Swan Song - 2021 NBFF Capsule Review

The Movie: Swan Song

The Director: Todd Stephens

The Cast: Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans

The Story: A formerly flamboyant hairdresser takes a long walk across a small town to style a dead woman's hair.

Pig - Movie Review

The Movie: Pig

The Director: Michael Sarnoski

The Cast: Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff

The Story: A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Hui Tong - Co-Director of Curtain Up!

Filmmaker Hui Tong checks in from Beijing to talk about Curtain Up!, a documentary he co-directed with fellow director and producer Kelly Ng. Curtain Up!, an official selection of the 2021 Austin Asian American Film Festival, raises timely topics while shining a spotlight on some truly talented children.

TwoOhSix Picks - 2021 North Bend Film Festival

The North Bend Film Festival is back after a one year pandemic induced hiatus and the 2021 edition has got a full lineup of programming both virtual and in person. This hybrid format has been the norm for most festivals this year and the fine folks who are in charge of these particular proceedings have gone all out in maintaining the fun and quirky vibe the festival is known for. See below for my election of films you do not want to miss out on during the festival's run.

Silat Warriors: Deed of Death - Movie Review

The Movie: Silat Warriors: Deed of Death

The Director: Areel Abu Bakar

The Cast: Namron, Khoharullah Majid, Feiyna Tajudin, Fad Anuar, Taiyuddin Bakar, Megat Shahrizal, Azlan Komeng

The Story: When a reckless young gambler’s wild lifestyle of illegal betting, drag racing, and brutal street fights pits him against a ruthless criminal enterprise, his luck finally runs out.

Changing Directions Podcast Series: CJ Hunt - Director of The Neutral Ground

Director CJ Hunt joins the Changing Directions podcast interview series to discuss his new documentary The Neutral Ground. The film is one that should be required viewing in the same vein as other recent documentaries Far East Deep South and Summer of Soul.

The Neutral Ground - Documentary Review

The Documentary: The Neutral Ground

The Director: CJ Hunt

The Story: In December 2015, the New Orleans City Council voted to remove four Confederate monuments from public grounds. A forceful group of critics protested the decision, and fearing retaliation, no crew would agree to remove the statues.

The Interview:

Director and producer CJ Hunt was kind enough to take time to join the podcast right in the middle of The Neutral ground's festival run and PBS debut. The film will be available to watch for free on PBS as the season premiere episode of the POV documentary series beginning on July 5th.

Black Widow - Movie Review

The Movie: Black Widow

The Director: Cate Shortland

The Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz

The Story: A film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War.

Werewolves Within - Movie Review

The Movie: Werewolves Within

The Director: Josh Ruben

The Cast: Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus, Catherine Curtain, Wayne Duvall, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne Jackson, Michaela Watkins, and Glenn Fleshler 

The Story: After a proposed pipeline creates divisions within the small town of Beaverfield, newly arrived forest ranger Finn and postal worker Cecily must try to keep the peace and uncover the truth behind a mysterious creature that has begun terrorizing the community.

Summer of Soul - Documentary Review

The Documentary: Summer of Soul

The Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

The Story: A feature documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture, and promoted Black pride and unity.

The Tomorrow War - Movie Review

The Movie: The Tomorrow War

The Director: Chris McKay

The Cast: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge, Jasmine Mathews, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Keith Powers

The Story: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight.

The Forever Purge - Movie Review

The Movie: The Forever Purge

The Director: Everardo Gout

The Cast: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman, Leven Rambin, Alejandro Edda, Will Patton

The Story: All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end.

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Michele Josue - Director of Nurse Unseen

Award winning director Michele Josue took some time to discuss Nurse Unseen, her latest project which is currently in production after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Bad Detectives - Move Review

The Movie: Bad Detectives

The Director: Presley Paras

The Cast: Dralla Aierken, Freya Tingley, Jim Meskimen, Paul Rae, Caylee Cowan

The Story: Two young women inherit their grandfather's detective agency and reluctantly team up to solve their murders.

F9 The Fast Saga - Movie Review

The Movie: F9

The Director: Justin Lin

The Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, with Helen Mirren, with Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron

The Story: No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past. 

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Antoinette Jadaone - Director of Fan Girl

Antoinette Jadaone joins the Changing Directions podcast interview series to talk about Fan Girl, her latest feature film. Fan Girl is an intensely emotional drama that will make you take a hard look at both sides of pop culture fandom.

