'Get Out' Wins Best Feature Film at the 33rd Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards [WATCH]
As if right on cue, the sun broke through the foreboding rain clouds just as the red carpet opened at the 33rd annual Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Located steps away from the Santa Monica Pier, the event takes place just one day before Hollywood’s biggest night – the Academy Awards. But unlike the pressure of the Oscars, the vibe of the Spirit Awards is much more relaxed due to its purpose-driven mission: to celebrate independently produced and artist-driven films made outside of the rigid and often political big studio system. Despite the countries of origin, budgets, and talent attached, all of the films recognized at the Spirit Awards have one thing in common: they all embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. My brother Ryan and I had the opportunity to cover the awards ceremony, both on the red carpet and in the press room.
Comedians Nick Kroll and John Mulaney returned to co-host the event, which was broadcast live on the IFC channel with audiences tuning in from 56 countries. The NYC indie rock trio Sunflower Bean was this year’s house band, and their dreamy and melodic guitar tunes kept the energy at an all-time high (even with the show running 30 minutes over its scheduled time).
https://youtu.be/8pxyilXoIYU
Over the past three years, the films that won Best Picture at the Independent Spirit Awards would also go on to win Best Picture at the Oscars the next day, including Moonlight, Spotlight, and Birdman. This year, Get Out took home the honors and accepting the award was the film’s director Jordan Peele, who also won the event’s Best Director award. That statistic would end this year, however, as The Shape of Water wound up winning Best Feature at the Oscars.
Voters awarded Best Male Lead to 22-year-old Timothée Chalamet for his performance as Elio in the breathtaking drama Call Me By Your Name. Sweeping the awards circuit since the very beginning, the Best Female Lead went to Frances McDormand for her performance as the no-nonsense Mildred in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Sam Rockwell took home the Best Supporting Male award for his performance as goofy cop Dixon in Three Billboards, with Best Supporting Female going to Allison Janney for her captivating performance as the critical and cruel LaVona in I, Tonya. No surprise here, McDormand, Rockwell, and Janney would all go on to be honored at the Oscars for these performances as well.
Other notable awards went to Lady Bird’s Greta Gerwig for Best Screenplay, The Big Sick’s Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani for Best First Screenplay, and Ingrid Goes West’s Matt Spicer for Best First Feature. The Robert Altman Award, which is given to an ensemble cast, director, and casting director of a film considered to be a "maverick" of the year, went to Mudbound. Director Dee Rees gave an electrifying acceptance speech that left the room speechless, and star of the film Garrett Hedlund literally dropped her mic after her she spoke to signify the importance and strength of her words.
Judging by the passion and perseverance for positive change that was displayed at last Saturday’s event, the power of independent cinema is not only stronger now than ever before, but truly demonstrates its ability to tell these original stories that can impact – and even change – the world.
'The Vanishing of Sidney Hall' Review: A Tortured Artist Gets Too Much Too Soon
In today's day and age, thanks to our continuously connected world, it is more and more common for kids to catapult to fame and achieve a level of success that was previously not attainable until adulthood.
Take Emma Gonzalez and Malala Yousafzai for example, and their fight for social justice which has cemented their reputations as modern-day heroines. They have become the face of the millennial revolution. Luckily, they seem capable of dealing with the price of fame- both the highs and the lows- but what happens when the pressure of the spotlight is just too much?
In director Shawn Christensen's drama, The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, he explores this coming-of-age theme through the titular protagonist, Sidney (Logan Lerman), and his unusual way of coping with unexpected success. Sidney begins as a controversial and boundary-pushing high school writer who outshines his peers by a landslide and considers Hunter S. Thompson and David Foster Wallace aspirational heroes. When a teacher takes notice and submits his work to a publishing house, Sidney's life is forever changed. He falls in love with his next-door neighbor Melody (Elle Fanning), signs a book deal, skyrockets to an international best-seller, and then goes missing.
Fame wasn't something Sidney wanted, it was just a by-product of the surprising outcome of the success of his page-turning debut novel, Suburban Tragedy. The book, which was based on the death of one of his high school classmates, flies off the shelves, meanwhile, Sidney flies off the handle. He begins having panic attacks and his ego swells to the point that it puts his relationship with Melody at risk. Ultimately he leaves town, but not without burning every copy of Suburban Tragedy he can find. Sidney has become a “somebody,” but all he wants to be now is a “nobody.” His actions seem inspired by Fahrenheit 451 while the reaction to success seems more like Joaquin Phoenix, nonetheless, Sydney’s disappearance piques the interest of an amateur detective (Kyle Chandler) who makes it his mission to find the missing author.
