In Review: Austin Film Fest 2023

Well, I didn’t see a whole lot at this year’s Austin Film Fest, but what I did manage to catch was great. See below for a recap.

Plot: A poor kid befriends a rich kid and finds himself invited to spend the summer at a sprawling estate. Things get weird.

Review: If you like your movies decadent and twisted, then you’ll like Saltburn. Directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), it’s one of those efforts that gets off to a fairly standard start but as it goes on it just wildly spirals into something else entirely. It’ll be interesting to see the discourse that it generates, as it wraps up in a manner that will surely divide audiences. Barry Keoghan’s generally odd presence really works here, and there’s also quality turns from Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike. You should give it a go when it hits theaters on November 17.

Plot: The most cantankerous teacher at a fancy school gets stuck watching a group of students over the holiday break. Life lessons are learned.

Review: I don’t know the last time I saw Paul Giamatti in something noteworthy, so it was a really nice treat to see him impress as a bitter, grumpy old man (with a heart of gold somewhere in there, of course) in The Holdovers. Likewise, Da’Vine Joy Randolph also excels in this super solid film from Alexander Payne. Once it’s out for home viewing, I could see myself putting it in my mix of holiday flicks. The film is currently in theaters as of today, November 3.

Plot: A struggling writer annoyed with what the world has come to expect from Black entertainment decides to prove a point by penning what he considers to be a trashy and offensive book. Much to his dismay, it becomes a hit.

Review: I really loved American Fiction – it’s very sharp and funny, and there are so many great characters that I wanted to just exist in its world for as long as possible so that I could continue to hear them talk. What a directorial debut this is from Cord Jefferson. On another note, Jeffrey Wright is truly fantastic here as a man at a crossroads in his personal and professional life. This film will hit theaters on December 15.

Plot: A photographer/writer gets the scoop on the history of a motorcycle riding club turned biker gang.

Review: This is the latest from Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter), and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It doesn’t really have a standard story – think of it more as being presented in a way that’s equal to flipping through a book and capturing the overall progression of something. Jodie Comer shines and is the heart of the film, and there’s also worthwhile performances from Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Michael Shannon. This was originally supposed to come out in December, but it’s been bumped indefinitely. Hopefully you’ll get to see it soon.