SXSW 2019 Film Festival Review
I am both saddened, and hopeful for the creation of this list. One, because it entails that SXSW 2019 has finally come to an end after an amazing 9 day run, and, two, because it means that I am now getting back on the horse with work, set to apply what great wisdom I received from the many speakers and professionals in the business.
SXSW is an event like no other, where people from from all over the world gather in one place to network, to learn, and to laugh with others through film, music, and technology. And Austin is such an exciting and fresh city, filled with great opportunity; the perfect place to host such a youthful and exciting event.
Among the many wonderful and different experiences I was able to partake in (everything from Hawaiian Flamenco music group, to a brilliant session with author Neil Gaman), today I will be going through some of the festival films. There was a great batch this year, so how about we get to it?
Us
Our world has played host to all kinds of problems: murder, starvation, corruptness, greed, and, above all these things… hate. Many times in our history have we seen great leaders and brilliant minds rise up to face this eternal dilemma. And just as well, we all tend to point our fingers in someone's direction, whether it be the people at Facebook, or Donald Trump’s surreal presidency, or even both. But sometimes we don’t think about our part to play in all of this. Sometimes who we really need to examine in all of the chaos are ourselves, and this film sheds new light on that unique perspective.
From the multi-talent that brought us the breakout horror sensation, Get Out, Jordan Peele is back with a new and mind-bending thriller. Us.
In this story, we follow the Wilson Family as they set off on a summer vacation, the likes of which they’ll never forget. Their fun-filled locale is packed with theme park rides, other happy beach goers, and a boat, with which the father, Gabe (Winston Duke), fancies in all of its malfunctions.
But within the seemingly sunny place, lie dark secrets, a darkness the mother of the family, Adelaide (played by Lupita Nyong’o), knows all too well. She senses a great unease with the place, but is constantly brushed off by the rest of the group, told to enjoy the trip. And after a fun filled day with friends, they arrive at home, ready for the next activity packed event. All is well, until a strange set of visitors show up in their driveway. Upon further investigation, they find out that the intruders are not friendly, and are quickly captured by the red-clad group. All facing each other, the threatening trespassers reveal themselves to be… well, another Wilson Family. These characters, draped in red, with sinister expressions upon their faces, turn out to be a shadow image of the frightened family, and……… that’s where I have to stop. Abrupt, I know, but my fear is to take away any aspect of mystery away from Mr. Peele’s work before he gets a chance to share it with the world.
This was an absolutely brilliant opener for this year’s festival, and I could not be more pleased! Peele crosses the boundaries with what can be done in this thrilling genre, and stirs much more with his storytelling than just thoughts of one death scene. He takes unique and startling looks at America, touching on race (like in Get Out), or passing into new grounds, which I referred to earlier, showing that the problem of “us” is a very real one indeed.
The design is beautiful and intriguing all around (from the costumes to the outstanding cinematography), toying with the audience’s mind with its immersive frights and frames. I could go on and on about this film, but there are other stories that should be brought to your attention. This definitely deserves a second watch, for context. Releasing March 22 (2 days) in theaters everywhere, Us is a modern tale that stokes the embers of fears we didn’t know we had, and gives the name of Peele a continuous, powerful beacon in the genre of psychological thriller.
What We Do in the Shadows
From funnymen, Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) comes the new FX series, What We Do in the Shadows (based on the 2014 mockumentary film of the same name).
We travel from New Zealand to Staten Island in this story, where we follow a group of vampires who have been living together for hundreds of years. Rather stuck in the past (everything ranging from their Victorian attire to their ancient accents), we spectate their humorous and dimwitted views of humans and the world around them. And as they prepare for a special visit from the lord of vampires, with their childish quarreling and clueless way about everything, you can be sure of one crazy outcome.
The idea that this fun, underground world can be explored through a TV show really excites me. If there are blood sucking demons, who’s to say what other supernatural beings may come into the picture. Not at all did the storyline feel forced, or rehashed, or anything of the sort. I think the new characters really resonated with the audience's funny bone, and definitely left them thirsting for more of the fanged creatures.
