Notes from SX: Friends With Money, Inner Circle Line
Austinist is rolling nonstop catching some South By action. The following are our thoughts on some SXSW films:
Friends With Money (Drama) - Lovely and Amazing director Nicole Holofcener has returned with another "real life is the best kind of drama" film, and it's a good one. The cast includes Catherine Keener, Francis McDormand, Joan Cusack, and Jennifer Aniston, and all but Cusack have significant screen time. The movie's plot revolves around the life changes of a group of friends in their late 30's and early 40's: having kids, building home additions, and getting older. This may sound mundane, but the script is airtight, the acting is of uniformly high quality, and Aniston in particular benefits from working with such a great script and cast. This film is depressing, darkly funny, and will hit uncomfortably close to home for certain viewers. Austinist highly recommends this film: it's the best thing we've seen so far at SXSW 2006.
Next showing: None (sorry, it only screened once). Opens in early April.
Inner Circle Line (Drama) - This South Korean film contains many familiar elements of modern indie film. Big city backdrop? Check. Late 20's alienation? Check. Long, uncomfortable silences? Check. Fans of Wong Kar-Wai's Happy Together or In The Mood For Love may find some kinship with this slow but mostly beautiful little film. It's not on par with those, but even though very little happens, the sad characters and Seoul locations are pleasant enough, and you feel a bit like you are seeing a really awesome student film. It's not quite right, but Inner Circle Line shows some potential for greatness for South Korean indies in the future. Austinist recommends it if you're the patient, arty indie type...others might wish to look elsewhere.
Next showing: 9:15pm, Thursday, Dobie.
What have you liked or hated so far, Austinist readers? Let us know in the comments section.
Image via Matt Wright of Austinist
