What to Watch This Weekend: Remembering RBG, Shortcut, All Roads to Pearla, Gutterbug, Judy, Addams Family, Just Mercy

For the Barrier Breakers - RBG (Hulu)

Remember RBG's legacy by watching this phenomenal documentary about her life and everything she did for this country.  The world is a sadder place today, but it was made all that much better by the strength, intelligence, and grit of this phenomenal, larger than life jurist.

For the Barrier Breakers Part 2 - On the Basis of Sex (Showtime)

If documentaries aren't your thing, check out this dramatization of how RGB broke some of her first barriers to entry, and argued one of the most important cases of her career.  Felicity Jones and Arnie Hammer make a great pair in this dramatization of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's early life.  

For the Horror and Stranger Things Fan - Shortcut (Theaters)

Shortcut is a thoroughly enjoyable creature feature that gets its claws into you early with its wonderful cinematography, young talented cast, perfectly toned style, and Stranger Things vibes.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Horror and Stranger Things Fan - Shortcut (Theaters)

Shortcut is a thoroughly enjoyable creature feature that gets its claws into you early with its wonderful cinematography, young talented cast, perfectly toned style, and Stranger Things vibes.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Drama Fan - All Roads to Pearla (Digital)

All Roads to Pearla is a beautiful noir film fueled by Timlin's powerful, dramatic performance, beautiful cinematography and music, and a complicated story.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Rebel - Gutterbug (Digital)

Gutterbug tells a very human story, with complicated characters, plenty of youthful rebellion, and a satisfying conclusion.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Drama Fans - Judy (Amazon)

Renee Zellweger takes on the difficult role of portraying the iconic Judy Garland.  Zellweger captures the beloved performer's personality with poise and emotional care.

For the Kids - The Addams Family (Amazon)

The Addams Family is a nostalgic animated feature that captures the style and characters of the main show.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Justice Seekers - Just Mercy (HBO)

Just Mercy is an inspiring, timely, and sadly appropriate movie for our times.  It has Oscar-worthy acting, amazing cinematography, and tells an important story that that doesn't leave a heart untouched or an eye dry at its conclusion.  For more information, check out our review!

All Roads to Pearla Review: A Beautiful and Tense Texas Noir

Release date: September 25, 2020
Running time: 108 minutes
Starring: Addison Timlin, Corin Nemec, Dash Mihok, Alex MacNicoll

A Texas town awakes when Brandon (MacNicoll) a high school wrestler gets entangled with a drifter named Pearla (Timlin) and her psychopathic lover Oz (Mihok).  Lives then intertwine and spiral violently out of control once he becomes her escort driver.  The two outcasts form a quick friendship, but the danger lurking around them closes in as they try to leave this small town.

All Roads Lead to Perla is an understated movie.  There are a lot of very small touches throughout that really help to contribute to the overall feel of this film.  First off, the cinematography is breathtaking.  As expected from a director who has a history in photography, the shots are framed perfectly and composed with absolute care.  There are a lot of small touches about the Texas landscape that shine through and really draw your eye to the natural beauty.  Even seemingly mundane shots are so well composed that they look stunning.  There is an early scene showcasing just a standard grocery store, but the lighting and sun shining above it make this seemingly mundane scene pop.  Another small touch is the absolutely beautiful music, which really helps to augment the dramatic scenes.  It is never overpowering and it softly starts up, but it is really touching and helps to push the audience's emotional buttons.  

The cast of All Roads to Pearla do a great job telling this multifaceted story.  Although there are several great performances in this film, Timlin definitely commands the viewer's attention with her portrayal of Pearla.  Pearla is a complicated character with many different layers: she is at times a bubbly friend with hopes and dreams, sometimes she is a defiant woman who is standing up against the forces against her, and other times she is a broken shell.  Timlin portrays all of these personas perfectly and breathes life into this character with her dramatic prowess.  That is not to say that the other actors are not standouts, and in particular Alex MacNicoll does a great job as a conflicted wrestler trying to leave his small town and dealing with far more than a high school kid should.  But Timlin outshines them all and in this case, all roads and all eyes lead to Pearla.

As with any good Noir film, the story in All Roads to Pearla has several intertwining and connected threads that wind together.  It is really an interesting contrast, seeing the lives of "normal" high school kids mixed with the complicated and dark world of this underground.  This is made even more stark by the small town aspect, where everyone knows everything but often don't talk about it.  But this does provide a great platform for showcasing a kid dealing with far more than he should, and a woman with dreams that were prematurely squashed trying to fight to get them back.  If there is a negative with this film, it is that the story leaves some things unsaid.  There are certain threads that are left up to the audience to connect so you sometimes don't know exactly what occurred.  And although the sound and music are generally very good, the film has a weak sounding gun.  However, don't let those dissuade you from seeing this dramatic, understated, and beautiful film.

All Roads to Pearla is a beautiful noir film fueled by Timlin's powerful, dramatic performance, beautiful cinematography and music, and a complicated story.

Watch it

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Also make sure to check out our interviews with Addison Timlin (who plays Pearla) and director / writer / producer Van Ditthavong!

Van Ditthavong Spoiler Free Interview About All Roads to Pearla, New Texas Noir Crime Thriller

Watch or Pass Interview with Van Ditthavong, the writer, director, and producer of thenew Texas Noir film, All Roads to Pearla, also starring Addison Timlin, Alex MacNicoll, Corin Nemec, Nick Chinlund, and Dash Mihok. We discuss the inspiration for the film, the filming process, and what he learned from making his first feature. We also answer the age-old burger question of what is the best burger: Whataburger, In-N-Out, or Five Guys!

So give it a watch and make sure to check out the film on September 25 in theaters, on demand, and digitally. ALL ROADS LEAD TO PEARLA had its world premiere at the 2019 Austin Film Festival. The crime thriller stars Alex MacNicoll (VICE, THE SOCIETY), Addison Timlin (LIKE ME, LITTLE SISTER), Corin Nemec (MARRIAGE OF LIES), Nick Chinlund (TRAINING DAY) and Dash Mihok (SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, RAY DONOVAN). A small Texas town awakes when a high school wrestler gets involved with a drifter and her ruthless lover. Lives intertwine and spiral violently out of control once he becomes her escort driver and risks everything to save her.

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If you liked this interview and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.  

Addison Timlin Spoiler Free Interview About All Roads to Pearla, New Texas Noir Crime Thriller

Watch or Pass Interview with Addison Timlin, who plays Pearla in the new Texas Noir film, All Roads to Pearla, also starring Alex MacNicoll, Corin Nemec, Nick Chinlund, and Dash Mihok. We discuss why she chose this role, what she did to prepare for it, and similarities between herself and her character. We also answer the age-old burger question of what is the best burger: Whataburger, In-N-Out, or Five Guys!

So give it a watch and make sure to check out the film on September 25 in theaters, on demand, and digitally. ALL ROADS LEAD TO PEARLA had its world premiere at the 2019 Austin Film Festival. The crime thriller stars Alex MacNicoll (VICE, THE SOCIETY), Addison Timlin (LIKE ME, LITTLE SISTER), Corin Nemec (MARRIAGE OF LIES), Nick Chinlund (TRAINING DAY) and Dash Mihok (SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, RAY DONOVAN). A small Texas town awakes when a high school wrestler gets involved with a drifter and her ruthless lover. Lives intertwine and spiral violently out of control once he becomes her escort driver and risks everything to save her.

Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos.

If you liked this interview and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.