Here's our list of must-see SXSW 2024 movie and TV premieres, from 'Civil War' to 'Babes'
For many years, the South by Southwest Film Festival — which debuted as an indie cinephile extravaganza in 1994 — was the overshadowed middle sister of an event that thrived on buzz bands and tech innovation. But when the festival reopened as a live event in 2022, after a two-year pandemic hiatus, the script had officially been flipped.
Penske Media Corp., publisher of industry rags Hollywood Reporter and Variety, acquired an ownership stake in the festival in 2021, and ever since, the stars at night have been shining big and bright deep in the heart of SXSW.
Our team was only able to make it to a fraction of the many movies and TV shows that screened during the festival, but here's a selection of the best things we saw.
'Civil War' is not the movie you think it is. (And that's a good thing.)
If you have seen the trailer for the film, you know that the fictionalized America of the movie is in the middle of a bloody civil war. We learn in an early exposition scene that an untrustworthy president of the United States (Nick Offerman) has stayed in office for a third term and has murdered American citizens. Beyond the broad strokes of fascism, we don’t learn much else about the nature of the conflict. What more is there to know for anyone who is anti-fascism? The trailer might lead you to believe the film from the “28 Days Later” screenwriter would be an unnecessarily provocative movie that heightens anxiety and polarization in our fractured country. But that’s not what happens. The unexplained violence, the utter destruction, the loss of empathy and the fear don’t enrage or titillate, they leave you wondering, “What the f*** are we doing here?”
The movie isn’t intended to be an indictment on the public on either side of the political spectrum (unless you are cool with fascism). There is more empathy than judgment. Mostly it is a mirror or a container. The exposition is light because Garland knows the story is already all encompassing, and he hopes that the film can bring people of various points of view to common ground. ('Civil War' will be in theaters on April 12.) — M.O.
Anne Hathaway celebrates grown-up passion in 'The Idea of You'
Anne Hathaway was crying. Nicholas Galitzine was bashful. We were screaming for more. "The Idea of You," which closed out South by Southwest Film Festival Saturday night, is a sexy, funny, and genuinely good romantic comedy that we can't wait to watch again. Seemingly pulled straight from a One Direction fan-fiction, "The Idea of You" follows the love story of 24-year-old boy band star Hayes Campbell, played by Galitzine, and Solene, a divorced, 40-year-old art gallerist and mom, played by Hathaway.
"For some reason, we talk about coming-of-age stories as being something that happens to you in the earliest part of your life, and I don't know about you, but I feel like I keep blooming," Hathaway told the SXSW audience about why she wanted to take on the role of Solene. — K.B.
More:'I keep blooming.' Anne Hathaway on coming-of-age stories for older women at SXSW
Ryan Gosling honors stunt men in 'The Fall Guy'
"Name a stunt man, bet you can't," "The Fall Guy," which premiered at South by Southwest Tuesday night, seems to plead. The stunt performers behind the movie stars are at the center of "The Fall Guy," starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham and Stephanie Hsu. The movie, which is derived from the 1980s television show "The Fall Guy" starring Lee Majors, is directed by David Leitch, who also directed "John Wick" and "Deadpool 2." We're not going to give anyway plot points, but the movie features Gosling at his disarming best. Here are a few things to look forward to: Gosling and unicorns, Gosling as an alien, Gosling on drugs, and Gosling on a boat, a helicopter and a garbage truck. ("The Fall Guy" is coming to theaters on May 3.) — K.B.
