John Wildman

SUNDANCE 2019 REVIEW: Sacha Polak’s DIRTY GOD offers a redemption story that doesn’t come wrapped with a pretty bow

By John Wildman 7 years ago

DIRTY GOD purposefully takes a long, winding and jagged road toward Jade’s efforts to heal and find her own way to a new life she never asked for. This is not an easy redemption story that can take us comfortably across the finish line without the barest of emotional investments. Jade was assuredly not an angle cast down from the heavens, but rather, a working class beauty that is forced to overcome a fate she didn’t deserve.

TEN BURNING QUESTIONS: Skye Borgman’s ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT is a dream of impossibility for the true crime documentary enthusiast

By John Wildman 7 years ago

Skye Borgman’s ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT is a dream of impossibility for the true crime documentary enthusiast. Tracing the two abduction/kidnappings of a pre-teen Jan Broberg by Bob Berchtold with the arguable permission of her parents, the film begins with a reality that is hard for one to wrap their head around, even acknowledging that the events of the film took place in the 70s and to a naïve Mormon family in Idaho – that two parents would stand by and more or less give permission to a man to take their little girl and even “marry” her.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: Katharine Ross will perform and introduce BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID to kick off the San Luis Obispo Film Festival’s 25th fest

By John Wildman 7 years ago

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (March 12-17) has announced that Katharine Ross will perform with The Malibu Coast Silent Film Orchestra on Opening Night to launch the 25th Anniversary edition of the popular film festival. Ross will tell the exciting true story of “Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express,” with the orchestra, prior to participating in a discussion on film and her award-winning career, and introducing a special 50th Anniversary screening of the 1969 classic, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.

Bill Paxton Featured: The Oxford Film Festival Adds Local Films, Panels, a Special Guest, and a Gonzo 80s Sci-Fi Film Featuring in His First Role

By John Wildman 7 years ago

The 2019 Oxford Film Festival (February 6-10) announced a special screening of Tom Huckabee and Kent Smith’s TAKING TIGER MOUNTAIN REVISITED, a gonzo futuristic film project co-written by William S. Burroughs and starring Bill Paxton in his first role, and made in the late 70s/early 80s, and recently updated by Huckabee. Steve Young, the subject of Dava Whisenant’s award-winning documentary, BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY is now slated to attend the screening of that film, and the film lineups for the Oxford Community Film Night, Family Film Festival, UM Film & Theatre Shorts, Louisiana and Memphis Film Prize Shorts program, and Filmmaker Panels were also announced.

FILM FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY: Dallas’s Best of Fests Celebrated its Historic Film Festival Event with one of the most fun Red Carpets on Record

By John Wildman 7 years ago

Dallas’ film festival community did something never before seen anywhere else in the country when 22 film festivals joined forces last weekend to offer up films from each film festival that either were award-winners, major hits from a previous edition of their fest, or simply demonstrated the programming style and taste of the film festival.

Led by Miraya Berke: Los Angeles-based Rom Com Fest will shine a spotlight on the Romantic Comedy when it debuts in June

By John Wildman 7 years ago

Led by Founder and Executive Director Miraya Berke, Rom Com Fest will screen a mix of new and classic romantic comedies, as well as hosting filmmaker panels, parties, and other events to celebrate the genre and offer a touchstone on the West Coast for film fans and filmmakers that love and create romantic comedy films and film art. Highlights will include speed dating, craft night, and a pajama party, as well as the expected moderated Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, red carpet, and additional networking events.

John Stimpson’s GHOST LIGHT Opens Oxford Film Festival announces their competition selections as they kick off the 2019 regional film festival year

By John Wildman 7 years ago

The 2019 Oxford Film Festival (February 6-10), the first major stop on the year’s regional film festival circuit has announced John Stimpson’s GHOST LIGHT as the Opening Night Gala selection, with Jacqueline Olive’s ALWAYS IN SEASON tabbed as the fest’s Closing Night Gala selection immediately following its debut at Sundance. Another choice hot off of Sundance will be Jon Strong’s documentary, LONG TIME COMING, presented as a Special Screening. Oxford Film Festival favorite Malcolm Ingram will present his latest documentary, SOUTHERN PRIDE as a Special Screening as well. Also announced were the competition lineups for this year.

Brett Morgen’s CROSSFIRE HURRICANE and more! TEN MOST RECENT FILMS WATCHED: Entertaining Myself During the Holidays Edition from Films Gone Wild

By John Wildman 7 years ago

This list incorporates some films that I learned about either on journalists end-of-year “these films were underrated” lists (BLACK ’47) or some Facebook discussion along the lines of “Have you seen this? You should check it out!” (PORNDEMIC). I exploited a free sample week of HBO and Showtime memberships to watch some films for free that I hadn’t yet caught (PADDINGTON 2, READY PLAYER ONE, JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS), had the dutiful Christmas film viewing late one night (A CHRISTMAS CAROL), and cracked open one of my Blu Ray gifts (RAMPAGE).