by John Bizub, Contributing Writer
South by Southwest has had a bit of an interesting run during the course of the year. Some of the highlights did not grab many audience’s attention and relied on films from the past festivals. However, that’s not stopping filmmakers from submitting their work and allowing others to see what they think. Here is day two of my coverage!
Here Before
Here Before is a slow burn of thriller. It is progressively rooted in the idea of memories, grief, and connections that draw us together. At the film’s core is a superb performance by Andrea Riseborough, who truly understands the mental complexities of this character. The cinematography and score are also very good. Each frame is unsettling or ambiguous, begging for there to be more. The pacing worked great with what the film was trying to accomplish: a thought-provoking, and tension-building psychological thriller about the element of trust and the fear of letting go of something that is hard to hold onto. However, as much as I will praise the performances, the supporting cast did not reach the caliber Riseborough was bringing. And while the story is smart and intriguing, it also meanders a bit during the last act, and some of the dialogue (mostly from the child performances) feel a bit wonky.
Grade: C+
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break starts off as a delightful indie comedy about a man who just wants his dreams to come true. It is very good-natured until the story takes a big narrative shift. And while I do like the attempt, it did not fit with what the story was presenting itself to be. The character writing and story structure felt very familiar to other films in the genre and left me wanting more by the end. A clunky third act that questioned the character’s motivation and goals entirely didn’t help its case. The performances were fairly good, especially Tom Meeten. It starts off very strong and very well-natured, but once it takes a narrative shift, it takes a nosedive.
Grade: D-