Here are some early reviews from the SXSW film festival. Highlights including Us, Book Smart and The Peanut Butter Falcon.
These were all sourced from Variety’s impressive SXSW coverage. Time to get those Where You Watch alerts geared up.
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The hype: Shia LaBeouf
“Say what you will about LaBeouf’s on-screen troubles, but that same turmoil that seems so disruptive to his personal life gives a role like this a dimension few actors could achieve.”
Us
The hype: Jordan Peele.
“Like the “sunken place” Peele invented for “Get Out,” this sinister domain offers a visual allegory for the darker aspects of our own socialization — which, if the film were more successful in its final stretch, would force us to confront the monsters within each of us.”
Long Shot
The hype: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron and the director of 50/50.
“Long Shot won over the SXSW audience.”
“Field finds his ramblings endearing, and maybe audiences will too, although there’s an alarming disconnect between whatever unconventional sex appeal Field sees in him and the immature (and prematurely excitable) slob Roger (Seth Rogen) portrays.”
Book Smart
The hype: Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut.
“There’s not a weak link in the ensemble, although none of it would have worked if not for the chemistry between the two leads. Feldstein, who was one of the highlights of “Lady Bird,” looks like she could be Jonah Hill’s younger cousin, and shares his gift for physical comedy.”
“Wilde handily earns the title of “Most Likely to Succeed.””
The Art of Self-Defense
The Art of Self-Defense
The hype: Jesse Eisenberg.
“Once you’ve discovered “The Art of Self-Defense,” you won’t be the same either.”
Running With Beto
The hype: HBO documentary.
“Beto O’Rourke Receives Standing Ovation at SXSW for ‘Running With Beto’”