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It - Documentary Review

The Documentary: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

The Director: Mariem Pérez Riera

The Story: A look at the life and work of Rita Moreno from her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico to her success on Broadway and in Hollywood.

Curtain Up! - 2021 AAAFF Documentary Review

The Documentary: Curtain Up!

The Directors: Hui Tong and Kelly Ng

The Story: A group of kids in New York's Chinatown prepare for the musical production of "Frozen Kids" and begin to discover their identities. Behind the scenes, they face Asian stereotypes, families' expectations and uncertainties post-graduation.

Gaia - Movie Review

The Movie: Gaia

The Director: Jaco Bouwer

The Cast: Monique Rockman, Carel Nel, Alex van Dyk, Anthony Oseyemi

The Story: An injured forest ranger on a routine mission is saved by two off-the-grid survivalists. What is initially a welcome rescue grows more suspicious as the son and his renegade father reveal a cultish devotion to the forest.  When their cabin is attacked by a strange being it’s clear there is a far greater threat in this unrelenting wilderness.

The Great War of Archimedes / アルキメデスの大戦 - Movie Review

The Movie: The Great War of Archimedes / アルキメデスの大戦

The Director: Takashi Yamazaki 

The Cast: Suda Masaki, Emoto Tasuku, Hamabe Minami, Shofukutei Tsurube, Kobayashi Katsuya

The Story: Pre-WWII, the Japanese Navy commissioned the creation of impressive “supership” Yamato, strongly opposed by a top official insisting on more strategic and battle-ready warships. After being ignored without cause, Admiral Yamamoto recruits a math genius to help uncover what he soon suspects is a massive conspiracy.

Red Post on Escher Street / エッシャー通りの赤いポスト - 2021 AAAFF Movie Review

The Movie: Red Post on Escher Street / エッシャー通りの赤いポスト

The Director: Sion Sono

The Cast: Mala Morgan, Taro Suwa, Tetsu Watanabe, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Tomoko Fujita, Jun Toba

The Story: It follows a filmmaker who holds auditions for his next project. Several of the actors who fail to win roles participate as extras.

Fan Girl - 2021 AAAFF Movie Review

The Movie: Fan Girl

The Director: Antoinette Jadaone

The Cast: Charlie Dizon, Paulo Avelino, Bea Alonzo

The Story: Fan Girl is about a fanatical Paulo Avelino fan who meets her onscreen idol  in less than ideal circumstances after stowing away in the back of his pickup truck.

The Interview:

TwoOhSix Picks - 2021 Austin Asian American Film Festival

The 2021 Austin Asian American Film Festival kicks off on Friday June 4th and runs through Sunday the 20th with a roster of films that made me want to cover the festivities from all the way up here in the Pacific Northwest. See below for my list of the films you do not want to miss. A few I have already seen and a few more I am excited to check out.

Cruella - Movie Review

The Movie: Cruella

The Director: Craig Gillespie

The Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong

The Story: A live-action prequel feature film following a young Cruella de Vil.

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Leslie Alejandro and Dani de Jesus - Creators of Gold

The filmmaking dynamic duo of Leslie Alejandro and Dani de Jesus joins the Changing Directions interview series to discuss their latest project called Gold, a music video featuring Ella Jay Basco and Ruby Ibarra. The video was screened as part of the 2021 CAAMFest programming and has been receiving critical acclaim from media outlets all across the country.

The Fabulous Filipino Brothers - 2021 CAAMFest Capsule Review

The Capsule Movie: The Fabulous Filipino Brothers

The Director: Dante Basco

The Cast: Arianna Basco, Cheryl Tsai, Dante Basco, Darion Basco, Derek Basco, Dionysio Basco, Joe Jitsukawa, Liza Lapira, Solenn Heussaff, Tirso Cruz III

The Story: In the lead-up to a family wedding, four brothers experience shenanigans of a wide range, as captured in a series of vignettes.

Deliver Us From Evil / 다만 악에서 구하소서 - Movie Review

The Movie - Deliver Us From Evil / 다만 악에서 구하소서

The Director: Hong Won-chan

The Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jung-jae, Park Jung-min, Choi Hee-seo

The Story: An assassin goes to Thailand in order to solve a kidnapping case linked to him, and finds himself chased by a man whose sibling he killed.

