First Date
Photo Credit Sundance
Passing
Photo Credit Sundance
7: “First Date” is a genre-defying film as it melds comedy, crime thriller, and adventure in a sweet coming-of-age movie. First-time feature film writers and directors Manuel Crosby and Darren Knapp harness the energy and drive of two newcomers to the film arena—Shelby Duclos as Kelsey, a confident, tough, and intelligent young woman and Tyson Brown the awkward teen Mike who has a crush on Kelsey. Buying a dilapidated car by a shady swindler, Mike’s life unravels as he attempts to make it in time to pick up Kelsey for their first date…and survive. It’s a violent yet comedic story that somehow has heart with over-the-top characters that we love to watch. (Check out the interview with the talent here)
6: “How It Ends” is written and directed by the husband-wife team of Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein about how Liza (Lister-Jones) spends her last day on Earth as three asteroids head her way by the night’s end. Accompanied by her “Younger Self” (Cailee Spaeny), the two walk through L.A., making amends with friends and family. It’s an all-star cameo production with Olivia Wilde, Fred Armisen, Bradley Whitford and more whose characters all have their own way of dealing with the demise of the world. Filled with plenty of laughter, there’s also an element of introspective poignancy that makes this light film a bit more meaningful. (To read the full review, go to AWFJ)
5: “Passing” is the directorial debut from Rebecca Hall as she retells Nella Larsen’s story from 1929 of two women struggling with their identity as Clare (Ruth Negga) passes for a white person and Irene (Tessa Thompson) wrangles with the inequities. Clare insinuates herself into Irene’s family, longing for a sense of belonging to the Black community, but the tension between the two women builds due to jealousy, love, and judgment. Artistically filmed in black and white, “Passing” creates a complex story that is as relevant today as it was in 1929. Both Thompson and Negga give nuanced and thoughtful performances and Hall shows us that she is a force to be reckoned with behind the camera. (To read the full review, go to AWFJ)
4: “Summer of Soul” which won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary category, takes us back to the summer of 1969 when on the other side of the Hudson River from the Woodstock Music Festival, the Harlem Cultural Festival was being held. Director Questlove masterfully reveals never before seen footage from the festival with prominent musicians such as Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and so