Austin Or Not?

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Honestly? I'm on the fence about doing South by Southwest this year. Am I going to spend at least $1000 to $1200 (and probably closer to $1500) on basics to fly there and stay in a flophouse so I can see...what, 21 Jump Street and one or two other films that might be worth the hassle and expense? This is my concern, dude. I'm not saying the value isn't there. I'm saying I don't see it yet. This is a process, not a judgment.

Last year Bridesmaids debuted in Austin, and so did Undefeated, Weekend, Natural Selection and The Beaver. For me there was also Buck, although it had premiered at Sundance 2011. What is playing there this year that might be equal to this? Beats me. So I asked a few people for thoughts.

"I think it's a pretty sensational line-up on paper," replied Hitfix's Drew McWeeny. "SXSW was built on the low-fi, the marginal voices. It's only really been the last five or six years where they've made the effort to balance the big and the small, the broadly mainstream and the intensely personal. They don't do the same kind of Hollywood movies that Cannes does, for instance. I would argue SXSW has more idiosyncratic taste in terms of what they call 'Hollywood.' I doubt Cannes would play Observe & Report, but they sure were glad to show Pirates of The Carribean 4.

"I think if you don't embrace each festival for its individual voice, then you probably shouldn't go. Sundance is not Berlin is not SXSW is not Cannes is not Toronto. SXSW is sort of brash and scrappy and has a distinct attitude. It is in every way an Austin festival. I really liked what Matt Dentler did with it, but I would argue that Janet Pierson and her team have taken huge, huge strides in terms of cementing a place in the festival world that I would argue is as vital as any other fest out there.

"Cabin In The Woods makes huge sense for them. It's not just a good horror film, it's also a crazy clever meta-argument for why horror films matter at all and why we need red meat in our movie diet. 21 Jump Street makes sense the same way. The film is aggressively funny and a very sharp rip on the entire notion of updating TV shows for the cheap nostalgia cash-in. For the studio making a reboot of Spider-Man and a Men In Black 3 this summer to release a film that farts in the face of franchise thinking with as much cheek as 21 Jump Street, it's downright punk rock.

"And if you're still undecided, just read the plot synopsis for Frankie Go Boom. And I quote: 'A flick by Bruce about his little brother Frank who's a crybaby fuck who shouldn't do lame-ass embarrassing shit if he dozn't want people 2 see it."

"If you're not in by now, don't book the plane ticket. Someone else can use your seat in the theater."

I responded to McWeeny as follows: "I'm not looking for star-power. And I'm not looking for Sundance or Toronto or Berlin or anything other than a good nourishing film festival. I just don't want to be asking myself on day #3 or #4 'why did I drop $1500 to come here?' I'll tell you right now that movies like Frankie Go Boom are DEFINITELY NOT WORTH MY HARD-EARNED CASH. Fuck it if that's the cream of the crop. I'm just asking where are the three or four films that I'm probably going to feel really bad about missing?"

A fellow journalist said roughly the same thing: "I debated going myself, but the real motive is not to miss anything."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 2, 2012 at 4:00 PM

comment #1

LexG says ...

SBSW, not SXSW.

Please let's make this a thing. Get rid of the X.

Does the "cool kid" crew all sit together at every screening? I'm genuinely curious about the interactions and camraderie among movie bloggers; Like Faraci seems like the meanest, most hostile jerk ever on this... then he hangs out with sunny Yamato and dorky Gilchrist... then they all hang out with Rocchi, who seems like a mean if passive-aggressive dude with anger issues but probably gets all pleasantly queeny when he's on his third highball. And Tapley seems way too normal to pal around with any of them. Do they let Lou go to these things? Does Lou hang out with Devin? Does Leydon wear a cowboy hat? Does Wells make fun of everybody?

It seems like a strange scene.

Posted by LexG at February 2, 2012 5:21 PM

comment #2

Jericho Cane says ...

I've heard from more than one reliable source that CABIN IN THE WOODS is absolutely god-awful. It's been sitting on the shelf for three years, after all. Might produce a vitriolic Anti-Wheedon review, but it's definitely not worth spending $1500-2000 for the "privilege" of seeing it before its release date.

Posted by Jericho Cane at February 2, 2012 6:39 PM

comment #3

Gaydos says ...

I'm reading these comments on "Jump Street" and thinking I've wandered into a Charlie Kaufman movie. Drew's comments would ring more true if this were a parallel universe where "Kindergarden Cop," "Rush Hour," "The Other Guys," "Starsky and Hutch," "I Spy," "Scoobie Doo," "Miss Congeniality," etc ad infinitum had never been made.

