is wasted as this young couple are psychologically disarmed and made to question every detail of their lives together. It is harrowing stuff that does not get as deplorable as you might think, but certainly leaves you on edge with its palpable realism.

A few ill-timed blunders and underdeveloped plot devices aside, Writer/Director team Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez have crafted a picture that grips you from beginning to end. The suspense they manage to squeeze out of these characters, as they mainly sit in one cold, sterile interrogation room talking, is terrific, as is the way we learn about the characters’ histories – sometimes at the same time as they are. The minimal use of music amplifies Diego and Elena’s horrifying experience exponentially, as does the deliberate framing as they answer the immigration officers’ questions. Ammann and Cusí are dynamic in their roles, easily evolving their emotions as needed, and each delivering standout work. You never believe for an instant that these are actors and not real people. Laura Gómez (who memorably played Blanca Flores on Orange is the New Black) is just as convincing, if not even better than our two leads. She plays one of the no-nonsense interrogation officers with the dialed-up intensity of a wolf who just found its prey, and yes, she is just as scary as that sounds.

UPON ENTRY screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 10 at 8:30pm at Alamo Lamar C

Mar 12 at 5:45pm at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Mar 16 at 11:30am at Alamo Lamar E

Today, Disney+ revealed the May 24, 2023 premiere date for the Disney+ Original series “American Born Chinese.” This :30 first look at the genre-hopping action-comedy from Disney Branded Television series produced by 20th Television, celebrates the show’s three Oscar nominees: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and guest star Stephanie Hsu. The Series gets a premiere at SXSW this week!

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.

The coming-of-age adventure features an all-star international cast, including Academy® Award-Nominees and Golden Globe winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), two-time International Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu and Sydney Taylor (“Just Add Magic”). Academy® Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) guest stars.

Emmy® Award-winning writer/producer Kelvin Yu (“Bob’s Burgers,” “Central Park”) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton (Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Short Term 12”) is set to direct and serves as executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan (both of “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level”), Erin O’Malley (“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”), Asher Goldstein (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”) and Gene Luen Yang.

(Photo/video credit: Disney+)

By Amanda Gilmore

In 1955, Veteran JB Peña (Jay Hernandez) and his wife move to the small town of Del Rio, Texas. He gets hired as the school district’s superintendent. It’s there that he sees a glimpse of himself reflected in a group of five Mexican-American students. The students work as caddies outside school hours. JB catches them playing the sport one night and relishes in their potential. He offers them the chance to be the school’s first golf team. The rest is history.

Based on the true story and critically acclaimed self-published book by Author Humberto G., The Long Game is an uplifting underdog story. It’s a story of finding ones worth in a world that repeatedly puts you down. These five young men face racism every day. They’re unwelcome in local restaurants and are put down by the white men they caddy for. Director Julio Quintana brings us into their world, reminding us of the time in which these men lived.

Some might think that we’ve seen this story before, but not quite like this. It’s told through the love of golf. Each of the young men loves the sport and are wildly talented at it. Quintana tells us all we need to know about the sport and delves into the camaraderie of the teammates. His Cast of young Actors is outstanding. Their energy is palpable and they hit each beat with nuance and precision. The stand-out is up-and-coming Julian Works who plays Joe, the leader of the group that carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Hernandez also shines as a man willing to stop at nothing to see these young men succeed.

Although this story is formulaic, it delivers an uplifting poignant story of five young Mexican-Americans that we won’t ever forget.

The Long Game screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 12 at 11:45am at Paramount Theatre

Mar 15 at 5:45pm at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

By Amanda Gilmore

In 2014, Francine, a Social Scientist, and her partners launched Plan C. The purpose of the network was to spread information about how and where to buy abortion pills online. The organization now includes many people from advocates, midwives, and doctors. Director Tracey Droz Tragos first begins documenting the group in 2019 and follows them all the way through to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

This Documentary would feel urgent at any point throughout history. Yet, with the current political climate, we find ourselves in it feels all the more critical. Tragos educates us on the abortion pill, allowing us to form our own opinions before we get into the harrowing stories of those who gained access to the pill and of those working with Plan C.

Throughout history, there has been a stigma attached to abortion. With this Documentary, Tragos helps in ending that stigma. She achieves this by showing us the challenges women need to face in order to get their hands on the pill. A pill that is completely safe and FDA-approved. It even allows the woman to be in the comfort of their home, surrounded by who they want when having the abortion. Rather than going to a clinic that has Pro-Life protesters screaming at them as they enter.

Additionally, Tragos puts the focus on those working at Plan C. She lays out the laws surrounding abortion, the unrelenting bravery of the heroes working at Plan C, and the stories of those who’ve helped gain access to safe abortion. Therefore, giving a well-rounded view of abortion in America.

Plan C screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 12 at 11:00am at ZACH Theatre

Mar 14 at 5:45pm at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 18 at 3:00pm at Alamo Lamar A