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Sidewalk 2008: Electric youth

Contributor — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:12:40 +0000

Movie review: I'm almost embarrassed to say that I enjoyed as much of "Adventures of Power" as I did. The plot's not new, but it's entertaining if you're up for some silliness.

The movie opens the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival tonight.

Sidewalk 2008: Uncomfortable silence

Wade — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:52:41 +0000

Movie review: "The Dhamma Brothers" is a remarkable documentary that examines the first U.S. prison — just over in western Jefferson County near Bessemer — to use ancient vipassana meditation techniques with violent cons.

Vipassana comes from India, focusing on introspection for transformation, but it boils down to men sitting on cushions, utterly silent for 10 days. This potentially dull setup makes for an ultimately engaging story. I'm sure this movie will win an award or two at Sidewalk, and will likely be the best one you see all weekend.

It screens Sunday at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Sidewalk 2008: All politics is local

Contributor — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:59:27 +0000

Movie review: When introduced to the people of "Crawford," we learn about their lives before we learn about their politics, allowing us to view them as individuals first. The documentary tells a story about everyday people thrown into extraordinary circumstances.

The movie screens Saturday at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Sidewalk 2008: Big mania on campus

Contributor — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:56:36 +0000

Movie review: The documentary "'Bama Girl" follows a black finalist for homecoming queen at the University of Alabama. Maybe not every student covets the crown, but the movie is sure to spark some interesting conversations.

The film closes the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival on Sunday.

Sidewalk 2008: That Darn Cat

Contributor — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:32:12 +0000

Movie review: The Goliath of "Goliath" is not a supercomputer, nor a biblical giant. Goliath is a cat. More specifically, "the sweetest, most wonderful cat in the whole world."

But it's really about the cat's owner, an unnamed guy (played by David Zellner) who lives in an initially unnamed town (eventually revealed to be Austin) working at an unnamed job.

The film screens Sept. 28 at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Exclusive: ‘Adventures of Power’ to open Sidewalk 2008

Wade — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:26:07 +0000

Exclusive: The comedy 'Adventures of Power' will be the opening night film for the 2008 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

The 2008 Ultimate Summer Movie Guide

Wade — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:28:08 +0000

Welcome to the 2008 Ultimate Summer Movie Guide, with more than 60 movies in over a dozen venues. And most of them are free — some even have free food and drink.

Updated with full lists by ABC and date order.

Wade on September 2007

Wade — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:17:35 +0000

September, one more time

Sidewalk 2007: End scene

Wade — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:27:47 +0000

Another whirlwind weekend of music, movies and parties known as Sidewalk has zipped by. Remember: You can still win swag from the film fest by entering our haiku contest by noon today.

But before we wrap the ninth Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a few more capsule reviews of hits and misses ...

Update: "The Devil Came on Horseback" and "Darius Goes West" added.

Sidewalk 2007: The last roundup

Wade — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:11:03 +0000

Wanna see a movie this weekend? How about 150 of them? The ninth annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival starts tonight, with the biblical comedic romp, "The Ten." So what's the story on this year's festival? More previews, more interviews, plus you could win free Sidewalk stuff ...

Sidewalk 2007: Row row row your boat

Contributor — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:12:48 +0000

Two people, 3,000 miles, 100 days at sea. I love a good adventure story. Man attempts to conquer nature. Nature takes the lead. Man becomes one with nature. Or does he? In the documentary “Row Hard No Excuses,” John Zeigler and Tom Mailhot set out to travel the open seas in a trans-Atlantic rowing race from the Canary Islands to Barbados. The film screens Sunday at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Sidewalk 2007: Demented and sad, but social

Contributor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:38:59 +0000

For those of us who miss the guilty pleasure of the ABC after-school special, "Overflow" gives a respectable shot at resurrecting the teenage drama, complete with the valuable lesson to take away.

Sidewalk 2007: Drama-rama

Wade — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:57:25 +0000

Craving something serious in bite-size pieces? Try this block of shorts from Alabama filmmakers at this weekend's Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. But be warned: It's heavy slogging through these dainty dramas.

Sidewalk 2007: Something sacred

Contributor — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:11:09 +0000

"The Ten" will be of special interest to fans of "The State," the MTV sketch comedy show that launched the careers of a group of actors, writers and directors who would go on to work on a variety of television shows and movies, including "Stella," "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Reno 911!" The film will open next week's Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Sidewalk 2007: Look ahead

Wade — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:42:17 +0000

As Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival gears up for its ninth outing later this month, you have a chance to see what’s on the lineup tonight. As part of its monthly Salon, Sidewalk organizers will show trailers and discuss programming. See what goes into putting on a festival and what you can expect as a film fan. The [...]

Summer movie madness 2007

Wade — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:00:28 +0000

The summer's barely begun, but perhaps you've had your fill of pirates, webslingers and crazed killers. Have we got a deal for you? Check out more than 50 movies coming to a neighborhood near you, and more than half of them for free. Free! FREE!! They're all in our Summer Movie Guide 2007. Updated with Israeli Cann’d Film Festival ... Updated with Movies on the Mall ...

Big screens, little people

Wade — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:01:04 +0000

The Oscars — or as they’re known in France, Les Oscars — take place Sunday night in Hollywood. You can grab your own piece of red carpet glory with not one but two viewing parties in Birmingham. Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival will hold a fund-raiser party at 7 p.m. at WorkPlay [map]. Free food, free [...]

Sidewalk shuffle 3

Wade — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:30:06 +0000

Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival named its new staff at Monday night's monthly Salon. Catherine Pfitzer, right, has become the new executive director after having served as program manager.

Erik Jambor, left, will become executive director of BendFilm Festival in Bend, Ore., on Feb. 15. A Sidewalk co-founder, he resigned in November after having served as director for eight years.