More:Ryan Gosling fell 12 stories in 'The Fall Guy' stunt and lived to tell about it at SXSW
Jean Smart is still the comedy queen in 'Hacks'
The theme of cross-generational, female empowerment is a driving force for the HBO Max series "Hacks." The series — starring Jean Smart as comedy icon Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as Ava, a self-involved young comedy writer — is a Hollywood anomaly, a rare show that centers an older woman. After an icy parting at the end of season two, Ava and Deborah come together in an awkward reunion. Hilarity ensues. When Smart, 72, entered the theater for the season premiere screening at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday morning, the audience erupted in a sustained cheer that shook Austin's classic playhouse. After the screening, which included fabulous performances from both actresses, Smart received a standing ovation when she took the stage. Youth-obsessed Hollywood might be slow to get the message, but there is a real hunger for stories about a fuller female experience. ("Hacks" premieres on May 2.) — D.S.S.
More:At SXSW, Jean Smart has advice for young comedians: 'Don't take the easy road'
Full belly laughs and deep cries at 'Babes'
It only took two days of South by Southwest to find a movie that made me laugh full belly laughs in between deep cries about womanhood. Come on! I’m just trying to enjoy a festival here, not have an emotional moment in a dark theater. But seriously, for real, you must get your eye in front of “Babes” when the movie comes out in May. Starring Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, the movie follows two friends at different points in their lives — Buteau’s character has a husband and two young children when Glazer’s finds out she’s pregnant after a one night stand. The movie was truly heartfelt and extremely funny. Highly, highly recommend seeing it with your best friend. ("Babes" is coming to theaters on May 17.) — K.B.
'Road House' has muscles, gators and Jake Gyllenhaal. We're in!
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a reimagining of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film "Road House," and while he’s no Swayze, Gyllenhaal does do the iconic movie justice. The new “Road House” is funny, gives the main character, Elwood Dalton, a back story, and is based in the Florida Keys. We loved Jessica Williams as Frankie, the bar owner who recruits Dalton to her establishment to help shape up the place, which is riddled with rowdy patrons. The movie has muscles, great music, beaches, an alligator, fist fights, laughs and rapper Post Malone. It manages to honor the original while creating a space for itself. (The movie lands on Prime March 21.) — K.B.
'Magic City' tells the story of Atlanta's legendary strip club
Magic City isn't just any strip club, it's the strip club in Atlanta, frequented by rap royalty and entertainment titans. Here's what show creator Cole Brown had to say about the docu-series after it premiered at SXSW on Monday: “I’ve told this story a couple of times, but never to an audience. I was sitting in Jermaine Dupri’s studio two years ago. And he was telling me these stories of him back in the day going to Magic City. And he had this one story of him and Janet Jackson. I think he took Quincy Jones there. And he saw the leaders of BMF (Black Mafia Family) and there was a state senator there. And I was thinking myself, like — where in the world is this possible? Where you have preachers and senators and drug dealers and celebrities (all in one place). And that was the moment when it was like, You know what, there’s something to tell here.”("Magic City" is scheduled for release later this year.) — M.M.
'Monkey Man' filmmaker Dev Patel, joyful and exhausted, gets standing ovation
I can’t remember a filmmaker showing the kind of exhaustion, emotion and gratitude that Dev Patel evinced following the world premiere of his directorial debut, “Monkey Man,” at the Paramount Theatre. Patel’s hero in “Monkey Man,” simply named “Kid,” suffers through savage beatings in India’s underground fight world in order to make money to aid his plan for long-festering vengeance.
The Kid’s suffering serves as a thin allegory for 32-year-old Patel’s undertaking of getting his hero’s journey to the screen. Patel’s shoot in India was disrupted by COVID lockdowns and then moved to the islands of Indonesia, where, left with limited resources, Patel hired random members of the crew as actors, used footage from his mobile phone for part of a frenetic action sequence, suffered a debilitating injury that almost ended production, and created rigged camera set ups that sound like something from someone’s high school backyard production.
The film would not have made it to the big screen, though, had there not been a final push from Jordan Peele, whose production company pushed the film over the finish line and ensured theatrical release. The producer was on hand, beaming with awed pride, to introduce Patel and the film at SXSW. “No one has put their soul, energy, mind and body into a film than this man. And he has done it for us to enjoy this film,” Peele said.
