SXSW: Probing Identity in "Bloody Hell"

by Abe Friedtanzer

From the sound of its title, you might think that Bloody Hell is a violent horror film. But in fact it’s a mostly (and significantly) blood-free exploration of what it’s like to be a teenager that doesn’t quite fit in. It’s described as a “traumedy” about a sixteen-year-old girl shaken by the news of a reproductive condition that will play heavily into both her sex life and her potential to become a future mother... 

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SXSW: The High Cost of Insulin in ‘Pay or Die’

By Abe Friedtanzer

It should surprise virtually no one that there are tremendous issues with the healthcare system in the United States today, and that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are a big part of those problems. The award-winning limited series Dopesick showed just how detrimental the prescription of excessively powerful drugs can be. A new documentary premiering at SXSW, Pay or Die, looks at another side of the coin: the exorbitant cost of medication necessary to a person’s survival and the dire consequences of falling short…

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SXSW: Lily Gladstone in ‘The Unknown Country’

By Abe Friedtanzer

It’s a rare occasion when a film ends up being more interesting than it sounds. The official synopsis for The Unknown Country, which is screening in the Visions program at SXSW and includes “experimental” and “hybrid” in its list of genres, describes a “largely solitary journey with an unknown destination.” But that’s merely a comment on the geographical nature of the trip its protagonist, Tana (Lily Gladstone) is on, and this film does manage to successfully blend together a number of styles for an intoxicating and positively disorienting experience… 

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SXSW: Dreaming of Space in ‘Linoleum’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Not all comedians can excel at drama, and those who do it best tend to achieve a middle ground that allows them to maintain some elements of their typical routines but fold them into a compelling serious turn. There are many successful examples, including Robin Williams and Mary Tyler Moore. Jim Gaffigan has dabbled in drama before, with a particularly memorable performance in Light from Light opposite the underrated Marin Ireland. It turns out he’s just the right person to anchor Linoleum, a film that mixes science fiction, family issues, and outright oddities…

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SXSW: Rita Moreno Stars in ‘The Prank’

By Abe Friedtanzer

 
We should all aspire to be as active as Rita Moreno when we turn ninety years old. The legendary actress had her own documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, premiere at Sundance last year (it’s now available on Netflix), and co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, the film that won her an Oscar back in 1961. While her latest film, The Prank, isn’t anywhere near the caliber of her previous work, it’s great to see her still at it and enhancing any film she’s in…

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