March 2010
Not Quite SXSW Review: Between Floors
Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? You can probably see the comedy in that, right? And the drama? Imagine five stuck-elevator scenarios, and you can imagine Austinite Jen White's award-winning feature Between Floors.
Five very different stories play out in five separate elevators. Often funny and sometimes poignant, the tales include a lone business man, a man with a video camera, a family on their way to a party, a bloodied man and someone in a bad gorilla-in-drag suit ... and one very over-capacity elevator. The stress of being trapped and blind to any efforts to rescue them, the veneer of composure breaks down in sometimes unexpected ways.
White cuts between the elevators as each of the stories in Between Floors unfolds. With the tagline of "Sometimes getting stuck is the only way to break free," each elevator contains a different dynamic forcing the occupants to let go of some harbored anger. Ironically, the most diffuse story concerns the overcapacity crowd, but with so many potential stories, it has to be. Instead of wasting time developing those stories, White focuses on group dynamics of strangers, with amusing and insightful results. The two solo occupants do not get a chance to explain their stories, but they are still interesting to watch, one with hilarious results and the other heartwrenching.
Photo Essay: 2010 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards
I know I've mentioned before (possibly to the point of causing you to roll your eyes) that my favorite Austin red-carpet event every year is the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards. The only drawback to the evening is that it's the night before SXSW, so I get sucked up into this whirlwind of festival-tude before I can show you all the cool pictures I took.
This year, for the tenth annual awards, I covered the red carpet portion of the evening and Debbie Cerda took over for the actual awards ceremony. I admit I missed getting to watch the ceremony, which I enjoy, although I get exhausted from all the standing and kneeling and photography work by the end of the night. Someday maybe I'll get a seat at one of the tables. I'd probably have to dress up then, though. One advantage of working as press is that I get to wear sneakers.
I wrote about the evening for Cinematical, and that article includes a nice photo gallery of nationally recognizable celebrities, as well as excellent embedded videos from other media sites. You might want to check that out first. But I still have some photos left, especially of familiar Austin faces, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. Off we go.
SXSW 2010: Debbie's Wrap-Up
If I had to pick a theme for my experience at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival, it would have to be "what can be."
It began with the first event that I attended, my favorite Interactive panel that I saw this year: "How Sci-Fi Shaped the Internet" by Adria Richards. I was interested in hearing what Richards had to say about our shared favorite science fiction creators, including Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock, especially how their early lives affected the message of their works. She talked about how sci-fi allows us to think outside the box, and how this skill has been essential in terms of the NASA space program and the development of the Internet. Richards also talked about innovations influenced by science fiction, including flat screen televisions and earbuds (Fahrenheit 451), Ebook readers (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), and wireless headsets (Star Trek). She spoke about the challenges and solutions in inspiring hope in young people, and as a child of the Sixties I could relate to the inspirations of the space program. I remember looking at the stars and wondering, "What's out there?"
Which brings me to the next SXSW event that shared the thread of exploring our dreams, the movie Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission. When I'd mentioned to people that I was looking forward to interviewing Garriott and seeing the documentary, the few people who recognized his name made reference to him as "a crazy eccentric" who spent $30 million to travel into space. Having met Garriott last fall when he'd donated his property, staff and resources for SCARE for a CURE haunt, I was skeptical of this misnomer. Man on a Mission successfully dispels this assumption, as we see how one person can achieve their dream that has profound impact on mankind. Garriott may have been the son of an astronaut, but it was through his own determination that he created and sold his first game Ultima and funded his way through college and into wise investments.
SXSW Review: Red White & Blue
The Austin-shot feature Red White & Blue, Simon Rumley's follow-up to The Living and the Dead, is a revenge-driven thriller that could be summed up as "sin begets sin." While violent and disturbing, Rumley's story explores how wrong people can go in certain circumstances, with three people with very different backgrounds creating a perfect storm of vengeance.
Erica's (Amanda Fuller) only occupation is trying to keep a roof over her head as she drifts from bar to bar, sleeping with any man who will have her. Spontaneous kindness from a drifter living in the same boarding house seems to bring stability and hope for something more, when one of her hook-ups discovers the cost of sleeping with her. Her history has turned her into the walking wounded, extracting a passive/aggressive Russian roulette on men who'll sleep with anyone. Nate (Noah Taylor) reveals the one trigger that will make him abandon his carefully maintained control. Franki's (Marc Senter) aspirations and indulgences cannot hide his infantile tendencies.
Zellneroids! A Zellner Brothers Short Film Cavalcade
Austin filmmakers David and Nathan Zellner (Goliath) will screen some of their short films. Fiddlestixx, Foxy and the Weight of the World and Flotsam/Jetsam are mentioned. However, the Alamo description also notes "Additional surprises to be included!" And with the Zellners, that could mean anything. You've been warned.
SXSW 2010: Austin Filmmakers Congregate at 'Happy Poet'
Sometimes the best photo opportunities have nothing to do with red carpets. The Austin-shot film The Happy Poet had its world premiere in the small theater at Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz during SXSW this year, and the only red carpet might have been a patch in the lobby where someone spilled a Red Bull. Still, if you wanted to meet Austin filmmakers and actors -- and snap a few photos -- this was the place to be early on Sunday afternoon.
Everyone clustered around the little food cart (pictured at right) in front of the Ritz, just like the one in The Happy Poet, but unfortunately with no sandwiches. You could get one of the healthy snacks, however, if you signed up for the film's mailing list. The only problem was that the light was terrible for photography -- it was very sunny and everyone stood in the shade.
Jenn Brown and I were both intrigued by this movie, because a) we could see from the stills that it was shot in noticeable Austin locations like Auditorium Shores and b) we like movies about food. So we both got to the premiere early, which you want to do anyway for films playing in the small Alamo Ritz theater on the first weekend of SXSW.
We met so many Austin film folks that I've forgotten who a few of them are in the photos, but I'm sure some of you will be kind enough to let me know in the comments.
It was easy for us to recognize Mars director Geoff Marslett, because we'd had brunch with him before the fest to talk about his movie. He wasn't wearing his Mars space outfit that day, though ... but Jenn posted photos of that elsewhere. In the following photo, he's second from the left, next to filmmaker Spencer Parsons (I'll Come Running) with local author/filmmaker Linden Dalecki and UT instructor Bryan Sebok, who co-produced SXSW 2010 feature Dance with the One, on the right.
SXSW Review: For Once in My Life
Of all the SXSW films that I saw this year, two of my top-ranked films were documentaries that share a common message of overcoming odds to achieve a dream and inspire others. One was Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission, for which you can read my review. The other film that I found inspiring that shatters preconceptions is For Once in My Life, which won the Best Documentary Feature Audience Award at SXSW this year.
For Once in My Life takes viewers on a journey with several members of The Spirit of Goodwill Band, all who face a wide range of severe mental and physical challenges. The central characters of this story are on the extreme opposite of the socioeconomic scale and face much different challenges, but like Richard Garriott they want to share their story and music with the intent of inspiring others. This heartwarming film brings to light what people with disabilities can achieve when given the right opportunities and support from family as well as their work environment.
SXSW Review: Thunder Soul
What you should do instead of reading this review is find a way to see the movie Thunder Soul; I guarantee within the first few minutes you'll be hooked.
Perhaps you need more than an urging from me and all the other people who loved it. The best documentaries expose us to things we might not otherwise be aware, educate, motivate and entertain, and prove that fact can be wilder than fiction. The best can do all of the above. Thunder Soul, directed by Mark Landsman, is a documentary that has done all of the above, and will make you reach for your wallet to help fund music in schools and to buy high school students music. It proves just how important a music program can be to the students of your local school.
Thunder Soul is both a profile of stage band director and composer Conrad O. Johnson and a celebration of the music he and his students created. Between 1968 and 1977, the Kashmere High School in Houston's 5th Ward had a stage band performing music that put professionals to shame. With 42 regional titles, 2 national titles, and invitations to play in Europe and Japan, the Kashmere Stage Band took the world by storm.
Catching Up on Slackery News Tidbits, March 30
To be frank, SXSW is still kicking our butts here at Slackerwood. We still have more reviews and features for you and we're trying to get them finished and published in the next few days. It's all wonderful stuff and you'll love it, but in the meantime, actual non-SXSW-related film news has been happening here in Austin, and for Austin movies. Some of this news is a little stale by now, but maybe you were caught up with SXSW too and missed it.
So here's a nice bundle of Austin film news, much of it good news related to distribution.
- The locally shot film Artois the Goat, which premiered at SXSW 2009 and won awards at several film festivals last year, will be appearing on DVD in April. IndiePix will be distributing the charming movie about a young man pursuing love and the perfect cheese. Read Jenn's review for more info.
- Another SXSW 2009 film, Winnebago Man, landed U.S. theatrical and DVD distribution this month from Kino International. The documentary will be released this summer and fall, starting in July in New York. No word on when it'll hit Austin, but since director Ben Steinbauer and producer Joel Heller live here, hopefully we won't have to wait too long.
- We're not done yet. I haven't mentioned the distribution deal for Best Worst Movie, the documentary about the cult success of Troll 2 that also premiered at SXSW 2009 ... remember Zack Carlson's tattoo? New distribution company Area23a will start touring the movie in cities in April, and the first city will naturally be Austin, Texas. Alamo Drafthouse and The Highball will host a gala opening-night screening and party on Friday, April 23, and then will run here for at least a week before it hits New York and LA.
SXSW Interview: Jay and Mark Duplass, 'Cyrus'
I have to disclose a personal bias with filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass. They grew up in a nearby neighborhood to ours in Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans), and went to the same high school as my brothers (Jesuit High School, New Orleans). They remember one of my brothers' cross-country feats fondly. Our mommas sometimes run into one another over at the Economical (or maybe the Rouse's). It was surreal to find out that "those Duplass boys" had moved to Austin too, and made a movie that was playing SXSW the first year I went to the festival, 2005.
Five years later, Jay and Mark Duplass brought their Fox Searchlight-produced film Cyrus to Sundance and then here to Austin for SXSW, where the movie screened on a Saturday night at the Paramount to a full house. I met up with them at the Four Seasons downtown the next day for a brief interview. Things have definitely changed since 2005 -- and not just that they no longer live in Austin. Cyrus will be released this summer and stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill. Read my review for more details.
SXSW Review: Cyrus
I know I'm not the only one who felt a little nostalgic during the SXSW screening of Cyrus, the latest film from the filmmaking brothers Jay and Mark Duplass. The former Austinites debuted The Puffy Chair in 2005, at the first SXSW I attended, in a weeknight screening at Alamo on South Lamar. Five years later, they've made a film with Fox Searchlight that stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill, which premiered at Sundance in January. The question is -- is it any good? Did the studio experience "spoil" the filmmakers' style?
I think Cyrus is the best feature film the brothers have made so far -- and one that will appeal to a wider audience than, say, Baghead, which was funny if you go to a lot of film festivals but didn't quite catch on outside of that circle. However, the brothers are still able to retain their skewed sense of humor and their intimate way of shooting a scene.
Reilly plays John, a middle-age schlub whose ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) is trying to encourage him to date. The scene in which Jamie strides into John's house uninvited and finds him engaged in a rather private activity speaks worlds about both characters. And then there's the party where Jamie and her fiance push John into trying to introduce himself to various women. That party may seem awfully familiar to some of us. Fortunately, John meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), in what may be is a modern-day twist on the Meet Cute scenarios of old-fashioned romantic comedies, and they hit it off fairly quickly.
SXSW Review: Skateland
Set in the 80s, Skateland is a coming-of-age drama in a small East Texas town. The lead characters deal in different ways with pivotal moments and decisions in their lives. Writer/director Anthony Burns and co-writers Brandon and Heath Freeman deliver a solid production through cinematography and editing that allows the ensemble cast to really shine in this film, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The central story revolves around charismatic Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), who is needing to deal with life after high school but he doesn't have a plan -- he's content working as a manager at the local skating rink, Skateland, but it's closing its doors soon. Ritchie's childhood buddy Brent Burkham (Heath Freeman) moves back home after he's dropped from the motorcross racing circuit and begins working on an oil drilling site with his dad. Ritchie also spends a lot of time hanging out with Brent's sister Michelle (Ashley Greene), who is eager to take the next step in both life and their relationship. Ritchie doesn't seem to concerned about moving on with his life, which is frustrating to his younger sister Mary (Haley Ramm), who is eager to see her older brother make something of himself.
SXSW Review: Earthling
What do you do if it turns out your very existence is a lie? Clay Liford's feature film Earthling explores identity, relationship and the meaning of home in his follow-up to his Sundance selection short My Mom Smokes Weed.
