Macon Review: "Miss Dial" (***)

Robinne Lee and Sam Jaeger star in "Miss Dial"

"Miss Dial" had its world premiere at the Macon Film Festival leading up to a theatrical release this month. The feature directorial debut by writer David H. Steinberg hosts a slew of familiar faces only ever sharing the screen through a split frame. Gabrielle Union, Beth Grant, Dulé Hill, Jon Huertas, Sara Rue and Ahna O'Reilly feature in limited screen time, but the show truly belongs to stars Robinne Lee and Sam Jaeger. Good chemistry between the two leads emphasizes an equally good screenplay, laced with enough spirit and authenticity to overcome the obstacle of no physical interaction between any actors.

What to see at the 2013 Macon Film Festival

The first leg of Georgia's film festival circuit is about to kick off with the always robust Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. But after the AJFF begins and before it ends, another Georgia gem will take place. The 8th annual Macon Film Festival (MaGa) will run from February 14th through the 17th, just three weeks away! I saw some good films, met some fun people, ate some delicious food and took many great walks around town last February and look forward to getting to do it all over again this year.

The Macon Film Festival is similar to the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) in both age and size, although I can see the big dreams and ambitions of the MaGa board propelling the fest into the reach of a broader audience within the next few years. This year, several documentaries and features look promising and the festival always offers a wide variety of short films worth looking into. The special gala presentations (one each night) are still being announced, but they usually bring one or two stars into town. Last year, veteran character actress Beth Grant ("The Artist," "Donnie Darko," "No Country for Old Men") and Macon native Carrie Preston ("Duplicity," "That's What She Said," "True Blood") showcased some of their work.

After the jump, I've highlighted several films worth checking out. A few films have played at other festivals, including both RIFF and the Atlanta Film Festival, while others are fresh out of the editing room.

Savannah Review bundle: "In Our Nature" (*½), "Tomorrow You're Gone" (**), "The Sapphires" (****), "Rise of the Guardians" (***½)

Gabrielle Union, John Slattery, Jena Malone and Zach Gilford star in "In Our Nature"

"In Our Nature" is perhaps the most disappointing film out of the 2012 Savannah Film Festival. Zach Gilford, Jena Malone, John Slattery and Gabrielle Union comprise an accomplished cast that fails to produce any sentiment from a dry screenplay. The premise is there; an estranged father and son unexpectedly reunite at their family cabin with their respective partners. Unfortunately, "In Our Nature" is riddled with unpleasantness, from slow-as-molasses pacing to the complete joy vacuum created by scene upon scene of unlikeable characters performing unlikeable actions with no attempt at relief. The filmmakers seem confident that they have created realistic characters with realistic emotions, but those who sympathize would still find a hard time enjoying the film. Jena Malone earns best in show honors, but her character still teeters too unevenly for her capable talent to grab hold. 1.5 out of 5 stars.

"Tomorrow You're Gone," "The Sapphires" and "Rise of the Guardians" after the jump.