Preston Barta // Editor
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (★★★★) – Say what you will about the Obama’s politics and views, but their love story was meant for the big screen. Southside With You takes us back to the first date Michelle (Tika Sumpter) and Barack (Parker Sawyers) ever went on, in an engrossing walk-and-talk biodrama that tips its hat to Richard Linklater’s BEFORE trilogy while also breathing humanity into two iconic figures. At Angelika Dallas and AMC Grapevine. Rated PG-13, 84 minutes.
Interview with stars Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers coming soon!
Check out our interview with director Ira Sachs here.
LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD (★★★★) – Werner Herzog (GRIZZLY MAN) is not your average filmmaker. He shows you both sides of every coin. In this case, with his latest endeavor, LO AND BEHOLD, Herzog exhibits the wonders and horrors of the connected world. This riveting documentary not only touches on the fundamentals and history of the Internet, but it also provides a much deeper understanding of its past, present and future. It’s scary stuff. At Texas Theatre. Rated PG-13, 98 minutes.
MECHANIC: RESURRECTION – It’s hard to keep up with all of what comes out of the Jason Statham cannon. He’s got franchises such as THE MECHANIC, THE TRANSPORTER and CRANK, which all blend together like sugar and cream. They’re hardly distinguishable, despite the co-stars they each contain (Jessica Alba and a soul patch equipped Tommy Lee Jones in MECHANIC: RESURRECTION). So forgive me if my interests aren’t there to see some bald headed dude jump out of buildings, explode stuff and shoot baddies with deadly precision. I’d rather see Statham take on more comedies like SPY. Rated R, 99 minutes.