After a mysterious "atmospheric event," teacher Judith (Rebecca Spence) finds herself at odds with her life, and haunted by an enigmatic student, Abby (Amelia Turner). Judith realizes that the life she thought she had has been a pretense, and after Abby's insistence they are connected, Judith's life starts falling apart.
Clay Liford defies current science-fiction convention, eschewing rockets, robots and rayguns (the "r-cubed" he mentions in our earlier interview) to employ a low-budget indie style that emphasizes the story. Earthling employs an old-school, pre-Star Wars science-fiction style, when the story was more important than the dressings, such as Tarkovsky's Solyaris (or even Soderbergh's remake Solaris). It's more like The Quiet Earth or Shane Carruth's Primer, a 2004 indie time traveller sleeper that shook up the indie/sci-fi world a bit. Primer was also filmed in Texas (Addison, to be exact; Earthling was filmed in Dallas).
SXSW Quick Snaps: 'Lemmy' and Motorhead at the Paramount
I confess that the movie Lemmy was a pleasant surprise for me at SXSW. You'd think I would learn my lesson -- just because you aren't familiar with or aren't fond of a certain type of music, or musician, that doesn't mean you won't like a documentary about it/them. One of my favorite music documentaries is The Devil and Daniel Johnston but you won't find any of Johnston's albums in my house. I was assigned to review Lemmy for Cinematical and wasn't terribly enthusiastic, not being a big Motorhead fan, but as you can see from my review, I liked the documentary very much and found Lemmy to be a quite fascinating subject.
After Lemmy played the Paramount, filmmakers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski appeared onstage for a Q&A. They were shortly joined by Lemmy himself, who is even more entertaining in person than he is in the movie. And near the end of the Q&A, the rest of Motorhead walked up from their seats in the audience and joined the group onstage, as you can see from the above photo. No one wanted to leave -- it was a fun and lively Q&A.
I've got a photo of Olliver and Orshoski after the jump. No news yet on when we'll get a chance to see Lemmy again, but I'll keep you posted.
'Dancing Outlaw' with Director Jacob Young
This week's Music Monday selection is the 1991 film Dancing Outlaw, a documentary about Jesco White. Director Jacob Young will hold a Q&A after the screening.
Bride of Frankenstein
Alamo's Cinema Club continues this month with a screening of James Whale's 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. After the screening, Cinema Club will lead a discussion with the audience and author/UT RTF professor Tom Schatz.
La Danse - Le ballet de l'Opera de Paris
Frederick Wiseman's documentary La Danse portrays all aspects of the Paris Ballet Company behind the scenes.
La Danse - Le ballet de l'Opera de Paris
Frederick Wiseman's documentary La Danse portrays all aspects of the Paris Ballet Company behind the scenes.
The Dark Crystal
This month's Saturday Morning Kids Club selection is The Dark Crystal, the 1982 film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Grown-up film buffs will be happy to hear that this is a rare screening of a 35mm print of a film.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival: World Tour
From the Paramount Theatre website: "Take a walk on the wild side with Radical Reels, the steepest, fastest films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Then ignite your passion for adventure, action and travel with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour! Each night showcases award winning films about remote cultures, the world’s last great wild places, and the people who travel there. As always, a special tour host direct from Banff, Alberta will introduce the films." The event is a benefit for the Austin Parks Foundation.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival: Radical Reels
From the Paramount Theatre website: "Take a walk on the wild side with Radical Reels, the steepest, fastest films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Then ignite your passion for adventure, action and travel with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour! Each night showcases award winning films about remote cultures, the world’s last great wild places, and the people who travel there. As always, a special tour host direct from Banff, Alberta will introduce the films." The event is a benefit for the Austin Parks Foundation.
Movies This Week: Chloe Betrayed Red Riding, Mother
There is life after SXSW, and it looks like a lot of movies waited until our attention wasn't drawn to the fest. Several films are opening this week, so you have plenty to choose from.
Chloe -- Take a stale marriage and an attractive escort, throw in Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, and Amanda Seyfried, who headline the cast of Atom Egoyan's latest. Remember Where the Truth Lies? (wide)
Formosa Betrayed -- Inspired by actual events, an FBI agent is entangled in a murder investigation that involves the U.S. State Department, the Chinese Mafia and the Nationalist Chinese Government. The cast includes James Van Der Beek, Wendy Crewson and John Heard. (Galaxy Highland)
Review: Greenberg
Just when we thought SXSW movies had left Austin, here comes a movie with two actors very familiar to SXSW festgoers: Greta Gerwig (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Baghead) and Mark Duplass (Mars, Humpday), although Duplass is only onscreen for a few minutes in this one. Greenberg, however, is a studio-produced film (Focus Features) from writer/director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale), and stars someone better known these days for Hollywood blockbusters than indies, Ben Stiller.
Stiller plays the title character, Roger Greenberg, although the movie begins by focusing on another character. Florence Marr (Gerwig) works as a personal assistant to hotel developer Philip Greenberg and his family living in suburban LA. They're traveling abroad for awhile and ask her to keep an eye on their dog Mahler and their house, even though Philip's brother Roger will be staying there while they're gone.
Review: Hot Tub Time Machine
I am a big fan of the 80s -- not as a retro fan, I still own all of the Duran Duran, the Smiths, and U2 vinyl albums I bought on their release dates. I was 22 years old in 1986, and would go "clubbing" dressed like Madonna in "Lucky Star." I loved John Hughes films, but my first film crush was on John Cusack as Walter "Gib" Gibson in The Sure Thing (1985). What could be better than a trip back to my favorite era than Hot Tub Time Machine starring and produced by Cusack himself, especially with Steve Pink (Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity) as director?
Hot Tub Time Machine begans with three buddies dealing with their own personal misery in their early forties, and wistful for the dreams of their youth in the 1980s. Adam (John Cusack) comes home to find that his girlfriend has moved out. Nick (Craig Robinson) is married, but his job at a dog-grooming salon is far from the musical career he had desired when he was young. Adam and Nick's friend Lou (Rob Corddry) is at rock-bottom -- he's a divorced alcoholic who is on a path to self-destruction.
DVD Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox
The movie Fantastic Mr. Fox is director Wes Anderson's first animated film, and Anderson's uniquely skewed sensibilities work well in the film's stop-action animated universe. From its snarky dialogue to its catchy vintage pop soundtrack, the film shares many Anderson hallmarks with the director's much-loved other films such as Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums.
Based on the Roald Dahl children's novel, Fantastic Mr. Fox -- now available on DVD and Blu-ray -- is not a complicated story. Mr. Fox (George Clooney), who has a penchant for daring squab thefts and other nocturnal adventures, promises to give up his reckless ways when his wife, Felicity (Meryl Streep), announces that she's pregnant. He keeps his promise for a couple of years, settling into a life of responsible parenthood with Mrs. Fox and their growing son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman).
All is mostly well until the Foxes move from their cozy den into a better home in the base of a tree near land owned by notoriously mean farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, (Robin Hurlstone, Hugo Guinness and Michael Gambon, respectively). The Foxes' smart and athletically talented nephew Kristofferson (Eric Chase Anderson) moves in with the family, creating tension with a very jealous Ash. And tempted by the many treasures on the nearby farms, Mr. Fox soon is back to his thieving ways, making daring raids with help from his building superintendent, a somewhat dense opossum named Kylie (Wallace Wolodarsky).
SXSW 2010: Catch the Films You Missed Through VOD
If you live in Austin, or stuck around after the fest, you had the chance to see "Taste of SXSW" screenings of four films from the fest at Alamo earlier this week. But did you know that you can still see several films from SXSW 2009 and 2010 via cable TV and/or internet video on demand (VOD)?
I have Time Warner here in Austin, so I can't tell you how to find your VOD channels on other cable/satellite networks. It was hard enough to find on TWC. But if you're familiar with the VOD options with your digital TV provider, I'm sure you can find these films. On TWC, these are all on channel 1000 (Movies on Demand), and the newer ones are under the category SXSW 2010. The films you can see there are:
SXSW Quick Snaps: Ashley Greene and Heath Freeman of 'Skateland'
The DVD release of Twilight: New Moon was not on my radar last week until a couple of "Twihards" asked, "OMG -- did you get to meet Ashley Greene or Kristen Stewart at SXSW?!" As I showed you previously, I saw Stewart at The Runaways screening along with her co-star Dakota Fanning and rock star Cherie Currie. Indeed the red carpets were abuzz for the arrivals of both Twilight stars for their respective movies.
Ashley Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the Twilight series, showed up in Austin during SXSW to promote Skateland. Skateland is set in the early 1980s and is centered around a 19-year-old skating rink manager who is forced to look in his life in a new way. However, it's the strength of the female characters and the women who portray them -- led by Greene -- that stands out in this film. Although most of the filming took place in Shreveport, Louisiana, the story is set in a small Texas town and many of the filmmakers graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, including producer Heath Freeman, who also plays Greene's character's brother.
SXSW Red Carpet: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission
If I recall correctly, I covered a total of nine red carpet premiere events at SXSW Film Festival this year. By far my favorite event was the red carpet for the locally produced documentary Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission, which took place on Sunday afternoon, March 14, at the Paramount Theatre. On display were some special items from his space travel collection, including a spacesuit and an actual Sputnik.
SXSW Spotlight: My Blackberry Ate My Clay Liford Interview
I had a great interview with Earthling director Clay Liford. Only my dog ate it. Or rather, my Blackberry. So I don't have notes or the audio.
What you missed was hearing an unrepentant sci-fi geek talk about "R-Cubed" -- rockets, robots, and ray guns -- and how science fiction is far more than that. Liford's subtle science-fiction film Earthling harkens back to old-school science fiction. The Dallas filmmaker spoke at length about post-WWII science fiction and the power of that period in the genre's history.
He also went on to talk about early science-fiction films, such as the 1951 classic The Day the Earth Stood Still, and his dislike for the recent remake. And how he wanted to create an indie film with science fiction elements that didn't rely on R-Cubed.
You'll also miss the admiration he has for his lead actress, Rebecca Spence, and not only how much she brought to the role of Judith, and how much she carries on her shoulders within the structure of the film. On top of all that, you don't get to hear how much respect she had for her director, who made a fundamental change in casting that switched gender of a character she had to interact with intimately.
SXSW Review: Mars
The animated feature debut of Austin filmmaker Geoff Marslett, Mars, is a refreshing antidote to the dark and provocative films that usually crowd out the less dramatic films.
Mars is the story of has-been astronaut Charlie Brownsville (Mark Duplass), whose fame is in decline but still valuable enough to be included in the crew of the first manned mission to the red planet. Literally there as a backup and PR frontman, Brownsville is merely a talking head while Casey Cook (Zoe Simpson) and Captain Hank Morrison (Paul Gordon) do the real work, trying to beat the second unmanned mission to Mars to find out the fate of the first.
On the surface, Mars looks like science fiction, but in reality, it's a lighthearted love story. Brownsville may be a showman with his bedazzled and Western-yoked suit, but despite his bravado, he actually does have a valuable speciality. Cook, like any intelligent woman, has little patience for a wastrel, but eventually realizes there's more to Brownsville.
Blu-ray Review: Days of Heaven
No one would argue that director,
writer and producer Terrence Malick is a prolific filmmaker. Since
directing his first feature, Badlands, in 1973, he has
directed a mere three more. Four, if you count the upcoming The
Tree of Life, which has been in production for two years. Malick is not one to be
rushed. But what Malick's career lacks in quantity, it more than
makes up for in quality. His first two films, Badlands and
Days of Heaven, are considered classics; his third, The
Thin Red Line, was a critical darling when released in 1998.
Given Malick's auteur reputation, it's no surprise that Days of Heaven has achieved an honor bestowed on a relative handful of films: It's now available on a stunning new Criterion Collection Blu-ray Disc, starting today. Released to wide acclaim in 1978, Malick's second feature is a fine example of his visually poetic, deliberately paced style.
Set in the Texas Panhandle at the dawn of World War I, Days of Heaven is the story of Bill (Richard Gere), a Chicago steelworker who, after killing his boss in a fight, flees to Texas with his girlfriend, Abby (Brooke Adams), and young sister Linda (Linda Manz). The three find work harvesting wheat in the fields of a stoic Panhandle farmer known only as The Farmer (Sam Shepard).
