The parties at this year's LA Film Fest 2013 are just cooking up, so we thought we start off you all with a little mini-photo tour appetizer.  We're heading to the roof of the West Garage at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, California and going into the exclusive Filmmaker Lounge to show you a few notable sights.  Drinks, computers, bowls of free nutrition bars and conversations galore - let's mingle film fans!

Seems to be the right place!  (Where can I get one of those gobo's with my name!)

Isn't this how the first "Tron" started?  (Free computers rule!)

Hitting the blue bar...

We’re keeping the capsulated review train going with more insight into the films at this years LA Film Fest 2013 via Jason and Michael.  Today’s crop sees good and bad in doc land along with some Beyond fare to boot.  Honest in film critique – here’s the skinny!

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Michael's Reviews

"The New Black" – A startling multi-layered documentary.  Born out of the repossession of gay rights thru Prop-8 in California, Yoruba Richen, the film’s director, has created a complex portrait of the fight for gay rights in America as exemplified by the Prop-6 in Maryland.  It also to...

Day 1 at LA Film Fest 2013 and we’re already cooking with movie review gas!  Here are a handful of our first wave of capsulated reviews – both good and bad – from both Jason and Michael Coleman to help fest goers make their choices a pinch more educated.  Check them out below!

THE GOOD

Jason’s Pick

"In A World" – Effective most when in full bittersweet romantic mode, Lake Bell’s writing and directing debut is a cute flick amidst a tad fluffy.  Bell herself comes off much like Kristen Wiig, funny and charming in an odd and unique way.  The comedy is unfortunately light, but does come ...

French animation, a flick that was booed at Cannes and Harry Dean Stanton – welcome to LA Film Fest 2013!  Held once again in Downtown Los Angeles at LA Live from June 13 thru the June 23 (go to www.lafilmfest.com for details!), Starpulse.com is once again covering all things film to bring you the gems and duds of the coolest and most prolific fest in LA.  We’re adding a few more mouths to the cinematic litter this year as not only will I be checking out the various flicks, Q&A’s and parties, but my movie father Michael Coleman will be my wingman this time out to give you readers and fans m...

For those of us who grew up in the 80’s, the name Zach Galligan is a recognizable one.  Having made a big splash in films like "Gremlins" and "Waxwork," Galligan was the quintessential leading man – good looking, charismatic and truly talented.  Along the way he also made memorable turns in shows like "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Law & Order Criminal Intent" (going toe-to-toe with Vincent D’Onofrio no less!), but ultimately turned teacher helming acting classes affiliated with Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.  His most recent role sees the actor once again taking on the horror genre, this time...

A far as comedy goes, I’ve never been against the broader strokes of hilarity in film.  Over-the-top gags, a vaudeville vibe and grandiose farce can provide great laughs that simple comedy may not have the gumption to attempt.  Unfortunately, in his new film "I’m So Excited," normally masterful director Pedro Almodovar forgets to add one thing to his bawdy comedy – the funny.

When an early accident leaves the undercarriage of Peninsula flight 2549 in turmoil, strange things begin to occur on the doomed trip.  Everyone in economy class is drugged into a deep sleep, those left in business cl...

What if you went on vacation, woke up and found yourself trapped behind a wall?  Not a blockage of the mind or baggage from unsettled past relationships, but an actual invisible but tangible wall?  Such is the plight of the lead female character in the lush looking German import "The Wall," a strange yet sweeping tale that feels like Merchant-Ivory meets David Lynch – unique indeed.

Looking for a weekend getaway, an unnamed woman heads out with her friends Hugo and Louise and their trusty dog Lynx to a lodge in the gorgeous Austrian mountains.  But upon awaking the next morning, she sees s...

Potential is usually a good start.  When he first came on the scene, Zach Snyder seemed to have all the makings of a director who would achieve greatness.  Problem is that almost every outing he’s helmed has shown that the eye candy director has a knack for creating killer sequences, but falls short on the full-length feature film scale.  In "Dawn of the Dead" the first ten minutes all but eclipse the rest of the film, "300" features battle sequences that squander the dull scenes of happenings at home, "Watchmen" begins with powerful picture-esk potential the film can’t live up to and even ...

Ready to finally find the world’s best lasagna?  Then follow my 12-year-old son Will Graham Coleman as he reviews to soon to DVD "The Garfield Show: Pizza Dreams" out June 25 from Vivendi Home Entertainment.  The orange and black cat reviewed by a have size rug rat – see below!

 

   

   

   Title: "The Garfield Show – Pizza Dreams"

   Grade: 3

   Cast: Voices of Frank Welker, Wally Wingert, Gregg Berger

   Director: Various

   Rating: Not Rated

   Runtime: 75 minutes

   Release Company: Vivendi Home Entertainment

   Website: www.thegarfieldshow.com

Best Episode: ‘Gre...

Ready to spend some time with Jake, Finn and all their buddies?  Then check out my 12-year-old Will Graham Coleman’s review of the new to Blu-ray "Adventure Time Seasons 1 & 2" out now from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.  Views from the mouths of tots – read on kiddies!

   

   

   Title: "Adventure Time – Season 1"

   Grade: 4

   Cast: Voices of Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Tom Kenny

   Director: Various

   Rating: PG

   Runtime: 286 minutes

   Release Company: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

   Website: www.CartoonNetwork.com

Best Episode: My favorite episode is ...