Kieron J. Walsh (Director) Interview for The Racer, starring Louis Talpe, Tara Lee, and Iain Glen

Kieron J. Walsh, director, co-writer, and executive producer of The Racer joins us for an insightful interview.  The Racer is a new sports drama that takes place during the 1998 Tour de France, when the race was held in Ireland.  It follows Dom, a domestique whose job is to support the main rider.  We discuss Kieron's fascination with the Tour de France, his first experience with it, and even ask about his own performance enhancers (spoilers, it's nothing illegal)!

So give it a watch (review here) and make sure to check out the film, which is available on all major digital distributors. 

The Racer stars Louis Talpe, Matteo Simoni, Tara Lee, Iain Glen

The Racer follows Dom (Talpe), a rider who is racing the Tour de France in a team managed by his long time friend Sonny (Glen).  Being However, Dom is what is known as a domestique, someone who will never win a leg but is there to make sure that the star of the team finishes first.  He takes care of the details and the team, ensures everyone is hydrated during the race, and leads the pack so that the star Tartare (Simoni) can have just that little bit extra to push through to victory.  However, Dom is tired from never winning the race, of being the adult in the room, and from the constant strain on his body.  But a new relationship with Lynn (Lee) and a plethora of personal challenges cause him to rethink his priorities and his life.    

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Iceland is Best Review: A Quirky Cast of Characters Take a Voyage of Discovery and Self Realization

Release date: September 22, 2020
Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Judd Nelson, Helena Mattsson, Tom Maden, Kristín Auður Sophusdóttir

Iceland is Best tells the story of Sigga (Sophusdóttir), a 17 year-old girl trying to leave home in Iceland, and make her way to California.  She hopes to leave her home town for the bright, exciting world of Topanga California, where she hopes to be a poet. She begins the journey to the airport, confident in her move to California and accompanied by her three best friends, but along the way she meets people and has experiences that begin to change her perspective. 

Iceland is Best is an indie film through and through.  Sigga and her friends are fun and quirky, with each being different in their own way and contributing to the overall group.  Gunni (Atli Oskar Fjalarsson) is a devoted friend who is the most quirky.  He wears a winter hat the entire time, provides them with transportation, and carries around a canoe he named Topanga in honor of their journey.  Kati (Álfrún Laufeyjardóttir) is a good friend who is sad that Sigga is leaving but trying to be supportive.  And Benni (Mikael Kaaber) is trying to find his own love and confidence, while also trying to be taken seriously.  I loved Sigga's headstrong character, and how convinced she was of her path despite having little experience.  It was enough to make you a dreamer yourself.  And when she meets another wayfarer who seems to have both experience outside of Iceland and poetry, she only becomes more determined in her course.

The writing of Iceland is Best contributes to its overall quirky premise.  The dialogue is stark, blunt, dry, and very funny.  There are some great mixed emotions from Sigga and from those around her.  Her friends are generally supportive, and the older individuals are generally against her leaving.  This leads to some funny and slightly awkward situations where Sigga's will is tested.  And the music of this film is fantastic, with a wonderful soft, electronic style that really contributes to the overall dramatic feel of the film.  However, despite the really great setup for this film, the story goes off the rails after the initially great start.  Once some characters and plot threads are explored, the film goes off on some tangents that detract from the overall simple opening and fun message.  And although the ending does involve some character growth and realizations, it ultimately feels unsatisfying.  However, as the tagline of this film says, sometimes it is the journey that is important and Iceland is Best is definitely a fun journey.

Iceland is Best has a quirky cast of characters, a dry comedic style, and plenty of dreamers in this voyage of discovery and self realization.

Rent it.

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Foster Boy Review: An Emotional Legal Drama That Calls For Change

Release date: September 25, 2020
Running time: 109 minutes
Starring:  Shane Paul McGhie, Matthew Modine, Michael Hyatt, Louis Gossett Jr., Julie Benz

Michael (Modine) is a high-powered lawyer and Jamal (McGhie) is a young man who has been imprisoned after years of abuse in the foster care system.  However, when Michael is assigned to defend Jamal in his civil lawsuit, he gets more than he bargained for.  Together they have to overcome their differences to find justice and expose the foster care system.

Foster Boy seeks to show injustice and disparity and it does this right from the very start. The film does a great job of highlighting the very different lives Michael and Jamal live with a simple juxtaposition that is highly effective.  There are lots of little touches in Foster Boy that are similarly effective.  The film has some really good writing that focuses on the language that we use.  It carefully picks words to highlight charged language in everyday conversation and it also does a good job of touching on the legal process and implicit bias.  Additionally, as a legal drama, there are some good examples of games and showmanship that can happen during a legal proceeding, although some of the more extreme examples would not fly in court.  But it does have some actual scenes that highlight legal procedure that I was pleasantly surprised to see.  

