South By Southwest: 6 movies you should know about

(Image credit: (Facebook.com/NeighborsMovie))

last updated 8 January 2015

There is no shortage of things to do at Austin's annual South By Southwest festival, including tech panels, concerts, and countless opportunities to wolf down tacos and beer. But for film fans, the nine-day event also comes with a challenge: How many movies can you manage to see? And which ones are worth writing home about?

Allow The Week to be your guide. Here, six movies you should know about from the first half of South By Southwest:

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Should you see it? Absolutely — but it’s worth noting that only Veronica Mars fans will be able to appreciate everything the movie is doing. (To be fair, they did spend $5.7 million to get it made.) Fortunately, it’s also more than just an extension of the television show; it’s a fully fleshed-out movie that allows for sexier scenes, a broader vocabulary for Veronica’s quips, and a plot line that reintroduces Veronica and her ongoing search for identity. It’s funny, sexy, joyful, and full of heart. If you’re already a fan, you won’t be disappointed; if you aren’t, you’ll be one by the time the credits roll.

Should you see it? Yes — if you’re a woman, this is the movie you’ve been waiting your whole life for. Donna is charmingly relatable: Funny, messy, and sexy in a way that feels truly feminine. Team her up with BFF Nellie (Hoffmann, who is enjoying a resurgence) and you’ve got a perfect match. There are few films that have the ambition or intelligence to tackle modern womanhood, but Obvious Child makes it look easy.

Should you see it? Yes. Stoller’s comedy is raunchy but not stupid, and Neighbors falls into line with his previous work. While the prank war that rages between the couple and the fraternity is hilarious, the heart of the movie lies in the film’s relationships. Rogen and Byrne are funny and adorable as new parents who are still aching to be cool. And Efron and Franco (who steals the show) are great as a pair of best bros who can’t fully express their anxieties about their impending graduation.

Should you see it? Only if you’re hungry for a romantic comedy. Take Care is sharp and witty, but it takes time to get going. Tuccillo’s direction makes Frannie’s apartment as claustrophobic for the audience as it is for her — but that small-scale intimacy eventually pays off in the chemistry between Bibb and Sadoski. In particular, Bibb shines in the lead as Frannie, a role that finally showcases her great comedic timing and adept physical comedy. Take note, Hollywood.

Should you see it? Yes, but temper your expectations. The Heart Machine is a timely and interesting rumination about communication, online dating, and the ability of humans to connect — but despite strong performances from Gallagher and Sheil, it never quite comes together. There are plenty of intriguing questions raised by The Heart Machine, but the answers (when they come at all) aren’t wholly satisfying.

Kerensa Cadenas is an editor for Snakkle, a pop culture throwback site. She has also written about TV, films, and music for Women and Hollywood, Bitch, Ms. Magazine, This Was TV, and Forever Young Adult.

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