The Slamdance Film Festival is well-known for showcasing flicks from first-time directors, but the festival is launching a new program this year called Beyond, which features films from directors with one film already under their belt. One of those directors is 34-year-old J.R. Hughto, whose sophomore film Diamond on Vinyl debuts at this year’s festival. … read more
Long Live the Independent Party: KCRW Curates New Music Program At Sundance Film Festival
KCRW is one of the most prominent independent radio stations in existence. The radio station was invited to curate a new music program, The KCRW Music Café Presented by Acura, at the festival this year. SLUG was given an opportunity to speak to the program director, Jason Bentley, about this newborn program and what we can expect from it. … read more
Two Days at the Monster Winter Recon Tour @ PCMR 01.12-13
Saturday, Jan. 12 at Park City Mountain Resort was snowy, colder than a popsicle-eating yeti and it was also the first stop for Monster Energy and Hookit.com’s Winter Recon Tour. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Muscle Shoals
You may have never heard of the rural village known as Muscles Shoals, Alabama, but I can guarantee you’ve heard countless tracks of the magnetic musical masterpieces that have surfaced from the wetland region. Pressed up against the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals was the birthplace of Rick Hall’s legendary FAME record studios. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Between Us
Originally an Off-Broadway play, Mirvish’s film adaptation of Between Us remains an intense drama with lots of dialogue and not much else. But, thanks to a surprisingly strong cast, which includes Julia Stiles and Taye Diggs, Mirvish transforms this film into a captivating tale of two couples dealing with their evolving lives and marriages, and how the tables can turn in just a few years. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Who Is Dayani Cristal?
A man recites “A Migrant’s Prayer” in Spanish, backpack in hand, as he prepares for a treacherous journey north across the Mexican border, into the USA. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Sound City
Foo Fighters front man and former drummer of Nirvana, Dave Grohl, takes audiences on a wild journey of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll as he energetically recounts the origins of one of the most influential recording studios of all time. … read more
Sundance Film Review: When I Walk
When I Walk self-documents DaSilva’s entire journey with multiple sclerosis over the past 8 years in one of the most honest and sincere films ever to grace the Sundance silver screen. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Dirty Wars
Director Richard Rowley shadows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill into the secretive world of covert military operations in the Middle East as the United States attempts to win the war on terror no matter the means or consequences. It is a documentary about “the seen and the unseen” according to Scahill’s monotone and dreary narration. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Fallen City
In May of 2008, the Sichuan earthquake completely demolished the small mountain town of Beichuan, China, killing 20,000 of its citizens. Director Qi Zhao puts a magnifying glass on the lives of three Chinese families affected by loss after the earthquake in her directorial debut, Fallen City. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Halley
Beto (Alberto Trujillo) is a security guard for a gym in Mexico who has an unusual health condition that forces him to resign from his post, even at the discretion of his flirtatious employer (Luly Trueba). Unbeknownst to her, Beto’s illness causes his skin and physical abilities to deteriorate to a gruesome degree unless he injects himself with an embalming fluid concoction. … read more
Slamdance Film Review: Bible Quiz
Filmed in a typical documentary fashion, with intimate interviews making up about half of the film, we get a glimpse into the life of Mikayla. She’s a seventeen year old who doesn’t even seem particularly obsessed with memorizing scriptures, but more interested her Bible quiz teammate JP.
