SXSW Fest Day#3

Halfway through the movie fest portion of SXSW, Austin is absolutely INVADED by hundreds of musicians and music geeks, all of whom are here to participate in the rock & roll portion of the festivities. You simply haven't lived until you've spent time in an elevator full of movie geeks arguing with music nerds. It's freakin' hilarious is what it is. In previous years, SXSW would slow down on the cinema end when the music folks hit town ... but not this year. In its most successful year to date, SX has tons of high-end titles scheduled for the second half of the fest, which means that movie & music freaks can spend time in harmonious bliss as they settle down to watch music docs, indie comedies, and a flick about the planet's favorite F-word. And of course there's always tons of friends, food, and freakishly fine females to catch your attention! Here's what I've seen lately:

Despite the fact that I really enjoy Ray Romano's stand-up material, I was never a big fan of his family-friendly sitcom -- which is what makes this drop-dead hilarious documentary a real treat. Join Ray and his oldest pal/writing partner as they drive all across Florida, playing a bunch of sold-out comedy shows along the way. I can't tell which stuff is funnier: the stand-up material or the driving/hotel/bickering stuff, but I laughed a LOT during this flick. Keep an eye on HBO, cuz that's where this one will be showing up soon!

A somewhat anti-social college nerd / mega-genius discovers some of the meanings of life and transcribes them into a steel-covered journal, but when his roommates throw a swingin' toga party, the book is stolen by one of the sexiest blonde babes you'll ever see. Much of the flick deals with Bick's attempts at reclaiming his missing journal, but things get even more amusing once its location is named. Starring Patrick Fugit and the stunningly beautiful Olivia Wilde, BSCI is one of my favorite SXSW flicks so far. It's funny and smart, it's sexy and kinda sweet, and it features a whole bunch of cameos that'll have the eagle-eyed movie geeks giggling in appreciation. Damn good stuff.

Jeremy Sisto stars as a census taker who travels to a seriously isolated little town ... only to discover that the burg's population has stayed EXACTLY the same for the past few centuries. Obviously we know that something strange is afoot, but the fun lies in finding out the specifics. Featuring a strangely strong performance by Fred Durst as a good-hearted sheriff and a solid handful of mild chills, 436 feels a whole lot like a feature-length episode of The Twilight Zone. Not one of the most horrifying or brilliant episodes, a creepy and intriguing one all the same.

Wow. I mean ... wow. If this flick doesn't make my year-end Top Ten list, then 2006 is due to release a whole LOT of good movies. Spoiler-free plot recap: A thirty-something internet predator convinces a 14-year-old cutie to meet him at a coffee bar and then join him on a visit to his swanky studio apartment ... but who, really, is the predator here?? Featuring two fantastic lead performances, a few unexpected twists, and one or two sequences that'll have you squirming, screaming, and sweating, Hard Candy is just as good as the pre-release hype indicates, and it's one of the best thrillers I've seen in years. Don't bring the kids!!

Source: JoBlo.com