After two years of having to deal with online-only films, SXSW has taken over Austin once again, complete with red carpet events, panels, parties and big movie premieres. This year’s festival features 100+ films, shorts, documentaries, and pilot episodes with some being available both in person and online. It’s impossible to see all of the films over the course of 10 days of the festival, but we managed to see quite a few. Here’s a list of our favorites:
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In what is easily the most impressive technical genre film of the festival and quite possibly of the year, Everything Everywhere All At Once delivered a satisfying emotional surprise to the festival’s opening night. Directed by the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) this story of a Chinese-American woman, Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), who must do inter-dimensional multiverse battle with her own life choices while trying to finish her taxes.
“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” delivers some of the most fun and entertaining film of the festival. Cage portrays an alt-version of himself, as an established actor that’s having a hard time landing the roles he would have easily be casted for earlier in his career. When a shady super fan, played by Pedro Pascal offers him an incredible opportunity for a payday to attend his birthday party, the CIA quickly escalates the situation to a hysterical intelligence operation to take down a drug kingpin. The film is an action-packed laugh fest with a dozen Nick Cage references, but you don’t necessarily have to be a huge Cage fan to appreciate the humor of his presence in the film.
Romance novelist Loretta (Sandra Bullock) on a book tour with her cover model (Channing Tatum) gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure by an eccentric villainous billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. The Lost City isn’t quite the rom-com caper as some of the classics, Bullock’s and Tatum’s chemistry make this an overall enjoyable film to watch on Prime Video.
When a group of 20-somethings gets stuck at a remote mansion during a hurricane, a party game gone very, very wrong ends with a dead body on the ground and fake friends at every turn as they try to find the killer among them and literal bodies start piling up. “Bodies Bodies Bodies” delivers quick and zany energy that kicks off right at the start of the film, delivering a ton of laughs and bone chilling scenes that offers an R-rated “murder mystery” vibe.
A desperate father (Patton Oswalt) poses as a woman online to reconnect with his estranged son, but things get complicated when the young man wants to meet her in person.
A man who works as a bar mitzvah party host strikes up a unique friendship with a young woman and her teenage daughter. This touching dramedy will pull a few heart strings with the established star power of Dakota Johnson, and rising star writer-director Cooper Raiff as a talent to watch.
New Orleans, LA - On October 22, 2024, I recently had an opportunity to attend the grand opening of Caesars New Orleans, marking the completion of a stunning $435 million transformation of the former Harrah’s New Orleans. It was an evening to remember, filled with excitement, luxury, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. The festivities began on Canal Street with an exhilarating ceremony led by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President & COO Anthony Carano, and Caesars New Orleans General Manager Samir Mowad. The atmosphere was electric as they joined Caesar himself and an iconic New Orleans second-line band in a lively procession into the casino. It felt like the entire city had come out to celebrate, with Caesars New Orleans team members and Mayor LaToya Cantrell also joining the event to commemorate this historic occasion. Anthony Carano’s pride in introducing Caesars to New Orleans was palpable. “From local favorite Emeril Lagasse to our long-time partner, Chef Nobu, to the beautiful state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook, all-new rooms and gaming floor, and of course, our gorgeous new center bar, Octavia, Caesars New Orleans offers something for everyone. It’s a world-class resort in the heart of the Big Easy, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience it,” he said. The ceremony was a spectacle, kicking off with an iconic Mardi Gras float featuring Caesar and his court, and a dazzling firework show that lit up the New Orleans sky. The second-line band then led us revelers into the resort’s elegant center bar, Octavia, where we indulged in a “Taste of Caesars New Orleans.” Each bite from the six on-property restaurants was a delightful journey, capturing the essence of New Orleans’ rich culinary scene. Throughout the night, elemental entertainers, including the Saints Cheer Krewe, Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Tramps, and showgirls, created an authentic and unforgettable Big Easy experience. Everywhere I turned, there was something new to marvel at, each performance more mesmerizing than the last. Samir Mowad, SVP and GM of Caesars New Orleans, highlighted the significance of the transformation, stating, “This year marks 25 years since we opened in New Orleans, and the completion of this project is the perfect way to usher in a new era with Caesars. Synonymous with the Caesars name, our new resort is pure elegance, and we’re excited to introduce a luxury brand like this to New Orleans. We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, our team members, and our guests as we come to the finish line of this tremendous transformation.” The hotel itself is impressive,…
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