"SERIOUSLY RED" // SXSW 2022

BY MATEO MORENO

The love of Dolly Parton and the notion of, "We need more Dollys in this world" is the heartbeat of the warm and winning Australian comedy SERIOUSLY RED. Krew Boylan plays Raylene 'Red' Delaney, a huge Dolly fan that works for a real estate agency with her dear friend Francis (Thomas Campbell). She has a soul that's aching to find something new and when she misinterprets her office party invite that says, "Dress up," she finds her moment. Showing up as Dolly Parton, she draws scoffs from her co-workers. That is, until she kills it on stage, performing a fantastic cover of "9 to 5." She catches the eye of the host (Rose Byrne, doing a fun take on Elvis) and from there starts a freewheeling spin into the world of celebrity impersonators.

The main guy in charge is Wilson (Bobby Cannavale), who was a Kenny Rogers impersonator in his younger years. He's blown away by Raylene and puts her together with a "method acting" Kenny Rogers impersonator named Kenny (Daniel Webber). She loves the life and falls quickly under its spell, especially around Kenny, who pretends to be Kenny Rogers in every moment, even at home. So she does the same, soon recognizing herself as Dolly, not Raylene. Krew Boylan (who also wrote the script) gives a star making performance and grabs the audience from moment one, never letting go. Premiering at SXSW, with the music fest right next to it, is a smart move and this music filled romantic comedy is earnest and sweet, which will draw in both the super fans and those who simply want an unexpected journey. Raylene's journey itself isn't necessarily surprising, but all of the strange (and I mean that in the best of ways) twists and turns make this a film that will likely be a cult-classic in years to come.

GRADE: B+

WRITTEN BY Krew Boylan DIRECTED BY Gracie Otto STARRING Krew Boylan, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Daniel Webber, Celeste Barber, Thomas Campbell. SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: SERIOUSLY RED

"UNDER THE VOLCANO" // SXSW 2021

BY MATEO MORENO

George Martin's stamp on the music industry has been a lasting one. Throughout his career he produced 30 number-one hits in the U.K. and 23 number-one hits in the U.S. Best known possibly for his work with The Beatles, Martin also worked with a variety of other artists and was the mastermind behind a legendary recording studio build on an island paradise. That story is the premise of the documentary UNDER THE VOLCANO, showcasing how the lush Caribbean hideaway of Montserrat ended up being a perfect place for artists to get away from it all and be inspired in a new way.

The biggest plus for recording at Martin's new AIR studio in Montserrat was the calmness of the island. For artists like The Police, The Rolling Stones, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Duran Duran, everyday life meant not being able to be out in the public without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi. So when the opportunity to head to AIR studios came up, they would jump at the chance. There, it was amazingly quiet with no one bothering them on the streets. They could be "regular people again" and focus on their music without distractions. Well, without the distractions that they were used to. Many still got caught up at spending their days in the pool or drinking with fellow musicians and locals, who honestly couldn't care less who they were. Many of the locals are remembered fondly by musician after musician, namechecked personally because they made such an impact on their own lives. From Danny the windsurfing teacher who taught Sting and countless others to the chef George whose cooking connected to everyone there.

There's tons of stories they tell of the wonderful memories that were made there, such as when Stevie Wonder played at the bar "The Agouti" until 4am one night, giving everyone a once-in-a-lifetime show. Even more stories come out of the landmark songs that were recorded there (The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" and Elton John's "I guess that's why they call it the blues" are two notable examples) and how the island surroundings helped these artists find the creativity they were not finding in the outside world. Many of the artists who were there recall their own memories, from Sting to Stewart Copeland to Jimmy Buffett. While other stories are told by those who worked there all the way through when The Rolling Stones recording their album "Steel Wheels," which was the final thing created there. Fascinating old footage mixed with tales recounting the good days make UNDER THE VOLCANO a fascinating look into an era that was pre-cell phones and pure joy. An era lost in time, buried under the rubble of a time long forgotten.

GRADE: A

DIRECTED BY Gracie Otto FEATURING Sting, Jimmy Buffett, Stewart Copeland, Mark Knopfler, Nick Rhodes, Andy Summers, Midge Ure, Verdine White, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Roger Glover SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2021 SXSW FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: UNDER THE VOLCANO