And if "Jump" hits there won't be a "fart" in anyone's face but a sequel, sure as shootin'.

As Sony jefe Amy Pascal famously said of that masterful avant gourd deconstruction of monster movies (which actually did fart, in a way) "Godzilla," "When a picture makes $400 million, you make a sequel."

Posted by Gaydos at February 2, 2012 7:58 PM

comment #4

bildeaux says ...

You can go see all the places Tree of life filmed. Watched it finally last night and about 80% of that was filmed around Austin. Beautiful movie.

Plus go see some music for a change of pace. You might run into Bill Murray bar tending at a random bar.

Posted by bildeaux at February 3, 2012 6:45 AM

comment #5

Paul says ...

Jeff, so is it a completionist's compulsion that has you on the fence? That you don't want to miss a story or a sleeper hit that you have to catch up on later? Ehh...I am not a film critic, but if I were, I would feel compelled to skip a few festivals each year. They don't strike me as particularly fun experiences, at least not where it counts most: seeing the film.

I would rather sink my energy into certain major ones and then hit the smaller ones every other year, hopefully making the grind more tolerable. I should probably know this from reading your site for so long, but there must be occasions where your first read of a film is negative more because of the environment/festival grind than the film itself. If you're feeling that way about SxSW, then yeah, don't go. Take note of what gets buzz and hit those films at a later date.

Also, not sure if you still get back to Boston, but this year's Coolidge Corner Foundation honoree is Viggo Mortensen. Should be a great weekend of events. Fair warning: Lord of the Rings will probably be involved.

Posted by Paul at February 3, 2012 8:15 AM

comment #6

Joe Leydon says ...

Lex: I can promise you -- I do not wear a cowboy hat at any film festival.

Posted by Joe Leydon at February 3, 2012 12:27 PM

comment #7

DrewAtHitFix says ...

"Cabin" most assuredly is not godawful.

The three year delay wasn't because of the film but because the studio itself went under. "Cabin" had a high price tag that they never budged on because the film delivers. Lionsgate is thrilled with the movie and enthusiastic about finally getting to release it.

And that's not "I've heard." I've seen it. And the entire audience I saw it with was vocally enthusiastic afterwards. Everyone I've spoken with who has actually seen it has been equally taken with how it plays its game.

It's easy to take anonymous potshots at a film you haven't seen quoting people you don't name, but I'm willing to say directly that I think it's a pretty special example of the genre.

Then again, it is Jeff, and it is genre, so maybe that's not exactly the best matchmaking.

Also, "21 Jump Street" isn't just an action-comedy like those you listed. It is explicitly commenting in many places on the notion of updating old properties for new audiences. If you can make it through the Nick Offerman scene and tell me it's just doing "the same old thing," we're watching different films. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it is loads of knowing fun. The directors pulled off a similarly surprising feat with "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs," and I think they're guys worth paying attention to.

Posted by DrewAtHitFix at February 3, 2012 1:10 PM

comment #8

Jericho Cane says ...

If I were to use my real name, it wouldn't change a thing because I don't write about movies for a living and no one gives a shit who I am. Although I know a few people in the biz; if I were to name my sources, they would most assuredly lose their jobs. Not gonna risk it, Drew. Also, the script has one of the most jaw-droppingly retarded third-act twists I've seen just about anywhere. This isn't "I've heard", this is "I've read" and "I wanted to punch the fucking screen". But it definitely sounds like a film that plays like gangbusters to an audience of keyed-up genre fans. An environment where Jeff would just as soon start throwing ice at people or take a nap on the floor.

Seconding bildeaux's comment. Take a day and drive to Smithville and take in the natural splendor. Malick chose wisely in filming there, as it still looks exactly like it did in the early 50s.

Posted by Jericho Cane at February 3, 2012 2:31 PM

comment #9

Raising_Kaned says ...

Equating 21 Jump Street with punk rock? Maybe "punk" like Rise Against or something...otherwise, the fuck outta here with that shit, lol.

"But it definitely sounds like a film that plays like gangbusters to an audience of keyed-up genre fans."

There ya go. Listen, I don't know the first thing about Cabin in the Woods, so it could be the modern-day equivalent of Evil Dead (or, at least Cabin Fever) for all I know. But I do know that -- given the right crowd -- most genre movies tend to play pretty well at festivals, regardless of their overall quality (ranging anywhere from the budget of Dog Soldiers to Indy IV.

The crowd went bonkers for the Fubar films at TIFF -- doesn't necessarily mean they were any good.

Posted by Raising_Kaned at February 3, 2012 2:57 PM

comment #10

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