It's a good time in my life. I'm moving, I've got a
spectacular lady friend, and feel more creatively driven
than any other time in my entire life. Hell, I don't
imagine I could be a bit happier...
...unless I was attending SXSW this year. I lost my SXSW
virginity last year, in a haze of nooner Sparks, John Laird,
and over a hundred bands I can barely remember less than 365
days later. Sadly, due to budgetary concerns, familial
obligations and just not enough time in my life, I'm bailing
this year. John Laird has already assaulted me with threats
and tears and bribery, but I just can't do it.
To, in some strangely masochistic way, salve the oozing
wounds of my pain, I'm going to rifle through (quick peek)
the list of SXSW's Film offerings this year and just throw
down four films I think any of you lucky bastards who are
already soaking up Austin's constant good weather should
check out. I'm skirting away from the documentaries 'cause
I'm lazy, but here's a bunch of narrative films I think you,
you lucky bastards, should check out.
Pour out a Lonestar for me. I'll shed some tears for you.
Catch These 4 At SXSW 2009:
ADVENTURELAND
Director:
Greg Mottola
Cast:
Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader,
Kristen Wiig, Martin Starr
Summary:
A college grad takes a job at the local shithole amusement
park. Hilarity ensues.
Thoughts:
I've stalked this film on the internet. I've watched every
clip released, seen the trailer a hundred times and I can't
be more excited from the second film from Superbad
helmer Greg Mottola. It's got a similar cast of Judd
Apatow's players and forcing them in to a late-80s amusement
park setting just guarantees a truckload of laughter. I'm
also a sucker for pseudo-generic coming-of-age stories and
this seems to be firing a 21-gun salute in all those
regards. Pull my ticket, I'm in.
MOON
Director:
Duncan Jones
Cast:
Sam Rockwell
Summary:
Weird shit starts happening to an astronaut trapped,
solo-style, on the Moon for three years.
Thoughts:
If this was just a film starring Sam Rockwell in absolutely
tweaked mode, set on the Moon, I'd be camping out on the
front steps of wherever the hell it's playing to get in.
But, on top of all those glowing attributes, this is the
debut film by none other than Duncan Jones, the son of David
Bowie. I don't know if you've ever dug even slightly in to
Bowie's filmic side, but the man has starred in some of the
weirdest mainstream shit around. From what I've heard his
son Duncan doesn't falter in bringing the weird this go
around either.
OBSERVE AND REPORT
Director:
Jody Hill
Cast:
Anna Faris, Seth Rogen, Michael Pena, Ray Liotta
Summary:
A local mall security guard goes head-to-head with some
local police officers.
Thoughts:
I haven't seen Fist Foot Way, the much lauded debut
comedy from Jody Hill, but it's pretty much the film that
made Danny McBride and that's saying something. Everything
I've heard about this film is dark, disturbed, and fucked-up
hilarity wrapped together with barbed wire. People are
saying this is the film that'll change our perspective of
Seth Rogen, give his bearded schlub character a darker edge,
and I couldn't be happier about it. I don't think this is
one to bring your children to, but it's certainly going to
knock us all on our collective asses.
Summary:
Two guys decide to bond just a wee bit more...by making a
gay porno.
Thoughts:
This is some local flavor splashed out on the sandy mesas of
old Austin, Texas. Lynn Shelton has been garnering all
sorts of goodness from this near-mumblecore piece about two
friends who make a gay porno. It even got picked up by
Magnolia on the first day in Sundance. Mark Duplass made a
pretty good impression on me with The Puffy Chair, so
I'm hoping Lynn Shelton made good with her every-person
persona.
Noah Sanders is the blog/news editor at Light In The
Attic and a contributor at Sound On The Sound and
the KEXP blog. He also has his own
Criterion-based film site, Criterion Quest.
If you'd like to contact Noah in regards to his
writings here at Side One: Track One then please do
so
here.
- Noah Sanders
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