The Beach Bum
Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers) brings us this fantastical view at the luxurious and drug ridden life of Moondoog, a poet in the late 90s who defied the art in its traditional sense. The story follows the high rider, played by Matthew Maconaughay, as he transitions from a life of riches, joints, and sex, to a nomadic wander along the coast of Florida.
The entire film seemed to be crafted in the manner in which Moondog roams; aimlessly and without a strong purpose. I always try to examine a film, and what interpretations it can hold, and it could be very possible that the absence of character build was exactly what Korine was aiming for; more of a “point-of-view” type depiction, being just a fun and dreamy venture. Painted in bright colors, no doubt, the mythical story of Moondog lingers in a drunken and needy maunder of life’s meaning.
Long Shot
Starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron, this political, romantic comedy follows the two as they vigorously reignite a small childhood crush under the radar. Rogen, who plays an unemployed and profane journalist, Fred Flarsky, and Theron, who’s role is that of Secretary of State, Charlotte Field, campaigning for the presidency in 2020, must keep their romance extremely discreet, so as not to taint the world’s high profile view of her eligibility for office. And among all of these things, corrupt politicians have plans of their own that will hinder Field’s career, as well as her love life.
This movie was very funny and entertaining, with many politically relevant moments given to just laugh at our society through these characters’ exaggerated satire. I also found this film to be a huge homage to the classic rom-com, with tender moments of passion (though untraditional), and a recurring theme of 80s music, that gave a somewhat retro feel to this modern tale. It was a fun movie, and the experience surpassed itself with a performance from Boys II Men that set the house on fire. Other than that, a great comedy overall!
NOS4A2
Based on the mystery novel from Joe Hill, this TV adaption follows a girl who’s greatest fear is getting stuck in her small hometown, cleaning other people’s homes for the rest of her life. She is very talented in art, and wants to go to school for it, but creative ambitions get in the way of her parents’ wishes at attaining a safe job, with a steady income. As she rides her motorbike through the forest to gather her thoughts one day, she stumbles upon a long, and mysterious bridge, which she carefully observes for a moment, before leaving. Casually mentioning the discovery to her family later, to her bewilderment, she is told with certainty that the aforementioned bridge was demolished years ago in the woods due to instability. And as our protagonist starts focusing on gathering the pieces to solve this baffling puzzle, stranger things are in motion elsewhere, in what is only the first of events to occur in an eerie adventure that may draw your curiosity closer.
I did not care too much for this story or its execution. It kind of lost me, with its near flat storyline, depicting some (undisclosed) aspects, ranging from vague, to repetitive, to uninteresting; however, it did start out rather moderately. I fear this will turn into a predictable cheese-fest that I’ve seen many a time before. The pilot, unfortunately, did not grab me to return to this supernatural story (which will be premiering on AMC later this year). Although, I did get a signed copy of the book on my way out. Nice!
Sister Aimee
This “biopic” loosely follows the story of celebrity evangelist, Sister Aimee Semple Mcpherson. The prosperity preacher (played by Anna Margeret Hollyman) decides, in a moment of wonder and haste, to leave the the spotlight of the American public, and go explore the wonders of a distant Mexico. Along the way, a series of fantastical events take place, and the storyline being almost entirely fictional (dubbed as only 5 1/2 percent true by the creators), is sure to lead you on some crazy adventures.
I, for one, really enjoyed this film! It just made me smile. I found the cinematography to be surprisingly beautiful, among the vast desert scapes, and complimentary to the humorously different personas on screen. I’m honored to have actually been part of this film, working hard in the art department over the summer, and have been so glad to see the praise it’s received at SXSW and Sundance of this year. I sincerely congratulate directing duo Marie Schlingmann and Samantha Buck, wonderful producer Bettina Barrow, and to every other crew member who put in the long hours to make this project possible. I can promise you a jolly time during this new and fanciful take on the gospel of Sister Aimee.
