Review: "Still Mine" (****)

Campbell Scott and James Cromwell star in "Still Mine"

"Still Mine" has been on my radar since premiering in Toronto last fall—going so far as for me to incorrectly predict it as part of last year's Savannah Film Festival lineup. Writer-director Michael McGowan's latest film is notable for a number of reasons; the natural beauty of its New Brunswick setting, the articulate depiction of a saintly love story, but most of all for the dynamic leading performances by veterans Geneviève Bujold and James Cromwell—a perennial supporting actor.

Macon Review: "The Suicide Kid" (****)

Dean Tardioli stars in "The Suicide Kid"

I haven't embarked on my filmmaking journey yet, but I can imagine one of the brightest highlights will be news of acceptance into my first film festival. I'm sure there was much rejoicing to be had when the filmmaking trio of Adrian Murray, Marcus Sullivan and Dean Tardioli received news that their film, "The Suicide Kid," had been accepted into the Macon Film Festival. A few weeks later, the film was selected by the Atlanta Film Festival. I'm thrilled that these Canadian film students have received such a warm welcome into the industry from Georgia's festival circuit first.

"The Suicide Kid" is an innovative, meticulously pieced-together feature that tells the story of an insecure college freshman entirely through his video blogs. A tough lesson in self-awareness that everyone must learn at some point (and usually in college), the film captures the emotional significance of the first year experience and winds up being more poignant than the filmmakers even intended.

Atlanta review bundle: "The Woman in the Fifth" (***1/2), "A Little Bit Zombie" (***1/2), "Ok, Good" (****)

Kristin Scott Thomas and Ethan Hawke star in "The Woman in the Fifth"

"The Woman in the Fifth" is Pawel Pawlikowski's first film in seven years and marks no departure from the Polish filmmaker's steady, romantic aesthetic. The film possesses a particularly high density, especially due to such strong performances from Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas. It fails, however, to really engage the viewer past the feeling of general intrigue. Pawlikowski's firm grip on the wheel, embellished with harmonizing technical aspects, keeps you interested, but not interested enough. The best scenes, which feature Hawke at his 'job' in an underground room, are filled with more suspense and dread than most entire horror films contain. Looking back on the film, it has to be noted that few films set in Paris showcase so little of the City of Light. Most of the film takes place in dimly lit rooms, windowless basements or dirty hotels. Did Hawke's character ever truly leave the mental hospital from which he was supposedly released? 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"A Little Bit Zombie" and "Ok, Good" after the jump.

Macon: "A Wake" (****)

Raoul Bhaneja and Sarain Boylan star in "A Wake"

The winner of both the Narrative Jury Prize and the Melvin Douglas Award for Best in Show at this year's Macon Film Festival was "A Wake." The film by Penelope Buitenhuis centers around a group of thespians who reunite in snowy Ontario for the wake of their beloved late theater director, Gabor Zazlov. Bringing with them plenty of unfinished business and unresolved issues, the characters are all especially unstable due to the added emotional weight of of Gabor's death.