SXSW Opening Night Film: 21

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SXSW has sent us a New Year's gift: the film festival just announced its opening-night premiere, 21. The film is directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) and stars Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and Jim Sturgess. No word yet on whether the director or any cast will be around for the premiere. I saw a trailer for this recently -- it's about MIT students who are lured into card-counting at Vegas casinos to pay off their college loans. The movie is based on a nonfiction book about similar real-life events. Looks pretty interesting, and I'm sure the Paramount will fill up quickly on March 7.

Other films in the festival lineup were also announced this week. You've probably seen trailers already for Run Fatboy Run, the Simon Pegg-starring comedy directed by David Schwimmer (yes, the one from Friends) and scripted by Pegg and Michael Ian Black. (Oooh, Hank Azaria is in it.)  There's also a heist film, Flawless, starring Demi Moor­e and Michael Caine.

I like to watch as many documentaries as I can during SXSW, especially those that might not see theatrical distributi­on later. You know I'm looking forward to the film about Harlan Ellison, Dreams with Sharp Teeth. Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and Peter Gilbert directed another doc slated for the fest, At the Death House Door, about the execution of Carlos DeLuna. Finally, Wild Blue Yonder is also scheduled, in which Celia Maysles delves into the life of her documentary-making father David (as in David and Albert Maysles, who made Grey Gardens). SXSW Film Festival runs from March 7-16 this year.