2014 SXSW Film Festival: The Movies & TV Shows I'm Most Excited To Watch In Austin
While I'm a veteran of many SXSW Music Festivals and regularly attend other leading film festivals, 2014 will be the first time I've ever attended the SXSW Film Festival (and I'm so excited!). Here are the films I'm most eager to see (regardless of whether they are world premieres or Festival Favorites) as well as the episodic premieres I'm most intrigued by. Side note: I'm so glad SXSW has broadened the definition of what a film festival is by including world premieres of highly anticipated TV shows (aka: episodic content). I hope you'll consider following my SXSW 2014 adventures on Twitter at (@IMDbEmily) where I'll be Tweeting about these films and my interviews with some of stars/directors/writers who are referenced in my list.
1.
Boyhood
(2014)
The life of a young man, Mason, from age 5 to age 18. (166 mins.)
Director: Richard Linklater
“ Richard Linklater shot this unique narrative drama in 39 days over a span of 12 years so it is the ultimate in real cinema -- you actually see the cast age. I heard WONDERFUL things about this film at Sundance this year but wasn't able to see it. I'll be first in line at SXSW. ” - EmilyGlassman
2.
Neighbors
(2014)
A couple with a newborn baby face unexpected difficulties after they are forced to live next to a fraternity house. (97 mins.)
Director: Nicholas Stoller
“ Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in a comedy about a young couple raising a baby next door to a Frat house ... You had me at HELLO! ” - EmilyGlassman
3.
Fort Tilden
(2014)
A comedy about Allie and Harper and their needlessly difficult journey to the beach. (95 mins.)
Director: Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers
“ I'm hearing good things about this flick which is about a pair of Brooklyn hipsters/best-friends who are so entrenched in their quarter-life crises that they can't even find their way to the beach to meet up with some cute guys. I remember those days ... ” - EmilyGlassman
4.
Silicon Valley
(2014 TV Series)
In the high-tech gold rush of modern Silicon Valley, the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success... (30 mins.)
“ The coming-soon HBO comedy series about Silicon Valley is directed/exec produced by Mike Judge. THE SOCIAL NETWORK meets OFFICE SPACE?? ” - EmilyGlassman
5.
Hellion
(2014)
When motocross and heavy metal obsessed thirteen-year-old Jacob's increasing delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother... (94 mins.)
Director: Kat Candler
“ This will be a rewatch for me. I saw this film at Sundance this year and was blown away by Aaron Paul's performance -- such a departure from his BREAKING BAD persona. This film began as a Sundance short film in 2012 and returned this year in feature length form -- a very impressive feat from writer/director Kat Candler. ” - EmilyGlassman
6.
The Guest
(2014)
A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence. (99 mins.)
Director: Adam Wingard
“ A hit at this year's Sundance film fest, this flick has been described as a 'thriller throwback' and a 'damned good time' by critics I trust. Most importantly, it stars Downton Abbey's recently deceased Dan Stevens -- oh how I've missed my Matthew Crawley. ” - EmilyGlassman
7.
Chef
(2014)
A chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family. (114 mins.)
Director: Jon Favreau
“ Written, directed by and staring Jon Favreau, this film will be the opening-night world premiere. The cast (Robert Downey JR, ScarJo) and food truck backdrop are intriguing. I'd like to eat a taco prepared by Jon Favreau. ” - EmilyGlassman
8.
Stage Fright
(2014)
A snobby musical theater camp is terrorized by a blood-thirsty killer who hates musical theater. (89 mins.)
Director: Jerome Sable
“ I know absolutely nothing about this film other than the premise, which sounds hilarious: GLEE meets slasher film. If only the real GLEE would have a 'very special episode' like this to get rid of a few annoying cast members .... ” - EmilyGlassman
9.
Oculus
(2013)
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. (104 mins.)
Director: Mike Flanagan
“ As a general rule, I'll see anything Katee Sackhoff appears in, but I missed this flick at Sundance this year. Plus, the storyline sounds fascinating and creepy. ” - EmilyGlassman
10.
Veronica Mars
(2014)
Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown - just in time for her high school reunion - in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who's embroiled in a murder mystery. (107 mins.)
Director: Rob Thomas
“ Let us behold together what the Kickstarter generated. It's like a test tube baby, only in film form. ” - EmilyGlassman
11.
Halt and Catch Fire
(2014 TV Series)
Set in the early 1980s, series dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary... (60 mins.)
