audioBoo Reviews: "The Raid 2", "The Final Member" and "Oldboy"

At the moment, #cineNOLA Weekly is on hiatus. In the interim, here is a new series, using audioBoo, that will focus on movies I missed in theaters, didn't get to write about previously, or classics I'd like to talk about. Enjoy!

Visit my patreon page for more information on how you can support this blog.

Review: "Tennessee Queer"

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I’ve heard and used this phrase more times than I care to count, but, much like its meaning, it never gets tired despite the more it’s used. And yet, the lessons that can be learned from it often go in one ear and out the other. Repeating a phrase over and over to people who are constantly repeating the same actions over generations makes me ask; Is an uphill battle worth fighting?

With a sense of humanity and an optimistic radiance, Tennessee Queer says yes.

Review: "Life Itself"

In his review of the 3D re-release of Titanic, film critic Roger Ebert wrote:

"James Cameron's film is not perfect. It has some flaws, but I hate the way film critics employ that word "flaw," as if they are jewelers with loupes screwed into their eye sockets, performing a valuation."

This is a line that I not only agree with wholeheartedly, but something I have taken as advice when criticizing
a movie. In college, a good friend of mine would often ask me to define what art is, and if it can be confined to just a few mediums. The answer lies in the mind of the beholder - anything can be considered art, from brick laying to murder (my college friend suggested that last one). To expand further, an art form should not and cannot be confined to a strict standard. Sure, there are basics in storytelling and expression through film, but they can be creatively manipulated and re-imagined in all sorts of ways. Basically, movies are not to be examined as one would a diamond. A movie can be more than one thing.

Roger Ebert spent his career as a film critic observing and picking apart cinema, explaining why and how, from his point of view, what kind of thing or things a particular movie was. His body of work was elegant, evocative and accessible, enlightening many a reader. This I knew. What I didn't know was that Roger was initially assigned to be a film critic. Fate?

Review: "World War Z"

In This is the End (which I quite liked), Emma Watson remarks to her celebrity friends that she believes the disaster that has hit Hollywood is a zombie apocalypse. Now, it turns out to be the rapture in that movie, and not a single zombie is actually seen. But This is the End does share some common ground with that horror genre. The setting is a tight space (a house), and the characters pose an equal threat to each other when compared to what is happening outside.

Traditionally, the zombies are merely a catalyst for getting the characters together, and presenting the real threat - humans. We bicker, fight, make selfish choices and even kill one another. The looming danger outside only heightens the true danger inside. Commentary through horror. If only we had just gotten along.

Bad Dude Status: "Jack Reacher"

Beyond that internet meme from Duke Nukem, the title of Bad Dude is something reserved for the most awesome of heroes. Not boy scouts and not anyone with any respect for our “code of law”. These guys are willing to make a boy scout cry if necessary. They have their own law. And if you fall within their jurisdiction...

I plan on, through a series of blog entries, explaining why some characters are bad dudes, why some are not. Maybe doing this will reveal something wonderful and/or sickening about us as an audience. To help me out will be fellow critic and purveyor of the exploitative, The Cine-Masochist! Enjoy:

Review: "Man of Steel"

For me, one of the most striking images after 9/11 was on a local news report. The reporters did a regular feature on paintings and drawings made by Elementary School kids, based on current events. One child, after witnessing the terrorist attacks on New York, drew a crayon colored picture of Superman, stopping one of the planes from crashing into one of the towers, having arrived just in the nick of time. Sad that there is no real superhero in our world, but hopeful because potential for good exist within all of us. This meant more to me than President Bush standing on top of rubble, calling for payback.

You see, Superman is about doing the right thing, even in the face of unimaginable horror. He doesn't give in to senseless rage, nor does he use his powers for selfish reasons. Well... except for when he turned back time to save Lois Lane. And does breaking a man's neck count as rage if done to save a group of people?

It's hard making such decisions, especially when you can do almost anything. But, that's part of what makes the character so compelling. In his latest film adaptation Man of Steel, we get an origin story laden with this.

Review: "Pain & Gain"

A movie might be based on real events, but the director doesn’t have to treat it what happened as gospel. A good example would be Tony Scott’s Domino, based on the real life Domino Harvey. The story is completely fictional (if you can follow it) but the filmmakers weren’t interested in telling a straight bio pic, opting instead to express her balls out personality through a fantastical tale. They didn’t get the truth of what happened, but rather the truth of her. And, for me, this is of most importance.