When the harvest ends, the farmer -- in love with Abby but unaware that she and Bill are a couple (they have been posing as brother and sister) -- invites them all to stay on at the farm. In quintessential Malick fashion, the story then becomes a study -- a thoroughly poetic one, of course -- of human nature's dark side. The love triangle turns from merely complicated to completely sinister, as Abby marries the farmer in a cynical scheme to inherit his assets. The scheme goes awry, and the characters' underlying tensions explode against a biblically disastrous backdrop of locusts, fire and death.
SXSW 2010: Jenn's Wrap-Up
It's over, and I've got the post-fest funk. I'm tired, I'm cranky, and missing out-of-town friends already. I just counted; I only made it to 23 films, plus another five I saw in advance. This is my lowest number of films seen at SXSW by far. I do have three more screeners by the DVD player, so I'll break 30 eventually.
Most Memorable Moments? Besides the beer in the lap, I'd have to say it's a tie between making the Thunder Soul guys tear up with the standing ovation at screening #3, and the crazy ranting woman at Red White & Blue screening #2.
Unexpected Favorite? Thunder Soul was a surprise because I had no idea that this high school band had not only left such an impression on the musical history of the U.S., but that the double-disc reissue of their music is a perpetual strong seller for Waterloo Records. As it happens, the documentary was filmed at just the right time. Powerful stuff. And it was one of those I was going to skip, but too many people suggested it.
Stuck in my Memory? The Happy Poet, hands down. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm a proud Austinite, so I'm primed to give an Austin film a chance. But you know what? I liked it a lot on its own merits. Until I saw Thunder Soul, it was my favorite film of the fest, because it made me smile and stuck with me. Paul Gordon's story and performance really resonated with me, I was rooting for Bill and his clueless perseverance of wanting something better for himself and others was disarming. The Happy Poet is a great example of the power and value of "small" films worthy of greater attention.
Keeping it Weird? Mars director Geoff Marslett, hands down (pictured right). I liked the guy just talking to him at a pre-fest interview brunch, as he's articulate and forthcoming. Talking to him during the festival, and seeing him first in blue heart sunglasses and then in that bedazzled onesie, proclaiming it had essence of Duplass, well, Marslett is certainly keeping Austin weird. Plus he's making fun movies to boot. No wonder he wins best teacher awards at UT. Got some great photos of the guy, including the ones already posted in my SXSW dispatches.
SXSW Review: Tucker & Dale vs Evil
Rednecks versus college kids? That's a horror genre cliche. In the case of Tucker & Dale vs Evil, it's 88 minutes of horror comedy gold.
Tucker and Dale are two rednecks complete with an old truck and possibly older overalls who are going to their new vacation cabin for the weekend. Unfortunately, it's Spring Break, so an SUV-load of college kids are heading the same direction. Things get bloody when a coed nearly drowns.
The best comedy exposes truths and flips stereotypes on their proverbial ear, and that's the power of Tucker & Dale vs Evil. In this case, the college kids keep flipping out, assuming the earnest and philosophical Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and the soft-hearted Dale (Tyler Labine) are straight out of Deliverance. Tudyk and Labine have an onscreen chemistry that belies the fact it's their first film together and not a life-long bromance like their characters.
SXSW 2010: More Audience Awards
The SXSW Film Festival announced more 2010 audience awards today in the Spotlight Premieres, Emerging Visions, Lone Star States, 24 Beats Per Second and Midnighters categories. One Austin-shot film and one Houston film were among the winners.
The juried awards were announced Tuesday night, but these accolades are from the audiences. With 134 feature-length films, these are the ones audiences really went wild for. So without further ado...
SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
Winner: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission (listen to Debbie's interview with Garriott)
Director: Mike Woolf (of Austin's Beef and Pie Productions)
LONE STAR STATES
Winner: Thunder Soul
(pictured above)
Director: Mark Landsman
Rodriguez Embraces Film Reboots from 'Predators' to 'Spy Kids 4'
On the first Saturday morning of SXSW 2010, I got up at a time that would be reasonable for a weekday, but for a weekend during a film festival is best described as "Oh My [Expletive] God AM." I found out that at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, free downtown parking near Alamo Ritz abounds. This is great advice for earlybirds, but you'd have to be insane to be that kind of earlybird during SXSW Film.
I was headed to a press screening/conference for Predators, the latest movie co-produced and co-written by Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. The film was shot on location in Hawaii as well as here in Austin at Troublemaker Studios. The night before the press event, people had waited in line for hours on end to see the footage I was about to watch. You can read Rod Paddock's account of the "First Look" event for more details.
The press screening was just for the Predators footage shown at the public event -- we didn't get the conceptual artwork or a visit from special-effects/make-up master Greg Nicotero. Here's what we saw:
- A trailer for Predators, which tells us that a bunch of people who don't know one another and are very dangerous folks have all been transported to the Predators planet. Looks like Adrien Brody's character takes the lead. I particularly liked Laurence Fishburne and Alice Braga, even though she appears to be a permutation of Jenette Goldstein in Aliens (or Michelle Rodriguez in Avatar).
Because We Love Cheap Beer and High-Speed Internet: Co-Sponsoring Big Gig Austin Happy Hour
Slackerwood is happy to be a co-sponsor of the "How Can Google Not Love Us?" happy hour on Tuesday, March 23 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at The Highball. Check out the Facebook invite for more info on drink specials and whatnot. I suspect I don't need to tell most of you where The Highball is.
In addition, Slackerwood has signed on as a supporter of Big Gig Austin. You may be wondering why a website about movies is interested in an initiative to bring the Google Fiber Network to Austin. It's a no-brainer: Faster network speeds mean we can watch more movies online at a higher picture quality. Film geeks who have found out about this initiative are salivating.
Sure, I can go to Hulu right now and watch Slacker online, and it looks just fine ... unless it's a busy time of day and the network is dragging. But imagine watching Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven with the same exquisite quality on the Criterion Blu-Ray that's releasing this week. (Yes, we'll have a review. I saw it and whatever else I might think of the film, it is visually breathtaking.) Imagine a network that isn't going to drag when everyone in town seems to have a wild hair for watching things online, like the Presidential inauguration.
SXSW Interview: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission
Local serial entrepreneur and Austin game development industry pioneer Richard Garriott launched an incredible adventure into space in 2008. The feature documentary Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission followed him through his training and flight with the Russian space program. I spoke to director Mike Woolf about the film as well as Garriott himself recently. Hear what he has to say about why Woolf and producer Brady Dial took on this project, the challenges of training and the benefits of private space travel in our latest podcast. You can also read my review of Man on a Mission, which premiered at this year's SXSW Film Festival.
Listen to Slackerwood's interview with Richard Garriott now.
Big Gig "How Can Google Not Love Us?" Happy Hour
You've probably heard that Austin is trying to woo Google to bring their super-fast, open gigabit network to our city. Individuals are encouraged to submit nominations directly to Google. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, March 26.
Gigabit Internet would be a boon for movie aficionados. You could stream full, high-definition video with no blotches or jitter. Moviemakers, who currently struggle to upload the smallest videos to sharing sites, would finally be able to deliver their creations in the quality and formats they deserve.
This Tuesday, Big Gig Austin will be hosting a happy hour at the Highball.
For the past month, they have been leading the virtual effort to attract Google to Austin. With the final deadline in sight, this is an opportunity for supporters and enthusiasts to meet.
SXSW 2010 Day 9: That's a Wrap, but a Taste of SXSW (and Coverage) Continues
Remember my Survival Guide? I remember a few people laughing at me saying to plan for all types of weather. Little did you know you had to plan for sunblock to scarves? The windchill is below freezing right now. BRRR.
I almost didn't leave the house this morning, but there was the promise of barbecue after the first screening. The Paramount wasn't sold out for Waking Sleeping Beauty, but it was very full for the last day-first screening. It was worthwhile, too. Don Hahn, a Disney animated film producer, used vintage footage and audio interviews to tell the story of Disney animation from 1984-1994. And what a time, too. I highly recommend this film if you get a chance to see it.
Then, it was a Smitty's run with half the film bloggers in town for SXSW. But not just a Smitty's run, a Smitty's and Black's. Personally, I preferred Smitty's, even though they were out of prime rib. But the pork ribs were amazingly good. Had to wait quite a while to get it, too, as we weren't the only ones with the great idea for Smitty's, but the line was much more tolerable close to the flames of the pit.
Then it was back to freeze in line for the closing-night Film, Four Lions, a terrorist comedy. Only, it wasn't so much a comedy but slapstick with a serious ending. I wanted to love it, but it sabotaged itself at the end.
Tobe Hooper's 'Eggshells'
At SXSW 2009, Austin director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), pictured at right, attended a special screening of his first feature film, the 1969 movie Eggshells. He pointed out that it had not been shown in theaters since the late 1960s.
On Sunday night, the movie gets another rare theatrical showing, this time at Alamo Ritz. Watchmaker Films, which is restoring the film for a future DVD release, has partnered with Alamo Drafthouse to show the film. It's a very odd, surreal movie that offers a few glimpses of Austin in the late 1960s, mostly around the University of Texas campus. In addition, Alamo promises some unnamed "special guests" at the screening.
For more information, check out my article for Cinematical from SXSW 2009 about the fest's Eggshells screening. (I skipped The Hurt Locker to see it. I still don't regret this.)
SXSW Review: This Movie is Broken
You can read more of contributor Laurie Coker's SXSW reviews and features at True View Reviews.
I do not like watching concerts on film or television. Just ask my husband. Unless the movie has some special draw, like that I want to share the experience with him because he loves music, I avoid concerts that are not live. I also have a huge problem with most music videos. This Movie is Broken, which is having its world premiere at SXSW, is basically a long, long music video with a tiny, interesting but all too brief story woven in between songs, performed in concert format by Toronto's famous indy rock band Broken Social Scene.
Directed by Bruce McDonald and written by Don McKeller, This Movie is Broken had me engrossed in the story of its characters, but since the film's main footage shows the band in performance, I felt frustrated and dissatisfied. However, I did like the story, what little there was of it.
SXSW 2010 Day 8: Five in One Day, and a Revisit to Mars
This is it folks. One day left. Friday was quite a full day for me. I don't know about you, but I'm kinda looking forward to it ending and not just the fact that means the music people will leave. But it also means the films are coming to a close, too.
Today was my first five-film day of SXSW 2010. And what a group of films. I started off with brunch at the Ritz for All My Friends are Funeral Singers with a live score performed by Califone. As it turns out, the music came first, then the film, with the intent of a live score version as the final part of the trilogy, and the director is in the band.
Next, I dodged many already tipsy wristbanders to get over to Thunder Soul. This is going to be the standout film of SXSW 2010 and while I normally don't participate in awards forecasting, I bet that it will at least get an Oscar nod. A friend had recommended it, and she mentioned she knew about "Kashmere" and well, I'm not big on the music docs. But like many people, did I get my eyes opened. Kashmere is not a band per se, but a groundbreaking 1970s high school stage band in Houston that shook up the music world, focusing on their band director, Conrad O. Johnson.
Two of his former students who organized and performed a reunion concert as a tribute to the man who changed their lives. Step aside, fictional Mr. Holland. Conrad Johnson's Opus is the many lives he touched, and through him, many more. During the Q&A everyone had to comment how much they loved the movie and two people mentioned they were inspired to pick up their instruments again. It's now by far my favorite movie of SXSW 2010. And now I know that Waterloo records has the double disc re-release of the Kashmere Stage Band recordings ...
SXSW Quick Snaps: The Runaways
Young film stars Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart joined Cherie Currie and writer/director Floria Sigismondi at the SXSW premiere of The Runaways last night. Fanning portrays Currie and Stewart delivers an outstanding performance as Joan Jett in this biopic based on Currie's novel, "Neon Angel." The Runaways covers the formation of the all-girl musical group of the same name through to Currie's departure at the peak of their success. The relationship between lead vocalist Currie and guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett is highlighted as well as Currie's drug addiction.
Check out Jenn's review for more details. If you missed the screening, don't worry -- The Runaways opens in theaters today.
More photos of the Q&A are available on our Flickr page -- and no, I do not have photographic evidence of Floria's wardrobe malfunction so don't ask!
[Photo credit: 'Cherie Currie, Floria Sigismondi, Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart at SXSW for The Runaways', by Debbie Cerda for Slackerwood on Flickr]
Movies This Week: Diary of a Runaway Repo Hunter
I know, I know, it's still SXSW but there are other movies out. And one coming out today just played SXSW.
