Austin TX movies: Movie showtimes, reviews, tickets, film festivals, SXSW

The Guardian loves SXSW Film

Comments

Austin360 blogs > Austin Movie Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 14 > Entry

By Matthew Odam | Monday, January 14, 2008, 04:14 PM

We know SXSW Film is one of the best festivals in the country, you know it, and it seems people as far away as London are beginning to realize it as well. The Guardian had high praise for the festival in its Friday edition. The post takes a somewhat unnecessary shot at Sundance, but it is nice to see the local fest getting such high praise, even if the title of the post reminds us of all those loathsome, “Austin is the new Brooklyn” comments we heard over the past few years.

From The Guardian:

The new Sundance is … SXSW
The big question at last year’s Sundance wasn’t: “What’s the best movie?” It was: “What’s Paris Hilton doing here?” It was inevitable that Sundance would eventually become a victim of its own success. Since it broke the likes of Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Reservoir Dogs in the late 80s and early 90s, its fortunes have risen (and fallen) in proportion to the fate of American “independent” cinema, to the extent that it’s now a celebrity bunfight, with promotional tents and luxury ski chalets aplenty.
The film component of the meteorically successful Texas music event South by Southwest, by contrast, is younger, hipper and more laid-back. It’s also “about the movies”, which means the selection is less commercial, and the visitors are mainly unknown film- makers and studio cool-hunters. Its current claim to fame is the unearthing of “mumblecore”, the lo-fi strand that gave us “Funny Ha Ha” and “The Puffy Chair” (due out here in April). Culturally and climatically, SXSW is hot right now — Paris is probably packing her bikini as we speak.

Thanks to Matt Dentler’s excellent blog on IndieWire for the heads-up.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW

More archives...

Click here to report comment abuse.

By Flor

January 15, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

For as much as you/we poke at Paris Hilton, we’ve (the media & public) have made her who she is. Paris is attending Sundance for her new film “The Hottie and The Nottie”. So, just keep in mind when you’re poke fun of her, you are also making fun of yourself. We are all guilty of it!