Yeah, couldn’t resist the horrible pun, how could I when the movie is about a man who has a demon who lives in his lower intestines. This movie really could have gone down the toilet (oh come on! These jokes line themselves up!) but Milo managed to be one of the best horror comedies I have ever seen. Ken Marino is fantastic as the main character, and as the director/writer team pointed out in the Q&A who hasn’t had something come out of their a**?

For those of you worried about the gore factor, let me tell you that while this movie does have its gore laden moments it is one that doesn’t go over the top on the flying guts. In fact you might find yourself laughing more often than covering your eyes and cheering for the er? underdog? so to speak.

If you missed it tonight, Milo has additional screenings Monday March 11 at Alamo Slaughter, Thursday March 14 at Paramount, Friday March 15 at Topher. 

One of our “must see” films this year is Good Ol’ Freda from director Ryan White. We caught up with him via email and gave him our best five questions we wanted answered.

We were surprised by the answers and they made us want to see the from that much more!

So here we go…

In the press kit, you mention a “shared family history” that was part of the reason Freda agreed to the film, can you elaborate on that?

My uncle is Billy Kinsley, the founding member of the Merseybeats, so I grew up going back and forth going to Liverpool my whole life. My aunt and uncle are in a group of friends who come from the 1960′s Liverpool music scene, and Freda was one of those people. I’ve known her for quite some time, just from family weddings or Christmases. But I never knew that Freda was the Beatles’ secretary, she’s very private about it. It wasn’t until a few years ago when Freda’s friend and producer Kathy McCabe approached me about making this movie that I found out about the role Freda played. She’s been offered many times to tell her story over the last 50 years by outsiders, but I think doing it with a team she knew beforehand was important to her. She wanted it told faithfully to who she is, and I think we did that in the end.

How long did the production run?
We’ve been making the movie for two years now.

What, if any, difficulties did you face?
In the movie, Freda’s daughter says, “My mom is the most private person I have ever known in my life.” It’s what makes Freda who she is and why she was so amazing at her job with The Beatles. But making a documentary is also probably the most un-private thing to participate in; it’s invasive and involves putting your life out there for people to see. So I’d say the biggest difficulty was finding that balance — making a documentary about the most private person in the world, but still getting Freda to let us in enough so the audience would get to know her. Freda was a champion for sticking it out throughout the process, because it wasn’t always easy and it was definitely outside of her comfort zone.

What message do you hope audiences take away from the film?
I want people to see the story of a remarkable woman who did a remarkable job for the most famous band in the world, but never sought any credit for her role and never sold out the “four lads” throughout her entire life. It’s a real character study of ethics and what loyalty means.

Any special plans for SXSW?
Freda will be in town! We talked her into coming to the U.S. for the premiere. I think she’s a little blown away by the attention the film has gotten in the lead-up, so it will be fun to get to experience it alongside her.

Reality Show is a darkly humorous look at the state of reality television.

It’s a truly funny, mocking of the whole genre, if you can really call it that, that pokes fun not only at Hollywood, but also at voyeurism, corporate ethics, and product placement.

It is truly not to be missed!

“Reality Show” is a darkly comedic satire that follows the exploits of reality TV producer Mickey Wagner and his amoral attempt to re-invent the reality genre. Mickey’s revolutionary idea is to pick an average family and put them under all encompassing surveillance… without their knowledge. Unfortunately Mickey soon realizes that the family is boring. In a desperate attempt to salvage the show, Mickey begins to interfere by injecting conflict to create drama. As the show gets better, the family starts to disintegrate. Mickey rationalizes that all will be OK in the end, for once the episodes begin airing, fame will heal all the wounds.

Every year at this time, our friend Larry Richman posts a series of blog posts detailing tips for the SXSW Film festival that he has gathered over his eight years attending the event in March.

His first post is up now and can be found here.

Keep your eyes peeled for his posts before and during the event!

Another in a great lineup from SXSW this year is Necronomica from Kyle Bogart and Cliff Bogart.

I loved it, the only way I can describe it is a buddy film about two friends facing a crisis of identity and their musical integrity.

After the departure of friend and drummer Mortimus, Black Metal bandmates Borknarg and Absu begin to lose hope that “Necronomica” will ever achieve its place as the most evil band in the world. Borknarg hatches a plan to take their band to the next level, but he fears it might cost him his friendship with Absu. And friendship is a powerful thing: it is the foundation of any truly evil band.

AND … now that the Film Screening Schedule is up, we can let you when and where it’s playing!

Saturday, March 9
1:45PM – 3:08PM
Topfer Theatre at Zach Scott

Monday, March 11
4:30PM – 5:53PM
Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Wednesday, March 13
1:45PM – 3:08PM
Vimeo Theater

While SXSW Film has not yet announced that the Film Schedule is up (and we’ve heard from some filmmakers that their screenings will be confirmed shortly) the Screenings Schedule is starting to form up.

One of film geek buddies, Jason Whyte, pointed out that some films will be showing on both screens at the Alamo Ritz at the same time to increase audience capacity. Great idea, but we wonder how Q&A’s will work.

So head on over and check out the screenings schedule, but keep in mind it is probably not complete as yet.

With beautiful cinematography done with a combination of on screen and voice over narration by Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn, Keith “keef” Ehrlich’s The Knife Maker displays the passion and craft of hand made goods makers.

I’ve always been big on documentaries at SXSW, and this one is right up my alley. It is all at once informative, educational, artistic, and has heart. I loved it.

Writer turned knife maker Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn talks about the human element of craft, and the potential for a skill to mature into an art. And in sharing his story, he alights on the real meaning of handmade—a movement whose riches are measured in people, not cash.

The Knife Maker is the second installment in Made by Hand, a new short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand—sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft. Based in Brooklyn, the project takes its influence from the handmade movement here and elsewhere. It was created out of the belief that the things we collect, consume, use, and share are part of who we are as individuals.