Now, a filmmaker doesn’t have to treat a person’s story as the final word, but a level of respect for the subjects involved doesn’t hurt. Unfortunately for the real life people behind Pain & Gain, Michael Bay is their storyteller.

Review: "GreasePaint"

I have great respect for pro wrestlers. Ever since 2000, when my older brother took me and others to a Monday Night RAW TV event, I’ve read books, watched old tapes and absorbed as much information as I could on the subject. We’re watching guys and gals perform daring feats of strength and courage, tell a story with their body language and be charismatic enough to connect with people; silent film acting is alive and well, people! I could basically sum it up with “The Wrestler got it right. All of it.” Seriously. Mad props to these performers.

Clowns, on the other hand...

No, I don’t dislike clowns - I’m just indifferent towards them. Once, my parents took me to a circus. During the show, a clown came through the crowd, to pick a kid to join him. When he came to me, I just shrugged, shook my head and let out a half hearted “eh”. It wasn’t anything personal; clowns just never connected with me. Sure, watching Bozo on TV was fun, but mostly to see if one of those kids would eventually win the ball toss game.

Review: "Trailer War"

During my days as an aspiring videographer and editor, I dreamt up many ideas for movie projects: Shag Wars - a Star Wars and Austin Powers combo; Desk Jumper - about a miniature man who base jumps from a school desk to the carpet below; 3 Punks, a Monster and a .45 – pretty self explanatory. But my favorite idea was for a feature film made up entirely of movie trailers, to be called Trailer: The Motion Picture. It would start with a few ads (restaurants, doctor offices, etc), the silence is golden / emergency exit cards, then move into the trailers. And the ending? The feature presentation card, of course.

In the middle of releasing the Tarantino / Rodriguez double feature Grindhouse, Eli Roth mentioned that he would love to make a movie along the lines of the one I had thought of years before. So far, the latest word on that project is a blurb on a wikipedia entry, but I'm optimistic – especially with groups like Drafthouse Films in operation.

Review: "Birdemic 2: The Resurrection"

There’s something charming about certain kinds of “bad” movies. For me, I can say that they remind me of my middle school days, when I’d run around the neighborhood, making short films on my palmcorder and S-VHS camera. I cringe whenever I view this old footage - it is just horrible. However, there is an earnestness that comes through clearly; a wanting to make a movie because you love movies, skills be damned.

Birdemic: Shock and Terror was made and put out into the world with the kind of passion that some mainstream directors lack. Through word of mouth, midnight screenings and an excellent Rifftrax commentary, the movie became a cult success. And, like with most successful films, plans for a sequel came out.

Would the same charm that people loved carry over?

Review: "Oblivion"

I have great affection for David Lynch’s Dune. It’s a movie that barely explains itself, but keeps throwing stuff at you anyways. Sure, The Original Star Wars Trilogy didn’t feel the need to spell everything out either, but it would at least establish and ground things to make the audience comfortable. Dune, on the other hand, expects you to have done some reading beforehand. Despite that problem, I really dig the flick. It’s a classic sci fi adventure with a weirdo modern (at the time) edge. It has a real “you just had to be there to understand” feel to it, and, knowing that I can never go back and “understand”, makes me love it even more.

The latest Tom Cruise movie Oblivion works well as a classic sci fi adventure, but without the special “you had to be there” feel. Actually, it’s really up to you if you want to go at all.

Review: "To the Wonder"

Within my circle of facebook friends, Trash Humpers is one of the most disliked films. Two local theater programmers, while appreciative of Harmony Korine’s body of work, absolutely despise his found footage flick. Every once in a while, the movie will come up in a comment thread, and I’ll try my best to defend it. Well, I’ll defend my view of it, anyways.

Anti-Cinema is what I like to call it. Something that feels more like a statement against what we currently accept as the moviegoing experience. Basically, a movie that is executed and presented in a manner that challenges the audience to a staring contest; some people are up for it, but many will blink and walk away.

Review: "Where Y'at? (hello.)"

Q) What is Hollywood South?

A) The southern (specifically Gulf of Mexico) region of the U.S., which hosts a good amount of Hollywood film and television productions, because of very attractive tax incentives.

