Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

In the early 00’s 16-year-old Catholic school girl, Alice (Natalia Dyer), goes onto an AOL chatroom that turns racy and discovers masturbation and becomes immediately guilt-ridden.

Everything about Yes, God, Yes is completely enthralling to watch. The direction and script by Karen Maine tells a beautiful story of self-discovery and accepting yourself regardless of what your religion states. It comes as no surprise that the ensemble for this Film won the SXSW Special Jury Recognition for Best Ensemble. And they are led by the powerful leading performance of Dyer who makes a star-making turn as Alice.

Yes, God, Yes screens at SXSW on March 8 at 9 PM at Stateside, March 9 at 6 PM at Alamo Lamar C and March 14 at 11:30 AM at Alamo Lamar D.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When Cynthia (Jillian Bell) is left with a sword as her sole inheritance after her grandfather dies, she and her girlfriend Mary (Michaela Watkins) try to sell it for a lot of money by saying it’s proof of the South winning the Civil War.

Director Lynn Shelton has crafted a Film that studies how people will believe anything, no matter how absurd, if they want to. She uses the extremely far-right as her believers. They believe that this sword and the hilariously-random story Cynthia and Mary are spewing about it, is true, simply because it plays into their beliefs. It’s a highly-intelligent Film that boasts all around amazing performances from Bell, Watkins, Jon Bass and a knock-out performance from Marc Maron.

Sword of Trust screens at SXSW on March 8 at 9:15 PM at ZACH Theatre, March 11 at 9 PM at Atom Theatre, and March 13 at 2:30 PM at Alamo Lamar D.

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

After Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) gets brutally beaten on a suburban street he decides to learn how to defend himself by taking karate classes.

Writer-Director Riley Stearns has created a dark-comedy with dead-pan humour that makes for one fun ride. There are funny shocking twists that happen throughout which continue the story along, however, it really is Eisenberg who masters the Film. He’s completely committed no matter what happens in each scene and he’s in a role he seems destined to play. The Supporting Cast, including Imogen Poots and Alessandro Nivola are perfectly cast.

The Art of Self-Defense screens at SXSW on March 10 at 2:45 PM at The Paramount Theatre, March 12 at 11 AM at Atom Theatre,
March 14 at 10:30 PM at Alamo Lamar A, and March 15 at 7:45 PM at Stateside.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Mickey and Jules (Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe) are young lovers and criminals on the run. When they break into a secluded home in the woods they meet a sweet-as-pie couple who have a dark secret they don’t want to get out.

Villains is your typical Bonnie and Clyde feeling Film but with a hilarious twist. Co-Directors and Writers Dan Berk and Robert Olsen comedically play with the concept of what if the people who are committing the crime become the victims. It offers all around great performances from a knockout cast consisting of Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffery Donovan, Monroe and Skarsgård, who gets to show off his comedic talents.

Villains screens at SXSW on March 9 at 3 PM at ZACH Theatre, March 12 at 10:45 AM at Alamo Lamar D, March 13 at 5:45 PM at Atom Theatre, and March 15 at 2:15 PM at Alamo Ritz 1.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When an ex-convict (Ethan Hawke) gets released from prison after 21 years for a petty crime he finds a baby in a dumpster which gives him a new lease on life.

First-time feature film Director and Writer Logan Marshall Green delves into the impacts of the three strike rule America used to have. He examines the psychological and societal impacts prison can have on those who’ve been newly-released. It focuses on one man in particular who is played captivatingly and to raw emotion by Hawke.

Adopt A Highway screens at SXSW on March 10 at 8:30 PM at Stateside, March 11 at 6 PM at Satellite Venue, March 13 at 5:30 PM at Rollins Theatre, and March 14 at 11 PM at Alamo Lamar E.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Rose (Maeve Higgins) has a supernatural gift, a gift she fears. Word has gotten around her rural Irish neighbourhood and when a feared father (Barry Ward) ask for her help, she must overcome her fear and help save his daughter.

This Film is a perfectly mixed bag of genres that makes for one of the most unique film-going experiences at SXSW this year. Moments of uncontrollable laughter turns to moments of shock. All while showcasing some of the most deadpan comedic writing executed perfectly by Higgins, Ward and the always funny Will Forte.

Extra Ordinary screens at SXSW on March 10 at 5:30 PM at Stateside, March 11 at 1:45 PM at Alamo Lamar A, March 14 at 7:45 PM at Alamo Lamar A, and March 15 at 8 PM at ZACH Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Director Chris Morris has brought 100 true stories to the big screen to show that it’s easier to manufacture a terrorist than actually catch a real one.

The Day Shall Come  is a crazy thrill ride that tells quite the horrifying reality of what lengths homeland security go to. Morris knows this reality is a tough pill to swallow so rather than making this a heavy-hitting Drama, he has intelligently infused it with Dark-Comedy throughout. He’s also brought together a stellar Cast who alleviate the already great Script, including Marchánt Davis, Anna Kendrick, Danielle Brooks and Denis O’Hare.

The Day Shall Come screens at SXSW on March 11 at 6:30 PM at The Paramount, March 12 at 5:45 PM at Alamo Lamar E, and March 15 at 5:15 PM at Alamo Ritz 1.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When Alice comes to the realization that her husband has left her completely broke due to his addiction to escorts, she finds herself drawn into the life of high-end prostitution to save her home and provide for her son.

First-time Feature Director-Writer Josephine Mackerras has truly outdone herself with Alice. The complex Script and layered characters have created a Film with the ability to open people’s minds to the world of prostitution. Even though this Film has a lot to say about the world of escorts, it’s more of a story of one woman’s means at survival. Most importantly, it shows the way she chooses to control what she does in order to survive. The title role of Alice is performed captivatingly by Emilie Piponnier who expresses two contrasting emotions in every scene.

Alice won the Grand Jury Prize in the Narrative Feature Competition. It screens at SXSW on March 10 at 11 AM at Stateside Theatre, March 11 at Alamo Lamar C at 8:15 PM, and March 14 at at Alamo Lamar E at 8 PM.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Zak is a 22-year-old male with Down Syndrome who escapes from the retirement home he is forced to be in, in the hopes of meeting his Wrestling hero.

This Film has an enormous amount of heart with one of the most touching stories. The Script is tight with some of the richest characters who have been cast to perfection. The Cast includes Dakota Johnson, Thomas Haden Church, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern and the anchor of the Film Zack Gottsagen who plays Zak. However, the most moving performance is from Shia LaBeouf. He’s completely dedicated and extremely authentic in a different role than we have seen him in before.

The Peanut Butter Falcon screens at SXSW on March 9 at 8 PM at Atom Theatre, March 12 at 4:45 PM at Alamo Lamar D and March 13 at 5:15 PM at Stateside.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When popular high-schooler Sara (Mary Nepi) loses her virginity she rapidly becomes pregnant and gives birth to something other-worldly.

Directors Stephen Cedars and Benji Kleiman have created a hilarious Horror-Comedy that’s a mix between your favourite Alien genre Film and High-School Comedy Film. There is a lot of fun to be had with Snatchers, this is due to its tight Script, creepy creature and lovable characters. Those characters are shot to life by a charismatic young Cast who delight.

Snatchers screens at SXSW on March 10 at 11:30PM at Stateside Theatre, March 12 at 11:30PM at Alamo Lamar E, and March 14 at 4:45PM at Alamo Lamar A.