But enough about my battles with internet access ... SXSW has been a great experience so far. At current count, I've seen six movies since the festival began.
I Love You, Man — Incredibly funny movie that I whole-heartedly recommend checking out when it is released in theaters later on this month. Paul Rudd leads an amazing cast of comedians. The movie is packed with funny people such as Peter Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Jane Curtin, J.K. Simmons and Andy Samberg. Keep an eye out for some really great cameos as well. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are excellent in the movie — I really can't recommend it enough. After the movie, John Hamburg, the director, came out to do a Q&A with some of the cast including Rudd, Segel, Jones, Pressly and Favreau.
The ExTerminators — An Austin-shot film starring Heather Graham, Jennifer Coolidge and Amber Heard was slightly less enjoyable. A good premise was ruined by a horrible script and over-the-top acting. I really wish I hadn't wasted my time on this film and won't waste any more time writing about it.
Zift — The last film I caught opening night, Zift is a Bulgarian crime noir about an ex-convict re-caught up in the heist that put him in jail. Shot in color and transfered to black and white, the film is a real visual treat. Great cinematography, music and acting made this film a really fun movie to end my first day with — even if I had a bit of trouble following the film's twisting plot at one in the morning.
I started off the second day by going to a couple of film panels including one dedicated to the future of film criticism. I walked away feeling that professional critics are a bit self-important and elitist. In today's communication-heavy world where anybody with a blog or an imdb account can review a movie, I don't see the importance of print film critics. Limited by rapidly shrinking space, they more often then not run meaningless drivel about a film that most people have already made up their minds on if they are going to see. If you want to write about film history or theory, you have to make the switch to the internet or write a book.
The second panel I attended was for "I Love You, Man." The cast and crew from the previous night's screening came back out to answer some questions and goof off. Although I enjoyed the chance to meet some of my favorite actors, I don't think I'll be attending anymore panels. While watching bored looking actors giving rehearsed answers to inane questions from the audience, I couldn't shake the feeling of being in a zoo. I'd rather spend my time watching movies next time.
I then watched "Sunshine," a great documentary about a single mother who explores the fact that she herself was the product of a out-of-marriage and was put up for adoption because of societal standards set upon her biological mother. The filmmaker weaves her own experiences raising her daughter with her search to be reunited with her biological family. A really touching film, "Sunshine" is highly recommended.
My next documentary was a little less exciting. "Objectified" is a film about the design of everyday products. From chairs to garden tools to toothbrushes, the film explores the men and women who make it their life mission to constantly improve the functionality and ascetic appeal of items most of us take for granted everyday. While the premise is certainly and interesting one, I couldn't really get too interested in the interviews. It didn't help that I was starting to crash from a lack of sleep and a growing headache. By the end of the movie, I was exhausted and nursing a full-blown migraine.
I put up with my headache long enough to check out "Moon," the directorial debut of Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie. "Moon" is an amazing science-fiction film staring Sam Rockwell about a man who is on a three-year contract to mine energy nutrients from the dark side of the moon. Plagued by loneliness and hallucinations, things turn interesting for the astronaut when he experiences an accident that opens his eyes to the true nature of his mission. Saying any more about the film would ruin one of the film's best aspects. Just check it out — I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
By the end of the movie, though, my headache had progressed into full blast attack mode and I had to go back to the hotel. Luckily I managed to make it back to the hotel before vomiting up all over myself. I would like to say that I puked because I had been partying it up with celebrities, but the truth of the matter is that I suffered from dehydration and lack of sleep. A full night's rest and a couple glasses of water later and I'm ready for the rest of the festival.
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