Gabe (Bill Heck) struggles with his identity as a gay man living in a small, rural Texas town, finding comfort in his relationship with ex-wife Shannon (Amy Seimetz) after his recent breakup. Ernesto (Marcus DeAnda) is also plagued with the demons of a failing relationship, as he is simultaneously forced to deal with another past lovers impending death. Pit Stop follows the lives of these two men as they unknowingly drift toward one another, demonstrating the way life often has a funny way of pointing us in the right direction, even in the moments we feel most lost. Go, See, Talk chatted with Pit Stop writer/director Yen Tan about his writing process, collaboration, and filming…
-
-
Dallas Film Society Announces First 10 Films To Screen at the 2013 Dallas International Film Festival
The Dallas Film Society announced today the first 10 films chosen to screen at the 7th edition of the Dallas International Film Festival, presented by AutoNation Volkswagen Dealers on April 4 – 14, 2013. Overall, approximately 180 films from all over the world will be screened during the 11-day Festival. These first 10 films not only represent works from America, and Texas in particular, but also films from the United Kingdom, Canada, Africa and France — truly an international offering. DIFF is excited to announce that the 2013 Festival will include the following films: BUCK WILD (USA) Director: Tyler Glodt Set in Texas, BUCK WILD follows four friends whose hunting…
-
[DIFF Review]…Juan of the Dead
Considering zombies are the walking dead, it’s surprising to see how popular they have become. They are mindless beasts that are incredibly uninteresting. Maybe that’s why they are perfect targets for horror comedies. Juan of the Dead is clearly a riff on the title of Edgar Wright’s horror comedy Shaun of the Dead, yet Juan manages to be creative enough to keep from feeling like a retread and instead makes a case why two films with similar titles and similar premises can exist in the same universe. Clocking in at 96 minutes, the film is perhaps a bit meandering at points but keeps the story moving forward with laugh after…
-
[DIFF Review]…The Pact
Nicholas McCarthy brings his previous short film (which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011) to its full feature potential at the 2012 DIFF. It’s all sorts of eerie and scary, though not so much straight up horror The Pact is more of a horror mystery. It’s the blending of those two genres that make this extremely atmospheric work on many levels. In short it’s entirely effective and well crafted. In a way it’s fitting that it is being shown at the same Festival where master of horror Takeshi Shimizu is screening his film TORMENTED. Could make for a great Double Feature. Annie and her sister have begrudgingly returned home for their mother’s funeral.…
-
[DIFF Review]…My Way
Unbelievable, True Story, and Epic are but a few terms used to describe this absolutely amazing film from Korean director Je-kyu Kang. My Way tells the story of two childhood friends whose lives are drastically changed when they are both forced to enlist in the Army. WWII serves as the backdrop for an almost Shakespearean story about friendship, passion, loyalty and pride. The only thing more amazing than the scenes and sequences in the film is the fact that it’s all based on true events which have only recently come to light in the last 6 years. During the time when pre-WWII Korea was being colonized by Japan, many Korean workers were employed…
-
[DIFF Video Interview]…’My Way’ Director Kang Je-kyu
The 2012 Dallas International Film Festival is in full swing. One of the highlights and most anticipated films of the Fest is the the South Korean war epic MY WAY. Director Kang Je-kyu, effectively the Steven Spielberg of Korean cinema, is in town to show his film which is easily one of the most noteworthy films at the DIFF. My Way is the WWII era film about two rivals in colonial-era Seoul whose war time paths take them any to from their homes, across Asia and Europe as well as Normandy beach. An emotional film with action and effects that would make Michael Bay jealous, My Way also contains Spielberg levels of heart, character,…
-
[DIFF Review]…Escape Fire
How many pills would you take to feel better or at minimum numb your pain? 2, 5, how about 64…a day? That’s one of the stories explored in Matthew Heineman’s affecting documentary. Escape Fire covers prescription addition, the numbers of the health care industry and more. The documentary starts by describing the term “Escape Fire” and tells of the 1930’s smoke jumper Wag Dodge whose actions coined the phrase. It’s a fascinating premise especially when applied to the crisis in the US Health Care System. We’re told the answer is right in front of us but when the US spent 2.7 Trillion dollars last year, really where and how do you start? Many…
-
[DIFF Review]…Extraterrestrial
Timecrimes (or Los cronocrímenes) is perhaps one of the best loved time travel films out there, aside from Back to the Future, The Time Machine and Primer of course. In Nacho Vigalondo’s latest feature, Extraterrestrial, he treats us to a more humorous affair with a mixed bag of great romantic comedy-esqe tropes. There’s a lovely female lead, the unsure of himself male lead, even a quirky neighbor. But the difference here is that all those familiar elements are set against the back drop of an alien invasion. To fans of Vigalondo’s previous work, the Cary Grant/Merna Loy level of goofball antics in this film might seem like something out of left field, but that’s…
-
[DIFF Review]…Compliance
One of the more controversial films of the 2012 Dallas International Film Festival (or any Festival really) is Craig Zobel’s harsh reality-based account of a phone prank pushed entirely too far. Likened, in theory, to the Milgram experiment, Compliance tells a tale of the desire to appease (or comply with) authority figures gone wild. It’s a story too unbelievable to be true but is and, as the film shows, if you layer something ever so slightly, you can push any one past better judgement and far beyond their breaking point. Compliance starts with an already stressed fast-food manager Sandra prepping for what will be a normally busy Friday. Everything from…
-
[DIFF Video Interview]…’Bringing Up Bobby’ Writer/Director Famke Janssen
She’s been a model, a Bond girl, a Rounder and an X-Men alum…now Famke Janssen she can add writer, director and producer to her resume. While we know her for her work in front of the camera, Famke Janssen has always had a desire to work behind it as writing has been a long time passion of hers. Previously I had an immensely insightful 45 minute phone conversation about Bringing Up Bobby, but the journey to bring her film to life was so interesting I just had to talk to her again. Here’s the interview with Famke Janssen who was in town for the 2012 Dallas International Film Festival promoting her directorial…
