This year’s South By Southwest is fast approaching (March 13th 2020, y’all!), and with that haste comes a schedule of cinematic treats for the masses to feast on. Of course with 250 projects to fill the time, getting to each and every screening will be an impossible task, so we’ve compiled our look at 5 offerings that have caught our eye.
Promising Young Woman (March 16th, Zach Theatre)
From the moment Promising Young Woman‘s trailer debuted – with its nasty narrative hook and ingenious use of Britney Spears’ seminal classic “Toxic” – it was near-impossible to not be intrigued by what writer/director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) has teased. Carey Mulligan looks to be in career-best form as the titular “promising young woman”, who’s taking back the power she seemingly lost by righting the wrongs men have gotten away with for far too long.
Bad Trip (March 14th, Paramount Theatre)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue3XdtKEaqI
When the hidden camera gimmick is executed successfully, you end up with the guiltiest of pleasures, ala Jackass and Bad Grandpa. So it only seems right that the producer of those aforementioned movies work their magic for another round, this time with the likes of Eric Andre and Tiffany Haddish on board to pull off a series of inventive and hilarious pranks, roping in the unsuspecting real-life audience along the way!
The Green Knight (March 16th, Paramount Theatre)
Writer/director David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, A Ghost Story, The Old Man and the Gun) has always touched on the essences of humanity in his films, and it appears that just because his latest work is a medieval-themed opus that he won’t be foregoing that theme anytime soon. A fantasy film based on an Arthurian legend surrounding King Arthur’s reckless nephew (here played by Dev Patel), The Green Knight could very well be the psychological-thriller-cum-period-fantasy epic we never knew we needed.
The Lovebirds (March 14th, Paramount Theatre)
For every mind-bending experience like The Green Knight, there’s something a little more simple, yet no less entertaining. Meet The Lovebirds. The match-up of Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani (and his increasingly obvious Marvel physique) would be enough of an excuse to shell out a ticket, but throw in some concept comedy (happy couple unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery) and you potentially have 2020’s own Game Night!
We’re Here (March 21st, Paramount Theatre)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJr26Y941U
Drag Race royalty Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka O’Hare are each bringing their unique fabulousness and drag sensibilities to the everyday American in a new six-part, unscripted series that will premiere its pilot episode at SXSW. With RuPaul’s Drag Race more prominent than ever, now is as good as time as any for this trio to drag up (literally) small-town residents for one night of pure freedom, away from their comfort zone to indulge in a lifestyle that truly celebrates one’s own uniqueness.
For more information on these titles and a full schedule line-up for this year’s SXSW festival, head over to the official website. SXSW will run from 13th-22nd March 2020 in Austin, Texas.
