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While many students left on vacation for spring break, Texas celebrated the 20th anniversary of the South by South West film festival in Austin. This years festival showcased big profile movies ranging from Burt Wonderstone to The East and some great indie films like William & The Windmill and The Spectacular Now. But the best films from SXSW were a mix of both worlds of multi-million dollar projects to low budget productions.
Here are the top five films from this years SXSW film festival.
5. Much Ado About Nothing
Directed by Joss Whedon is sure to appease all the his fans with its all-star cast from his previous projects including Nathan Fillion to Amy Acker will make this a smash hit. It was shot in black-and-white and filmed at his own home in just 12 days during Whedons vacation from finishing principal photography for his mega hit The Avengers in the summer of 2011. Whedons adaptation of Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic and funny play with his principal cast making the it into something wonderful that will get fans of both worlds anxious to see. Much Ado About Nothing is set to come out in theaters on June 21, 2013.
4. Drinking Buddies
Directed by Joe Swanberg. This film combines the wits of a well thought out cast and the willingness to allow them to improvise in every scene, which at its core made this one of the most buzzed about movies of SXSW. Swanberg was able to show his true talent for humor filled improv and has worked away from his previous films by showing what he can really do. The cast which includes Anna Kendrick, Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson and Ron Livingston made this an instant success with SXSW goers and won best ensemble at the festival. The release date is still TBA.
3.Evil Dead
Directed by Fede Alvarez was a surprise hit with SXSW goers because it was a remake of a 1981 version by the same name. But the screenwriting team was headed by Sam Raimi who worked on the original, making this horror flick everything it needed to be successful. With Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez as the principle cast this has become one of the most talked about horror films this coming year. Release date March 25, 2013 in (College Station) and April 5, 2013 nationwide.
2.Before Midnight
Directed by Sam Houston State alum Richard Linklater. This is the last film of of his Before trilogy which is concluding after 18 years. Linklater filmed the first of the three in 1994 and has now brought this series to a close with Before Midnight which is set in Greece, Italy. It concludes the story of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) from there whirlwind romance to finding each other and never looking back. Linklater did this trilogy justice by ending it in his true fashion of openness and letting the viewer wonder about the lives of the character after the camera stops rolling. Release date is set for May 24, 2013.
1. The Spectacular Now
Directed by James Ponsoldt who has worked on films dealing with alcoholism has made his best work yet. With a cast full of up and coming talent he sets this film during the senior year of Sutter Keely (played by Miles Teller) and Aimee Finicky (played by Shailene Woodley) who are complete opposites. Sutter is the party goer who has a drinking problem and isnt looking forward to life after high school and Aimee who has her life all planned out by attending college. The only problem, Sutter falls for Aimee and vice-versa. Will this romance be strong enough in the end. Release date set for August 2, 2013.