When Patel staggered to the stage after the credits, like Rocky mid-ring at the end of “Rocky,” you could see the weariness in his bones. The crowd rose for a standing ovation, something of a rarity at SXSW screenings. The response lifted and spun the emotional director around, literally, as he hid his face a few times, his widening smile prepared to swallow the tears that seemed imminent. It is rare to witness such a personal and moving response from a filmmaker. It was an impression few in the raucous crowd will likely shake anytime soon. ("Monkey Man" is coming to theaters on April 5.) — M.O.
More:Ultimate guide to free 2024 SXSW week events, concerts, parties if you don't have a badge
'A Nice Indian Boy' is a queer rom-com with Bollywood sparkle
Poor Naveen (Karan Soni). As a young doctor, he already fulfilled his immigrant family's dream and he even mustered the courage to come out to his family. His mom subscribed to queer cable channels and has been watching shows like "D.I.L.F." — which means exactly what you think it means — to learn more about him. Still, he never feels comfortable in his own skin. When he meets a charming photographer (Jonathan Groff) with a connection to his culture that runs deeper than the breathing in a heated yoga class, could it be a match made in Nirvana? We laughed. We cried. We shimmied in our seats to the Bollywood grooves. (No release date has been set for 'A Nice Indian Boy.') — D.S.S.
'3 Body Problem' does existential terror right
Mysterious time travel? Sign me up. “3 Body Problem” will be your latest Netflix obsession when it releases March 21. The show follows scientists in both 1960s China and present-day England as they deal with, well, what are they dealing with? In the 2024 timeline, things are going awry with science itself. Back in the 60s, a woman deals with loss and imprisonment and that’s all I’ll say! The show stars Marvel’s Benedict Wong and brief Austinite Eiza González. — K.B.
'Freaknik' celebrates 'The Wildest Party Never Told
21 Savage— executive producer and Atlanta resident — is fascinated by the 1990s and his city that once hosted Freaknik. “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” tells a story of the annual Spring Break festival that Black college students frequented and the freedom that came with it. Executive producer Jermaine Dupri described the party as a "global Black History moment because of the HBCUS that (were) involved, that created this. It’s so much education in how we got to Freaknik. And then what happened inside Freaknik is educational, period." ('Freaknik' premieres on Hulu on March 21.) — M.M.
'An Army of Women' fought for justice in Austin
Cinematographer Julie Lunde Lillesæter's film "An Army of Women" follows the stories of 15 women who brought two lawsuits, starting in 2018, against the city of Austin and Travis County over allegations police and officials didn't take their sexual assault complaints seriously. The 84-minute film tells the lawsuits' story through the eyes of the women who became plaintiffs in the cases and the two lawyers — Jennifer Ecklund and Elizabeth Myers.
Through tearful testimonials, the women spoke about the emotional road the lawsuits brought them down, through the pandemic and the reelection campaign of then-Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore. The plaintiffs received settlements on the two cases in 2021 and 2022, after the 15 women for years fought to find their voices. — K.H.
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'Grand Theft Hamlet' takes Shakespeare to the (virtual) streets
The premise: In the midst of pandemic lockdowns, a pair of British actors, out of work and listless, decided to stage a production of "Hamlet" within the world of the ultra-violent, shoot-em-up game "Grand Theft Auto." Shot entirely in the game, we follow actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen — in avatar form — along with Crane's partner, co-director and documentarian Pinny Grylls.
They recruit a cast — at one audition, an alien with an impressive derriere and limited English, is the only potential actor who shows up — scout locations and devise a sprawling production with flying cars, airships that lift the characters into the clouds and ample seedy interludes. Along the way, members of the Danish court dodge cops, are murdered repeatedly, and build a strange little community. The movie, which won the SXSW jury award for best documentary, is both hilarious and poignant. The Shakespeareans court chaos as they wring a shocking amount of heart out of game otherwise known for violent crime. — D.S.S.
