Movies I'm Excited About at SXSW
The film portion of SXSW is as much about discovery as any festival out there, including Sundance and Toronto. These are a set of the newer films I'm excited to see and the ones I've sadly missed from other fests. - Keith Simanton, Senior Film Editor, IMDb
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- DirectorChristopher CaldwellZeek EarlStarsSophie ThatcherJay DuplassPedro PascalA teenage girl and her father travel to a remote alien moon, aiming to strike it rich. They've secured a contract to harvest a large deposit of the elusive gems hidden in the depths of the moon's toxic forest. But there are others roving the wilderness and the job quickly devolves into a fight to survive. Forced to contend not only with the forest's other ruthless inhabitants, but with her own father's greed-addled judgment, the girl finds she must carve her own path to escape.To put together something that looks this good you have to be filmmakers that have got it together. Plus Pedro Pascal and Jay Duplass. Intrigued and genuinely excited.
- DirectorMegan GriffithsStarsSophia Mitri SchlossMelanie LynskeyJohn Gallagher Jr.SADIE is the story of a girl who will stop at nothing to preserve her father's place on the home front. Sadie (Sophia Mitri Schloss) is the daughter of a soldier and models herself after his military example. When her mom (Melanie Lynskey) begins dating a new man (John Gallagher, Jr.), Sadie vows to drive him out by whatever means necessary. He is the enemy, and if she's learned anything from the world she inhabits, it's that the enemy deserves no mercy. The film also stars Tony Hale, Danielle Brooks, Tee Dennard and Keith L. Williams.Would love to see Griffiths really break out and I'm a huge fan of Lynskey and Gallagher.
- DirectorEddie AlcazarStarsGarrett WareingCourtney EatonTao OkamotoGarrett, an emotionally-troubled young man, is sent to a clinic, whispering soothing promises of perfection. By planting characteristics directly into his own body, he's relieved of his dark visions, but pays the price for purity of mind.The trailer juuust came out and this film looks challenging, a bit The Cure for Wellness, a bit Ex Machina, a bit Creative Control. Perfect for this festival
- DirectorClayton JacobsonStarsShane JacobsonClayton JacobsonKim GyngellTwo brothers' murder plans go somewhat sideways in this Australian dark comedy.Again, another clever trailer.
- DirectorNosipho DumisaStarsIrshaad AllyMonique RockmanDanny RossEntrapped in his apartment, Randal Hendricks, a recent paraplegic, is given a gift of binoculars by his devoted girlfriend, Pam. But Randal is in financial debt to Emmie, a sadistic loan shark, and when he witnesses a powerful criminal, named Lawyer, commit murder while observing his neighbours through binoculars, he initiates a treacherous blackmail scheme. Involving Warren, his halfwit friend with unabashed lust for Pam, is probably going to cost him, but with few people to turn to, Randal does it anyway and as circumstances become more complicated, Pam is embroiled in the unravelling chain of events. Before long, a detective, named Gail February comes snooping around the neighbourhood, looking for the missing corrupt cop - her partner. As Lawyer begins his own investigation in an attempt to find his blackmailer, Emmie compounds the pressure of his looming deadline, and Detective February's investigation draws her ever closer to Randal, the wheelchair-bound Randal must rely on the physical capabilities of his reluctant girlfriend to see their plan through. With deception and greed around every corner, what follows is a thrilling ride that puts both of their lives in mortal danger.Watch the trailer for this African Rear Window and you'll know why it's here.
- DirectorJulia HartStarsGugu Mbatha-RawLorraine ToussaintSaniyya SidneyAfter years in hiding, a woman is forced to go on the run when her superhuman abilities are discovered. Years after having abandoned her family, the only place she has left to hide is home.I don't know writer/director Julie Hart from a bean salad but I love Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Straitharn so THEY'RE obviously taken with her.
- DirectorKay CannonStarsLeslie MannJohn CenaIke BarinholtzThree parents try to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on prom night.Cannon is super-talented and the snarky brains behind Pitch Perfect.
- DirectorTommy AvalloneStarsDavid AllanBalu ArtTommy AvalloneThis documentary explores various urban legends around Hollywood's most elusive star.This could either be very obsessed-creepy or wonderful and possibly both.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsBryan CranstonKoyu RankinEdward NortonSet in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.It ends the fest and I want to see it so much that I have to include it here.
- DirectorJohn KrasinskiStarsEmily BluntJohn KrasinskiMillicent SimmondsA family struggles for survival in a world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures. They are forced to communicate in sign language to keep the creatures at bay.Very curious to see how Krasinski (married to Blunt) performs here. He keeps expanding how people could and should see him and I'm rooting for him.
- DirectorShana FesteStarsVera FarmigaChristopher PlummerLewis MacDougallLaura and her son Henry are forced to drive her estranged, pot-dealing, carefree father Jack cross country after being kicked out of a nursing home.Not been the biggest fan of Feste's over the years but she has assembled a fearsome team for this film including Vera Farmiga, Christopher Plummer, and Bobby Cannavale.
- DirectorMélanie LaurentStarsBen FosterJeffrey GroverChristopher AmitranoAfter escaping a set up, a dying hitman returns to his hometown of Galveston where he plans his revenge.Ben Foster.