The Local Haps: April 27th - May 3rd.

This week we have a sleuth of horror and superhero-based programming in light of Texas Frightmare Weekend and the upcoming AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON release. Check out all of the good stuff after the break.

Netflix Instant: Movie & TV Picks

After taking a few weeks off for the Dallas International Film Festival, we're back with a fresh set of awesome movies to check out this weekend. Check them out after the break. 

DIFF 2015 Review: NOWITZSKI: THE PERFECT SHOT- Jonesy's Take

NOWITZSKI: THE PERFECT SHOT

Directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt

Synopsis: A look at the Mavericks power forward and his relationship with his basketball mentor.

 This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

DIFF 2015 Review: 7 CHINESE BROTHERS

7 CHINESE BROTHERS

Director and Writer: Bob Byington.

Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Tunde Adebimpe, Olympia Dukakis, and Eleanore Pienta.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Trailer Scratches The Nostalgia Itch

Most of you have already seen it, but it's worth posting. After a nice and cheesy panel at Star Wars Celebration, director JJ Abrams unveiled the next teaser trailer for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS to a rabid audience.

Check it out after the break.

DIFF 2015 Review- THE WOLFPACK- Jonesy's Take

THE WOLFPACK

Directed by Crystal Moselle 

Starring: Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo, Krsna Angulo, Mukunda Angulo, and Narayana Angulo.

Synopsis: A documentary following a family in the Lower East Side.

DIFF 2015 Review: THUNDER BROKE THE HEAVENS

THUNDER BROKE THE HEAVENS

Director and Writer: Tim Skousen.

Starring: Alexandra Peters, Gavin Howe, Tanner Beard, and Tom Nowicki.

Synopsis: A brother and sister run away to the forest away from their abusive foster parents.

DIFF 2015 Review: CARTEL LAND

CARTEL LAND

Director: Matthew Heineman

Synopsis: With unprecedented access, this doc follows two vigilante groups on both sides of the US/Mexican border against the drug cartels. 

DIFF 2015 Review- THE LOOK OF SILENCE- Jonesy's Take

THE LOOK OF SILENCE

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer

Synopsis: A brother of a victim of the military overtake of Indonesia is on a quest to confront his brother's murders.

DIFF 2015 Review- THIS ISN'T FUNNY

THIS ISN'T FUNNY

Directed by Paul Ashton

Written by Paul Ashton and Katie Page

Starring: Katie Page, Paul Ashton, Edi Gathegi, Anthony LaPaglia, Mimi Rogers, and David Pasquesi

Synopsis: Two young adults attempt to make a relationship work amidst their troubled lives. 

DIFF 2015 Review: RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE- Jonesy's Take

RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE

Directed by Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen

Starring: Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos

Synopsis: A documentary following two friends as they try to film the one scene missing from their RAIDERS shot-for-shot remake they started as kids.

DIFF 2015: TURBO KID - Javi's Take

TURBO KID 

Directed and Written by:  Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Kari Whisse.

Starring: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffrey and Edwin Wright.

Synopsis: A kid tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic earth while avoiding an evil crime lord. 

There's a small but awesome subgenre of movies that homage the look of older movies. My buddy calls them "Modern Retro", which sums it up really well.  Most notable of these are the works of the Canadian film collective Astron 6, with movies like MANBORG, or with director Jason Eisner's HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.  Following in the footsteps, we have directors Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Kari Whisse's love letter to post-apocalyptic movies, TURBO KID. Set in the distant future of 1997, TURBO KID follows "the Kid," a scavenger trying to survive in this toxic wasteland, and his fight against the local crime boss.

There's a very fine balance that these types of throwback movies need to strike between substance and style. It's very easy to have cheesy dialogue and a pulsing synth score (which this movie does) for the sake of having it, but those elements are no good if they don't help the story. TURBO KID ends up taking cues from the past and using modern sensibilities to tell a fun and comedically violent story.

First, the universe that's been established here is thorough and should be explored further. The sharp script hints at the culture that has developed since the apocalypse happened, but it never hits you in the face with it. It's neat to see the brief scenes of the struggling civilization. There's a whole subculture of bounty hunting, scavenging, and arm wrestling for social status that's developed and everyone has crazy outlandish costumes.

And the best part? Everyone is rocking bikes as their major mode of transportation. Unlike the festival audience that I saw the movie with, the movie doesn't treat this as a joke. As cool as MAD MAX and the ROAD WARRIOR are, it really doesn't make sense that cars would be used in a post-apocalyptic world. And yeah, at first glance it can look goofy, it also gives the world a stronger "survival of the fittest" aspect since you have be strong to pedal quickly to get away from saw-wielding masked maniacs.

The cast is lead by Munro Chambers as "the Kid" who is a resourceful scavengers living out on his own who loses himself in his Walkman and Turbo Man action figures and comics. Aaron Jeffrey plays a cowboy-esque badass who's the arm wrestling champion of the little town, and Michael Ironside plays the main baddie, Zeus. Between Jeffrey and Ironside, they're chewing the HELL out of the scenery, and they look like they're having so much fun. But the true stand out of the movie is gorgeous Laurence Leboeuf as the Apple, who decides to be the Kid's best friend. Her performance is something special and brings a lot of heart and humor to the story.

If there's going to be a critique of the movie is the rather episodic nature of the story. The parts that are between action scenes always feel like mere setups for the next sequence. Given how this was written, it would actually feel TURBO KID could work better as a six episode mini series. Or you know, the sequel could work as that. Also, there's some anachronistic details about the world that CAN make you pause such as some very advance robotics tech and weapons, when all the while this is supposed to be 1997 and the apocalypse has been around for a number of years already.

All of those are really mild critiques because honestly, when you're watching the movie, you are having so much fun and everything is handled in a way that you really don't question it. TURBO KID is a unique throwback movie with so many fun elements, and you can tell that a lot of love went into it and to be honest there's nothing better than a passion project.

TURBO KID screens again at the Texas Theatre on Friday, April 17th at 10:30 pm. 

The Local Haps: Monday, April 6th - April 12th

This is a busy time for movie lovers in Dallas. We've got loads of film screenings and a film festival starting this week. Check out some of the best screenings including my pick of the week after the break. 

FURIOUS 7 Review - Javi's Take.

FURIOUS 7 

Directed by: James Wan.

Written by: Chris Morgan, with characters by Gary Scott Thompson.

Starring: Vinn Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrere Gibson (gasp for breath) Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Elsa Pataki, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Lucas Black and Bow Wow.

THE HUNTING GROUND Review- Jonesy's Take

Directed by Kirby Dick

Written by Kirby Dick

Synopsis: A look at the growing rape problem on college campuses, and the students who decide to take a stand. 

This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

Netflix Instant: Movie & TV Picks - Back From The Dead Edition!

In honor of the weekend, I wanted to highlight some movies on Netflix that deal with death or near death experiences and the way that it changes you one is somehow resurrected. Some are a bit of a stretch but they're still fun as hell to watch. Check them out after the break.