The Bounty Hunter -- Gerard Butler is another fractious rom-com, this time as a bounty hunter after his ex Jennifer Aniston. Yeah. (Wide)
The Cry of the Owl -- Claude Chabrol's latest is a sexual revenge thriller based on a Patricia Highsmith novel. (Arbor)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid -- Haven't seen it, but love the tagline: "I'll be famous one day, but for now I'm stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons." Chloe Moretz from Kick-Ass is in it, as is Steve Zahn. That makes it worth catching to me. (wide)
That Evening Sun -- SXSW 2009 selection about a southern man dealing with family betrayals and feuding with a neighbor. Starring Hal Holbrook. (Arbor)
A Prophet -- How do you make a criminal kingpin? The Beat that My Heart Skipped director Jacques Audiard shows us with this simmering tale of a young Arab with nothing and no one who rises to the top despite the odds. An outstanding performance by Tahar Rahim. For more details, read my review. (Arbor)
SXSW Review: The Runaways
How perfect is it that a headliner film at SXSW would be a biopic of a groundbreaking all-girl rock band that jump started the careers of rock-and-roll legends? Maybe not perfect, but certainly entertaining.
Floria Sigismondi, a veteran of music videos, penned and directed the biopic of The Runaways, a 1970s band that included Joan Jett and Lita Ford. Jett (Kristen Stewart) is the focus along with lead singer Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), and the movie follows them in the classic rise and fall expected in most rock-and-roll tales.
One would think that a film that starts off with a graphic punctuation of coming of age would be more risky. After so many rock films, especially Sid and Nancy, it's hard to be shocked anymore. The closest thing to shock value is the raw sexuality of Jett and Currie, singularly and together. Joan Jett apparently hasn't publically declared her sexuality (although she's been seen with "Dykes Rule" slogans), and Sigismondi's script doesn't try to categorize it while playing up the attraction between Jett and Currie. The disturbing part of the film is the sexualization of Currie, who at 15 becomes a sex symbol onstage and off despite being underage, and neither Fanning nor Sigismondi back away from any line. Fanning is disturbingly sexual, emphasizing the underage aspect to the sexuality and the exploitation of a girl in the name of success.
Review: A Prophet
Director Jacques Audiard's follow up to the memorable The Beat That My Heart Skipped (De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté) has finally reached Austin, nearly a year after taking Cannes by storm.
A Prophet (Un prophète) is a complex prison tale that both condemns the system in all its forms and celebrates the perverted way it transforms lives. Nineteen-year-old Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim) is sent to prison for attacking a cop. Friendless, with no family and fewer clues, Malik quickly finds himself faced with committing a terrible crime or die. The reward is the dubious protection of a Corsican kingpin (Niels Arestrup) who takes Malik under his wing, but like an abusive father, this boon comes with a hefty price tag.
While Arab in ethnicity, Malik has little cultural ties with other Arabs, making him a man without any affiliations other than what he forges. His only resources are his mind, his resilience and his patience, and his evolution is marked by chapters most often associated with the people in Malik's life.
SXSW 2010 Day 7: Liford Mars and Loved Ones
Decided on another late start today, I just needed that extra sleep. But I did have a nice talk with Clay Liford before the last SXSW screening of his latest, Earthling. If you missed the film, it's playing at the Dallas International Film Festival next month, and a few others in the coming weeks. I hope you caught it.
I barely made it back to Alamo Lamar for Geoff Marslett's Mars, but I did, with two whole minutes to spare. Phew. This animated space rom-com was sweet and funny, and occasionally sly with a twangy Austin style soundtrack. Personally, I loved all the BSODs. I want one of the little creatures as a plush toy, it was so cute. I wish I could have made it over to the party at the Gibson, but I felt compelled to at least try to see three films today.
So I watched Cold Weather, a mumblecore-ish sleuthing tale. I think I liked it. I shouldn't mind the complete lack of resolution, but I don't think I do mind the lack.
SXSW Review: For The Sake of The Song: The Story of Anderson Fair
The documentary For The Sake of The Song: The Story of Anderson Fair tells the tale of Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant, the renowned Houston more-charity-than-business venue that has anchored the Texas singer/songwriter circuit for decades. Beloved Texas musicians from Lyle Lovett to Townes Van Zandt have honed their craft on its stage -- which, in its earliest days, was more cleared corner than actual stage.
The film opens with a shot of the Anderson Fair sign being ripped off the face of the building. That bit of dramatic tension creates some misdirected expectations. The film really is about capturing a moment in time, when Anderson Fair became the home base for Texas' most revered folk singers. The story is told through interviews with both musicians and staff, with many musical performances interspersed.
The movie will be a treat to fans. The production is beautiful and the sound is lovingly produced. Numerous performances are complemented by an original soundtrack from Austinite Gurf Morlix. Even the archival footage was crisp and clear on the Paramount big screen (and sound system).
SXSW Review: Monsters
Writer/director Gareth Edwards makes his feature film debut with Monsters, which premiered at a sold-out midnight screening at SXSW Presents: Fantastic Fest at Midnight. The English filmmaker and his cast and crew traveled in a van for several months throughout Central America to create a tale that is more of a road movie than simply another alien invasion. Through a combination of CGI effects created on his own laptop and natural settings, Edwards establishes a plausible reality.
Monsters is based on a simple premise: Six years ago, NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. New life forms began to appear there and half of Mexico was quarantined as an infected zone. The American and Mexican military still struggle to contain "the creatures."
SXSW Quick Snaps: A 'Red White and Blue' Audience
On Sunday, cast and crew of Simon Rumley's latest film, Red White and Blue, slipped away from SXSW to another theater for a private screening before the official world premiere of the film. The events reunited the entire cast and crew for a special celebration and viewing of the final cut of the film. The theater was eerily quiet as everyone focused on the dark and gruesome sequence of events unfolding on the screen. Actors Noah Taylor, Marc Senter and Nick Ashy Holden (pictured above) were all sitting together. As a filming location for last summer's shoot, I enjoyed recognizing my house in several scenes. Just look for the Fantastic Fest poster in the film and you will understand why I have trouble leaving the curtains open at night.
Red White and Blue is reminiscent of Rumley's The Living and the Dead in that once again he is not afraid to expose raw nerves -- like a bad car crash, you can't help but look -- but stylistically it's the cinematography and direction takes on a different approach. Stay tuned for Jenn Brown's review of Red White and Blue.
Red White and Blue plays SXSW one more time: Friday, March 19 at 9 pm at Alamo South Lamar.
[Photo credit: Noah Taylor, Marc Senter, and Nick Ashy Holden, by Debbie Cerda for Slackerwood, on Flickr. More photos are available on our Flickr page.]
SXSW Review: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission
Richard Garriott: Man on A Mission is an inspiring full-length documentary by local filmmaker Mike Woolf that chronicles Austin serial entrepreneur and game developer Richard Garriott as he becomes the first second generation astronaut to travel into space. The film takes viewers on a detailed countdown to launch as Garriott makes his way through his year of training. From Star City, Moscow, to NASA, to Yuri Gagarin’s original launch pad -- viewers are Garriott's co-pilot in his journey to the stars. Through Garriott's experiences, the audience not only gets a fresh look at the under-appreciated history of the Russian space program but also is exposed to never-before-seen footage from inside the re-entry capsule.
The liftoff to space seen in Man on a Mission was a lifetime in the making. Garriott built his fortune as one of the founding fathers of massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORGs), most notably his first game Ultima. From his first game sale in high school to his millions with Ultima Online, he has invested in private space travel including the Spacehab modules. He is a primary funder of the X-Prize and Space Adventures, the only company that can take private citizens to the ISS -- Garriott is the sixth one to fly to orbit.
SXSW 2010 Days 5 and 6: Between Floors and Red White and Blue Language
I feel like a wimp. I used to be able to do 4-5 films every day. But then I didn't have interviews to do and transcribe and reviews to write. And I didn't get to bed until 5 am. Yep, I'm a wimp. And Day 6 for me was for rest and recuperation from an impromptu after-after party.
Didn't make it to Cold Weather, but it's playing again on Thursday. [Jette interrupts: I saw it and liked it, go see it.] I did make it to Between Floors, a non-SXSW screening for a local production that didn't make it into the festival, but should have. Jen White (pictured above) filmed in Austin and San Marcos elevators, with five separate narratives. Often funny and sometimes poignant, the tales include a lone business man, a man with a video camera, a family on their way to a party, a bloodied man and someone in a bad gorilla-in-drag suit ... and one over-capacity elevator. It's a great "watch with a crowd" film, so check it out again on Monday when it plays a special engagement at the Alamo Ritz.
I finally watched Simon Rumley's Red White & Blue. I picked the night to watch it, too, apparently, complete with an outburst from an audience member that resulted in the usually laid-back Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League shutting her down with a heated expletive.
Need More Fest? Sample 'Taste of SXSW' Encores at Alamo
We're more than halfway through the 2010 SXSW Film Festival, and some of us are starting to experience that slightly panicky feeling that we haven't seen as many films as we wanted and are going to miss a few we were dying to see. Normally I'd advise some deep breathing, a yoga pose and the understanding that this happens every year and it's just the way the universe works. However, Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz has decided to give Austinites just one more chance to see some of the films the Alamo staff especially enjoyed at SXSW this year: Rejoice and Shout, Monsters, Outcast and Red White & Blue.*
The best part is that the "Taste of SXSW" screenings are open to the general public. These are equal-opportunity screenings where anyone can buy a ticket from the Alamo website. You don't have to wait in a long line in the rain only to find out that the badgeholders got all the seats this time. They're spaced throughout the week so you don't have to see three movies in a day if you're starting to feel a little burned out by that schedule.
The screening times and descriptions from the Alamo website are listed after the jump.
SXSW Quick Snaps: Fun with Katie Aselton
Filmmaker and actress Katie Aselton (The Puffy Chair) had a little fun on the red carpet for the SXSW premiere of her husband Mark Duplass's warm-hearted comedy Cyrus, in which she had a small role. Katie also directed and starred with Dax Shepard in the romantic drama The Freebie, which played SXSW Film this year. More photos from the Cyrus red carpet feature Jay and Mark hamming it up for the camera, and can be seen on the Slackerwood Flickr page.
If you want to find out more about Aselton, read Steph Beasley's interview with her at Austinist, where they discuss moviemaking and marriage and exchange mutual compliments.
[Photo credit: "Katie Aselton Credentialed", by Debbie Cerda for Slackerwood on Flickr]
SXSW Review: Barry Munday
You can read more of contributor Laurie Coker's SXSW reviews and features at True View Reviews.
One of the things that never fails to surprise me for good or bad, when I attend SXSW or any other film festival, is the fact that some extremely crappy films, like say last year's Observe and Report, can get funding and distribution from the likes of Warner Brothers and other far better films have to seek private promoters or never get released at all. Barry Munday, a movie from filmmaker Chris D'Arienzo, making his delightful directorial debut, still waits to be picked up by a major studio. It is a remarkably simple and entertaining film about a man who, after waking up to find his testicles gone, discovers what it really mean to be a man. It is a coming of age for a thirtysomething-year-old and it is good.
Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Hard Candy), whom I had the pleasure to interview at SXSW, plays the titular character, a fellow who envisions himself as a real ladies man and who appears to be perpetually stuck in the 90s. Wilson himself refers to Barry as "definitely douchey, but not a bad guy." And he's right.
SXSW Review: The Happy Poet
Paul Gordon's The Happy Poet had its world premiere this week at SXSW to an over-capacity and appreciative crowd at Alamo Ritz.
Bill (Paul Gordon) has a dream to open a healthy and organic food cart. This simple dream seems impossible due to poor credit and no experience (he's a poet), and no one believing in him, but he's determined to make it work, despite the pressure to open a hot-dog stand instead. With the unlikely allies of unemployed friend Donnie (Jonny Mars), a slacker-philosopher who haggles for the first sandwich (Chris Doubek), and Agnes (Liz Fisher), who quickly becomes a regular, it looks like his dream will take off. But can the Happy Poet food stand make a stand for healthy food, or will Bill be forced to sell out and sell hot dogs?
SXSW Film Announces 2010 Winners
The SXSW Film Festival announced its award winners last night at the Closing Awards Ceremony, hosted by comedian Eugene Mirman. The full list is available after the jump.
Austin filmmaker Amy Grappell received the Short Film Jury Award for the Documentary Short category for Quadrangle, an unconventional documentary about two "conventional" couples that swapped partners and lived in a group marriage in the early 70s. She also took home the SXSW Wholphin Award. Quadrangle previously received an honorable mention award after its premiere at Sundance this year, and has screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Grappell has been active in the Austin film community over the last decade as a director, writer, producer, actress and casting director. She serves on the Austin Film Society's "Docs in Progress" committee and received an AFS Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund grant in 2009 for Quadrangle. I met Amy in 2005 at SXSW where she premiered a documentary she had written and directed, Light From the East. Amy also produced and starred in the narrative feature Shady Grove (1996) that made its debut at an earlier SXSW.