...what happens when the pressure of the spotlight is just too much?
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall is a heavy-handed character drama that deals with a young man's personal struggle with adult responsibilities. The story itself, while an interesting premise, follows a non-linear structure that feels like the script was dropped and the pages were scattered about, only to be put back out of order. The story weaves in and out of three different timelines, with each one heartbreaking for a variety of reasons. Things take an even darker turn towards the end of the film when rape and sexual assault of a minor are discovered within one of the character's backstories. For as dark as the film is on the page, however, it is an absolute beauty to watch on screen. Cinematographer Daniel Katz creates breathtaking images of romantic pastel landscapes and vibrant cityscapes that feel as if it's buzzing with spontaneity and mystery.
The performances from Lerman and Fanning are spellbinding, with extra praise going to Lerman for also being one of the executive producers of the film. Kyle Chandler as the persistent detective brings an eagerness to the story, and Michelle Monaghan as Sidney's mother strikes all the right emotional chords. The Vanishing of Sidney Hall premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, and while it's subject matter may weigh heavy, the overall package is an emotionally engaging viewing experience for anyone willing to take the journey.
119 minutes. 'The Vanishing of Sidney Hall' is rated R for language and some sexual references. In theaters Friday, March 2nd.
'Half Magic' Review: Kickstarting the Sexual Revolution Through Satirical Comedy
Heather Graham is here to prove that she is more than just the stereotypical leading lady she's been known to play.
She's got a voice and right now is the perfect time to use it. Taking to the big screen, Graham shows off her directorial and screenwriting skills with her feature film debut, Half Magic. The satirical comedy, which is loosely based off of her own unjust and, at times, demeaning experiences in Hollywood, is the female-driven movie we should all be watching. If there were ever a movie to propel the #MeToo and "Time's Up" movements to the forefront of conversation, it would be Half Magic.
Young Honey (Chloe Graham) grew up believing that sex comes with a stigma attached, as is relatively common within devout Christian belief systems. These sexual insecurities have grown to affect both her personal and professional relationships. Now a young adult, Honey (Heather Graham) finds herself working in the entertainment industry in L.A. as an assistant– with dreams of making it as a screenwriter– to both boss and boyfriend, Peter (Chris D'Elia). Peter is the embodiment of a male chauvinist pig, some of his notable one-liners include, "If you want to make a good story, you gotta write about a man," and "I'm not against women's rights, I'm just saying there's no market for their films."
Fed up with not being taken seriously, Honey finds comfort in the women-led support group run by a flamboyantly fabulous leader (Molly Shannon) who encourages women to "embrace the power of their pussies." It's during one of these body appreciation exercises when Honey meets Eva (Angela Kinsey) and Candy (Stephanie Beatriz), two women who are also struggling with various degrees of sexism, bad relationships, and low self-esteem in their own lives.
The common thread running through the film stands as a powerful message to women everywhere – you are deserving and capable of what you want, now it's up to you to get it.
The women take to each other quickly, like kindred sexual spirits, and support each other in trying to tackle the negativity in their lives. Through friendship, the women learn what it takes to stand up for themselves and how to tap into the power of self-confidence. The road to self-love and acceptance isn't easy or without detours, but in the end, Honey and the gang come to the realization that the key to happiness lies within, and isn't that something we could all be reminded of?
At its core, Half Magic is a story about female empowerment in friendships, careers, and sexual experiences. While the situations the protagonist finds herself in are comical and look like caricatures of the current political workplace environment (due to a solid performance from funnyman Chris D'Elia), the common thread running through the film stands as a powerful message to women everywhere – you are deserving and capable of what you want, now it's up to you to get it!
'Half Magic' is rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and drug use. 94 minutes. Now playing at the Vintage Los Feliz Theatre and on VOD and Digital HD.
'The Female Brain' Review: Whitney Cummings Gives Us a Lesson on Love
This review originally ran during the 2017 LA Film Fest
Comedian Whitney Cummings was every bit the engaging artist as she introduced her directorial debut, The Female Brain, at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Saturday evening.
