The Shack

The spiritual journey of a tortured soul

"...Directed by: Stuart Hazeldine. Starring: Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Tim McGraw, Radha Mitchell, Avraham Aviv Alush and..."

March 10, 2017 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Hidden Figures

True story of NASA's black women mathematicians

"...Directed by: Theodore Melfi. Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Mahershala Ali, Kirsten Dunst,..."

Jan. 6, 2017 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Ma

Octavia Spencer subverts expectations and racist tropes in this fun horror

"...Directed by: Tate Taylor. Starring: Octavia Spencer, Diana Silvers, Luke Evans, Missi Pyle, McKaley Miller..."

May 31, 2019 Movie Review by Matthew Monagle

Black or White

Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer play guardians who fight over the custody of their granddaughter.

"...Directed by: Mike Binder. Starring: Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Jillian Estell, André Holland, Anthony Mackie, Mpho Koaho,..."

Jan. 30, 2015 Movie Review by William Goss

Luce

High school drama becomes an indictment of “either/or” culture

"...Directed by: Julius Onah. Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Brian Bradley, Andrea Bang,..."

Aug. 16, 2019 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

The Shape of Water

An unconventional love story from one of the best fabulists

"...Directed by: Guillermo del Toro. Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones,..."

Dec. 8, 2017 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Help

Based on a bestseller, this Southern civil-rights era story about white women and their black maids is saved by the film's deeply moving cast.

"...Directed by: Tate Taylor. Starring: Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Sissy..."

Aug. 12, 2011 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Small Town Crime Is a Nasty Bit of Noir

The Nelms brothers and John Hawkes team up for trouble

"...In the cast were Allison Janney, Melissa McCarthy, and "Octavia Spencer, struggling actress."..."

March 10, 2017 Screens Feature by Sean L. Malin

Fruitvale Station

This hot-button film creates a sad portrait of a young black man unjustly shot down.

"...by: Ryan Coogler. Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Ariana Neal, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray, Ahna..."

July 26, 2013 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Instant Family

Adoption comedy is rocky but charming

"...Directed by: Sean Anders. Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Isabela Moner, Margo Martindale, Eve Harlow..."

Nov. 16, 2018 Movie Review by Matthew Monagle

Bad Santa 2

A tired sequel that's more offensive than transgressive

"...Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly, Jenny Zigrino, Jeff Skowron and Octavia Spencer...."

Nov. 23, 2016 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Get on Up

As James Brown, Chadwick Boseman captures the performer's voice, moves, sweat, and swagger, but this biopic, as a whole, needs a stronger compass.

"...Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Craig Robinson, Lennie James, Jill Scott, Josh Hopkins,..."

Aug. 1, 2014 Movie Review by William Goss

Small Town Crime

John Hawkes hits the bottle and the case as a modern day detective on the trail for redemption

"...by: Eshom Helms and Ian Helms. Starring: John Hawkes, Octavia Spencer, Robert Forster, Anthony Anderson, Clifton Collins Jr. and..."

Jan. 19, 2018 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Spirited

Dickens' A Christmas Carol gets flipped

"...Anders and John Morris. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Octavia Spencer, Aimee Carrero and Jen Tullock...."

Nov. 18, 2022 Movie Review

SXSW Film: Small Town Crime Red Carpet

"...Octavia Spencer attends the premiere of Small Town Crime at..."

March 12, 2017 Photo Gallery

Gifted

A child prodigy gets caught up in a custody battle

"...Marc Webb. Starring: Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, Michael Kendall Kaplan, John M. Jackson..."

April 14, 2017 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

TV Eye

So long, Sarah; hello, Halfway

"...for Internet fraud. The lesser-known but recognizable faces include Octavia Spencer, who most recently appeared on Ugly Betty. Here,..."

March 9, 2007 Screens Column by Belinda Acosta

Austin Film Festival Showcases Linklater, Cumberbatch

First round of films announced mixes world and Texas premieres

"...attendance: Jillian Estell Starring Academy Award-winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, Black and White is the story of a..."

Aug. 20, 2014 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Encounter

A veteran fears that unearthly forces are after his sons

"...Directed by: Michael Pearce. Starring: Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Rory Cochrane, Lucian-River Chauhan and Aditya Geddada...."

Dec. 3, 2021 Movie Review

RTX: Austin Animation Update

New Rooster Teeth show, Castlevania, and more

"...tightly under wraps, but the other involves working with Octavia Spencer on an adaptation of her children's book series,..."

July 17, 2017 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

SXSW Announces Film Lineup

Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, Ben Wheatley's Free Fire, and more

"...his family in danger. Cast: John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, Octavia Spencer, Robert Forster, Clifton Collins, Jr., Michael Vartan, James..."

Jan. 31, 2017 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

Terrence Malick Film to Open SXSW

Ryan Gosling pic about the music industry filmed at ACL, Fun Fun Fun

"...his family in danger. Cast: John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, Octavia Spencer, Robert Forster, Clifton Collins, Jr. Song to Song..."

Jan. 5, 2017 Screens Post by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Divergent Series: Insurgent

The kids are on the run – again

"...Watts, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Jai Courtney, Mekhi Phifer, Octavia Spencer, Zoë Kravitz, Ashley Judd, Maggie Q, Tony Goldwyn..."

March 27, 2015 Movie Review by William Goss

Austin Film Festival Announces (Almost) Full Slate

Opening and closing night films still to come

"...in a bitter legal battle when the paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer) seeks custody...."

Sept. 17, 2014 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

Snowpiercer

This English-language debut from acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho is a riveting sci-fi action film entirely set on a speeding train.

"...Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Ko Ah-sung, Jamie Bell, John Hurt, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner, Alison Pill, Vlad Ivanov and Ed..."

June 27, 2014 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Smashed

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul portray a married couple who are plagued by the disease of alcoholism.

"...by: James Ponsoldt. Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and Mary Kay Place...."

Nov. 9, 2012 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

From the Vaults: Albert and Orlando

Women wear the pants in "Albert Nobbs" and "Orlando"

"...bestowed their awards on The Help's Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer)...."

Jan. 30, 2012 Screens Post by Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin and the Academy

'Tree of Life,' 'Bullhead' score Oscar nominations

"...Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids" Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs" Octavia Spencer in "The Help"..."

Jan. 24, 2012 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

Pulse

Pulse, the American remake of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2001 horror film Kairo, is the McDonald's Unhappy Meal to the original's elegantly obtuse sashimi o' sorrow.

"...Christina Milian, Rick Gonzalez, Jonathan Tucker, Samm Levine and Octavia Spencer. Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2001 horror film, Kairo, is an..."

Aug. 18, 2006 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

SXSW Unleashes Massive Film List

High-concept horror A Quiet Place to open fest

"...Weixler, Jimmy Smits, Jason Biggs, Lea Thompson, Scott Cohen, Octavia Chavez-Richmond, J. Mallory McCree (U.S. Premiere)..."

Jan. 31, 2018 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

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