"PIRATES" // SXSW 2022

BY MATEO MORENO

PIRATES is a trip down memory lane, literally, as it takes us back into Y2K New Year's Eve in London. Written & Directed by Reggie Yates, the film stars Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters and Reda Elazouar as three friends (Cappo, Two Tonne & Kidda) who are in search for the ultimate end of the millenium NYE party. Since it's set in 1999, it's a time capsule of how things used to be pre-cell phones and social media. The internet has started but is still in its infancy stage. No one owns cell phones and in order to score the best party tickets, you head to a record store, not online where you'll have to fight thousands of bots just to get one ticket. The three friends have a pirate radio station but due to Cappo leaving to go to University, the trio is fracturing at the seams.

Two Tonne wants this party. No, he NEEDS this party, to make himself feel seen and to impress Sophie (Kassius Nelson), a young woman who he's been crushing on for some time. The film then follows the trio as they attend to prepare for their night. From getting the perfect threads to getting the perfect haircut to attempting to connect as three friends who have been through it all. But this might be the evening to change it all going forward. Yates directs the film with a stylish saunter, a film taking its time as it simply exists in the life of three friends. The late 90's soundtrack, coupled with great performances by Edusah, Elazouar, Nelson & breakout Peters make PIRATES a true winner. The script is fun and meaningful and successfully brings us back to the days where things seemed simpler with less technology, but the nights still went the same. 

GRADE: A-

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Reggie Yates STARRING Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters, Reda Elazouar, Kassius Nelson, Youssef Kerkour, Rebekkah Murrell, Shiloh Coke, Tosin Cole, Aaron Shosanya. SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: PIRATES

"LINOLEUM" // SXSW 2022

BY MATEO MORENO

In the opening shot of LINOLEUM, Cameron Edwin (Jim Gaffigan) sees a car fall out of the sky. No one seems to experience this but him and it sets up an intriguing memory piece that has shades of Charlie Kauffman sprinkled throughout. Jim is a children's TV host, teaching kids about the wonders of science. He was once an astronomy student at Cornell with exceptional promise. Now he's suck into a daily sadness, working for a network that  doesn't quite have the confidence that they once did and has sent his show to a very un-kids middle of the night hour. The network keeps promising that he's a shoe in for a primetime slot, he just needs to be patient. Meanwhile at home, Gaffigan's marriage to his wife Erin (Rhea Seehorn), who used to co-host the kids show with him, has fallen apart and their plans for a quiet divorce has not yet been sprung up on their teenage daughter Nora (Katelyn Nacon). Even more stress comes from his father (Roger Hendricks Simon) who is in an elderly home suffering from dementia, barely able to even recognize his son.

Strangely, a man moves in on his block that looks like a better, younger version of him (he's also played by Gaffigan). His teenage son (Gabriel Rush) befriends Cameron's daughter Nora at school and begin to find comfort in each other, two misfit toys in a world that slowly makes less and less sense. Though a car falling out of the sky doesn't make the news, a satellite landing in Cameron's backyard does. So he decides to try and pull himself together by using the broken parts and build a Rocketship, so he can do "something fantastic," like he hoped to in his youth. Along with Cameron's journey, we also follow both Nora and Erin's journey of self-discovery and self-rediscovery, respectively, with just as delicate of a touch as Cameron's storyline is given.

Writer/Director Colin West has crafted a beautiful, strange and original film here. It's wonderfully crafted, with layers upon layers of magic. Both dramatic, funny and affirming, the cast are all dynamic. Gaffigan and Seehorn are both wonderful and Nacon and Rush bring a lovely bit of complexity that you aren't fully expecting to see. With the blend of science fiction, romance, dramatic longing and wonder, LINOLEUM is a fantastic, and emotional, surprise.

GRADE: A

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Colin West STARRING Jim Gaffigan, Rhea Seehorn, Katelyn Nacon, Gabriel Rush, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Ian Black FEATURED AS PART OF THE 2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: LINOLEUM

"THE KIDS IN THE HALL: COMEDY PUNKS" // SXSW 2022

BY MATEO MORENO

I was shocked recently when I spoke to someone who had never heard of "The Kids in the Hall." Sure it was out of their generation, but they're comedy legends. How could they not know who they are? Well Reg Harkema's new documentary THE KIDS IN THE HALL: COMEDY PUNKS aim to both capture the magic again for us fans who have been there since the beginning and to introduce them to an all new generation who didn't grow up with them. Even for the most die-hard fan, there's plenty in this doc that you haven't seen before, from new clips of the group speaking on their past to footage from the very beginning of their sketch comedy roots, long before sold out shows and TV shows.

They came from Canada in the early 80's. Bruce McCulloch met Mark McKinney at an improv night in Calgary. Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald met in Toronto. Both duos ended up meeting at the comedy competition "Theatresports" and they instantly felt a kinship. They shared the same style of comedy and impressed each other. They had to form a group together. And so they did. We see them trying to gel as a group with only bits of success at first. However, even when they weren't always getting the laughs, they were still gaining fans, like Scott Thompson who saw them and knew he had to be part of them. Suddenly, the four became five and then the true magic started happening. Sold out shows began happing in a small Canadian comedy club. Eventually two of the group were scouted by SNL but hated the experience. So they came back to the group and Lorne Michaels helped get them their own HBO show, which became groundbreaking television.

Even if you already know the story, it's a delight to see them enthusiastically tell it again and to be sitting around each other, ribbing each other as if no time has passed at all. The "kids" have been through the ringer. They split up, came back together, ended their show, experienced a failed movie bid, toured together and are now back and writing new material. For those like me who have been devouring reruns for years, this news couldn't have come any sooner. Welcome back kids.

GRADE: A-

DIRECTED BY Reg Harkema STARRING Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson, Lorne Michaels, Mae Martin, Eddie Izzard, Jay Baruchel, Fred Armisen, Mike Myers SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: THE KIDS IN THE HALL: COMEDY PUNKS