The Weekend
This romantic comedy follows a stand up comic who’s love life is barely existent due to her edgy sarcasm, or lack of effort, or both. But after a weekend invite to her mother’s country estate, she, her friendly ex, and his girlfriend decide to go on a trip that will bring out the truth, whether that incites blushes, tears, or awkward silence.
I thought this film was pleasant. It started out rather moderately, but then kind of lost its original momentum as time grew on. Our protagonist is lovable and sharp, but her love life then becomes a little more confusing. She switches between a handsome guy she just met, and an ex with fun history, inevitably deciding over each to remain single, or not? We are left with a calm, but vague ending that could use some overall clarity.
I Am Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor was the king of comedy in his day, and, even now, continues to inspire comics all over the world with his unique and keen style of comedy. He proved that a black man could make his mark in entertainment, especially during the racially charged climate of the early 60s.
We watch as Pryor rose to fame with his shameless humor, but we also view his life from the perspective of his wife and friends. He was depressed most of his life, with a tragic relationship to his upbringing in Peoria, Illinois, and had a severe addiction to cocainne. This documentary, although well executed and informative, left me very very sad to see how someone so funny could also be so miserable (like the amazing Robin Williams, or John Belushi). It was surreal watching Pryor’s wife, Jennifer Lee, afterwards just take in the film, and it stuck with me to think how much more she must’ve been hurting through his life. This film takes more of a look at the life of Richard Pryor than his comedy, and leaves us with both a sympathy and a smile for his life.
Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall
We get an intimate look at one of the most outstanding photographers in the history of American music. Jim Marshall. His personality was that of rough, gun loving man, but he was also an extremely sensitive individual who could catch the energy, or truth, of a moment with a single frame. He was friends with all of the bands and artists he photographed, including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Johnny Cash, which, with his timing, gave his photos an authenticity that could not be compared to anything staged. But of course, as we’ve seen many times before, the spotlight can bring with it stress, which led to a life of gloom and addiction in Jim’s case. We see how the hardships in his early life shaped everything from his work, to his ability to love others, and what his amazing story means to the world of music.
This is a great, personal film, reversing the camera on a man who was never seen, but certainly heard. They did a brilliant job of gathering every substantial fact and piece for the movie, but also gave the audience a nice reminder that under each rough, or soft, exterior, is just someone who wants to be truly loved, and to be free to share their creativity with the world.
Stuber
At the start of the film, we meet Stu, a failing Uber driver, who, for years, has had a crush on a girl from college that always viewed him as just a friend. And as he gets the chance of a lifetime to comfort his love on a night filled with great “opportunity”, he is wrangled into an action-packed adventure by a macho beast of a cop (Dave Bautista) with a mission, and no clue as to what an Uber even is. During this crazy ride, the polar opposites are opened to the flaws they each carry, bettering each other in an unlikely, and hilarious friendship.
The director, Michael Dowse, stated that he’s always had a love for action comedies, but is disappointed when they focus more on the punchlines, coming up short when it’s time to deliver promised shootouts and fistfights. Stuber simultaneously combines great car chases and fight scenes with an even better comedy, that speaks to the viewers’ in the manner of striving to better ourselves and the world around us, while also making time for those who really care about us in life. Although I saw an unfinished version of the film, I’m still very excited to see how audiences will meet this adrenaline-rushing and heartfelt story that gives us a grin and a giggle.
Running With Beto
With over 700 hours of footage captured from Beto O’ Rourke's breakout campaign for Texas Senate in 2018, this heartfelt and riveting film documents the legendary rise of O’ Rourke, and how it affected the country in more ways than one. We get an inside glimpse at Beto’s uniquely contemporary, but personal campaign, as he set out to capture the hearts, and the votes, of each and every county in Texas.
I think a respect, no matter what views are held by one, could only be formed for a man with his set of morals, goals, and for his approach to the entire race.