It’s tough out there for up and coming independent filmmakers, especially in New Orleans. Sure, there are tools like social networking and crowd funding that are paramount for artists, but there is no guarantee that any of that will work. And if they do, the benefits aren’t enough to qualify for the same privileges that bigger productions enjoy.

If you’re from Hollywood, they’ll roll out the red carpet. If you’re local, they’ll hire you to be a roller. Despite this, there are people and organizations in the area that are working around the clock to sponsor home grown talent, from festivals and lectures to collaborative projects. Collaborative - what a great word.

No Classified Ads for Critics

What outlet do you write for?

And you work at...?

I've been asked the above questions often when meeting with other NOLA area reviewers. Of course, I'm proud to plug MovieBoozer and my own blog, but when they drop the names of their home outlets, I admit a little jealousy on my part.

Why? Because they are local outlets.

With a family deeply rooted in the area, and an industry that I want to help flourish, working at a local publication would fill me with great pride. Now, don't misunderstand me - I love MovieBoozer and will be contributing for them well into the future (such an awesome format and concept), but I really want to make what I do into a career that I can live off of without having to move out of state.

Unfortunately, classified ads for film critics are hard to find. Previously, on this blog, I wrote two pieces that helped me in advancing towards my goal a bit. So, maybe third time's a charm?

Here are some ideas for how my movie blogging can be incorporated into the content of two local outlets:

Off Beat Magazine

This publication is mostly known for providing news and reviews about the music industry, from Louisiana and beyond. They also cover culture, which the booming Hollywood South is part of. However, there is zip to none film coverage to be found on their site.

I'd like to help change that.

I understand that print space might be limited, so how about a blog to kick things off? OffBeat.com is a pretty user friendly domain that's easy to navigate and read. They also use social networking pretty well, so I get that writing for the digital audience is something they're cool with.

Here's what I propose:

• We set up a film blog on the site, perhaps called Off Beat Film, along with a facebook page and twitter account. 
• The blog will cover reviews of independent/obscure (or "off beat") movies, as well as the ones opening theatrically in the area. It can also feature editorial pieces on the NOLA moviegoing scene, as well as special screening recaps (Timecode:NOLA and NOFS events, or backyard/community showings).
• If interested, a youtube account can be created, where video conversations on movies would be hosted. This would provide more content and engage the audience beyond the webpage, should they choose to participate.
• Live tweet-a-thons (where I watch a movie or awards show, and use a hashtag to link all of the tweets together) can be posted on the blog, using Storify.

WWNO.org

Last year, the New Orleans Reporter initiative - a digital news coalition between WWNO, NOLAvie and The Lens - was announced. It has since morphed from a website to a content partnership. Changes are still being implemented, but what about film criticism?

WWNO is the only one of the three that I know has hosted reviews. While written very well, they were not done by NOLA critics, and some were about movies not coming to the area. Even an interview with Quvenzhané Wallis was not conducted by an area writer.

Here's what I propose:

• Reviews of movies coming to the local area, by a local critic. Specialty pieces (interviews, event recaps) can also be provided.
• WWNO.org is chock full of excellent audio podcasts. Currently, I take part in a podcast called #TeamNOLAFilm, where I and other industry members discuss the current Hollywood South happenings. It's mostly been an independent production, but we'd be more than happy to have an official home for the show, and be able to reach more listeners. 

More than likely, I'll be moving closer to the city soon. Also soon will be the official launch of the New Orleans Film Critics Association. Could I soon be sitting in a press screening as an official local critic?

Review: "Skyfall"

Cross posted from the MoviePass blog:

In my closet, I proudly store several boxes of VHS tapes. Some are pro wrestling pay per views and tv shows and some are movies I watched repeatedly as a kid. Of course, VCR's don't replay the tape - they just rewind and shut down themselves. But, I would always make sure to pop the cassette back in, and watch again. "Singin' in the Rain", "Casablanca" and, of course, "Moonraker" make up the collection.

Yes, "Moonraker". And I type that proudly.

The idea of sending a popular character into space has been used in many criticisms of hack filmmakers, used when a franchise has reached its peak, and is running thin on gimmicks (cough "Jason X" cough). Yes, James Bond was shot into space. But is he out of gimmicks? No. Has he reached his peak? Some of his friends and foes seem to think so.

In his latest adventure "Skyfall", Daniel Craig's Bond kicks things off with an exhilarating chase, then getting shot off a train. He reappears in M's house, classically in the shadows. When she turns the light on, he is weathered as hell; unshaven and weak. He struggles to get back into agent mode - at one point leading to the accidental death of a henchman - and is asked, at every turn, if he has "lost a step". We might be 3 movies in, but this new series has now acknowledged its own staying power.

I read somewhere that you can judge a Bond film on the strength of the villain. Javier Bardem's Silva is strong and creepy. Really creepy. Characters speak of him with a sense of fear. When we are finally introduced to him, the camera stays in one place, making Silva slowly walk to us. It's as if the lens is afraid to get too close.

I also have heard that Bond stories are best when completely ridiculous, jet packs and space ships included. "Skyfall" has action, but it's all pretty practical. "Skyfall" has style, but it's not overdone. This movie might be the most mature and level headed spy flick I've ever seen. Sure, it's fun when our hero fights a mad scientist with plans to blow up the planet, or uses an Adam West style weapon (shark repellant) to get out of a sticky situation, but that stuff is for the kids.

I just recently bought a blu ray player. It sits on top of my VCR. My videos stay in my closet, collecting dust and waiting to be recycled. Sometimes, you have to move forward and realize you've grown up. Sometimes, you prefer a traditional tracking radio to a high tech pair of glasses with GPS and spring loaded tranquilizer darts. Sometimes, you want more "Skyfall" and less "Moonraker". There is something bittersweet about being an adult...       

4/5 *'s

Review: "Cloud Atlas"

Cross posted from MoviePass:

During the AMC Theatres presentation of "The Dark Knight Trilogy", my friends and I took a quick trip to the nearest gas station, as my head was killing me and I needed some tylenol. In the car, one of them asked a pretty random question, regarding my relationship with god. I could've made a joke about him getting ready to kidnap us, but I decided to answer honestly; "I'm not christian, I'm just Bill."

Who are we, where are we going and what is the point of it all? Boiled down, my belief (I prefer idea) is that we have barely scratched the surface with understanding THIS reality - how can we possibly understand OTHER ones? Honestly, I feel more comfortable explaining myself in movie form. If you care to, check out "Groundhog Day", "Defending Your Life" and, now playing across the country, "Cloud Atlas".

Not sure about watching that last one? Think of it as "Magnolia" - one large story made up of multiple tales - but on an epic scale. Think of it as several different movies (a comedy, a sci fi thriller, a period piece, a drama, etc) told forward and sideways, bleeding into one another and making one massive film. Think of it as having the ambition of a D.W. Griffith or Abel Gance picture. Think of it as maybe...well, having to think afterwards. You still want to shell out money for that Rob Cohen "movie"?

It's amazing to me that such a chance could be taken on such an incredible story. Hollywood didn't have much faith in it, so the filmmakers had to go and raise the funds themselves! Making a movie in this manner, based on a book deemed unfilmmable, is either a sign of madness or courage. Perhaps both.

Some of the madness does show up on screen. We see Hugh Grant in warrior paint as some future scape headhunter, Tom Hanks as a bald British gangster/author and an Asian Hugo Weaving. At some point during production, I bet hesitation was felt by the producers.

But, all of the courage shows up as well. We get a wonderfully heartbreaking romance between two young men, a woman in the role of a messiah, a new language spoken, a lengthy duration and, most important, questions planted into the minds of the audience. At some point during production, I bet a sense of pride was felt by the crew.

Some people are dubbing this as some kind of a bomb, having cost so much, and making so little thus far. Some people are dubbing this as pretentious rubbish, and the worst thing everyone involved could've been part of. I will respond with one quote from the film:

When told that there is an order to the world, and that any attempts to shake it would just be a drop in an ocean, a character responds "What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?" This was probably made knowing that it wouldn't make much money, and with the hope that it will give pause to people who watch it.

The friend who asked me about god is an atheist. I'm still just Bill. To me, the universe is one long movie, made up of smaller storylines, leading to one big finish. It might not be presented in the most consumable of ways, it might shift in tone and it might be ridiculous at times, but trust me; it's all important, and it'll all make sense in the end.

5/5 *'s

@NOFS Review: "Herman's House"

Cross posted from MoviePass:

A good friend of mine and I have had many a late night discussion about scripts involving characters in prison. This is mostly because of our deviant interest in HBO's OZ and our willingness to write characters who live tortured lives. The one thing that always comes up in our talks is the idea of redemption. Is it possible for an ex con to live a normal life in public AND be accepted by others?

Usually, there is a stigma attached to former prisoners (especially sexual offenders) that prevents them from gaining employment, making friends and even enjoying their freedom. And, in some cases, they go right back behind bars because of a community's inability to let them move on. Can any one prisoner - current or former - change people's minds?

Artist Jackie Sumell began a pen pal kind of relationship with Herman Wallace, an inmate at Angola Prison in Louisiana, after learning about his solitary confinement. A 30 some odd YEAR solitary confinement. For a crime he and others say he didn't do. In an effort to help spread the word about his plight - and to help him mentally/emotionally - she asked him "What kind of house does a man who has lived in a six-foot-by-nine-foot cell for over 30 years dream of?”. Thus began an intriguing art installation setup, and a noble community home project.

"Herman's House" is wonderful in how it paints its central figure, Herman, without ever showing his face. He is heard through phone conversations and seen in old, faded pictures. You would think that a documentary crew would be granted some one on one time with this man... But this only further illustrates not only how cut off Herman is from society, but how he perseveres despite this lack of contact.

Mr. Wallace is extremely articulate, compassionate and inspiring. A young former inmate beams with energy when talking about meeting this man, and how he changed his life. A fellow black panther gladly represents him on the outside. And a lawyer is stunned when Herman offers evidence for a case he is working on; one that would cause Herman's family much grief. When asked why he would be willing to do this against the wishes of his kin, he said "Because it's the right thing to do."

Much of the movie involves Jackie and her efforts to make Herman's House a real home for local NOLA children a reality. She faces roadblock after roadblock, much to the detriment of her own well being. However, she doesn't see it that way. She may be in debt, making little to no money and have a lack of support for this campaign, but she moves on anyways. She believes in Herman, and will continue to fight for him "because it's the right thing to do".

For one man to be such a beacon of inspiration while living under horrendous conditions is amazing. In my opinion, people like Herman Wallace - reformed ex cons, social workers, activist parents - ought to be in the spotlight more often. THEY are fighting the battles that REALLY matter. Sure, they may not be on tv, throwing out zingers at political opponents, but that's only because it would be a waste of time. They are leading strikes, forming community projects and changing minds. Because it is the right thing to do. I'd be willing to bet that most regular people would agree.

4/5 *'s

"Herman's House" will be screening at this years New Orleans Film Festival on October 14th and 15th (filmmaker in attendance on the 14th). Get your tickets here.

@NOFS Review: "True Family"

Cross posted from the MoviePass blog:

When you think of New Orleans, what comes to mind? Food for some. Hurricanes for others. Movies for me. And, of course, no thought about the city should be without the most obvious answer - music. You don't even have to leave your stoop to hear a juicy tune playing. Without that element, this city wouldn't be as alive as it is.

And which performer best represents this?

Meschiya Lake is a sort of revivalist style jazz singer, belting out wonderful notes on street corners for tourists and city dwellers alike. She has a background in circus acts, a plethora of tattoos and looks/sounds dynamite. She bikes around town, joyfully training her voice for the next song. She is strong, fun and very talented. Alive is the perfect word to describe her.

Before watching "True Family", I had never heard of Meschiya (I ought to be shot). I knew of bands like Tuba Skinny (who were nice enough to let me use their music for my #TeamNOLAFilm podcast), but that was about it. Knowing what I know now, I'm hit with a wave of sadness that there was a whole musical community in the area that I was unaware of - This was followed by absolute happiness when I discovered her album on Spotify. But what really impresses me here is how, through this singer, we are given a novel glimpse of a thriving young creative crew.

You see, this is really more a profile on an artistic circle - one that works with one another. Musicians help each other out, floating from band to band, getting the word out and improving the culture. Others like dancers and designers get in on the act, contributing their talents not so much for the money (the little that is available), but for the joy of expression. This look at the New Orleans music culture makes my heart flutter. 

Recently, there was a tiny spat that spilled onto social networks between two local film organizations, with one accusing the other of monopolizing venues. Ironically, both groups encourage teamwork from everyone involved in the movie community, from directors to critics. Can we call the NOLA film community a true family? Well, sometimes families do argue...

3/5 *'s

"True Family" will be showing at this years New Orleans Film Festival on October 15th. Buy your tickets here.

@NOFS Review: "Dead Man's Burden"

Cross posted from MoviePass:

For most of New Orleans, Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" will be THE western film event of the year. While I don't doubt that it will be an event, to call it a western is way too simple. I think it's obvious that Tarantino's works - especially since "Kill Bill" - have been beyond traditional notions of genre, and fit more under the term remix. I will most certainly be in line for that movie, but what flick should local (or any) western fans catch? What would I pick as a must see?

I would not only recommend "Dead Man's Burden" - which will be playing at this years New Orleans Film Festival - as a great western, but also as one of the best films of 2012. I'm not sure where it would be ranked exactly, but I would bet it'd be in my top 5.

The story is about a young married couple. The wife has just buried her father, and is ready to sell the land she lives on to an opportunistic mining company rep. Just before finishing business, her long thought dead brother shows up, wanting to catch up on time lost. Secrets are unearthed, justice is had and bonds dissolve. A real American tragedy unfolds.

There were two scenes in this movie that represent for me why this was extraordinary. In the first example, the mining company rep appears as the only person in the shot. No score, just the man. Suddenly, the brother moves from into the shot, and the score kicks in. I paused this moment and recorded the timecode - 00:49:50. While this bit might seem too silly (and maybe lame) as an example of a movie's great attributes, I assure you it is THAT GOOD, and just ONE OF MANY similar shots/edits. It's wonderful how a modern first time feature filmmaker has a knowledge and execution mastery of such filmmaking techniques. Too often will I see independent films that are just the screenplay on camera. Use ALL THE TOOLS at your disposal, and you will amaze!

The second example shows the level of tension. In the scene, the wife, husband and mining company rep are about to enjoy a drink and make their deal official. Before a drink could be enjoyed, the brother comes into the room, and drops a bullet into the reps drink. While he doesn't say it, we know - and the characters know - that he dug it out of his father's corpse(!). The mood is thick here. This is western storytelling at it's most hardcore. Emotions run as high as the heat in New Mexico...

"Django Unchained" comes out just before the year ends, but "Dead Man's Burden" is already making the festival rounds. The jury is still out on Tarantino's latest, but Director Jared Moshe's first is an expertly crafted cut of cinema. It is what I would pick as a must see.

5/5 *'s

@NOFS Review: "Now, Forager"

Cross posted from MoviePass:

There is a scene in the independent film “Now, Forager” that deserved not only some more time, but its own movie. It features a meeting of sorts between one of our protagonists and two Eastern European men. The two foreigners rob our main character with a machete and some vague dialogue. The loot? A bundle of mushrooms.

Yes, you read that correctly – this is a movie that has mushroom bandits in it. Well, briefly has them in it, as they are only on screen for a few minutes, and never return. Had those two thieves been in this more, my enjoyment would’ve been greater.

We follow Lucien and Regina, a married couple who live off of selling exotic mushrooms they find in the wilderness. They sell these items to New York restaurants, but barely make enough income to put gas in their car. Lucien would rather continue what they are doing, as it makes him happy, but Regina wants more stability; she wants to make cooking a career. Their individual passions lead both of them on different paths, which will ultimately test the strength of their relationship.

It’s hard to pick a side with this couple. You got Lucien, who is easily annoyed by people and is deliciously passive aggressive – scenes between him and an upperclass woman write themselves – and Regina, who is warm and a bit naive. I suppose both have personalities to agree with, but in the end, they are too idealistic to last with each other, and with others – namely the audience.

Now, I’m not saying that the main characters are unlikable, but I am saying that there isn’t much to like. They’re smart and their job is interesting, but that’s about it. The majority of the story, they talk about food and mumble about their relationship. This would’ve worked much better as a short.

Wouldn’t a sequel starring the mushroom bandits be amazing? Two thieves who’ve decided to ONLY rob mushroom foragers; something interesting has GOT to be found in that somewhere. Well, as long as they don’t spend their screen time wasting my time.

2/5 *'s

You can follow the movie @NowForager and catch a screening of it at the New Orleans Film Festival on October 13th and again on the 18th. Get your tickets here and follow @NOFS for more festival info.