The Movie Press
  • Movie Reviews
  • Twitter News/Updates
  • News & Notes
  • DVD
  • Box Office Results
  • Contact
  • About Us

SXSW Review: Misfired "Favela"

3/18/2009

0 Comments

 

In its U.S. premiere, Favela on Blast filled every seat in the house. Granted, there can't be more than 150 seats at The Hideout Theatre and Coffeehouse in downtown Austin, but extra chairs and benches that were brought in were immediately filled. Unfortunately, quite a few of those seats were empty before the film ended, as viewers chose not to sit through the mind-numbing two hours of interviews that was passed off as a documentary. 

Favela is the product of hip-hop deejay Diplo (aka Wesley Pentz) who has played a large role in taking the Brazilian funk culture worldwide. With an infectious beat and animated subject matter, I was sure this film would be very pleasing to the senses; I never guessed I’d be fighting to stay awake. With no narration the film struggled to find a direction. Interviews with emcees and deejays were linked back-to-back throughout the film with no real connection between each one. They had great stories to tell, but they were lost in the meandering thoughts of the artists. 

This film is in desperate need of an editor and a central story based around one or more of the characters. Instead of seeing how much this culture was a part of life in the Favela we just heard about it. Viewers never understood why we were supposed to care about what these people were saying.

--Mark Collins



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    Categories

    All
    Austin Film Festival
    Darcie Duttweiler Reviews
    Derrick Mitcham Reviews
    Eric Harrelson Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Fantastic Fest
    Greg Maclennan Reviews
    Greg Wilson Reviews
    Jessica Hixson Reviews
    Mark Collins Reviews
    Monte Monreal Reviews
    Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Sxsw

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.