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AFI FEST 2016 presented by Audi will honor acclaimed actress Isabelle Huppert with a Tribute and a Gala screening at the festival. The Tribute will celebrate her storied career and will include a conversation with the actress, followed by a Gala screening of Sony Pictures Classics’ ELLE (directed by Paul Verhoeven) on Sunday, November 13.
Read MoreBased on a true story, on April 2010, the "blowout preventer" failed to engage, hydrocarbons shot up the well at an uncontrollable rate and causing a series of explosions on the Deepwater Horizon. The well was capped on 15 July and it was permanently sealed on September 19,2010 killing 11 people from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. This film couldn't be more timely. It's a perfect example of how corporate greed puts the almighty dollar ahead of preserving the sanctity of human life.
Read MoreEnter Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the streets of Kampala, Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess by soccer coach and former missionary Robert Katende. As a result, she is encouraged to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Queen of Katwe is Phiona's story of discovery, love, sacrifice and developing the heart of a lion king while accomplishing a feat even she thought was impossible.
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The obsession over sneakers in a documentary Sneakheadz and getting the latest "kicks by any means necessary is real. Many kids have been killed, beat up even harassed over the type of sneakers they are wearing. With a debut earlier this year at the Tribeca and LA Film Festivals, KICKS takes it to a whole new level, by putting this controversial subject to a narrative centered around three urban teens. When one of them is jacked for his Jordans, he and his friends find themselves on a journey to recover the shoes, but not without consequences and repercussions.
Fifteen-year-old Brandon longs for a pair of the freshest sneakers that money can buy and assumes that having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone -- even his best friends.
Working hard to get them, he soon finds that these shoes have made him a target after they are snatched by local hood, Flaco. Flaco has his own issues that will are revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow.
Produced by the same team that brought us Morris from America, boasting an amazing soundtrack of both hip-hop classics and Bay Area favorites, Kicks creates an authentic and original portrait of a young man drowning in the expectations of being grown and standing his ground for what he believes.
With an impressive screen debut, Jahking Guillory is perfection as Brandon. Mahershala Ali is having a great year and his portrayal of Flaco is chilling, yet compassionate as a gang-banger Dad with a heart.
Kicks is a modern-day Boyz in the Hood Air Jordans as the centerpiece. I could have done without some of the more graphic scenes, but guess they seemed necessary in order to give this film authenticity around its storyline..
As a first time director/screenwriter, Justin Tipping does an admirable job in creating a magical urban tale about friendship, honor and life in Oakland.
Kicks rolls into a theatre near you on September 9th by Focus films.
There's always one family member who is the glue of the brood. Without their presence, the family would fall apart. For me that person was Mama Cleo. She always brought the family together during the good, the bad and the ugly. When she passed, the family would become distant and go on with their separate ways as if she were never here. Shot in Jackson, MS, in 22 days, The Hollars centers on a man returning to his hometown after his Mom is diagnosed with a brain tumor and scheduled for surgery. Originally screened earlier this year at the Sundance and Los Angeles Film Festivals, The Hollars will strike a chord for anyone that has a wacky, dysfunctional entertaining family. I think that pretty much includes anyone reading this review.
Actor John Krasinski, puts on his director and producer hat and ensembles one of the best cast...ever. Mostly known for comedy, the cast includes Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendricks and the irrepressible Margo Martingale are flipping the script and displaying their drama chops. Every last one of them are bringing their A-game!!!
This is one of the best films I've seen in 2016! Although it is little reminiscent of Boyhood in terms of a family theme, it will make you all warm and fuzzy inside and break your heart all at the same time.
Margo Martingale will finally get that Oscar nomination that has eluded her for years. Largely known for her stellar work on hundreds of television shows, Margo is giving the performance of a lifetime. Her crafty recipe of comedy dashed with drama makes her role ring true from moment she appears on-screen.
Richard Jenkins is the best crier I have ever seen! But seriously, Jenkins' arc of being dependent and then having to deal with the possibility of his wife's demise is just speechless. He literally took my breath away.
John Krasinski is the anchor of the film in more ways than one and his scenes with Martindale are heartwarmingly delicious. The heavy comedy lifting was left to Charlie Day and Sharlto Copley. They are simply hi-larious!!!! And who knew that Grammy winner Josh Groban was such natural on the silver screen?
If you have to see one film this year, The Hollars is definitely your best bet. I guarantee you will be hearing more about it come awards season.
The Hollars will be in theatres on Friday, August 26th.
https://youtu.be/a1miyndmxAg