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Mei Makino - Director of Inbetween Girl

Mei Makino joins the Changing Directions podcast series to talk about her debut feature film Inbetween Girl which premiered at SXSW and is an official selection of CAAMFest. When it comes to representation,  Inbetween Girl is a genuinely fun coming of age comedy refreshingly told from an Asian American perspective.

Army of the Dead - Movie Review

The Movie: Army of the Dead

The Director: Zach Snyder

The Cast: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, Garret Dillahunt

The Story: Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

Snakehead - 2021 CAAMFest Capsule Review

The Movie: Snakehead

The Director: Evan Jackson Leong

The Cast: Celia Au, Devon Diep, Jade Wu, Perry Yung, Shuya Chang, Sung Kang

The Story: A Chinese immigrant gets caught up in an international crime ring of human smuggling while attempting to make a better life for her family.

Drive All Night - 2021 CAAMFest Movie Review

The Movie: Drive All Night

The Director: Peter Hsieh

The Cast: Johnny Gilligan, Lexy Hammonds, Sarah Dumont, Yutaka Takeuchi

The Story: Drive All Night follows Dave, a reclusive swing-shift taxi driver, whose night takes an unexpected turn after he picks up a mysterious passenger, Cara, a young woman hiding a dark secret. 

P!nk: All I Know So Far - Documentary Review

The Documentary: P!nk: All I Know So Far

The Director: Michael Gracey

The Story: A behind-the-scenes look at P!NK as she balances family and life on the road, leading up to her first Wembley Stadium performance on 2019's "Beautiful Trauma" world tour.

Undercover Punch and Gun - Movie Review

The Movie: Undercover Punch and Gun

The Directors: Koon-Nam Lui and Frankie Tam

The Cast: Phillip Ng, Vanness Wu, Andy On, Yinsheng Li, Joyce Wenjuan Feng, Luxia Jiang, Nicholas Tse, Carrie Ng, Susan Yam-Yam Shaw, Suet Lam

The Story: Undercover police Wu teams up with unlikely allies in order to fight a major drug dealer and take down a drug smuggling ring.

Inbetween Girl - 2021 CAAMFest Movie Review

The Movie: In Between Girl

The Director: Mei Makino

The Cast: Emily Garrett, Emma Galbraith, Liz Waters, William Magnuson

The Story: Teen artist Angie Chen turns to secret hook-ups with the heartthrob of her private school after her parents' sudden divorce.

The Interview:

Changing Directions Podcast Series: Mari Walker and Lynn Chen - Director and Star of See You Then

Mari Walker and Lynn Chen join the Changing Directions podcast series to talk about their new movie See You Then which premiered at SXSW and is an official selection of CAAMFest. When it comes to representation, See You Then is a very necessary movie and it's so important to move these types of conversations forward.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw - Movie Review

The Movie: Spiral: From the Book of Saw

The Director: Darren Lynn Bousman

The Cast: Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Morgan David Jones, Richard Zeppieri

The Story: A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw.

Profile (2021) - Movie Review

The Movie: Profile

The Director: Timur Bekmambetov

The Cast: Valene Kane, Shazad Latif, Christine Adams

The Story: An undercover British journalist infiltrates the online propaganda channels of the so-called Islamic State, only to be sucked in by her recruiter.

Riders of Justice - Movie Review

The Movie: Riders of Justice

The Director: Anders Thomas Jensen

The Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Lars Brygmann, Nicolas Bro,

Gustav Lindh, Roland Møller

The Story: Markus, who has to go home to his teenage daughter, Mathilde, when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. It seems like an accident until a mathematics geek, who was also a fellow passenger on the train, and his two colleagues show up.

The Djinn - Movie Review

The Movie: The Djinn

The Directors: David Charbonier and Justin Powell

The Cast: Ezra Dewey, Rob Brownstein, Tevy Poe, Donald Pitts, John Erickson

The Story: A mute boy is trapped in his apartment with a sinister monster when he makes a wish to fulfill his heart’s greatest desire.

TwoOhSix Picks - CAAMFest 2021

CAAMFest 2021 is a (mostly virtual) Asian and Asian American focused film festival based in San Francisco with live virtual film screenings, on-demand screenings, and some in person screenings at the Fort Mason FLIX drive in theater. This will be my first year covering the festival and I am excited to watch what looks like some really amazing films. See below for my TwoOhSix Picks, the movies you do not want to miss.