The Best of SXSW 2023

AIR

It’s easy to forget how small of a cultural footprint Nike carried as a shoe brand before the glitz and glamour of Michael Jordan’s basketball career and the seminal creation of the Air Jordan. That lightning bolt of a design transformed not just Nike as a company but shoe culture in general. Ben Affleck may not be the first name you’d think to bring this rags-to-riches true story to the big screen but he has directed and co-starred in the first genuine crowd-pleaser of 2023. Assembling an arsenal of talented cast members including Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker and Jason Bateman, Affleck’s triumphant film continues to cement him as one of the best and most undervalued directors working today. Each of his films is different from the last, and this latest story of hope and ingenuity is among his best.

BOTTOMS

PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Adebiri) want to have sex just as much as everyone else in their high school. They’d prefer to hook up with the popular cheerleaders but their below-average confidence is threatening to lock up that dream for good. When a misunderstanding at school spirals out of control, the girls improvise a self-defense class that will make the popular kids do a double take, taking them that much closer to the bedroom. “Bottoms” is the latest from Emma Seligman, who last teamed up with Sennott on the very entertaining “Shiva Baby,” and the wit and raunchiness of that film is also on full display here. It’s a fun and wild sex ride about growing up and the urges that follow.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES

Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are the main reason to give this latest “Dungeons and Dragons” film your full attention. Not since Lord and Miller have a filmmaking duo mined so much fun and energy out of incredibly tired ideas. From their raunchy reboot of “Vacation,” to the clever and hysterical “Game Night,” their hot streak continues with the unassuming “Dungeons and Dragons” franchise. Subtitled “Honor Among Thieves,” the film does the smart thing of using its IP to jumpstart a fun story that isn’t necessarily tied to its original material. Fans of the D&D game will still find plenty of quests and elaborate adventures to enjoy, especially with a committed cast that includes Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant.

EVIL DEAD RISE

Horror films have a lot of work to do this year if they plan to scare you more than “Evil Dead Rise.” It is by far one of the most intense experiences you’ll have in a movie theater, full of the shock and gore you’d come to expect from this franchise. “Rise” is a sequel to the 2013 “Evil Dead” reboot that also grossed out countless audiences ten years ago, and this new story of estranged family members haunted by undead demons will have you shaking until the credits roll. Sam Raimi (director of the original “Evil Dead” films) is back as a producer and while his directorial hand is missed in this franchise, Lee Cronin (“The Hole in the Ground”) carries his weight effortlessly, creating a creepy and blood-soaked atmosphere true to the franchise.

FLAMIN’ HOT

Some may be quick to point out, and only point out, that this is the “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos” movie. While it is partly about the creation of that revolutionary snack, at its heart, “Flamin’ Hot” is the true story of big dreams and entrepreneurship. Richard Montanez worked as a janitor at Frito Lay for ten years and always dreamed of achieving more, until he concocted a recipe for what would help create the “Flamin’ Hot” brand. In the film Montanez is played by Jesse Garcia and he brings all the soul and sincerity the role requires, elevating the film into more than just another success story. Eva Longoria, stepping behind the camera to direct, and her talented ensemble cast come together to make a rousing and crowd-pleasing piece of filmmaking.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4

The “John Wick” franchise has done what so many have set out to do and failed, successfully build a bigger and better story with each new entry. It’s not an easy task, and much like “John Wick’s” dispensing of nameless henchmen in a blood-soaked operatic finale, it takes a lot of planning. Credit is mostly due to lead actor Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski for continuing to take things up a notch and giving fans of these films exactly what they want, delicately choreographed violence. The new globe-trotting locales and fresh characters are icing on the cake to the jaw-dropping spectacle on display.

JOY RIDE

Adele Lim’s writing credits include “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” but it’s her directorial debut “Joy Ride” that promises to get her the most attention when it’s released this summer. Quick-witted and full of debauchery, it focuses on four female friends (Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu and recent Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu) crashing their way through a bonding trip of loud self-discovery. Partying, yelling and other forms of attention are on the menu for this awkward group but “Joy Ride” isn’t only full of crudeness, despite producer Seth Rogen’s name on the credits. Unlike most raunchy adventures, this trip is also full of heart and genuine acceptance that will ring true to many in the audience.

Marco Cerritos