SXSW 2015 had an even mix of big premieres well in advance of their release, and some great indie discoveries that will benefit from premiering to the Austin audience. So here are our Top 10 Movies from SXSW 2015 that you need to see this year. I sort of feel like Furious 7 should be on this list on general principal, but I sadly could not go to the surprise midnight screening so I don’t know if I’d agree with William Bibbiani’s mixed-negative review or not. I’m still trying to avoid any spoilers.
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Ten SXSW 2015 Movies You Need to See:
Fred Topel is a staff writer at CraveOnline. Follow him on Twitter at @FredTopel.
Ten SXSW 2015 Movies You Need to See
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10. Made in Japan
A Japanese country singer. There’s something you never see, hence you have to see this documentary about Tomi Fujiayama. The amazing thing is she still speaks broken English, but she sings songs in English perfectly. It must be that she can learn it as music rather than speech. The doc tells the story of this unique singer, her success and dreams, in a heartwarming film.
SXSW Video: Tomi Fujiyama and 'Made in Japan' Director Josh Bishop
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9. GTFO
The new documentary GTFO: Get the F% Out traces sexism and threats against women gamers way further back than the latest scandal. It's been happening a lot longer than the GamerGate reporting of last year. The documentary itself is an engaging visual recap of the cases that are coming to light, and offers some constructive suggestions for how to move forward. Sensitive men are well represented too but it is rightfully the girl gamers' show. It's a must see certainly for any who don't know how bad it's gotten, but also for the choir it's preaching to to learn about positive steps we all can take.
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8. Lamb
Writer/director/star Ross Partridge's Lamb is a provocative, dangerous tale that gets to real emotion because it doesn't play it safe. David Lamb (Partridge) pretends to kidnap 11-year-old Tommie (Oona Laurence), but pretending to kidnap a child is kind of actually kidnapping. It definitely is when they go on a road trip together. It seems the parental adult who isn't actually your parent can be more parental. Since it's Tommie's choice to follow him, he empowers her to learn. By the end, the relationship has intense undertones but still not creepy. Laurence has extraordinary maturity and innocence simultaneously.
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7. Trainwreck
Since it doesn’t open until July 17, they called this a “Work in Progress” screening, but really it looks done. Amy Schumer’s first starring vehicle, first movie even, is a complete success. She plays a fallible, vulnerable character who is endearing and hilarious. Plus, the random jokes spoofing lifestyle magazines and athletes are on point. It follows the rom-com formula, but it seems to be sincerely trying not to. The leading man (Bill Hader) really wants to have mature discussions about their issues, but ultimately fights still happen. I don't blame the movie. It's really hard not to fight.
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6. Brand: A Second Coming
Russell Brand released a statement distancing himself from this biographical documentary. I think he’s making a mistake. He looks great in this film, and any of his history with addiction and scandal is all a matter of public record, record on which he’s gone firsthand. Brand was always a compelling wordsmith, but seeing him transition from dirty jokes to a powerful social message is really inspiring. I support his work trying to change the world, whether he supports the film that illuminated his work to me or not.
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5. Nina Forever
This original horror movie is the perfect blend of F’ed up, poignant metaphor and downright sexy. What if every time you had sex with your girlfriend, your dead ex came back from the dead? Get it? It’s about our emotional baggage, but it also fully explores the frustratingly wrong curse this poor couple has to face. Their love scenes are really hot, and it’s not necrophilia. Nina is reanimated so its more macabre. Abigail Hardingham is a real discovery in her first film, and Fiona O'Shaughnessy contorts her body suggestively as Nina.
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4. Love & Mercy
The biography of Brian Wilson really touched me with its compassionate take on a fragile, sensitive artist. The device of having John Cusack and Paul Dano both play Wilson totally works, and it made me realize how much Cusack and Dano look alike. The real device though is the subjective point of view, making us feel what it’s like inside Wilson’s brilliantly harmonic head. This will get a big release on June 3 so you’ll definitely have a chance to see it.
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3. Spy
The early premiere of the new Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy film will do wonders for its May release. Spy is such a perceptive, clever and hilarious spoof of James Bond that the SXSW reaction will let everyone know it’s even better than The Heat and Bridesmaids. Seeing Feig do kick-ass action with jokes that don’t ruin any of the badass moments, but enhance them, makes me feel like Ghostbusters is in good hands.
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2. KRISHA
The Jury Award winner for Narrative Feature is a well deserving film. KRISHA is about a family reunion gone wrong, but it reveals Krisha (Krisha Fairchild)’s issues gradually via uncomfortable moments that never spoonfeed the audience. I can’t believe this was writer/director Trey Edward Shults’ aunt and mother (Robyn Fairchild). They are powerful actors. There’s one point where the soundtrack plays aggressively cacophonous music that I don’t think was necessary. The filmmaking was evocative enough to convey discomfort without physically irritating our eardrums. But once it drops that sound effect, Krisha is a powerful film with great camera, performance and writing.
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1. Mania Days
My big surprise of SXSW remains my number one film. Mania Days is a profound film about mental health, something we have difficulty discussing in society. Portraying it artistically is both beneficial and just a worthwhile experience to go through as a viewer. Katie Holmes should get a lot of recognition for her harrowing performance, and costar Luke Kirby matches her scene for scene. It is a breakthrough discovery for writer/director Paul Dalio and I will be very excited to see what he does next.
