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    Movie Review

    Coming out is hard to do in two opposite Thanksgiving movie releases

    Alex Bentley
    Nov 23, 2020 | 9:31 am

    There have been many ways to tell stories about the LGBTQ+ community through the years, but one story that gets told often is that of a gay person who’s at odds with his or her family or is afraid to come out to them. The fact that that remains the case this far into the 21st century is disappointing, but it’s clearly still resonant, as two new films with opposite tones — Uncle Frank and Happiest Season — deal with that story in their own way.

    What’s also interesting is that both films frame the person with the family issue through another character. In Uncle Frank, the life of the title character (Paul Bettany) is filtered through the eyes of his niece, Beth (Sophia Lillis), who discovers the truth about him soon after starting college when she attends a party with Frank and his partner Walid (Peter Macdissi). A trip home following a family tragedy brings up a variety of emotional landmines for Frank, which he tries to navigate with the help of Beth and Walid.

    In Happiest Season, Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart) are a committed couple heading back to Harper’s home for Christmas when Harper reveals she has not yet come out to her family. Harper tries to hide the truth at home by playing the good daughter to her father (Victor Garber) and pretending Abby is just her roommate. Strangely, the film mostly deals with how Harper’s actions affect Abby, as much more time is spent focused on Abby’s feelings than Harper’s.

    Frank's reticence to come out is understandable, as the film is set in the early ‘70s when gay people were not as accepted by society, and Frank is still dealing with childhood trauma stemming from his father (Stephen Root). Harper’s is a familiar story of not wanting to disappoint/alienate her conservative parents, but considering how open she is in her day-to-day life and the general welcoming of her family as a whole, her hiding makes less sense.

    Both films struggle with their storytelling. Uncle Frank, written and directed by Alan Ball, is clearly a drama, but it hides the true depths of its drama for much of the film. And for a film about a family, we barely get to know most of the family members. Happiest Season, written and directed by Clea Duvall (with an assist from co-writer Mary Holland) lets the audience in on the family dynamics much more, but it’s hampered by its holiday movie conventions. It plays as a dramedy for much of its running time, but has several odd detours into broad comedy, which are jarring.

    Thankfully, both films have stellar casts, which keeps each of them watchable even when their stories falter. Uncle Frank has scene-stealers like Judy Greer, Margo Martindale, and Steve Zahn, while Happiest Season throws Mary Steenburgen, Alison Brie, Dan Levy, and Aubrey Plaza into the mix. In both cases, the supporting cast elevates every scene they’re in, distracting from the less successful main plot.

    The reason stories like these keep being told is because many in the queer community still experience prejudice and fear, and because much drama can often be found in such tales. On the other hand, telling the same story over and over again has the unintended effect of holding that community back. The fact that both Uncle Frank and Happiest Season put gay characters at the forefront should be celebrated, but those characters remain stuck in neutral when they should be going forward.

    ---

    Both Uncle Frank, which debuts exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, and Happiest Season, which debuts exclusively on Hulu, will premiere on November 25.

    Kristen Steward and Mackenzie Davis in Happiest Season.

    Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis in Happiest Season
      
    Photo by Jojo Whilden/Hulu)
    Kristen Steward and Mackenzie Davis in Happiest Season.
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    Festival News

    Sabrina Carpenter headlines annual 2025 ACL Music Fest in Austin

    Brianna Caleri
    May 6, 2025 | 5:26 pm
    Sabrina Carpenter
    Photo courtesy of Sabrina Carpenter
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    Austin City Limits Music Festival is back for another year of big names including Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, Doja Cat, Luke Combs, The Strokes, John Summit, Doechii and more. Austinites will take Zilker Park from October 3-5 and October 10-13.

    Ticket sales start with three-day wristbands at noon on May 6 at aclfestival.com.

    Just in terms of buzz alone, Sabrina Carpenter and Doechii are two big pulls that perhaps could have been expected, although there are never any guarantees. The pristine pop and artistic rap performers, respectively, are each on a meteoric rise. Their sets could echo Chappell Roan's last year, which stole headlines for sheer excitement and crowd size.

    Hozier, Doja Cat, Luke Combs, and The Strokes are all returning artists. That means nearly half of this year's headliners are making their ACL Fest debut right at the top. One of those newcomers is John Summit, an who was speculated to show up in 2024 with Dom Dolla. Fans also expected to see Sabrina Carpenter in 2024 (in part thanks to a misleading advertisement on the "payphone" ACL Fest installed to tease its lineup), so thankfully they didn't have to wait long.

    After the actual headliners, the top line of performers include Colombian reggaeton star Feid, who has collaborated with Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Karol G, and more; alternative rock band Cage the Elephant, who are back from a tumultuous patch; R&B star T-Pain, in the middle of a personal renaissance to remind people he can sing without autotune; Australian electropop duo Empire of the Sun, with alien operatic stage sensibilities; nostalgic solo artist Djo, the nearly incognito solo project of actor Joe Keery from Stranger Things; and iconic post-hardcore band Pierce the Veil, who are back in the studio again.

    Locals receive a karmic second chance to see Passion Pit, the defining electropop group that recently dropped out of a 2025 South by Southwest showcase, leaving barely a trace. Japanese Breakfast also promises big crowds; a recent signing appearance at End of An Ear in South Austin created a line around the block for hours. Two more CultureMap favorites (if readers will indulge us) are Southern indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise and British indie, post-punk band Wet Leg; respectively hyper sincere and deadpan, but both fun and high-energy.

    Among Austin artists, two stand out as recent festival favorites: Geto Gala and The Point. Geto Gala is a hip hop duo favoring smooth, nostalgic beats and a laid-back lyrical delivery. The Point, a rock group, spans many styles, but their live sets tend to show off high-energy, world-influenced, and mostly instrumental blues. Dylan Gossett, while not exactly a festival staple, is much higher up on the lineup and is becoming very well-respected as a country-folk songwriter.

    A press release pulls out some additional notable acts from the lineup:

    • Fujii Kaze (W2)
    • ROLE MODEL
    • Gigi Perez
    • CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso (W2)
    • Olivia Dean
    • Yoke Lore
    • flowerovlove
    • Royal & The Serpent
    • Amble
    • Good Neighbours
    • Celeste (W1)

    And some from Texas:

    • Maren Morris (W1)
    • Dylan Gossett
    • Tanner Usrey
    • Asleep at the Wheel (W1)
    • INOHA (W1)
    • Johnny Stimson (W2)
    • SL Houser (W1)
    • Geto Gala (W1)
    • Farmer’s Wife (W2)
    • Alex Amen (W2)
    • Shallowater (W2)
    • Aaron Page (W1)
    • Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective (W2)
    • Disciples of Christ (W1)
    A full lineup can be viewed here:

    Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup 2025ACL's full 2025 lineup.Graphic courtesy of Austin City Limits Music Festival

    Folks who can't make the festival can once again tune in on Hulu, returning as the festival's official streaming partner for performances, interviews, and more. Hulu will stream the first weekend, only.

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