SXSW Film Opening Night Movie: I Love You, Man, Starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel

To clarify, I don't think SXSW Film will ACTUALLY BE a celebration of mediocrity. I think this film makes it look that way as an opening night selection.

From having attended SXSW Film for 6 years, I expect even with the new leadership it will provide exposure to some interesting, challenging, films worthy of attention.

And no, I'm not backpedalling here to protect the complimentary Platinum Pass given to me as an Austinist Commenter.

Seth

Alright. I'll give you that this announcement is significant in the context of the SXSW Film Fest. If it does speak volumes about the festival's 2009 direction, how are readers to interpret the significance of this opening film selection? "Ho-hum start to 2009 SXSW Film?"

I can read this movie a mile away. Pure, formula-driven product. No different than 2008's "The Rocker." Familiar faces from other popular movies / tv shows so the ad blitzkrieg gets some traction with viewers. If this film would have involved Apatow or Rogen, then I'd say the fest would have scored a programming coup. Instead, it looks like a celebration of mediocrity.

Seth

@Patrick C, whoops, thanks for pointing that out! It is indeed 'Undeclared', no idea why I swapped the words.

Er, Allen, not Adam. That's embarrassing.

I am so excited this will be the opening movie, usually I skip them and see something else but I love Jason Segel! Thanks for posting this, I think it is very newsworthy.

I think you're actually thinking of "Undeclared," Adam, not "Undiscovered."

This comment brought to you by one of the 7 people who actually watched "Undeclared."

Anyhow, I suppose this pick is a better choice than last year's opening film — "21," the true-life story that inexplicably recasts an Asian man as Jim Sturgess — but things won't get really interesting until the more obscure releases are announced.

@seth

I appreciate your feedback, but must disagree (via list form, as I just woke up):

1. The Opening Night selection speaks volumes about the festival's direction.

2. It's the first major programming announcement to come out, and for our film enthusiast readers, it's inherently newsworthy.

3. Believe me, we screen out an overwhelming majority of the press releases that show up in our inbox as we don't think they'll affect, help, or be of interest to our readers in any way. Like it or not (and I generally don't), it's still a pretty efficient way of distributing information. Would that we had a special bat phone that magically connected us with local celebrities whom we could pester for hot tips!

4. I sincerely hope that a long-standing reader (and one of my favorite commenters) such as yourself would understand what we're trying to accomplish here: it's about building community and keeping people informed, not--to crudely paraphrase what disheartened me to see you'd suggested--whoring ourselves out for $600 baubles. But perhaps this is a discussion that could stand on its own legs; feel free to email me off-list (editor @ austinist.com)

5. Rudd isn't really my cup of tea, but at least thank f*ck*ng god that modern comedy's golden calf (Judd Apatow) isn't involved with this film.

6. Here's the part where Apatow fans demand my head.

good day to you sir,

Allen

I'm pretty sure the announcement of the opening night film is newsworthy. Just sayin'.

I can only hope that Rudd/Segel/Jones/Samburg will participate in a Q&A. I will totally J in my P if that happens.

I apologize for being such a negative critic here. But this really isn't all that spectacular to be worthy of an 'article.' Just because SXSW sends out a press release doesn't mean you have to post it on the site to get a free platinum badge.

There's going to be more than 70 films announced. I'm hoping that this Paul Rudd flick isn't the strongest offering of the fest.

Seth