“ A highly-anticipated AMC original series slated to begin airing in June that focuses on the early 1980's personal computing revolution. This period drama centers on a young group of computer pioneers as they navigate the personal computing revolution. ” - EmilyGlassman
12.
Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey
(2014 TV Series)
A documentary series that explores how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. (60 mins.)
“ Calling all geeks (myself included): SXSW is hosting a special preview screening of Fox and National Geographic Channel’s upcoming science series and a special event with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. It's a reboot of the classic series. ” - EmilyGlassman
13.
Jimi: All Is by My Side
(2013)
A drama based on Jimi Hendrix's pre-fame years. (118 mins.)
Director: John Ridley
“ A Jimi Hendrix bio-pic written and directed by brand-spanking new Academy Award-winning writer/director John Ridley (2014 Best Adapted Screenplay for 12 YEARS A SLAVE). Feels like potential magic in the making -- one of the films I'm most looking forward to at SXSW this year. ” - EmilyGlassman
14.
13 Sins
(2014)
A cryptic phone call sets off a dangerous game of risks for Elliot, a down-on-his luck salesman. The game promises increasing rewards for completing 13 tasks, each more sinister than the last. (88 mins.)
Director: Daniel Stamm
“ Having just finished a six season Sons of Anarchy binge, I'll be watching this film primarily because Ron Perlman appears in it and I need a FIX. ” - EmilyGlassman
15.
Predestination
(2014)
The life of a time-traveling Temporal Agent. On his final assignment, he must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. (97 mins.)
Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
“ Directed by identical twin brothers and staring Ethan Hawke, this description on the SXSW website snared me: 'Predestination chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career for all eternity. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.' ” - EmilyGlassman
16.
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
(2014)
A jaded Japanese woman discovers a hidden copy of Fargo on VHS, believing it to be a treasure map indicating the location of a large case of money. (105 mins.)
Director: David Zellner
“ Another Sundance 2014 film I heard great word of mouth about but missed that I'm eager to check out at SXSW. ” - EmilyGlassman
17.
Bad Words
(2013)
A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult. (89 mins.)
Director: Jason Bateman
“ Bateman, bad words, banality: Yup, I'm in. I missed this film when it premiered at Sundance this year, but did catch a trailer which gave me the sense that Jason Bateman's directorial debut, which he also stars in, is wildly inappropriate and laugh-out-loud funny. ” - EmilyGlassman
18.
Road to Austin
(2014 Documentary)
Road to Austin, chronicles how Austin, Texas became the Live Music Capital of the World dating from 1835 to present day... (75 mins.)
Director: Gary Fortin
“ I'm thrilled to be attending the world premiere of this music-themed documentary feature at SXSW this year. The film delves into Austin's musical history/heritage since the 1800s (can we all say "LOFTY AMBITIONS"!) and features many of my favorite musical heroes including: Kris Kristofferson, John Paul DeJoria, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Stephen Bruton, Eric Johnson, Ian McLagan and Joe Ely. ” - EmilyGlassman
19.
Joe
(2013)
An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. (117 mins.)
Director: David Gordon Green
“ I'm hearing this is Nicolas Cage's best performance in years. ” - EmilyGlassman
20.
Exists
(2014)
A group of friends who venture into the remote Texas woods for a party weekend find themselves stalked by Bigfoot. (86 mins.)
Director: Eduardo Sánchez
“ Am I REALLY going to pass up a Bigfoot-themed slasher flick? Nope. ” - EmilyGlassman
21.
Wild Canaries
(2014)
A Brooklyn couple suspects foul play when their rent controlled neighbor suddenly drops dead. (102 mins.)
Director: Lawrence Michael Levine
“ In this hipster comedy, a new engaged Brooklyn couple investigate the death of an elderly neighbor. ” - EmilyGlassman
22.
Sequoia
(2014)
Sequoia tells the story of a 23-year-old cancer victim whose plan to take her own life in Sequoia National Park is disrupted by a young man she meets on her way to the park. (86 mins.)
Director: Andy Landen
“ The premise of this film, which I know very little about, has stayed with me: A young woman suffering from a terminal disease decides to take her own life in a national park but meets an intriguing young man along the way. ” - EmilyGlassman
23.
Big in Japan
(2014)
Big in Japan is a rock and roll road movie about a struggling Seattle band determined to not fade away... (100 mins.)
Director: John Jeffcoat
“ As a Seattle native, I'm rooting for this film and the band Tennis Pro! ” - EmilyGlassman