Other notable Austin connections:
- Tiny Furniture, the Feature Film Jury Award winner for Narrative Feature category, includes local filmmaker/actor Alex Karpovsky
- Locally made documentary Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission won the Audience Award winner for Excellence in Poster Design.
- Petting Sharks, the Texas Shorts winner, was written and directed by University of Texas RTF grad Craig Elrod. His credits include Cleverboy's Playhouse (Cinematexas 2004), The Trouble With Jumpsuits (SXSW 2007), Clothes Horse (SXSW 2008), Polar Ops (Salvage Vanguard Micro Cinema 2009), and A Gentleman's Touch (AFF 2009). His feature script Floyd was a finalist for the 2007 Sundance Screenwriter's Lab.
SXSW Quick Snaps: Edward Norton Times Two
So far, SXSW Film has been a whirlwind of panels, red-carpet premieres, films, interviews and celebrity sightings, with barely enough time to breathe and eat before the next "can't miss" event on my schedule. What's been most amazing is how comfortable and relaxed major stars and filmmakers have been at SXSW premieres, including Jean Pierre-Jeunet (Micmacs à tire-larigot) and Jay and Mark Duplass (Cyrus) hamming it up for the cameras. The biggest highlight by far has been Edward Norton, who I've seen several times over the weekend. He and Tim Blake Nelson were busy with the premiere of their film Leaves of Grass on Friday night at the Alamo South Lamar -- you can see him below on the red carpet for that film.
At our interview on Saturday afternoon Edward stated that he was looking forward to catching a movie while at the festival. Therefore, it was not a surprise to see him make a quiet and subdued entrance into the premiere of Cyrus on Saturday evening (pictured above).
SXSW Review: The Parking Lot Movie
Contributor Rod Paddock returns to Slackerwood, this time with a review.
Every once in a while at film festivals, you come across a film with a strange title, some spare time and if you are lucky a seat in the theatre. A lot of times these movies turn out to be lumps of coal, but sometimes, these movies prove to be a gem in the rough. Well, I had some time on my hands this week during SXSW and found a 100 percent hidden gem: The Parking Lot Movie.
Seeing The Parking Lot Movie reminded me a lot of viewing Kevin Smith's debut Clerks at the Seattle International Film Festival in 1996. This movie treats the viewer with 90 minutes of witty banter and exposition from people who work or worked in a parking lot over a period of many years. There is one major difference: These people didn't have a talented scribe like Kevin Smith writing their dialogue, they lived it.
SXSW Review: Lovers of Hate
What's the best way to say "creepy and at times bordering on the distasteful ... but in a good way"? When you figure it out, let me know so I can describe Lovers of Hate, the latest film from Austin filmmaker Bryan Poyser, which premiered at Sundance this year before screening at SXSW and on IFC Video on Demand (where it's now available to watch). Normally I'm not fond of movies with unlikeable characters doing things that make me wrinkle my nose in distaste, but somehow Poyser and his excellent cast and crew pull it off in an arresting manner.
Rudy (Chris Doubek) is the saddest sack blowing around Austin -- his wife kicked him out and he has nowhere to live except his car, and his job prospects are dwindling by the moment. All he wants is a shower, and his wife Diana (Heather Kafka) back. In the middle of this, his brother Paul (Alex Karpovsky) shows up, a famous children's author in a Harry Potter sort of way. Paul's books are based on stories Rudy used to tell him when they were growing up, and Rudy hasn't finished his own magnum opus (with the same title as the film), so he's nursing a helluva grudge. He convinces his wife to pretend they're still a couple while they have dinner with Paul, but the shaky premise simply can't hold up. Rudy's also suspicious of his brother Paul having designs on Diana. What he wants is for Paul and himself to travel to a secluded house where Paul's been staying in Park City, so they can both finish their writing, but somehow nothing turns out quite as planned.
SXSW 2010 Day 4: Earthling and Centurion
Only four hours of sleep. But the beer-soaked clothes are cleaned, and I'm as awake as I expect to be on day four of SXSW.
This afternoon I had the opportunity to chat with Erasing David's David Bond. His documentary on the lack of secure privacy in government databases is a wake-up call to anyone who thinks, "I've done nothing wrong, so there is nothing to worry about." Check out my review. You have another chance to see Erasing David at the G-Tech theater in ACC at 11 am. Not only will Bond be there, but one of the investigators tasked to finding him as he attempted 30 days off the grid. Based on our lively conversation today, I predict it will be a good Q&A.
Yesterday I took a quick tour of the incredibly packed Film/Interactive Trade Show. What a circus. Today, I actually spent a little more time there, or tried to. I just was not feeling it. But then, I hadn't had breakfast yet. It took me nearly 9 hours between an orange juice and an actual meal. I got a kick out of seeing the matador and the bull heading over to the trade show together.
SXSW Special Note: Jette and 'World's Largest' Filmmaker
Just realized I haven't let you all know that I'm interviewing one of the filmmakers from World's Largest, Amy Elliott, at Studio SX on Tuesday, March 16, at 11 am. Studio SX takes place on the fourth floor of ACC in Ballroom D. It'll be recorded so I'll share it with you later if you don't go ... but I hope you'll stop by and listen. Also, go see World's Largest if you get the chance, it's a good documentary.
SXSW Quick Snaps: John C. Reilly at 'Cyrus'
Some actors and filmmakers just walk on stage for a Q&A like any ordinary person. But John C. Reilly, after the SXSW Cyrus screening at the Paramount on Saturday night, added a little flourish and style, doffing his hat for the audience. It was a charming moment.
Reilly was joined in the Cyrus Q&A by filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass, former Austinites, and actor Jonah Hill. In the film, Reilly's character falls for Marisa Tomei's single mom, a lovely woman with a son who Has Issues, played by Hill. The movie played to a full house at the Paramount. The Duplasses mentioned that they used to go to the Paramount a lot for the Summer Classic Film Series back in the day, and would never have imagined they'd be the ones on stage to a packed, excited audience.
"We've been waiting almost 20 years to show a movie on a Saturday night at the Paramount," Mark said.
Review: Our Family Wedding
Please welcome contributor Laurie Coker, whose reviews you can also read at True View Reviews.
Romantic comedies always hit and miss with me. I like them, for the most part, but have grown weary of the formulaic plots and pat endings. Still, with fresh writing, quality gags and dialogue, a good director coupled with a fine screenwriter, can make even formulaic fun. Director/co-writer Rick Famuyiwa and screenwriters Wayne Conley and Malcolm Spellman offer some hilarious moments in Our Family Wedding. Had they left out at least three very stupid gags, it would have been a fine romantic comedy. But they did not avoid the silly, actually asinine, defeating what could have been a decent film overall, which will most certainly disappoint some.
One of my favorite actresses, America Ferrera, plays Lucy Ramirez, a young woman who drops out of law school, becomes engaged to an African-American man, Marcus (Lance Gross), who is heading to Laos as a physician for Doctors Without Borders. Lucy does so without mentioning any of it to her very conservative and traditional Hispanic parents, Miguel (Carlos Mencia) and Sonia (Diana-Maria Riva). Making matters worse, on the weekend they arrive, Miguel has a not so pleasant (and racially charged) encounter with Marcus's father Brad (Forest Whitaker). When the families finally meet, things get wild and cultural traditions clash in crazy mayhem.
Review: Terribly Happy
Films about small-town decline and despair share many hallmarks. No matter the setting, the themes and stories often are similar, with residents of blighted rural burgs living hapless lives against a crumbling backdrop of poverty and isolation, surviving on a familiar stoicism that barely masks their underlying frustration.
Thus, the brilliantly told story of Terribly Happy -- a Danish import that played Fantastic Fest 2009 and is back in Austin at the Arbor this week -- has a universal appeal, as it could have happened in any small town from the Australian Outback to the Texas Panhandle. A dark and sometimes darkly comic thriller set in a dreary town near Copenhagen, Terribly Happy has much in common -- in a good way, that is-- with other films about rural life: The locals mind each other's business more often than minding their own, have little use for big-city ways, and rely on their own brand of frontier justice and morality to sort out good and evil. Above all, they welcome outsiders with a mix of suspicion and hostility.
SXSW 2010 Day 3: Happy Poet and Spilled Beer
I am so tired. I hope this all makes sense. Today I managed to make it to The Happy Poet world premiere. I'm really glad I asked for a reserved seat as a guest of the filmmakers, because badges got turned away. It was in fact so packed, that the filmmakers were standing in the back to give up seats, and one guy was sitting on a table. Seriously, space was indeed reserved for Dave's butt.
As it turns out, all of us made a great choice to see The Happy Poet because it's a fun film. In fact, I have to say that The Happy Poet is my favorite film so far at SXSW. Writer/director/star Paul Gordon's delivery are very deadpan yet reflect the earnest wish of a man with little resources and no food service experience to open up an organic food stand. The cast is a charming ensemble, all portraying characters rooting for Bill (Gordon) as he struggles to start a business and find his voice.
SXSW 2010: 'Predators' First Look
Contributor Rod Paddock was lucky enough to get into a "first look" at Predators during SXSW and wrote up the following account of the event. The film is being produced and co-written by Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and was shot in part at local Troublemaker Studios.
On Friday night I was in possession of what has to one of the "golden tickets" of SXSW. This golden ticket was the combination of a SXSW Express pass and a red Predators ticket (see image). The combination of these two items gave me the chance be a part of the sneak preview of the Robert Rodriguez and Nimrod Antal reboot of the Predator franchise: Predators.
After hours of waiting the house lights dimmed, and out came the master of ceremonies, Austin's native son Robert Rodriguez. He started the evening showing us the trailer for Predators. I don't think I have ever been so pumped after seeing a trailer. By every indication this movie is going to be off the hook and will satisfy Predator fans worldwide. The trailer introduces our protagonists, who find themselves transported to a Predator hunting planet. There are some heavy hitters in this cast: Lawrence Fishburne, Adrien Brody and Topher Grace. We also have one of my favorite actors, Walton Goggins (who you might remember from the FX show The Shield).
SXSW Review: Wake
Among the world premieres at SXSW 2010 is Texas native Chad Feehan's feature writing/directing debut, Wake, which screened at the Paramount this afternoon. Wake is a twisty thriller featuring The Bone Collector's Josh Stewart and Soprano's Jamie-Lynn Sigler as a couple on the way to a wedding when they decide to stop for the night in a roadside motel. Instead of a restful night's sleep, strange encounters force them to deal with a haunting secret from the past, including a overly helpful and creepy hotel clerk.
Very slowly two apparently unrelated storylines evolve that eventually collide with devastating results. While atmospherically shot, Wake suffers from simultaneously trying to be too clever and making sure all the pieces are tightly assembled. One of the more frustrating aspects of catching films at festivals is finding ones with an intriguing concept that doesn't quite work as delivered to the screen.
SXSW 2010 Day 2: Stormtroopers, Cherry Confessions, and Monsters
Despite my wishes, I was felled by a migraine overnight. I had hoped to make it to some panels, a press conference and 4-5 screenings.
Thankfully, I didn't miss out on Wake or Micmacs, as I'd seen them earlier. I hope you had a chance to see Micmacs, because Jeunet was here in town, and he's such a great, distinctive director. My review of Micmacs has to wait, but the one for Wake should be up soon. Wake is one of those films that's a bit frustrating while proving the director is one to watch.
I also missed the world premiere of Mars, by Austin's own Geoff Marslett. Jette and I talked with Marslett a few weeks ago, and I was really hoping to be there for the panel and the premiere. I did hear the line was already to 7th Street an hour before the screening was scheduled to start, so I can safely say it was a sold-out crowd. And thankfully, Mars screens twice at the Alamo Lamar.
SXSW Review: Erasing David
Just how much privacy do we have these days? Director David Bond decides to find out on a personal level by attempting to disappear for 30 days in the documentary Erasing David.
With a wife and child at home, he plans to leave home and avoid two trained investigators who will try to chase him down. In the beginning, Frank M. Ahearn, privacy consultant and co-author of How to Disappear (Volume 1) advises Bond of ways he can be tracked and just how easily surveillance can be initiated. But the comical interludes with Ahearn set up some very real and understandable paranoia.
Erasing David picks up where Ondi Timoner's We Live in Public leaves off -- instead of choosing to live in public and seeing the results, Bond focuses on a relatively ordinary life and how invasive the lack of data privacy is within the Information Age.
