MOVIES

Movies worth your time at SXSW

From 150 films, our preliminary list of picks

By Chris Garcia
AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILM CRITIC
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

It's two weeks away, but we're already neck-deep in the South by Southwest Film Festival. And you should be, too.

Picking parties and conference panels is easy because they come in bite-sized portions. Do that after you've scrolled the roughly 150 films screening March 13 through 21. That's where it gets tricky — and exhausting.

And exciting. Circling so many alluring titles is a heady business. My own list of must-sees will change by the day, but here's my preliminary round of movies to see at SXSW. Get the entire SXSW film lineup at sxsw.com/film.

Male-centric comedy zone

"Adventureland" — A college graduate (Jesse Eisenberg) gulps his pride and takes a summer job at an amusement park. Heartfelt laughs garland this gift from Judd Apatow, Inc., featuring Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Martin Starr. Greg Mottola — best known for "Superbad" and the 1996 indie comedy "The Daytrippers" — wrote and directed. Here's hoping the movie is more "Daytrippers" than "Superbad." (7 p.m. March 15, Alamo South)

"I Love You, Man" — Paul Rudd, short on guy friends, needs a best man for his wedding. He finds man-boy Jason Segel, who infects his new pal with his adolescent antics. Fiancè Rashida Jones is not amused. (7:30 p.m. March 13, Paramount)

"Observe and Report" — From director Jody Hill ("The Foot Fist Way") comes an antidote to the poison that is "Paul Blart: Mall Cop." Seth Rogen plays a tubby mall cop — down, derided, disrespected. Until he finds a case he can crack that will erase his record of crushing ineptitude. With Anna Faris and Ray Liotta. World premiere. (9:30 p.m. March 16, Paramount)

"Humpday" — This subversive buddy comedy, starring former Austinite (and filmmaker in his own right) Mark Duplass and Joshua Leonard, enthused Sundance Film Festival crowds and landed distribution with Magnolia. Best guy pals make a salacious bet they're not sure they can go through with. Director Lynn Shelton explores the bonds of masculinity in this low-budget wonder. (7 p.m. March 15, Alamo Ritz and noon March 19, Paramount)

Austin-made documentaries

A jaw-loosening volume of non-fiction movies by young local filmmakers graces this year's fest, heralding a new wave of Austin documentarians, many of whom come straight from the Radio-Television-Film department at the University of Texas.

"Sunshine" — Director Karen Skloss' poignant meditation on unplanned pregnancy and single motherhood contrasts the choices of two Texas mothers, including Skloss herself. (3 p.m. March 14, Alamo Ritz; 9:15 p.m. March 16, Austin Convention Center; 2 p.m. March 20, Alamo Ritz)

"Winnebago Man" — For years the bizarre and riotously profane clips of a Winnebago salesman losing it have cartwheeled across the Internet, creating cult buzz and demanding the question: "Who is this maniac?" Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer embarks to find out. His discovery might scare you. (7 p.m. March 14, Alamo South; 6 p.m. March 18, Alamo Ritz; 1:30 p.m. March 20, Paramount)

"Over the Hills and Far Away" — Fresh off a good run at Sundance, Michel Scott's film follows the journey a mother and father take to find an unorthodox treatment for their autistic young son. The trio rides on horseback over the grassy hills of Mongolia, hoping for spiritual deliverance. (11 a.m. March 17, Paramount; 1:30 p.m. March 19, Alamo South; 7 p.m. March 20, Austin Convention Center)

"Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo" — Veteran doc-maker Brad Beesley ("Okie Noodling") jumps into the vibrant, near-extinct phenomenon of prison rodeos. We know why that bronco's bucking: It wants that mass murderer off its back. (11 a.m. March 14, Paramount; 1:30 p.m. March 17, Alamo Ritz; 4:30 p.m. March 20, Austin Convention Center)

"Along Came Kinky ... Texas Jewboy for Governor" — It was inevitable that Texas' most florid self-promoter would one day run for office, and Kinky Friedman aimed sky high, pie high. David Hartstein shadows Friedman during his unsuccessful 2006 gubernatorial campaign. (7:30 p.m. March 19, Paramount)

"The Eyes of Me" — Adolescence is rough enough without a disability. But a quartet of teens at Austin's Texas School for the Blind summon mighty determination in Keith Maitland's film about growing up without sight but with abundant vision. (7:15 p.m. March 18 and 11:30 a.m. March 20, Alamo South)

SXSW gets Fantastic

The twin festivals bond with the new program "SXSW Presents Fantastic Fest at Midnight," featuring seven genre titles and some big surprises. Here's at least one must-see:

"Ong Bak 2" — Forget plot, ignore characters. This prequel to the 2003 cult hit is all about fists and feets that swarm villains like killer bees. Thai boxing rules. (Midnight, March 13, Alamo South)

Austin charmers

"Beeswax" — Andrew Bujalski ("Funny Ha Ha," "Mutual Appreciation") shot this humanistic, character-driven "legal thriller" in Austin using familiar faces and places. The feature enjoyed an upbeat debut at the Berlin Film Festival this month. (2 p.m. March 14, Paramount)

"The Two Bobs" — The titular duo, world-famous video game creators, find themselves in a frantic adventure as they search for the culprit who stole the software for their new game. The world premiere of Tim McCanlies' comedy marks the return of our hometown filmmaking hero ("Secondhand Lions," "Dancer Texas, Pop. 81"). (6:45 p.m. March 13, Austin Convention Center; 6:30 p.m. March 16, Paramount)

"Artois the Goat" — Cliff and Kyle Bogart's feature debut is a fragrant and biting blend of comedy, romance and ... goat cheese. Really. (1:30 p.m., March 15, Alamo Ritz; 5 p.m. March 16, Alamo South; 7 p.m. March 20, Alamo Ritz)

Bang your head

Metalheads and perhaps Mickey Rourke will be salivating over this double dose of hard rock docs.

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" — Influential metal band Anvil almost made it huge in the 1980s. But they didn't. Now, with members in their 50s, they're taking another (long)shot at stardom. It's a funny, sad and oddly affecting story of raw determination. (10 p.m. March 15, Alamo South; 9 p.m. March 18, Alamo South)

"Iron Maiden: Flight 666" — Metal godfathers Iron Maiden are touring the world, toting themselves and their gear in a custom Boeing 757 piloted by the band's lead singer Bruce Dickinson. A charged look at life on the road, backstage and onstage. (7 p.m. March 18, Paramount; 2 p.m. March 21, Austin Convention Center)

Celebrity sightings

Actors Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, Anna Faris and Zooey Daschanel are slated to attend their films' premieres, and directors Todd Haynes and Richard Linklater are two of the more established filmmakers you could spot at panels and shows.

cgarcia@statesman.com; 445-3649