And Foster Boy has some very good performances, notably from Shane Paul McGhie as Jamal.  He has to play a complicated, layered, and broken character and he does a good job of eliciting emotion and wearing his pain on his sleeve.  Matthew Modine as the high powered lawyer Michael is another strong performance, one that passes the eye test for a lawyer but also provides an entertaining and dramatic courtroom presence.  The remaining characters are all useful to the story, but tend to be good or evil depending on the side they represent.  Jamal and Michael are more complicated, but the remaining characters seem to be placed for the purposes of the story with little nuance.  And the most important name associated with this movie is Shaquille O'Neal, who gets executive producer credit.  I wish that the film would have had more of Shaq, like an intro message or an outro message from the big man.  But one thing that I suspect Shaq had influence on is the hard hitting subject matter and great music.  The film has really entertaining music with some hip-hop and rock thrown in to set the scene.  

And although the writing is generally good and emotional, there is some that goes over the top.  The story can have some very emotional scenes, but also go off the rails at other times with a tale of corporate greed and the ends that companies will go to protect the bottom line.  Foster Boy's desire to create drama and influence emotions leads it to craft a story that is merely inspired by true events.  There is plenty that is done here for the cameras and court scenarios that play out in ridiculous fashion.  For a movie that does so much right with writing and legal procedure at the start, it is a little disappointing that it doesn't stick to this and moves into a more made for Hollywood depiction of the law.  It feels like a two hour television legal drama, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but not what I was hoping for.  Those shows are definitely entertaining and touch on important issues, but with all the horror stories that exist in the foster care system, a movie that more closely followed a foster care child would have been more effective.  I wanted to see real examples of the injustices and an actual company that was responsible for them; what Foster Boy does is craft a convenient and dramatic story to highlight issues in the system.  Which again, is not necessarily a bad thing, it just could have been more powerful if it had a tighter factual basis.

Foster Boy uses its sympathetic protagonist, raw emotions, and dramatic moments to call for change for those little voices that cannot speak up.  

Rent it.

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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

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

Gutterbug Review: An Emotional Human Journey of Homelessness, Self Medication, and Rebellion

 

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Release date: September 9, 2020 (VOD)
Running time: 101 minutes
Starring: Andrew Yackel, Justin Pietropaolo, Hannah Mosqueda

A crust punk named Bug (Yackel) grapples with the realities of homelessness, mental health, drug use, and toxic friendships.  Bug and his friend Slim (Pietropaolo) spend most of their time scrounging for money, doing drugs, and going to rock shows.  However, on his 21st birthday he resolves to find his way home, a decision that leads him and his misfit crew down a dangerous path.  But getting to his home will be tough for Bug, Slim (Pietropaolo), and Jenny (Mosqueda) as it seems like every attempt to get there is met with societal issues, their own poor decisions, or wear that living on the streets has done to them.  

Gutterbug starts with a bang, filling you with some really amazing music that will get your blood flowing and set the stage for this film.  The music matches the style of the movie perfectly, with a rebellious nature that permeates the entire film.  And that energy and rebellion fuel a lot of the early part of Gutterbug.  Bug and Slim live on the streets, scrounge and do drugs, and try to live life as they can.  They are honest, tired, hungry, and downtrodden but also free.  And Bug is a good main character / narrator.  He narrates aspects of the film and provides insight into the overall happenings.  And it helps that his character is an interesting one.  Yackel puts on a great performance and really shows the conflicted parts of homelessness.  He highlights the camaraderie and the freedom, but also the constant worry for food and shelter, as well as the need to medicate through less than legal means.  And when Bug is joined by Slim and Jenny, then the film really starts to open up.  All these characters are wonderfully acted and their interactions are funny and heartfelt.  The three really do become a family, with the ups and downs associated with that.

And these characters don't just come alive due to the acting.  The costumes and make up transform these actors into their homeless counterparts perfectly.  Their hair looks greasy; their clothes are a mishmash, dirty, and scream youth in rebellion; and when they are under the effects of various substances, it shows through.  The story of Gutterbug definitely highlights a path that can lead to homelessness and the effects of poor decision making.  Bug left home years ago and has chosen to live on the streets, and the film does a good job of highlighting aspects of his youth and of the effect that his decision has had on his family.  And after the initial intense and high energy parts, the story builds slowly, with a solid introduction to the characters before progressing into the overall journey of the film.  The film is also told out of order so you get hints of different time periods that eventually coalesce.  And although the film does devolve into craziness towards the end, the ending really pulls you back in and focuses on the characters.  It is a satisfying end to an interesting, thoughtful, and very human story about mental illness, love, and survival.