SXSW 2010 Day 1: Kick-Ass and Evil, Dale and Tucker
Every film festival wants its Opening Night Film to make a statement that sets the tone for the rest of the festival, and SXSW 2010 opened with the aptly titled Kick-Ass.
The anticipation was high; the crowds enormous. To put it into perspective, someone tweeted that there were 7,000 film bags prepared, meaning 7,000 potential people in line for Opening Night. The line was so long it circled the entire block, and not all badges got in. That's a first in my experience at the Paramount, with 1,200 seats. Even the 2004 special screening of Hellboy did not encircle the block. I suspect the extremely positive reaction from us BNAT11 attendees helped. Or perhaps it was the balls-out promotional work the Lionsgate people are doing, with taxis and SUVs covered in Kick-Ass branding. There was even a Kick-Ass inspired floodlight making a rather amusing statement on the side of a downtown building (pictured above).
I feel sorry for the folks that didn't get in, but know this: Many of the reserved seats were for guests who were also badgeholders. I admit, I line leeched, but I also got to say hello to friends I hadn't seen in a while.
Quick Snaps: Quentin Tarantino, Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards
Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds) was at Austin Studios last night to receive an "honorary Texan" award at the 10th annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards last night at Austin Studios. This event, hosted by Austin Film Society, is held every year the night before SXSW opens. The 2010 honorees included Michael Nesmith, Quentin Tarantino, Catherine O'Hara, Lukas Haas and Bruce McGill. Proceeds from the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards benefit the educational and artistic programs of the Austin Film Society, a 501(c)3 organization.
Check out more photos from the event on our Flickr site. And Anne Thompson has posted a video to IndieWire of Tarantino's great acceptance speech.
[Photo credit: Quentin Tarantino, by Debbie Cerda, on Flickr]
Movies This Week: Remember Our Terribly Green League
It is so hard to get excited about movies this week that aren't playing SXSW, but surprisingly, there are still movies opening in town this weekend. And what are they, you ask, for those of you waiting until Tuesday to try to get tickets to SXSW films? Let's see ...
Green Zone -- Matt Damon teams up with director Paul Greengrass again, but instead of Bourne around the globe, it's an intelligence officer in the illustrious Green Zone in Iraq, in the early days of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Read Debbie's review for more details. (wide)
Our Family Wedding -- Rom-com star vehicle headlined by Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera and Carlos Mencia. Apparently the Dads have issues at a biracial wedding. (wide)
Review: Green Zone
Known for The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass brings more nonstop action to the screen in the historical action drama Green Zone, inspired by the novel "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone" by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. From April 2003 to October 2004, Chandrasekaran was The Washington Post's bureau chief in Baghdad, covering the American occupation of Iraq and supervising a team of correspondents. He lived in Baghdad for much of the six months before the war, reporting on the United Nations weapons-inspections process and the build-up to the conflict.
Director Greengrass joins forces with Hurt Locker cinematographer Barry Ackroyd and re-teams with Bourne lead Matt Damon, who plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. The story begins in the first month of the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, when Miller and his team are dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in various Iraqi locations, but come up emptyhanded. Everything points to the intelligence being flawed, but high officials stand by their source. Instead of searching for chemical agents, Chief Miller begins looking for the truth. Standing in his way is Washington's mouthpiece Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear), who is too intent on advancing his mission to rebuild Iraq as an American-style democracy.
SXSW 2010 Day 0: Big Lines and Big Bags
Why Day 0? Because SXSW Film hasn't really started, of course. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a busy day. Hundreds of people were in line well before 3 pm to pick up their badges a day early. Even with hiccups, though, I got my badge in 15 minutes as well as my press tag. The line kept growing but people moved through quickly once it got going.
They were still working hard to set up all the panel rooms and spaces being used for SXSW but things were clearly coming together yesterday afternoon. So I hope everyone got a good night's sleep because it's going to be the last you get for 10 days, if you're doing the whole festival.
The downside was for about an hour I had no internet access on my T-Mobile Blackberry, which sucked tremendously. It didn't help that some bright bulb decided to run a 5,000 tweet campaign for some charitable cause, which I'm sure helped make it impossible for me to respond to people who needed a timely response. Perhaps it was karmic backlash for having no problems last year when all the iPhone users were having issues.
What the Hideout is Hiding: Great Local Shorts During SXSW
Each year the SXSW Film Festival and Conference supports the Austin film community by hosting special screenings by local film-related nonprofit organizations. As part of the Austin Media Arts Committee (AMAC) series, Austin Film Society, Austin School of Film and Reel Women have each compiled two programs that showcase their members' work. All SXSW badgeholders and non-badgeholders are encouraged to come out and check out the showcases. Audiences will also have the opportunity to vote on their favorite Reel Women short, and the winning filmmaker will receive a special award package.
The Austin School of Film has not released their lineup yet for their screenings on Sunday, March 14 at noon and Monday, March 15 at 2 pm. The Austin Film Society and Reel Women have made their programs available. Here's the 2010 lineup:
Austin Film Society Program for Saturday, March 13 at noon (70 mins)
- Make a Wish, dir. David Ward
- Squeezed Out of Business, dir. Chithra Jeyaram
- The Alligator, dir. Jeff Marrow
- Seeds of Change, dir. Kelly West
- Big Hands, dir. Aaron Holloway
- Manos de Madre, dir. Greg Kwedar
Austin Film Society Program for Sunday, March 14 at 2 pm (70 mins)
- Platypus Rex in: ABC-Hole, dir. Bob Ray
- I Love You, Will Smith, dir. Bradley Jackson
- Never Do This, dir. Scott Rice
- To Do That, dir. Jason Brenizer
- Der Vater, dir. James Moore
- El Pez, dir. Brian Scofield
- Shades of the Border, dir. Patrick Smith
- The Shrimp, dir. Keith Wilson
SXSW 2010 Guide: Free Film Events During SXSW Week
In conjunction with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, SXSW returns to the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center with several events open to the general public. This year's evening events include:
- "Blacks in Technology" on Friday, March 12 (6 pm-9 pm) and
- "Latinos in Technology" Sunday, March 14 (6 pm-9 pm)
Carver will also host the Texas High School Shorts on Saturday, March 13 at 5 pm. This showcase serves as a preview of the next filmmaking generation, as Texas high school students present shorts of 5 minutes or less.
Also screening for free at Carver is The Work of Alan Govenar: Part 1, Sunday, March 14 at 2 pm, featuring:
- Little Willie Eason and His Talking Gospel Guitar (2005) takes the stage of the street and a House of God Church south of Miami to highlight the man who introduced the pedal steel guitar as an instrument to express his deep-seeded faith.
SXSW Spotlight: Mike Woolf, 'Man on a Mission'
Although he hails from Baltimore, documentary filmmaker Mike Woolf is now firmly planted in Austin and no stranger to SXSW. In 2000, he started Beef and Pie Productions with renowned photographer/DP Andrew Yates and producer Karen Yates. Four of their short docs including Growin’ A Beard, The 72oz Steak, Tuesday Nighter and Life is Marbleous have premiered at SXSW. I caught Growin' A Beard at SXSW in 2003, and was amazed to see how the filmmakers made an engaging documentary based on an annual beard-growing contest in Shamrock, Texas.
The Beef and Pie Productions team has now taken on their first full-length documentary, Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission, featuring a certain local entrepreneur and the first second-generation astronaut. I had the chance to sit down with Mike Woolf at the Draught House -- hence all the beer references -- to discuss his latest project. Here's what he had to say:
What attracted you to Man on a Mission and how did you get involved with this subject?
Both Brady Dial [producer] and I have known Richard Garriott through a mutual friend. We knew this wasn't just a $30 million vacation for Richard. We knew that he would be the first son of an astronaut to go to space ... that alone was enough to consider following him. We knew his dad Owen Garriott was involved in his mission, and we learned that Richard had basically pioneered private space travel to make this happen. Finally, Richard is a born storyteller -- that's what his games are about, his haunted houses and his mansion. Put that all together and we knew it was worth trying to make this project happen.
SXSW 2010 Guide: Where to Eat Around Film-Fest Venues
Despite the risk of creating lines at the places I want to eat at during SXSW, I'm gonna share some secrets with you. Austin has many more restaurants than the ones you automatically see while treading the usual paths between venues. And with a little extra effort, you can enjoy some really great (maybe even healthful) meals.
We're not going to recreate the resources at Yelp, Urban Spoon, Dishola and the Austin Chronicle, which we recommend as handy resources on local eateries and more. But you probably don't have time to search through all that, and you might not even know where to find great restaurants in town. Here are some possibilities to explore near the SXSW 2010 film festival venues
Near Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar
You'll find plenty of dining around the theater/restaurant if you decide you just don't want another Alamo meal. But let me point out what you get at Alamo Drafthouse, as I know there are a few unititiated souls reading this. It's not just a theater. It's got table service and a full menu, as well as beer and wine, and at the Ritz you can get cocktails. Think pub food gone wild, with specials like the Kick-Ass Tofu Sandwich and Lamb of the Gods, as well as classics like the Royale With Cheese Burger and Porky's pepperoni pizza. I'm still partial to the Matango pizza, which started as a special last SXSW. Brunch specials are available on weekends, and gluten-free and vegetarian items are marked on the menu.
Across the street and a few steps south is a little food trailer park, with Odd Duck and Gourdoughs. Gourdoughs offers donuts that eat like a meal and they are open late; talk to some locals to find out just how tasty they are. OddDuck is only open Tuesdays through Saturday starting at 5 pm, but they are farm-to-trailer, inexpensive and really good. Portions aren't huge, but they are filling.
Slackery News Tidbits, March 10
Two days to SXSW. Two days to SXSW. Here's the latest Austin film-related news, some of which will be of particular interest to SXSW-goers, but some of which is about free stuff for everyone.
- If you have a SXSW Film badge, you can use it not only for the usual conference and movie access, but also to see Motorhead perform on Wednesday night at Austin Music Hall.
- And you don't need a badge at all to head over to the Apple Store in Barton Creek Mall for two free Meet the Filmmaker sessions during SXSW. On Saturday, March 13 at 3 pm, journalist Aaron Hillis will interview filmmaker Emmett Malloy, whose music documentary The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights is playing SXSW and will also be available via cable TV VOD starting March 12. On Monday, March 15 at 7 pm, local filmmaker Bryan Poyser will discuss his latest film, Lovers of Hate, which is playing SXSW and will also be available on cable TV VOD when the fest starts.
- Did we mention yet that IFC has bought the international distribution rights to Lovers of Hate? The film premiered at Sundance and was sold to IFC before it plays SXSW. Congrats to Bryan Poyser and his producers, cast and crew.
SXSW 2010 Guide: Filmgoing Tips for Non-Badgeholders
Update: The 2011 guide for locals and non-badgeholders is now available.
The SXSW Film Festival schedule looks excellent this year, and even though you didn't buy a badge, maybe you're thinking about catching a few of the films over the course of the eight-day fest. Don't you want to hang out with Film Fest Geek Barbie?
But perhaps you haven't bought a film pass or SXSW film tickets before, or you remember it being a hassle last time. Fear not -- here are some tips on enjoying the films at SXSW even if you don't have a badge this time. You'll miss the conference, but if you plan ahead, you can catch a bunch of good movies.
Your options if you don't have a badge:
SXSW Film Pass -- The film-fest equivalent of the Music fest wristband. You're in a second-tier line, and are admitted into a screening after the badgeholders line has been let into the theater, if space permits. Passes for 2009 are $70 and are now available at Waterloo Records or any Austin-area Alamo Drafthouse. If you see multiple movies a day, this is a steal.
DVD Review: Bitch Slap
I had hoped that watching Bitch Slap
would let me get in touch with my inner Joe Bob Briggs, giving me a
good excuse to write a purposely lowbrow review of a purposely lowbrow exploitation film. After all, film critics have few
opportunities to include breast counts and phrases like "lesbian
bikini fu" in their reviews.
Sadly, Bitch Slap, now available on DVD, isn't the festival of guilty pleasures it should be. In many ways, it's an accurate homage to exploitation films; the film delivers plenty of impressively large cleavage, impressive (and even larger) weapons, cheap-thrill sexuality, and nonstop action awash in blood and blasted with pyrotechnics. But Bitch Slap also is accurate in the worst way: While it tries earnestly to be a campy send-up of a campy genre, it's mostly as dull and unsatisfying as the grindhouse schlock that inspired it.
At the outset, Bitch Slap looks promising. After an intriguing and funny opening credits montage of vintage exploitation film clips, the film opens with a scene of a battered, bleeding, scantily clad woman lying in a desert, surrounded by the fiery aftermath of a fierce battle. Everything about this scene and the ones that follow it -- from lingering cleavage shots to tough-girl dialogue -- instructs the audience to forget taking Bitch Slap seriously and just go along for what no doubt will be a mindlessly sexy and violent ride.
