I’m coming close to the last portion of my stay in the always-amazing city of Austin, Texas. This has been by far one of the best SXSW I’ve ever attended. The quality of the films screened has been nothing shy of fantastic.
Here are some of those that really left a great impression.
13 Assassins
Takashi Miike isn’t traditionally known for doing what many would construe as being normal films. The majority of his work (Ichi the Killer, Audition) of his work is quite the contrary. However, 13 Assassins plays as a straight forward samurai epic.
That isn’t to say it’s without a few gory moments. As a matter of fact, the final 45 minutes is a nonstop barrage of sword clanks and splattered blood. Miike and samurai fans won’t be dissappointed.
Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop
After a well-publicized feud with NBC, late night comedy host Conan O’Brien went on a 44-city live tour to reach out to his fans and quench his inner desire to perform. The film follows O’Brien from the tour’s conception to completion. It’s a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of 2010′smost talked-about live tours.
Attack the Block
Produced by fanboy favorite Edgar Wright, the film centers on a group of south London inner-city youths who must rise against a group of intense and violent creatures from another world in order to save their neighborhood.
Taking its cues from 80s films such as Critters, Ghostbusters, The Goonies and The Warriors, Attack the Block is one hell of a good time from beginning to end.
Ain’t It Cool News Secret Screening
This year, SXSW organizers tasked Aint It Cool founder Harry Knowles with putting together a screening fans would mot soon forget. He slayed it, so to say.
For the event, Harry took the Paramount Theater over with an original print of a film no fanboy and/or lover of great 80′s cinema doesn’t enjoy, Dragonslayer. Not only that, but original trailers for films of a similar nature were shown beforehand, including Excalibur, The Sword and the Sourcerer and Krull.
But that wasn’t all. After the film, Harry brought on the stage none other than fantasy/horror maestro Guillermo del Toro. The duo discussed Dragonslayer and other creature-related films in a back-and-forth that, for the majority of the audience members, was an absolute delight.
I’ll have another update soon with my thoughts on several documentaries and the much talked about Mel Gibson film The Beaver.
