SXSW Film Festival headliners sure to create a buzz

The 2010 SXSW Film Festival will take place March 12-20 in the hipster capital of the U.S, Austin, Texas, where the geeks are sure to come out for this year’s headlining movies. Last year’s movie premieres – I Love You, Man, The Hurt Locker, Moon, (500) Days of Summer, and Adventureland – have seen incredible success. This year’s most anticipated world premiere films deal with a beloved comic book series, a feature film based on a skit spoofing an 80s tv show, and a teenage vampire playing a punk legend. I’ll be heading down to SXSW Film Fest this year and wanted to give Trashwire readers a preview of some of the films that have been generating a lot of buzz.

Kick-Ass
Director: Matthew Vaughn.
Screenwriters: Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloë Grace Moretz and Nicolas Cage.
Plot: A twisted, funny, high-octane adventure, based on the comic written by Mark Millar and John S. Romita, Jr. The film tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski, a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. (World Premiere)

At the beginning of 2010, everyone knew that Kick-Ass would appeal to comic book fans. Those unfamiliar with the comic had no idea that the mortal-heroes included a little girl who would much rather get a Beretta than a doll house for her birthday.

A recent announcement was the premiere of MacGruber. It’s a movie that spoofs MacGuyver, and has apparently lead to a lawsuit from the ever-resourceful secret agent. It’s a beloved skit on SNL and has the potential to be a hilarious movie with The Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone taking on the role of director. As one of the only enjoyable moments in any SNL episode these days, MacGruber shouldn’t disappoint.

MacGruber
Director: Jorma Taccone.
Screenwriters: Will Forte, John Solomon and Jorma Taccone
Cast: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Powers Boothe, Maya Rudolph and Val Kilmer
Plot: Will Forte brings his clueless soldier of fortune to the big screen in the action-comedy MacGruber. (World Premiere)

MacGruber isn’t the only comedy. Cyrus is a film starring John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill, who hopefully aren’t typecast to their typical roles.

Cyrus
Directors: Jay and Mark Duplass
Screenwriters: Jay and Mark Duplass
Cast: John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh
Plot: With John’s social life at a standstill and his ex-wife about to get remarried, a down on his luck divorcee finally meets the woman of his dreams, only to discover she has another man in her life – her son. Written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, the iconoclastic filmmaking team behind The Puffy Chair, Cyrus takes an insightful, funny and sometimes heartbreaking look at love and family in contemporary Los Angeles.

The last movie on the headlining list that will garner much attention because of its star power is The Runaways. Kristen Stewart has shown her range in Adventureland and become a superstar with Twilight, but her portrayal of Joan Jett might help push her career in a different, non-vampire direction. Of course, Dakota Fanning is a proven veteran who will not disappoint as the scribe Cherie Currie. It is a bit odd that the film, based on a book preaching an anti-drug message, includes the casting of Tatum O’Neal — just saying.

The Runaways
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Screenwriter: Floria Sigismondi
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Scout Taylor-Compton, Michael Shannon, Alia Shawkat, Tatum O’Neal
Plot: The Runaways follows two friends, Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands.

There is no doubt that the 2010 SXSW Film Festival will be a great place to geek out in one of the hipster centrals of the Midwest. Each headlining movie should continue to validate the amazing talent that comes to this festival every year.

For the entire list of films at this year’s SXSW Film Festival check out SXSW.com.