2010 Atlanta Film Festival Pre-Festival Coverage (Narrative)

Here I will review documentaries that were made available to me before the festival. Instead of waiting to post all of the reviews after I see everything, I will continue to update this post with each film I see. This will allow me to post some recommendations in time for people to schedule screenings for the festival.

Love on the Rocks (Justin Edwards) **

Love on the Rocks is reminiscent of previous Atlanta Film Fest selection Make Out With Violence. Both films present a combination of stark violence and humor and showcase strong technical skill that promises a decent future for the filmmakers. Unfortunately, both films also have issues when it comes to storytelling, and Love on the Rocks specifically struggles with a shifting tone that just does not work.

After a shockingly violent opening, the story opens with Amber and Barry having just broken up. Both try to move on, but find themselves involved with very disturbed individuals. Amber begins dating a man that is a brutal serial killer, while Barry gets involved with a hypnotist that trains him to act like a dog. The film follows these two separate storylines until they intersect.

2010 Atlanta Film Festival Pre-Festival Coverage (Documentaries)

Here I will review documentaries that were made available to me before the festival. Instead of waiting to post all of the reviews after I see everything, I will continue to update this post with each film I see. This will allow me to post some recommendations in time for people to schedule screenings for the festival.

Souled Out Comedy (Jonathan Appel) **

This documentary has a pretty interesting premise. It follows a group of African-American comics who are trying to shed the stereotypical expectations that follow them. For the most part, they avoid vulgarity and raunchiness that is prevalent on the scene. The film is structured as a series of (oddly staged) interviews with each comic interspersed with shots of their routines.

The movie attempts to make a point about how the comedians struggle against these expectations (white audiences expect the worst and stay away, black audiences expect what they're used to and are disappointed). However, the film doesn't show any of these struggles. Not once are they booed off stage or shown performing in front of sparse crowds. The director also picks some bizarre ways to interview his subjects (they're either walking or driving and often seem distracted).

Atlanta Film Festival - Trailers

This page will be used to post trailers for any festival film I recommend...

9500 Liberty (Annabel Park, Eric Byler)

Screening Sunday, April 18 @ 5PM

Cropsey (Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio)

Screening Thursday, April 22 @ 940pm. 

Dumbstruck (Mark Goffman) 

Screening Sunday, April 18 @ 1200pm and Tuesday, April 20 @ 500pm 

The 2010 Atlanta Film Festival (April 15th-23rd)

I have been attending the Atlanta Film Festival for 11 years and have previously blogged about the 2007 and 2009 events. I have never been more excited than this year, because I have received press credentials for the event. Not only will I have access to all screenings, but I will have a chance to see many films before the festival starts. Like last year, I will provide reviews of all films I have seen, with some side stories on the atmosphere of the festival, and perhaps snag some interviews as well.

Last year's festival included some films that went on to indie success like (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and MOON, three short films that were nominated for Oscars, and some hidden gems like THAT EVENING SUN. Notable films that have screened at the festival in earlier years include RUN LOLA RUN, LOVELY & AMAZING, ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW, THE HEART OF THE GAME, KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS, and SPELLBOUND.

The festival will open on April 15th with the documentary FREEDOM RIDERS by Stanley Nelson, depicting an important moment in the civil rights movement and will close on April 23rd with THE SECRET TO A HAPPY ENDING, a documentary about local band Drive by Truckers. In between, there are a wide variety of films, including a behind the scenes documentary about Saturday Night Live, an alternate history Civil War mockumentary, and the always popular animated shorts program.

I have planned to see 59 films during the festival (not including the many shorts programs) and will provide reviews in between and after screenings. Below you will find a guide to my coverage, which will be turned into links as each section is written:

Trailers for Recommended Films
Pre Festival Coverage (Shorts)
Pre Festival Coverage (Narrative)
Pre Festival Coverage (Documentaries)
Opening Night (Freedom Riders)
Day Two (Crossing in St. Augustine, Family Affair, Animation Extravaganza, Slap Down)
Day Three (The Athlete, Racing Dreams, The Battle of Bunker Hill, Tierra Madre, NONAMES, Pushin Up Daisies)
Day Four (Exit 117, The Myth of Time, The Mountain Thief, Who Saw Him, The Good Heart)
Day Five (Putty Hill, Dear Lemon Lima, Open Five, Yellowbrickroad, Winter's Bone)
Day Six (The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek, The Things We Carry, American Jihadist, Documentary Shorts 2, Cold Weather)
Day Seven (Cutud the Crossing, Handsome Harry, The Eyes of Me, 8: The Mormon Proposition, The Square)
Day Eight (Lesbian Shorts, Comedy Shorts, Looking For Love Shorts, African-American Shorts, Drama Shorts)
Closing Night (The Secret to a Happy Ending)
Wrap Up (Awards, Final Comments)