Pamela Powell – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE – Review by Pamela Powell

September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 Pamela Powell Audrey Shulman, bette midler, Martha Kelly, Odessa A’zion, Ron Livingston, Sitting in Bars with Cake, yara shahidi

Sitting in Bars with Cake blindsided me in the first act as the story, initially thought to be a superficial one about young women in iconic Hollywood locations attempting to meet men, becomes a deeply meaningful and poignant tale about friendship and life. Inspired by author and screenwriter Audrey Shulman’s life, Cake delivers layers of heart and humor drizzled with just the right level of sweetness that leaves you completely satisfied as the final credits roll.

Interviews

Dale Dickey sings A LOVE SONG, talks being Tough and Soft – Pamela Powell interviews

July 28, 2022July 29, 2022 Pamela Powell A Love Song, Alfonso Herrera Salcedo, Dale Dickey, Max Walker-Silverman, Wes Studi

The scene-stealing supporting actress Dale Dickey finally lands in the limelight as the leading lady in A Love Song. Dickey and co-star Wes Studi play characters who experience the uncertainties of love in later life in writer-director Max Walker-Silverman’s first feature, one of this year’s most thought-provoking, evocative and quietly sublime movies. Here, Dickey talks about the burden of carrying the film as it’s lead, about the pressures and pleasures of acting during the height of the pandemic — and she delves into what her character, Faye, means to her.

Interviews

Julie Cohen and Betsy West on GABBY GIFFORDS WON’T BACK DOWN – Pamela Powell interviews

July 19, 2022August 4, 2022 Pamela Powell betsy west, documentary, Gabby Giffords, Gabby Giffords: Won’t Back Down, Julie Cohen, Mark Kelly, motw

In what is a very intimate portrait of an extraordinarily strong woman, Cohen and West capture former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s warmth and humor as well as her inspiring determination to recover from a terrorist’s gunshot wound to her head. The filmmakers chatted with Pamela Powell about making the film, getting to know Gabby Giffords and helping her to reach her goals.

Interviews

Hannah Marks and Mia Isaacs on DON’T MAKE ME GO – Pamela Powell interviews

July 12, 2022July 15, 2022 Pamela Powell amazon prime, Don't Make Me Go, hannah marks, Jen Van Epps, John Cho, Mia Isaac, vera herbert

Don’t Make Me Go is an extraordinarily smart, uplifting and heartfelt movie that combines coming of age tropes with unusual roadtrip elements as it revolves around a truly loving father and daughter relationship that’s put under severe pressure because of health issues. Mia Isaacs plays the teenage daughter of single parent Jon Cho, and their family chemistry shimmers on the screen as they drive across the US. racing to forge a plan for the future. AWFJ’s Pam Powell, who cheers this film as her favorite of the year, claimed the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Marks and Isaacs to discuss the film and the highlights of making it.

Reviews

THE DESPERATE HOUR – Review by Pamela Powell

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 Pamela Powell chris sparling, Naomi Watts, phillip noyce, the desperate hour

The unthinkable yet possible is happening. Recently widowed mom Amy (Naomi Watts), still coping with the aftereffects of her husband’s death particularly as it impacts her teenage son Noah (Colton Gobbo), receives the news that there is an active shooter at the high school. Her actions and reactions spiral out of control taking what starts as a chilling moment in time, and turning it into a preposterous one.

Festivals Interviews

Mariama Diallo on Ghosts, Empowerment and MASTER (Sundance FF 2022) – Pamela Powell interviews

January 25, 2022January 25, 2023 Pamela Powell amazon prime, horror, Mariama Diallo, Master, regina hall, sundance film festival 2022

Writer/Director Mariama Diallo’s gripping first feature, Master, is a horror tale centering on the experiences of a Black young woman who is enrolled at a New England college with a predominantly White student body. Receiving many accolades at it’s Sundance 2022 premiere, the film has been picked up for distribution via Amazon Prime Video beginning March 18, 2022. Diallo discusses all the real-life inspiration that lead her to tell this haunting tale.

Festivals Reviews

DUAL (Sundance FF 2022) – Review by Pamela Powell

January 24, 2022January 24, 2022 Pamela Powell Dual, Karen Gillan, riley stearns, sundance film festival 2022

Dual, premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival written and directed by Riley Stearns, takes the concept of artificial personal duplication and turns it on its head, making a bold and satirical statement as to what life really means.

Festivals Reviews

YOU WON’T BE ALONE (Sundance FF 2022) – Review by Pamela Powell

January 22, 2022January 23, 2022 Pamela Powell Anamaria Marinca, Goran Stolevski, Macedonian films, sundance film festival 2022, YOU WON’T BE ALONE

Writer and director Goran Stolevski’s poetic horror film is both visually and intellectually captivating as we watch a young girl transform herself into others, awaiting a chance to find love and happiness. We see the world and the people through her innocent eyes even as the inadvertent gory violence occurs.

Festivals Interviews

Riley Stearns on Female Leads, Dueling and DUAL (Sundance FF 2022) – Pamela Powell interviews

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022 Pamela Powell Aaron Paul, Dual, Karen Gillan, riley stearns, sundance film festival 2022

The 2022 Sundance Film Festival is in a virtual mode again this year. On the upside, everyone has access to purchasing tickets to an event that was once rather exclusionary, limited to those who could attend the festival in the quaint town of Park City, Utah. The film Dual, written and directed by Riley Stearns, is a part of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s US Dramatic Competition category. Here’s what he has ti say about writing a female lead, the Covid challenge and Dual.

Interviews

Rebecca Hall on PASSING, Family Identity and Heritage – Pamela Powell interviews

October 24, 2021October 31, 2021 Pamela Powell motw, Movie of the Week, nella larsen, netf;ix, Passing, rebecca hal;

Passing, having premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, is taking its turn with a theater run before its arrival on Netflix, November 10. Rebecca Hall’s first-time writing and directing feature film is based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen. The story resonated personally with Hall who recently sat down to talk about the making of this film, sharing intimate glimpses into her struggles with her own family’s identity and proudly recognizing her heritage.

← Previous