A round-up of news and notes relating to the local film scene:
- Ray McKinnon
That Evening Sun starts week-long run: Most Memphians would probably recognize Ray McKinnon for his broad performance as Michael Oher’s high-school football coach in the Memphis-set blockbuster The Blind Side, but the actor and filmmaker, who won an Oscar in 2002 for his short film The Accountant, gave a more highly regarded performance in a lesser-known 2009 film. McKinnon plays Lonzo Choat — a troubled working-class man who has moved his family into a large farm house owned by aging Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook), but rented out by Meecham’s son against the father’s will — in the Tennessee-set indie That Evening Sun.
That Evening Sun was an opening night film at last fall’s Indie Memphis Film Festival and went on to win the festival’s award for best narrative film, as well as similar awards at several other festivals. Later, That Evening Sun was named the year’s best Southern-themed film by the Southeastern Film Critics Association. (Full disclosure: I had That Evening Sun second on my ballot for that award, after Goodbye Solo.) Starting today, That Evening Sun returns to town for a full theatrical run at Malco’s Ridgeway Four, and McKinnon — also a producer on the film — will be on hand for tonight’s 7:10 p.m. screening, conducting a Q&A after the screening. The event with McKinnon is being hosted by Indie Memphis. You can read more about That Evening Sun from our Indie Memphis fest coverage here and here.