I give my sincerest congratulations and praise to the filmmakers for their remarkable editing skills, for sake that I can’t even fathom having to go through hundreds of hours worth of video. Anyway, I feel this film leaves us with an inside knowledge, and a hope for what more Beto, and a whole party inspired his fresh approach, is destined to do in the politically unstable and turbulent America we live in.
Adopt A Highway
This drama follows Russell Millings (Ethan Hawke), a middle-aged man who has spent 20 years in prison, for a small offense committed in his teens, but is now getting back into the flow of regular life, discovering strange new amenities such as the internet, different food, and the like. One day during work though, he finds an abandoned baby, with name Elle, for which he decides to foster in his little apartment with no childcare experience. Russell learns of the great joys, and heartaches, of parenting, while also discovering that taking in a lost baby is considered kidnapping!
Ethan Hawke’s character is innocent, and soft spoken, and (I like to think of it as though) he never matured as he should have, due to his arrest as a teenager. It’s a very sad, sometimes humorous, tale that, although resonates somewhat with the audience, doesn’t stay long enough to deliver anything substantial. We follow the characters more with the camera instead of conveying a certain theme to take away. We want our protagonist to succeed ever so much, but he never gives us that satisfaction, and is ultimately running from the fear of jail.
Villains
We’ve seen plenty of bank, convenience store, or pet shop robberies in film. Their type of entrance is vitally important (unsuspecting, or powerful), followed by what they say, how they the liberate the dough, and then there’s the famed exit, or car chase, which we all love. The crooks can be downright crazy, or even regular folks just helping their family by whatever means necessary. This is how Villains begins, with an amateur-ish “Bonnie and Clyde type” duo (played by Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe), sticking up a gas station, with the hopes of starting a new life elsewhere. But after ironically forgetting to fill up on gas, they become stuck in the middle of nowhere, looking for an establishment to loot a car, fuel, or food from. But where it gets interesting, is when a house they break into turns out to be the of home a picture perfect, family of …psychos! The two lovers are captured and tortured, forced to play the mind games of the deranged southern home owners. Now captives, they decide to use their love, quick wits, and some coke to brainstorm a plan for escape.
Skarsgård and Monroe really have a great, and humorous dynamic that genuinely shows on screen. The characters are aided by great set design, color grading and coordination to convey an “all is well” feel among the obvious threat of random torture, or worse. The dark comedy (which will be a recurrent genre in this list) is a very strange thing, conducting the viewer to slip a giggle at some of the most horrible, twisted things.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this film, the cringes, laughs, and cries it omitted from the audience (I guess I mean me), and I loved its sense of visual beauty and humor in contrast to the dreadful ongoing events.
Snatchers
A feature film elongation of the original 6-minute short film of the same name, Snatchers follows a girl, who, after losing her virginity the previous night, finds herself 9-months pregnant with, you guessed it…an alien! The girl then recruits a group of friends to help her extract the horrid scorpion-like creatures by any means necessary, which leads to a long, gory, blood-filled night of horror.
I love sci-fi in (most) all of its forms, but this film was a little too gross for me. The mixture of bloody carnage, excessive sex, weird pregnancy, and slimy alien whatnot, led me home after a day of (literal) starvation, to refuse my wonderful food at the thought, or sight, of even a roach (if that makes sense?). That said, I loved the humor, which ranged from awkward to ironic, and the camera work was certainly done to give one a fun experience that needs little, to no logic. Not my cup of tea, to put it plainly, but I always try look at the positive aspects of a piece.
The Art of Self-Defense
Jessie Eisenberg takes on the role of Casey, a timid accountant who doesn’t have the respect of anyone in his life but his little dog (a dachshund). And one night after being mugged, and beat to near death, he finally decides that his days of being bullied are over. He signs up for a martial arts class that he hopes will help bulk up his self esteem, as well as give him the ability to defend himself. The class is led by a pompous black belt who teaches his students with vigor and vim, guiding them with a annoying amount of diligence. We soon find out though that his brazen technique is that of ruthless aggression, which Casey is not accustomed to. And as he improves greatly in the eyes of his sensei, darker secrets slowly unearth, and [Casey] must strive to lose only his fears through this noble art, not his conscience.
