My introduction to Kevin Smith began early in my life. My older brother rented Clerks and threw it into our VCR (yep. That long ago) without really considering the fact that his eighth-grade kid brother was in the same room. The Mallrats soundtrack was the first CD that I ever bought with my own money, and Weezer’s “Suzanne” still manages to fill me with high school nostalgia. … read more
Regardless of a filmmaker’s talent, making a meaningful drama about a quirky family is like navigating a minefield. Celluloid families are typically plagued with some degree of syrupy sweetness or sappy tragedy, but Matt Ross’s Captain Fantastic captures the emotional core of what makes all families tick and his stellar cast promptly follows suit. … read more
Typically, shooting a film against the big sky country of Montana evokes images of tough guys doing tough things. While the tough things are still present, Kelly Reichardt’s introspective film focuses on the women who ultimately pick up the pieces after the tough guys break themselves apart. … read more
When Gullermo Del Toro used Pan’s Labyrinth as an allegorical scalpel to dissect the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, he opened a door to possibilities that few filmmakers have had the talent and imagination to explore. … read more
Shot on 16-mm. film, The Land of the Enlightened vibrantly fuses documentary filmmaking with fictive storytelling dynamics. The film illuminates the lifestyles of a handful Afghans amid continued U.S. occupation, and also examines the feelings and tensions of sustained U.S. presence in the country. What’s more, this film treats its viewers to the stunning natural beauty of Afghanistan. … read more
Writer/director Mickey Keating has tried his hand at many different horror subgenres, including sci-fi body horror with Pod and slow descents into madness with Darling. Carnage Park demonstrates his knack for imagining uniquely terrifying scenarios and then inflicting them upon his characters. … read more
It’s amazing what our phones can do these days. They’re little computers in our pocket that keep us all warm at night and do everything for us. In fact, to me it’s strange that we are even still calling them phones. Phone calls are the thing I least use my phone for. Among the many apps in Cyber Land, there are several that will supposedly help you get laid, go on a boring date or meet a life partner—whichever you prefer. The most popular one is probably Tinder. … read more
Every skater knows the feeling. Getting a trick at an amazing spot that is nearly impossible to skate provides a unique sense of satisfaction. Unfortunately, we all know the other side of it as well. With Erik Jensen filming, Mark Judd of After Dark Skateboards attempts an extra-long nose manual at the new Federal Courthouse
Winter can be smothering at times, choking out our days with blankets of snow—or worse, smog. Utah’s winter weather could be why this month’s Gallery Stroll offerings lean toward escapism. Whether it’s finding comfort in similarities, exploring dreamlike lands, or partying like it’s Fat Tuesday, the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll has the cure for all those winter hues. … read more
Carmela Lane, the powerhouse designer behind some of the hottest costumes in New York City, is also a master of management. The TAO Group, a popular high-end night club company with locations in New York and Las Vegas has opened a pop-up venue during Sundance’s opening weekend that would play host to one of the most exclusive, celebrity-filled parties during the entire festival. … read more
February is a great month to show your favorite folks what’s going on in Salt Lake City’s vast and talented music scene. Dim the lights, light some candles, and play this local sound loud and proud! … read more
We got you something for Valentine’s Day—that’s right, February National Music Reviews! These are just 11 of the best albums we’ve heard, but we’re certain you’ll find something you like. … read more
