SXSW kicks off this weekend. Before the film showcase’s wrap on March 21, over 100 movies will be screened in a variety of categories, many of them world premieres. Just like any festival of similar magnitude, however, navigating such an extensive program can be overwhelming. But we are here to help. If you are in Austin and only have time for 5 movies, these are good bets:
[small_title title=”EX MACHINA”]
Director: Alex Garland
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander
Ava, a more advanced (and physically present) artificial intelligence system than last year’s Scarlett Johansson-voiced Her, is at the center of this smart and accomplished sci-fi drama, directed by 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland.
[small_title title=”7 CHINESE BROTHERS”]
Director: Bob Byington
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Tunde Adebimpe, Eleanore Pienta, Stephen Root, and Olympia Dukakis
The movie’s promotional material explicitly states the fact that Jason Schwartzman, who plays the movie’s main character Larry, is in every of the movie’s scenes. Which is not a bad thing, because Schwartzman turns in a thoughtful, pleasant performance as a a down-on-his-luck quasi-alcoholic attempting to finely balance his shaky life.
[small_title title=”HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS”]
Director: Michael Showalter
Starring: Sally Field, Max Greenfield
Sally Field’s character Doris deals with retirement-age loneliness be embarking on a romantic relationship with her young coworker played by Max Greenfield in Michael Schowalter’s unusual, but compelling, comedy-drama.
[small_title title=”THE GRIEF OF OTHERS”]
Director: Patrick Wang
Starring: Wendy Moniz, Trevor St. John, Rachel Dratch
Patrick Wang’s criminally underseen but exquisite debut In The Family is one of the best independent films in recent years. For his second feature-length movie, Wang once again tackles loss, as The Grief of Others deals with themes of a family grieving after the death of their son, just 57 hours after his birth.
[small_title title=”MANIA DAYS”]
Director: Paul Dalio
Starring: Katie Holmes, Luke Kirby
Katie Holmes plays a bipolar poet named Carla, who falls for a man who shares her mental disorded while getting treatment in a hospital. This is Holmes’ return to the indie circuit, one she is making with a brave and mature performance.