This comedy is dimly lit indeed, and delivers its humor in an unsuspecting manner that differs greatly from your average Hollywood farce. Eisenberg’s character is very formal and eloquent, and watching his personality change throughout incites sensations of laughter, and a little sadness. The colors of the film are faded, or neutral, dulling any given scenario, and helping to hone in on the irony of a moment. I loved this movie, and encourage any fan of Eisenberg, or even just dry comedy, to watch it, and get back to me with what you think.
Stuffed
Stuffed takes a look into the largely unspoken, and beautiful, profession of taxidermy. And to meet some of the finest the business, we travel around the world, to different shops and studios, to uncover just what happens to an animal from start to finish.
It’s so interesting to see how these artists gravitate toward one kind of animal, or to hear how they came into this unique pursuit. Some people think of taxidermy as killing an animal just to work with, viewing it as cruel, or disgusting, or what have you. But the way I see it, a second life (of sorts) is given to the creature, which people everywhere then get to enjoy and marvel at the beauty of nature up close, and safely.
This was among the better documentaries I saw at SX, and it left me with a fresh glimpse into this creative field. Watching people do what they love for a living, especially with great skill, always inspires me in my work, and I hope it does the same for you as you watch it.
I’m Just F*****g With You
This film is part of Hulu’s 12-episode horror anthology series, Into the Dark. It is supposed to be a Black Mirror type show in which each, feature length, episodes depict strange and spooky stories set in modern day times.
The story follows a quiet man who is supposed to meet up with his cousin at a cheap motel. As he is waiting, the annoyingly inquisitive motel owner, keeps poking in his business, showering him with jokes and pranks that just aren’t funny to anyone. But into the night, we discover that there’s a little more than meets the eye when it comes to these anomalous characters, in a climactic experience that’s sure to rock you.
Unfortunately, I have to say this was the worst film, by far, that I saw this year. Nothing about it was appealing, and in fact, it was just disturbing. This film continued to throw out jokes during a scene where someone would be strangled (or atrocities of the like), and my expression was just that of horror and disgust. This work scrubbed out any chances of redemption during its runtime, and I have given this series a chance before over the holidays, with Pooka, but that turned out to be something I didn’t even finish (which I try not to do). Not to go on a full rant, but I’ll just finish in saying that the this movie added absolutely nothing to my night, and, rather a depressing and fruitless venture, managed to escort me out of the theater with an ambience of darkness, which I never enjoy.
Little Monsters
This film starts as normal as can be; Dave, a failed, and angry musician, breaks up with his girlfriend, and is staying with his sister until he can get back up on his own two feet. And as an active member of the household, he reluctantly begins helping by taking his nephew to preschool everyday. Upon their arrival on day one, Dave spots Miss Audrey Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o), the wonderful, beautiful, and cheery children’s teacher. Dave volunteers to go on a field trip to the petting zoo one day with them (for obvious reasons), and spends his time trying to get a date (or something close to it) with the occupied teacher.
Meanwhile, in a nearby army base, a zombie outbreak (yes, that’s right) has taken over the site, due to chaotic testing, and is spreading quickly to the surrounding towns and amusements. The undead reach the zoo in almost no time, and start biting away at any and every parent, kid, and sheep.
Soon realizing what is going on, Miss Caroline, Dave, and the kids, by quick wits, safely manage to get to the gift shop through a sea of now zombie infested park-goers. Stuck in the small enclosure, they must wait for help with no food, no water, and a feisty group of kids who want to play mini golf.