Gutterbug tells a very human story, with complicated characters, plenty of youthful rebellion, and a satisfying conclusion. 

Watch it.

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What to Watch This Weekend - The Racer, Political Dramas and Documentaries, Antebellum, Spiral, The Social Dilemma

For the Sports Enthusiast - The Racer (Digital)

The Racer tells an honest sports story, with inspirational moments, plenty of interesting insights into conflicted athletes, and a story that paces itself nicely before a photo finish.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Scientist - All In: the Fight for Democracy (Amazon)

All In; The Fight for Democracy is an important film about modern voter suppression techniques, with poignant examples and valuable advice to ensure that all Americans are able to exercise their rights to vote.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Historian - The Way I See It (Theaters)

The Way I See It highlights the power of photography and the unprecedented access that Souza was given during the Obama presidency, and visually shows the stark differences between Reagan, Obama, and Trump.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Drama Fan - Les Sauvages (Topic)

Les Sauvages has an interesting cast of characters, complicated story, and plenty of drama in this French political thriller with parallels to events happening in America and on a global stage.  For more information, check out our review!

 

For the Fan of Stylized History - Antebellum (Theaters)

Antebellum is an imaginative mind game that explores the sins of the past and present through strong performances, a mysterious story, and some fantastic, dread-inducing music.  For more information, check out our review!

For the 90s Horror Fan - Spiral (Shudder)

Spiral's attention to 90s detail and refreshingly diverse main characters help you lose yourself on this descent into madness and dread.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Drama Fan - I'm Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix)

Strong performances from Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons and good writing from Charlie Kaufman highlight this movie that has wide critical appeal but mixed audience reactions.  

For the Social Media Addict - The Social Dilemma (Netflix)

The Social Dilemma has universal praise and presents a sobering, clear look into our datamined world in a dramatic form that should appeal to all.  

For the Thriller Fan - The Invisible Man (HBO)

The Invisible Man is a new take on the classic film, with great, minimalist effects, wonderful tension, and an amazing performance by Elisabeth Moss.  For more information, check out our review! 

Les Sauvages Review: A French Political Thriller With Shades of World Issues

Release date: September 17, 2020 (Streaming)
Running time: 60 minute episodes, 6 total
Starring: Marina Foïs, Roschdy Zem, Amira Casar, Dali Benssalah, Sofiane Zermani, Souheila Yacoub

Set in present-day France, Les Sauvages follows the first presidential candidate of Algerian descent who is in a heated election.  The series follows the election and the events that occur after the election that touch on politics, identity, and France as a nation.  

A drama like this will live and die by its characters, and Les Sauvages has a lot of interesting and conflicting ones.  It follows the Algerian political candidate Idder Chaouch (Zem), a charismatic politician who appears to have some influence from Obama.  Idder is running on a campaign of hope and change, and there are definite attacks on him about his nationality and whether he is French enough.  On top of Idder, we are introduced to his daughter and political campaign manager Jasmine (Yacoub) and her longtime boyfriend and successful actor Fouad (Benssalah).  Early in the series we meet Fouad's family, who includes a brother (Zermani) who is politically opposed to Chaouch's ideals and candidacy.  This is just scratching the surface and, as with any good drama, there are plenty of other characters to meet along the way that add to the overall intrigue and drama.  And despite the dramatic nature of the series, it doesn't feel like characters are overacting for it.  There is a general likable nature to the individuals, which makes you want to root for them that much more.  

And drama is one thing that this series has in spades.  Full disclosure, I have only watched two of the episodes, but those episodes do a really great job of establishing the world, the major conflicts, and all the characters.  If you are looking for a lot of action, this is not it.  But if you are looking for interactions between characters and plenty of threads to follow, then this show might be for you.  And part of what makes the threads so fun to follow is the writing.  Although I am watching it subtitled, the dialogue is interesting and dramatic, and the story line is easy to follow despite the plethora of characters and events.  And the camera work and production values are quite good, with some nice shots of France and good lighting for a show that has a lot take place at night.  There are some poor decisions that happen, but that is also how you get the drama to take place.  And some of the themes, despite being French issues, are ones that are relatable to the world at large.  The series deals with isolationist policies, nationalism, and identity politics, all of which are relevant on a global scale.  And as I said, I definitely saw shades of American political issues in this French series.  And overall, despite being two episodes in, I am excited to see where it goes next.

Les Sauvages has an interesting cast of characters, complicated story, and plenty of drama in this French political thriller with parallels to events happening in America and on a global stage. 

Watch it.

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following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.   LES SAUVAGES premiered on Topic Thursday, September 17.