Korean indie rock band Se So Neon apologizes to fans for performing at the SXSW Festival, which was boycotted by over 100 artists due to its sponsorship by the US Department of Defense and defense industry players connected to the ongoing situation in Palestine. The band expressed regret for not being fully aware of the situation and pledged not to perform at events supporting war or violence. While their apologies were appreciated by fans, some noted that it wasn't up to non-Palestinian fans to accept the apology and hoped that other Korean artists would bring more awareness to the dire situation in Gaza through their platforms.
Writer-director Alex Garland's thriller "Civil War" premiered at SXSW, depicting a dystopian near future where the US is torn apart by civil war. The film, starring Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, received initial rave reviews and offers a cautionary warning about the destructive endpoint of polarization. Garland intentionally leaves the political connections vague, aiming for the film to spark conversation and allow viewers to apply their own understanding of polarization to the story. The concept of a new American civil war is not a radical one, with a recent poll finding that 40% of Americans believe it's at least somewhat likely in the next 10 years.
"The Fall Guy" is a delightful action comedy that serves as a joyful testament to the people who make movies, particularly the underappreciated work of stunt doubles. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, the film is a charming rebuttal to the encroachment of digital effects in life and film, celebrating blockbuster movies and their illusions of grandeur made by dozens of people working in concert. Directed by David Leitch, a former stuntman, the movie offers an enjoyable exhibit of stunt staples and is a fizzy, funny, convincingly romantic delight that celebrates the craft of making big movies with big stunts without taking itself too seriously.
