You know how sometimes in the entertainment business, people tell you there’s a person you should be watching and taking note of… the kind of talent that is about to blow up and be a name you hear everyone talking about. I’m telling ya now, the latest to fit that mold is Augustine Frizzell. She’s by no means new to the scene, having directed short films, starred in a variety of shorts and features, and she’s already been tapped by Ryan Reynolds to direct his HOME ALONE remake (as a stoner comedy) with Reynolds producing. And a lot of this is because of her feature film directorial debut called NEVER GOIN’ BACK.
The new movie is a somewhat intimate and often hilarious look at the lives of two young teen girls (played by Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone) who just want to relax on the beach, but can’t seem to catch a break. One of them has a brother who unsuccessfully tries to deal drugs and loses all their rent money, which awkwardly leads to the girls spending two days in juvenile detention, missing work at a job they’re barely holding on to. It’s laugh out loud funny at times, and feels familiar to just about anyone who knows what it’s like to struggle with finances at a young age, especially when you have to rely on questionable friends (and family) in the process. It also features Kyle Mooney of Saturday Night Live and BRIGSBY BEAR fame, and I’m pretty sure when I hosted his Q&A a year ago, he left the theater to meet about this very film. The trailers (which aren’t bad) aren’t doing it justice either, at least in my opinion… it’s really, really good. I had a chance to sit down with Augustine, who I’ve seen through the years at the Dallas International Film Festival, and I’m so happy to see her having the success she’s experienced with this film. It opens this weekend in Dallas, and is already playing in select cities. Make a serious effort to catch NEVER GOIN’ BACK, you’ll be glad you did.
My thanks to the great Grady May for editing this video, and apologies for the loudness of the Spiral Diner in Dallas where we shot it. There’s a reason we’re there, as the location is actually featured in the movie, but restaurants don’t stop work just because I’m doing an interview… so, yeah, it’s a little noisy.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