She briefly spoke about choosing to adapt Louann Brizendine's nonfiction book, The Female Brain, as her first film, so eloquently describing it as a modern-day "Magic School Bus." "And if you are too young to know what The Magic School Bus is," she went on to say, "Then I hate you."
The Female Brain is a vignette-style romantic comedy that looks at the lives of different couples in varying stages of their relationship. Unlike other generic rom-com's, however, The Female Brain focuses on the fact-based situations and pitfalls that arise when primal neurology meets passionate or unrequited love. In other words, Cummings is giving audiences a lesson on why we do the things we do in relationships, breaking down the stereotypes women face by blaming it on science!
As the anchor of the film, Cummings plays the neuroscientist Julia Brizendine, a type-A woman who rigidly controls her daily habits in order to get the necessary chemicals she "technically" needs to live a happy life. This includes hanging out with friends, working out, staying organized, and other things that give off different types of endorphins without engaging in a romantic relationship (because why would anyone willingly put themselves through the dating scene?). Her plan gets thrown off when she meets Kevin (Toby Kebbell), a participant in one of her research groups who attempts to woo her despite her stance on romance.
As a woman, I could personally relate to more moments in the film than I would like to admit, but 'The Female Brain' doesn't appeal to just women.
The rest of the cast plays like a who's who of comedians, Broadway hotshots, and NBA superstars. Lisa (Sofia Vergara) and her husband Steven (Deon Cole) struggle with diminishing sex appeal and connection, Greg (Blake Griffin) and Zoe (Cecily Strong) are newlyweds that are still figuring out the balance of power within the relationship, and Adam (James Marsden) and his girlfriend Lexi (Lucy Punch) struggle with boundary issues. Guest appearances from Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt are as surprising as they are delightful.
The humor ebbs and flows throughout the film, a few moments playing to the lowest brow of comedy, but overall the tone of The Female Brain is both fun and informative. The addition of animated brain diagrams, which pop up throughout the film, help to digest the scientific information more easily.
As a woman, I could personally relate to more moments in the film than I would like to admit, but The Female Brain doesn't appeal to just women. The men sitting next to me laughed just as much through the film as I did, proving two things: one, Whitney Cummings' humor translates from the stage comedian to big screen director and two, we're all just humans looking for love, trying to keep the love alive, or slowly realizing that we're all doomed because we will eventually end up acting like our parents.
'The Female Brain' is not rated. 98 minutes. Now playing at Laemmle's Monica Film Center.
Timothée Chalamet, Daniel Kaluuya Share Their Spirit Animals [WATCH]
One of our favorite nights of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is the presentation of the Virtuosos Award, which was created to recognize a select group of talent who have distinguished themselves through breakthrough performances in film this past year.
We take to the red carpet and chat with the six recipients (Gal Gadot was unable to attend), among them Oscar-nominees and some of Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars. This year, we celebrate Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Mary J. Blige (Mudbound), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick), Hong Chau (Downsizing), and John Boyega (Detroit).
Joel McHale, Emmy Rossum Talk 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture' [WATCH]
We catch up with director David Wain and actors Joel McHale, Emmy Rossum, Martin Mull, and Matt Walsh before the World Premiere of A Futile and Stupid Gesture at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture is the story of comedy wunderkind Doug Kenney (played by Will Forte), who co-created the National Lampoon. Kenney was at the center of the 70’s comedy counter-culture which gave birth to Saturday Night Live and a whole generation's way of looking at the world. Now streaming on Netflix.
For our review of A Futile and Stupid Gesture, click here
'Pity' Sundance Review: The Only Thing Sad About This Film is That It Had To End
The day after I saw one of my favorite films in competition in the World Cinema Dramatic category– the Greek dark comedy, Pity– I saw the film’s director casually having a late breakfast at The Bridge Cafe in Park City.
The moment I recognized it was him was a euphoric one for many reasons– here was the man whose work I had become infatuated with a mere 24 hours earlier and considered one of the bests from the fest. Plus, it reminded me just how lucky the independent film community is to have a festival like Sundance, where creative energy bounces around Park City from artist to art lover, and audiences are introduced to films that otherwise may not end up on their radar. Pity is one of those films that I am so grateful to have seen in this environment.
