"Everybody Wants Some!!" Review (***½)

Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin and Ryan Guzman star in
"Everybody Wants Some!!"

Richard Linklater’s filmography is chock-full of some of the most influential and timeless films of the past 20 years. For me, his “Before” trilogy is his best work. The three films—for those who haven’t seen them (yet)—follow a couple’s relationship over the course of about 16 years. Each movie in the trilogy pretty much amounts to a series of conversations between the two leads as we check in on them at different points in their lives. The director’s focus on passing time and nostalgia is perfectly represented in these three films. Linklater seems to have a fascination with hindsight that allows his films to not only get better and better with age, but to sneak up on you and pack way more of a punch than you might have expected before the final credits start to roll.

"Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" Review (****)

Brian Greenberg and Jamie Chung star in "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong."

Last week I attended the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for the very first time, catching a screening of first-time writer/director Emily Ting’s “Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong” as a part of Access Night. Starring real-life couple Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg, Ting’s walk-and-talk romantic comedy shines under the brightly-lit streets of nighttime Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the film occasionally falls victim to Hollywood’s many romantic comedy tropes. The city as the third character? Check. Flirtatious meet-cute? Double check. However, the film is able to differentiate itself from being just another 'rom-com' thanks largely in part to Ting’s unique perspective paired with Chung and Greenberg’s natural flow on screen.

Win free passes to see "Boyhood" in Atlanta!

Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane star in "Boyhood"

Already one of the biggest critical hits of the year, Richard Linklater's latest film, "Boyhood," took him twelve years to film. Essentially following a single boy as he comes of age on screen, the same principle actors are featured aging and progressing in such a way that the film blurs the lines between fiction and non-fiction. This film could be a very big awards player, come Oscar time.

The film opened in limited release on July 11th and has been doing very well. It is scheduled to open in Atlanta on Friday, August 1st, but we have six pairs of tickets to give away for an advance screening held at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema on Tuesday, July 29th at 7:00 PM.

It is easy to enter! Just Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter, then Share and Tweet and you've been entered to win! The contest comes to a close on Friday, July 25th at 12:00 PM. These are physical, paper passes, so if you are selected as one of the winners, we will notify you by email and request a mailing address. Your passes should arrive no later than Monday, July 28th.