Local Restaurant Owner Wins Oscar (And Other Award News)
I realize I'm repeating my own joke with the headline, but it's too good not to reuse ... and when will I get to use it again? Ahem. Anyway, here's the Austin film-related news, starting with awards:
- Sandra Bullock, who owns local restaurant Bess and co-owns Walton's Fancy and Staple, also does a spot of acting when she's not running local businesses. Last night, she took home the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Blind Side.
- The night before, she won a Razzie for her role in All About Steve ... and showed up at the awards ceremony, where she gave out DVDs of the film to all the Razzie members in attendance. Very nice.
- Austin was also represented at the Oscars by Ryan Bingham, who along with T-Bone Burnett won an Academy Award for Best Song, "The Weary Kind," from the movie Crazy Heart. Not only did Bingham and Burnett cite the work of the the late local musician Stephen Bruton on the film, but Jeff Bridges also remembered Bruton in his speech after winning Best Actor.
SXSW Spotlight: Agnes Varnum and Bryan Poyser, Austin Film Society
South by Southwest Film Festival and Conference is a particularly busy time for the folks over at Austin Film Society (AFS). Their biggest annual event is the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, which is being held on Thursday, March 11 at Austin Studios. SXSW Film provides the opportunity for AFS to showcase several of their filmmakers' short films at the Austin Media Arts Committee (AMAC) special screenings at the Hideout. Many AFS Texas Filmmakers Production Fund (TFPF) award winners will also be premiering their films at SXSW, including Austin filmmaker Miguel Alvarez (Mnemosyne Rising).
These SXSW special events couldn't happen without two critical AFS staff members, Agnes Varnum and Bryan Poyser. Agnes has been busy for weeks in preparation of the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, and is one of the featured panelists for "How to Rawk SXSW Film." Attendees learn from professionals in the industry how to make meaningful connections with all the independent film and new media professionals in town for the event. Bryan coordinates the AMAC screenings for AFS at the Hideout, hosts a Texas Filmmakers Production Fund Workshop, and as one of my favorite panel moderators is part of the "The Kids are Alright: Jay and Mark Duplass Plus" panel. Even more exciting, Bryan's film Lovers of Hate -- well-received at last month's Sundance Film Festival -- is also screening at SXSW. I caught up to this dynamic duo by email for an interview, and here's what they had to say.
Evil Dead Triple Feature
Alamo Drafthouse at Lake Creek is showing all three of the Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell horror/comedy masterpieces (yeah, okay, "masterpieces" may be too strong, but ... shut up): The Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness. Admission for the triple-feature is a ridiculously cheap $15. Groovy, baby.
45365
Alamo Lake Creek is showing SXSW 2009 documentary 45365, which shows us one night in a small-town, following a number of residents in different walks of life. The documentary just won the Truer Than Fiction award, a new award established by Chaz and Roger Ebert, at the annual Independent Spirit Awards.
Total Badass
Local filmmaker Bob Ray (Hell on Wheels) is showing his latest film Total Badass for one night at Alamo South.
Reformat the Planet
Admission is free for this screening of the 2008 music documentary Reformat the Planet, about 8-bit music. Alamo is hoping that you'll enjoy 8-bit music so much that you'll then head over to The Highball on March 16-17 for Datapop 3.0, a festival of live 8-bit music.
What's Up, Doc?
I love brunch at the Alamo and What's Up Doc? enough that I am very tempted to skip SXSW that afternoon and skip over to Alamo South for french toast and 70s screwball comedy. Madeline Kahn is unbelievably funny in this film, which was co-scripted by Buck Henry.
Between Floors
Local filmmaker Jen White presents her feature film Between Floors -- this is actually the second screening scheduled within a week, after the first one sold out. The movie has played several film festivals, but none in Austin yet. White will hold a Q&A after the screening.
Here's the official description of the film: "BETWEEN FLOORS examines the human condition through a uniquely claustrophobic lens, intercutting between five stuck elevators and the people trapped inside them. Each elevator becomes an existential purgatory, forcing its occupants to not only confront their isolation, but themselves and each other in varied and unexpected ways."
Annie
Hey Homo!'s selection for this month's screening is the 1982 John Huston film Annie, adapted from the popular stage musical. If I were to tell you how many times I've seen this thing ... I still have the scars. Personally, I prefer Rob Marshall's more recent adaptation for TV ... except that I cannot resist Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters as Rooster and Lily. And why does everyone always pare down the FDR/New Deal stuff for the screen? Anyway, if you're going to watch this film, watching it at Alamo Ritz with a grown-up audience is definitely the way to go.
Trimpin: The Sound of Invention
The documentary Trimpin: The Sound of Invention played SXSW 2009 and is back in Austin for Music Monday. The film is about reclusive musical artist/sound sculptor Trimpin.
Filmmaker Peter Esmonde will attend the screening and hold a Q&A.
Pretty Maids All in a Row
Damn, it's such a good Weird Wednesday this week that I may have to risk screwing up my sleep/work schedule to go: Roger Vadim's 1971 film Pretty Maids All in a Row, starring Rock Hudson and Angie Dickinson, scripted by Gene Roddenberry. Hmm, perhaps if I tell my Star Trek-loving husband about Roddenberry, he'll go with me? Let's take it to Lars and his inimitable descriptions:
"From director Roger Vadim (BARBARELLA) and writer Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) comes a surprisingly dark, funny, sweet film, saturated with the golden light, color and sexiness of '70s California. Plot-wise, it's a murder mystery - beautiful young girls are turning up dead, the cops (led by Telly Savalas) are investigating, the football coach (Rock Hudson, who's great here) is a suspect. Interwoven is the story of a sexually frustrated male student's dalliance with his hot teacher Angie Dickinson. The story is well structured, the actors are top notch, but what makes this film really special is the French director's merciless insight into American social mores. He also captures some of the poetry of sexual desire in a way that few, if any, American directors can. A real, undeservedly obscure classic."
Dr. Tarr's Torture Dungeon
Here's what Lars has to say about the 1973 film Dr. Tarr's Torture Dungeon, also known as The Mansion of Madness on IMDb:
"If the experience of watching exploitation movies is like taking drugs, and it certainly is, then watching this movie is the celluloid equivalent of having a polar bear-sized dose of PCP injected directly into your brainstem with an industrial strength compressed air gun. If this sounds like a bunch of exaggerated fanciful talk to you then you haven’t seen DR. TARR’S TORTURE DUNGEON. Based on Poe’s 'The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether', it’s an amazingly baroque, surreal Mexican exploitation film about a vast, isolated asylum that has been taken over by its inmates. The film glides from one absurd, outlandish tableau to another with the logic and pace of an opium dream. Though it was considered too exploitative for arthouses and too artsy for grindhouses at the time of its release, we are happy to give this film the audience it deserves. Note: if you don't like horrifying shrieking chicken women, do us all a favor - STAY HOME!"
Burial Ground
I swear, sometimes Zack Carlson's descriptions of Terror Tuesday films are better than the movies themselves. Here's what he has to say about Burial Ground:
"In the last ten years, we've grown sick of zombies. Even my grandma has seen every conceivable variety of scabby deathbag get shanked, gutted, fileted and fried. These days, you can't throw a rock in Hollywood without caving in a walking corpse's dome. But back in untamed '80s Europe, flesh-ripping was uncharted territory, and low/no-rent filmmakers could sharpen their auteurial teeth on half-scripted chronicles of blood-drenched reanimation. Welfare-caliber shambling cadavers found a particularly happy home in Italy, where directors like Lucio Fulci and Bruno Mattei tore the genre open stomach-first. Of their countless cheap productions and cheaper imitators, one film stands tall as the most brain-dead, plot-free, shock-driven maggotstorm in the Halls of Zombie Retardation, chock full of decapitations, dismemberments and incestuous oral mastectomies. Ladies and gentlemen...BURIAL GROUND!"
Trust Us, This Is All Made Up
Trust Us, This is All Made Up is a documentary by now-Austinite Alex Karpovsky. The film premiered at SXSW 2009. It begins as a profile of two improv actors,T.J. Jagodowksi and David Pasquesi , who perform together in an unusual way. They present the equivalent of a one-act play onstage together, starring themselves ... which is different every single performance. The profile then segues into an actual performance by the duo, which is fascinating and a far cry from the quick improv comedy often seen on TV.
Karpovsky will attend the screening and will hold a Q&A afterward.
Trust Us, This is All Made Up
Trust Us, This is All Made Up is a documentary by now-Austinite Alex Karpovsky. The film premiered at SXSW 2009. It begins as a profile of two improv actors, T.J. Jagodowksi and David Pasquesi, who perform together in an unusual way. They present the equivalent of a one-act play onstage together, starring themselves ... which is different every single performance. The profile then segues into an actual performance by the duo, which is fascinating and a far cry from the quick improv comedy often seen on TV.
Karpovsky will attend the screening and will hold a Q&A afterward.
'Bring It On' with Jessica Bendinger
Austin Film Festival's "Conversations in Film" is with screenwriter Jessica Bendinger this month. At 7:30, you can see the 2000 film Bring It On, which she wrote. At 9:15, she'll participate in a discussion about the film and her career. Tickets are $8 for AFF members and $10 for the general public.
Harlan: In the Shadow of Jew Suss
This month's AFS Documentary Tour screening is the German film Harlan: In the Shadow of Jew Suss. The screening is cosponsored by the Austin Jewish Film Festival. The documentary is about the making of the Nazi propaganda film Jew Suss, which was released in 1940, and its director Viet Harlan. Robert H. Abzug, Director, Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies at The University of Texas, will introduce the film.
Twisted Vignettes
Austin Film Meet is hosting an evening of short films from local filmmaker Jack Daniel Stanley. Stanley's latest film, the Austin-shot short Depth of Phil, is having its world premiere at SXSW this year. Get there at 6:30 pm for free "twisted cocktails" and stay for the screening and Q&A starting at 8 pm. The event will also include live music from Roger Sellers, who composed music for Depth of Phil.
Stanley's website says that the shorts being shown will include Cold Calls, A Little Mouth to Feed (which played Austin Film Festival 2009), Unawakening, and Rekindled, plus "a select older short or two and maybe a peek at something entirely new (no promises on that last one, though)."
The Blue Theatre
The Blue Theatre is primarily a venue for live theatrical productions. However, it occasionally hosts a screening or movie-related event.
Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards
The 10th annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards is a gala event and fundraiser for Austin Film Society. This year's honorees include Lukas Haas, Quentin Tarantino, Bruce McGill, and the cast/crew of Waiting for Guffman (Catherine O'Hara will accept the award). Check out our photos from last year's event.
Austin Studios
Austin Studios occasionally hosts film-related parties and fundraisers, usually hosted by Austin Film Society.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
As part of its Essential Cinema series "Smashing the Rules: Films of Oshida Nagisa," Austin Film Society will show the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. Admission is free for AFS members and $6 for the general public. Essential Cinema screenings often sell out so you may want to buy tickets in advance from the AFS website.
Violence at Noon (Hakuchu No Torima)
As part of its Essential Cinema series "Smashing the Rules: Films of Oshida Nagisa," Austin Film Society will show the 1966 film Violence at Noon. Admission is free for AFS members and $6 for the general public. Essential Cinema screenings often sell out so you may want to buy tickets in advance from the AFS website.
The Pleasures of the Flesh (Etsuraku)
As part of its Essential Cinema series "Smashing the Rules: Films of Oshida Nagisa," Austin Film Society will show the 1965 film The Pleasures of the Flesh. Admission is free for AFS members and $6 for the general public. Essential Cinema screenings often sell out so you may want to buy tickets in advance from the AFS website.
Japanese Summer: Double Suicide
As part of its Essential Cinema series "Smashing the Rules: Films of Oshida Nagisa," Austin Film Society will show the 1967 film Japanese Summer: Double Suicide. Admission is free for AFS members and $6 for the general public. Essential Cinema screenings often sell out so you may want to buy tickets in advance from the AFS website.
'Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids' Book Signing
Local author Alison Macor will be reading from and signing her book Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids: Thirty Years of Filmmaking in Austin, Texas.
BookPeople
BookPeople occasionally hosts readings and signings for movie-related books.
Review: District 13: Ultimatum
I'm going to jump in right here and admit that my expectations for District 13: Ultimatum were extremely low. I know one person who walked out of the film when it played Fantastic Fest last year, and I was warned that this movie wasn't going to be nearly as enjoyable as the first District 13 movie. So I figured I'd suffer the storyline and take pleasure from any good fight scenes or parkour scenes that might appear.
