“The Art of Self-Defense”
Filmmaker Riley Stearns made his name rather fast in 2014 with his directorial debut “Faults” starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead; a striking movie about a man who debunks mind control techniques as a profession and who is then hired by a couple whose daughter has recently joined a cult to de-brainwash her. His latest, “The Art of Self-Defense” stars Jesse Eisenberg and is set in the world of karate. Eisenberg plays a man who is attacked on the street and enlists in a local dojo, led by a charismatic Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), in an effort to learn how to defend himself. Sounds like it could be twisted and funny. Imogen Poots co-stars.
“Good Boys”
For years, Gene Stupnitsky and his writing partner Lee Eisenberg, were known as the guys who wrote several classic episodes of “The Office” and “Superbad.” They wrote Harold Ramis’ “Year One” and were all set to write Dan Aykroyd’s version of “Ghostbusters 3,” which was ultimately passed up in favor of Paul Feig’s 2016 version. Still, the duo has done tons since, writing “Bad Teacher” and its spin-off series, co-created HBO’s “Hello Ladies,” produced “Sausage Party,” plus executive-produced “SMILF.” The duo sort of goes it alone for “Good Boys” though not quite. Co-written by the pair, Stupnitsky takes sole directing credit for “Good Boys” which takes on sixth grade for Universal Pictures’ R-rated comedy about three friends on an epic one-day odyssey of bad decisions. The movie stars Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, Midori Francis, Josh Caras and maybe it’s “Eighth Grade” meets “Superbad?” Surely audiences would flip for that.
https://twitter.com/ThePlaylist/status/1104064612276813824
“Pink Wall”
A relationship drama with Tatiana Maslany and Jay Duplass? Yes please, and one that sound vignette-y. Six scenes. Six years. Six moments that shaped the relationship between Jenna and Leon. “Pink Wall” examines what defines us, the pressures of gender expectations, and our perpetual struggle between life and ambition. Tom Cullen, an actor known for Andrew Haigh’s breakthrough gay relationship drama “Weekend,” also known for appearances on “Downton Abbey” makes his directorial debut.
“It Started As A Joke”
Like David Cross, Patton Oswalt, and Marc Maron, indie comic Eugene Mirman carved out quite the name in comedy over the past decade with the decade-long run of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival and opening spots for like-minded fans and bands such as The Shins, Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, and more. Directed by Julie Smith Clem and Ken Druckerman, “It Started As A Joke” is a feature documentary that chronicles– including the final farewell show of that fest. The film celebrates Eugene’s unique brand of humor and his role in the alternative comedy movement, offers a bittersweet goodbye to an era, and reminds us of the healing properties of comedy – even in the most challenging of life’s circumstances. The film includes interviews with Michael Showalter, Kristen Schaal, Wyatt Cenac, Kumail Nanjiani, Janeane Garofalo, H. Jon Benjamin, Ira Glass, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jon Glaser and many more.
“Sword of Trust”
Indie filmmaker Lynn Shelton (“Laggies,” ”Touchy Feely,” “Outside In”) getting back to her indie improvisational roots with comedian/podcaster Marc Maron? Sold. The movie centers on a curmudgeonly pawnshop owner and his man-child sidekick who team up with an out of town couple to cash in on a family heirloom: a sword believed by alt history conspiracy nuts to be proof that the South won the Civil War. The movie features a great deep bench of comedy players from thousands of movies you’ve seen like Jon Bass, Michaela Watkins, Jillian Bell, Toby Huss, Dan Bakkedahl, Tim Paul and Whitmer Thomas. SXSW has always been a good home to Shelton, her films tend to go over really well and don’t be surprised if “Sword Of Trust” is a huge crowdpleaser.
https://twitter.com/ThePlaylist/status/1001515247667064832
“Red 11”
Did you know that on top of “Alita: Battle Angel,” prolific director Robert Rodriguez will have two films released in 2019? On top of the James Cameron-produced mega sci-fi film, Rodriguez—who has gone high and low throughout his entire career— has directed the much more lo-fi “Red 11,” made for all of $7,000, which is based on story notes written 25 years ago that was, itself, based on his experiences in a Medical Research Facility (if you’ve read some of Rodriguez’s books you’ll know he gave blood for cash and underwent some medical experiments to help pay for some of his films and the debts he incurred off making them on credit cards). The film is very autobiographical, to a point, and then takes that story into a horror film direction. It centers on an independent filmmaker who loses his investor’s money only to find out his investors are the Cartel. He checks himself into a medical research facility to pay off his debt, but quickly realizes it won’t be that easy. If not a thrilling experiment at least a very fascinating curio.
https://twitter.com/ThePlaylist/status/1104101769959952384
Honorable Mentions
There are dozens and dozens of films worth checking out. Music docs are always a hallmark of SXSW Film and this year is no different. Some highlights include “Amazing Grace,” the long overdue live concert doc of Aretha Franklin’s Gospel album Amazing Grace at The New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972 directed by the late Sidney Pollack, “Boy Howdy! The Story of CREEM Magazine,” (an influential rock mag from the 1970s that filmmaker Cameron Crowe used to write for, “The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story” “The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash,” and “Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero,” about seminal 90s weirdo alt-rock band Brainiac to name just a few.
There’s still lots of spotlight highlights as well including Netflix’s “The Highwaymen” by director John Lee Hancock starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson, which is essentially the Bonnie and Clyde story told from the cop’s perspective, aka the normcore version without the transgressive ideas of sexuality and all the fun stuff that made the original so transformative. “The Curse of La Llorona” could be a big stand-out horror for producer James Wan, with a cast that includes Grant Rosenmeyer, Hayden Szeto, Ravi Patel, Gabourey Sidibe and Janeane Garofalo, Richard Wong‘s “Come As You Are” could be a great breakout hit; Bob Byington‘s “Frances Ferguson” features Kaley Wheless, Nick Offerman, Keith Poulson, David Krumholtz sounds good; “Olympic Dreams” with Nick Kroll and real-life Olympic Winter Games winner Alexi Pappas could be interesting; “Villains” with Bill Skarsgard, Maika Monroe, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Donovan could be great and we’ve got our eye on “Jezebel” from actress turned writer/director Numa Perrier, who’s made some awesome guest appearances on “SMILF” in season two. Again, the tip of the iceberg, dozens and dozens of possibilities.
Check out the full 2019 SXSW Film Festival schedule for more. SXSW Film runs March 8, today until March 17.