I absolutely loved this movie, and how brilliantly, and colorfully, alternating between adorable, scary, and funny! This film somewhat perfectly follows the guidelines of what was said earlier by Stuber director, Michale Dowse, in that it combines great comedy and irony with excellence of zombie suspense and terror. The zombies actually carry much of the humor throughout, and are a great addition when treated as part of a scene instead of just being mindless side things (and this is coming from someone who is interested, but too grossed out for The Walking Dead). I strongly recommend this movie, which is being distributed by the magnificent A24, and also wish that you contact me with your impressions.
Pet Sematary
For years upon years, Stephen King has been regarded as the master of the horror genre. Many of his books have been adapted to fit the big screen, with masterpieces such as The Shining, The Green Mile, and It, adding even more momentum to his living legacy. And with the latest cinematic adaptation/remake now in place, we will watch how audiences around the world respond to the terror that is Pet Sematary.
Though most are familiar with this creepy tale, we start off the story with an introduction to the Creed family, who have recently decided to relocate from the city of Boston, to a nice home in the isolated woods of Maine (a classic setup). Days into their living there, Louis (the father, played by Jason Clarke) finds the beloved family cat, Churchill, dead on the side of the road. Planning to bury the feline in a nearby resting ground dubbed “Pet Sematary”, by the surrounding folk, their new neighbor, Jud Cradnall (John Lithgow), instead advises interring the body beyond the cemetery for some mysterious reason. Louis follows his orders, and to his shock, the next finds Churchill alive and well in their yard, as if nothing had happened at all. But something did happen in those woods, something very dark. And due to the reckless advice of Crandall, a shadow now hangs over the Creed family as a series of horrific events transpire for a night you’re sure to get the shivers from.
As the closing film for SXSW this year, I was very excited to see what bang the festival chose to go out with. And after my watching, there was a tensity and excitement in the air from the film that just played out, but it didn’t quite affix itself to me. I love King’s stories, and actually did appreciate many of the chilling factors within the movie itself, but I found many aspects (not to sound to vague. No spoilers) that I felt either were left hanging, or were just not necessary without a follow up. Now if there’s a sequel lined up, then that could very well change things. But as for now, it was a fun film packed with many a suspenseful moment, but overall, did not resonate with me, mostly by way of story execution.
Boyz in the Wood
This comedy follows a group of teenage delinquents as they are assigned with completing an outdoor program, a multi-day hike across the Highlands of Scotland, and, once reaching the shoreside, will receive a certificate of accomplishment on the marks of teamwork, foraging skills, and bravery. Our foolish and funny team of protagonists (Ian, Duncan, Dean, and DJ Beatroot) start to take the trek a little more seriously once they realize they’ll have no wifi for the rest of their journey. In a farcical quest to get back home to normal life, they’ll encounter a masked mad man with a gun, discover a new high through the influence of fermented rabbit scat, and will each learn about their weaknesses, growing closer in a collaborative and impromptu test of endurance.
This is a crazy, but very entertaining adventure, that showcases some beautiful Scottish landscapes, and plays with the humorous themes of immaturity and amateur survival. All in all, a really lively, well executed, and enjoyable experience, that finishes this list with a nice, and joyous kick.
At festivals like these, and with as many films as you can end up seeing (about 20 total in my case), you are bound to get a few bad apples, or encounter works that just don’t connect to you; everyone is different in that way. I was very fortunate, though, to have experienced the better side of that, watching a really splendid array of films this year. Although I didn’t dive into these movies as much as I might’ve liked, I think this collection of summarized perspectives will serve well to any and all looking for a trustworthy eye on this art form. Needless to say that all of our world views won’t line up exactly, but (some) just close enough to where we can exchange these opinions, learning together in the exciting process for the better.
I hope I will never tire of the wonder that takes place during the unexplainable, and awesome event of this visual, and audile art. Cinema has captivated me all my life, and I’m sure not going to leave its enchanting arms now. Thanks to everybody for reading, I’ll be more current with lists and reviews like this (so stay tuned), and enjoy your day! Cheers!