And you know, sometimes this is the way to watch a movie, expecting it to be not so hot. When it's less bad than you suspected, you end up with an enjoyable movie experience. Same thing happened to me at Live Free or Die Hard -- my husband, who was looking forward to a fun movie, felt disappointed, while I figured it would be awful and therefore liked any bits that weren't. District 13: Ultimatum is certainly better than Live Free or Die Hard, and at least there are no really stupid CGI effects. It's kind of like a 90-minute-long Burn Notice, but without the humorous supporting characters, bikinis and yogurt.
Movies This Week: Alice in Brooklyn's Visual Fish District
Ready for SXSW next week? I'm not. And all these new movies to check out don't help.
Alice in Wonderland -- This 3D mess has a plot as murky as its imagery and plays fast and loose with Lewis Carroll's classic story of the girl who falls down the rabbit hole. More in my review, where for the first time I do not have something positive to say about a Johnny Depp performance. (wide).
Brooklyn's Finest -- Another NYC police procedural, with stars like Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke as well as lesser-known powerhouses like Lili Taylor and Brian F. O'Byrne. Elizabeth checked it out for us, so take a look at her review.
District 13: Ultimatum -- Despite more wire-free stunts of Cyril Raffaelli and Parkour founder David Belle, the sequel to District 13 doesn't even come close to the original. In fact, it actively thwarts suspension of belief. Check out Jette's review this weekend. (Alamo South Lamar)
Review: Alice in Wonderland
It seemed like a safe bet that Tim Burton's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice in Wonderland stories would be delightfully strange and gorgeous, with a cast that was sure to make it a beloved film. Unfortunately with a schizophrenic plot and murky imagery, it's likely to be the least favorite Burton film among those who call themselves fans.
A brief prelude of Alice as a nightmare-troubled child quickly turns into a garden party intended to announce Alice's engagement, only adult Alice is the last to know. Not surprisingly, she falls down a rabbit hole and proceeds to have adventures big and small with such unlikely allies as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the Dormouse, and the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) while avoiding the decapitation-happy Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).
One would rightly expect such a fantastic tale to have vibrant colors and outlandish costumes, but the color palette is murky to the point of people questioning the quality of the projection. It seems to be intended, however, as Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is pallid and in pale blue, and even the Cheshire Cat is dark grey and blue, and hard to see. The 3D effects, what little there are, are wasted, and not worth the extra cost of a 3D screening.
Review: Brooklyn's Finest
There were a few times during Brooklyn's Finest that I wanted to get up and leave, but I thought, well, maybe it will get better. The problem is: it never does. The film depicts three unrelated stories involving cops on the Brooklyn beat: Eddie (Richard Gere), an alcoholic cop seven days from retirement; Sal (Ethan Hawke), a detective trying to find a way to put a down payment on a new house; and Tango (Don Cheadle), an undercover cop who is unsure where his true allegiance should lie. Frankly, this movie could have used more Cheadle and less of everybody else. His scenes with Wesley Snipes, who plays a kingpin who once saved Tango's life, are about as good as the film gets.
The movie seems to deal in general stereotyping. For instance, the women in the film are either victims or bitches -- there's no in-between. Lili Taylor, playing Sal's ailing pregnant wife, is only in about two scenes of the film, but her illness fuels his desire to find money for a new house by any means necessary. Ellen Barkin's hardass Fed seems to mainly exist for Tango to play off as she makes ridiculously racist comments (and she's only in a couple of scenes herself). There's the coke-sniffing prostitute that Eddie (Richard Gere) wants to save -- but he also wants to sleep with her. The other women serve as scenery. They don't talk, they just serve drinks (topless), iron drug money (topless), work in a strip club (topless) ... you get the idea. And strangely enough, there are scant women (I only saw one) on the police force in Brooklyn's Finest. For a drama that yearns to be gritty and "real," this seems a huge misstep.
Non-SXSW Slackery News Tidbits, March 4
Believe it or not, film news is happening in Austin that has nothing -- really nothing -- to do with SXSW. Here's a sample:
- On Sunday afternoon, author Alison Macor will be reading/signing her book Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids: Thirty Years of Filmmaking in Austin, Texas. I intend to be there and am looking forward to a good read ... well, probably not until after SXSW, unfortunately. (I know me. I'll read the book while trying to do fest prep. Sleep is the enemy, as Debbie keeps telling me.) Over at the Austin Chronicle, Kimberley Jones has an interview with Macor, and you can read an excerpt from the book about The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The book signing is on Sunday at 3 pm at BookPeople.
- Austin Film Festival has announced a discount on Lone Star Badges for the 2010 fest -- they're now only $75 through March 7. Also, anyone who purchases a Lone Star Badge during this time frame is eligible to win a free upgrade to a Weekend Badge ($255 value) during the Oscars -- Moviemaker has the details on this contest. See their website for details. The Lone Star Badge is a one-day conference pass that also gets you first-tier admission into all films, so it's a very good deal at this price.
SXSW 2010 Guide: Film Festival Survival Tips
Film festivals are fun, right? Films, partying, it's a blast. Well, yes and no; the unprepared film festgoer is likely to end up miserable as early as halfway through. If you're a seasoned SXSW badgeholder, you still might find some value in this survival guide written by a local who usually sees 4-6 screenings a day without resorting to a car or hotel room.
Last year's survival guide had such a strong response, I'm updating it with even more useful tips. Jette has also provided us with Film Fest Geek Barbie (pictured at right), complete with mobile phone, water bottle, and handy shoulder bag. She even keeps a toothbrush, tissues, an energy bar and a DVD screener of her short film stashed in there. Obviously, she's been paying attention to the following suggestions.
Sleep
Get it now, while you can. Do not skimp on sleep before the festival. Arriving well-rested means you're more likely to have the endurance to make it through the festival, especially if you stay for all 10 days, and most especially if you also add Interactive and/or Music. I'm not exaggerating, I went into the shorter Fantastic Fest sleep deprived and missed out on the infamous Team Bill versus Team Eric karaoke battle because of it, as well as being such a zombie people thought I was ignoring them.
Comfortable Shoes
Opt for comfort over style and wear shoes you know you can stand in for hours. This is not the time to try out new, pretty shoes, but rely on your old faithful sneakers, sandals, and Danskos and Birkenstocks. After your first 45-minute line, you'll thank me. After your fifth, your feet will thank you. Me, I'm swapping out shoes daily, having the home closet advantage, and alternating between Danksos, Earth Sandals and sneakers. My feet will be happy and so will my bad knees.
South by Slackery News Tidbits, March 3
Let's see what the latest Austin and SXSW film news is today.
- The big big news: Robert Rodriguez is bringing a rough cut of Predators, which he's produced, to SXSW. He and director Nimrod Antal will present a "First Look" at the movie, which was partially shot in Austin, on opening night (Friday, March 12) at Alamo Ritz at 10:15 pm. The dark side of this news is that the bigger Ritz theater only holds about 200 people, maybe a few more if they squeeze folks into the balconies. Even though the event is open only to SXSW badgeholders, you'd probably have to line up outside the Ritz before the opening-night film even starts in order to get a seat. (People are already talking about lining up that afternoon.) So sadly, I'm unlikely to be reporting on this event myself.
- In addition, the SX Fantastic "Super Secret Screening" has been announced: it's the world premiere of 13, Gela Babluani's bigger-budget remake of his 2006 film Tzameti. The film stars Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Ben Gazzara and (Fantastic Fest favorite) Alexander Skarsgard.
- SXSW film passes are now on sale: $70 for eight days, which is an excellent deal for second-tier access to a lot of good movies around town. Individual tickets are $10 so if you see 8 movies you're ahead financially (plus, ahead in the admission lines). You can buy passes at Alamo Ritz, South Lamar, and Village, and at Waterloo Records. Look for our special guide for passholders and ticket buyers next week.
Roadie
Austin Film Festival kicks off its 2010 "Made in Texas" series with the 1980 film Roadie, shot in Austin. The cast includes local actor Sonny Carl Davis (The Whole Shootin' Match), Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, and a number of other musicians. Screenwriter "Big Boy" Medlin will be there and will hold a Q&A afterwards.
Videobloggers and Filmmaking at VideoCamp Austin
Over 175 people attended the first VideoCamp Austin last Saturday, February 27, and the event was a rousing success. Co-organizers Talmadge Boyd and Weston Norton of Reel Social Media and Lights. Camera. Help. co-founder David Neff coordinated the event, which took place at The University of Texas at Austin's Jesse H. Jones Communication Center. Local aspiring filmmakers and videobloggers learned techniques and tricks of the trade from fellow attendees with years of experience.
VideoCamp Austin followed the barcamp model of the "unconference," in which a large piece of paper was taped to the wall with a handwritten schedule on it. Sessions were written on stickies and then placed in open time slots. Folks who showed up early to sign up had an idea of what they wanted to talk about, such as Arts from the Streets filmmaker Layton Blaylock's presentation on making a documentary. However, spontaneity was the main focus, as Rachel Farris of PetRelocation.com learned. She didn't have a presentation prepped, but used PetRelocation's Pup in the Air videos to demonstrative the effectiveness of "Using Online Video in Your Business." Air Sex World Championship host Chris Trew of The New Movement taught an "Improv Comedy in a Video and Filmmaking" session where a few of the attendees were pulled into the demonstration.
VOD Review: The Flying Scissors
I've long been a fan of mockumentaries,
especially those that skewer deserving subjects while also skewering
the sometimes overly earnest art of documentary filmmaking. The
Flying Scissors, a mockumentary about the world of competitive
rock, paper, scissors, occasionally succeeds at both. But despite an
amusing premise and some likeably quirky characters, most of the
film's humor falls flat.
The Flying Scissors -- released this week on Austin's Time-Warner Video on Demand, Amazon VOD, and other online VOD sites -- follows a dozen or so competitors in a rock, paper, scissors championship tournament, developing each character via the standard documentary mix of interviews and scenes of them going about their daily lives. Per documentary (and thus mockumentary) convention, the characters are a diverse group of socially inept oddballs, lifelong underachievers, and hyper-competitive types who have little in common except their obsession with a "sport" that no one outside the group seems to appreciate. More importantly, they also share a desire to succeed at something in their lives.
For example, hapless real-estate agent Frank Johnson (Todd Susman) lives in a tiny, trashy apartment but proudly shows off the equally tiny trophy he won at a previous tournament. Emasculated househusband Phil Stevens (Mason Pettit) hopes that winning the tournament will give his pushy wife Amy (Kerry O'Malley) a reason to respect him. Ardent feminist Leslie Hanrahan (Susan O'Connor) wants a victory for womyn everywhere, and vapid Christian beauty queen Anna Carlson (Sarah Wheeler) hopes a victory will somehow jumpstart her nonexistent acting career and/or bring her closer to Jesus.
SXSW 2010 Guide: Film Festival Venues
Welcome to the fourth annual Slackerwood guide to SXSW film festival venues. SXSW now has a handy video that shows you a map of the venues, but we've got the details: the best seats, the least crowded theaters, and decent meals and wireless access between or even during the movies. A few changes have occurred since our 2009 guide, and with help from my Slackerwood colleagues and the SXSW staff, I've included all the new info I could find.
While I've included a few nearby options for coffee or meals, you'll want to check our Restaurant Guide next week. We'll have more details on places to get a variety of things to eat and drink near all the SXSW film-festival venues. We're also working on a general SXSW Survival Guide as well as a guide for locals with film passes or who want to buy individual tickets for films.
While downtown, you can walk to/from any of these venues in this guide except Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. Even if you are from NYC and walk everywhere, it's too far. (I tell y'all this every year and yet someone always staggers up to me beet-faced and in danger of collapse, panting to me that they wish they'd believed me.)
AFF 'Made in Texas' Series Returns
You may recall that in my 2009 in Review article, I named the Austin Film Festival's "Made in Texas" monthly screenings as "Film Series I Most Want to Return in 2010." I'm happy to report that Made in Texas is returning this month -- I'm sure my article had everything to do with it -- and will run through September.
The series kicks off on Wednesday, March 10 with Roadie, the 1980 Alan Rudolph film that was shot on location around Austin. The movie stars Meat Loaf and Art Carney, but the cast also includes Sonny Carl Davis (The Whole Shootin' Match), Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, and a number of other musicians.
The films will be shown monthly on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm in the Texas Spirit Theater at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Admission is free for AFF and Texas State History Museum members, and $5 for everyone else.