Pity is Babis Makridis’ sophomore directorial feature film that tells the deliciously off-kilter story of a man who becomes dependent on the pity of strangers to give his life meaning. Actor Yannis Drakopoulos plays the unnamed man whose situation looks grim– his wife is in a coma and, with no apparent domestic skills of his own, has come to depend on his neighbor’s daily bundt cakes to feed himself and his son. It becomes apparent, however, that the food isn’t the only thing satiating his appetite, his neighbor’s constant care and concern also feeds his growing ego and desire for sadness. The man picks up his dry cleaning and tells the employee all about his life’s misfortune, and leaves with freshly pressed suits and a bountiful supply of sympathy. It isn’t until his wife begins to recover that the man realizes that he depends on the pity from strangers to continue living and will stop at nothing to ensure he receives it.
The situations are hilarious and horrifying all at once, the winning combination that makes every moment feel like a metaphorical punch in the gut... exactly the way our protagonist would like it.
This is not a case of schadenfreude– happiness at the misfortune of others– but a case of twisted and psychological self-sabotage. The man is only happy when he is sad, he is quite literally addicted to sadness, and that is what makes this Greek tragicomedy, whose tagline is “Stay Sad,” one of the most creative and smart films to hit the arthouse/dark comedy scene. Perhaps the best part of all is the understated execution of this wacky plot, which is attributed to Drakopoulos' deadpan performance and beautiful cinematography. Makridis and his DP Konstantinos Koukoulios create a visually stunning and engaging aesthetic that grounds this black comedy in reality, making the character's situation all the funnier because of its realness.
Makridis’ directorial accomplishments may not run long just yet, but he is no stranger to the film industry– just ask his Pity collaborator and co-writer Efthimis Filippou whose credits include The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster, and Dogtooth (all directed by the great Yorgos Lanthimos). If you’ve seen any of the previously mentioned films, expect that same tone (and soundtrack) to come across in Pity. The situations are hilarious and horrifying all at once, the winning combination that makes every moment feel like a metaphorical punch in the gut... exactly the way our protagonist would like it.
97 minutes. 'Pity' is not yet rated.
Sundance 2018, Here We Come!
Tomorrow marks the official start of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and Cinemacy is so excited to be returning to Park City, UT to cover the best of the fest from start to finish!
The weather predicts snow, and the lineup predicts over 100 innovative and groundbreaking independent films from all over the globe. Founded by Robert Redford in 1978, the Sundance Film Festival is a cultural tastemaking event that sets the tone for the coming year in indie film– some of last year’s notable gems that went on to box office and critical acclaim include Call Me By Your Name, The Big Sick, and Mudbound. And although the ink is not yet dry on Cinemacy’s film festival schedule– there are more events, panels, and performances to attend than there are hours in the day– we have narrowed down some of our most anticipated events.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
It is undeniable that female artists are shaping the film industry at this very moment, creating a platform and a call to action for equality and respect. The result is a major societal and revolutionary re-vamping of the system, and that is why this year, in particular, it feels extremely important to highlight the contributions and impact that women have made in cinema. It is with delighted anticipation that Sundance is hosting various discussions highlighting these current events with universally inspiring women, including Ava DuVernay, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Joan Jett, Octavia Spencer, and so many more. There will be conversations based on how storytellers transform not only the arts but society at large, and how the stories we tell will shape our future.
Brett Dennen
As a whole, the biggest draw of the festival may be the films, but Sundance also caters to the music-driven crowd with the inclusion of various pop-up performances and lounges. The ASCAP Music Café is a great place to re-group after spending the day in the snow or a theatre, and this year they are celebrating their 20th Anniversary with an impressive lineup. Brett Dennen and Ethan Gruska are just a couple of the artists set to perform, spotlighting music's essential role in the art of filmmaking. And in keeping with the theme of music, another scheduled event is the “Scoring for Sundance” panel, which gives the opportunity to hear from various composers as they discuss the art of music over a hot cup of coffee.
(L-R) Burden; I Think We're Alone Now; Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
When all is said and done, however, it is the films that inspire us most. Out of 13,468 submissions, 110 feature-length films were selected to screen at this year’s festival. What is Cinemacy most looking forward to? For starters, covering master filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, and Rooney Mara; cinematographer-turned-director Reed Morano’s sci-fi feature I Think We’re Alone Now starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning; and the sensitive drama, Burden starring Garrett Hedlund, Andrea Riseborough, and Forest Whitaker.
Follow Cinemacy along on our journey to Sundance and beyond on Instagram and Facebook to get an insider’s look at all the happenings at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival!