Official Competition
Official Competition is very obvious in the ways it satirizes the film industry and its pretentious egos. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not funny.
Antonio Banderas
Pain and Glory
By: Trevor Chartrand Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory is a well-crafted melodrama; an emotional piece weighed heavily by its evocation of sadness and regret. The film stars Antonio Banderas as Salvador Mallo, an aging filmmaker who reflects on his past and the mistakes he’s made – mistakes that seem more clear through older, wiser eyes. Almodóvar explores themes of life, love, family, regret, and retribution, all through the lens of the classic mantra: ‘hindsight is…
Life Itself
Not to be confused with 2014’s brilliant ode to Roger Ebert, 2018’s Life Itself is a time-spanning family drama from Hollywood screenwriter and This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman. Fogelman has taken the clout he’s earned from his award-winning hit television show and he’s made a movie only an ambitious storyteller could make with a team of producers who trust his reputation.
Black Butterfly
Black Butterfly is practically a two-man show in the middle of the woods starring Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Banderas plays Paul, a writer who has isolated himself to forge forward on his latest draft. Rhys-Meyers plays Jack, a prickly drifter who creates anxiety for those around him. An altercation brings the pair together, leading to an unconventional bond over Paul’s writing. Jack’s visit, however, takes a sharp turn as the duo exchange power over heated…
Machete Kills
By: Addison Wylie It’s always a bad sign while watching a movie when you realize the first three minutes are probably going to be the best moments the film can offer. Machete Kills kicks off with a trashy trailer for a third Machete film – appropriately titled Machete Kills Again…In Space. The insane trailer shows audiences which characters have returned and what battles ensue, essentially giving away spoilers about the film you’re about to watch….