Movies This Week: Attack the Crazy Cowboys and Smurfs

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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I'm pleased that one of the movies I've enjoyed most this summer is opening this weekend -- the one with the aliens. No, not the one with the cowboys and aliens, the one with teenage London hoodlums and aliens. In addition to your choice of movies featuring outer-space creatures, you can also enjoy Smurfs and Steve Carell (not in the same movie), and some good indie films.

Of course, as usual Austin has plenty of special screenings going on. On Sunday night, Alamo Drafthouse's Cinema Club brings Bell Book and Candle back to the big screen, followed by a discussion with Austin Chronicle film critic Marc Savlov.On Monday, you can head to the AT&T Conference Center to hear horror writers Tom Holland and Austinite Alvaro Rodriguez take part in an Austin Film Festival Concersations in Film called "Words That Go Bump in the Night." Then on Tuesday, Holland and Rodriguez will hold a Q&A after a screening of the original Fright Night at Alamo Ritz.

Movies We've Seen:

  • Attack the Block -- This monster-meets-London-gangs movie won a lot of fans at SXSW and is back in Austin to hopefully win some more. I saw it recently and thought it was a great summer movie. Definitely check it out. (Alamo South)
  • Cowboys & Aliens -- Jenn says in her review that the latest film from Jon Favreau (Iron Man) "plods along with too many subplots" and is ultimately disappointing. The movie stars Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde and at least it isn't in 3D. I may drag out my Adventures of Brisco County Jr. boxed set instead.(wide)
  • Crazy, Stupid, Love.  --  Steve Carell stars in this romantic comedy that Elizabeth says is neither a chick flick nor a bromance, and doesn't pass the Bechdel test. But she ends her review by noting that the movie may still be good enough for multiple viewings. Directed by the Bad Santa writers. (wide)

Other Movies Opening in Austin:

  • Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest -- Actor Michael Rapaport directed this documentary about the hip-hop band A Tribe Called Quest. (Arbor, Violet Crown)
  • The Smurfs -- The impressive live-action and voice cast for this movie includes Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Cumming, Anton Yelchin, Paul Reubens, John Oliver and Katy Perry. It still doesn't convince me to watch the irritatingly perky little blue men in action for two hours. (wide)
  • Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (pictured above) -- Wanye Wang's latest movie is an adaptation of the Lisa See novel. In 19th century China, two women find secret ways to communicate and survive. (Arbor, Violet Crown)