Movies This Week: A Very Heroic Tower, Martha

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The 6th annual Austin Polish Film Festival is underway as of last night and continues through next Saturday. Tonight it includes two films at the Texas Spirit Theater (Texas State History Museum), Stone Silence and Joanna, which include Q&A with the directors. Check out the APFF website for the full schedule and locations.

Cine Las Americas is showing The Colors of the Mountain at Alamo Village on Sunday. And in keeping in the international theme of the week, the always-free Austin Cinematheque is showing Andrey Tarkovskiy's The Sacrifice on Monday. Tarkovskiy was described by Ingmar Bergman as "the most important director of all time," which is about as strong an endorsement any director can get.

Movies We've Seen:

Martha Marcy May Marlene -- Elizabeth saw this taut, simmering thriller and says in her review, "With his debut full-length feature Martha Marcy May Marlene, director Sean Durkin has created a truly original work. Olsen pulls off the title character in an understated performance." (Arbor, Alamo Lamar)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas -- Jette reviewed this movie and calls it, "completely offensive, even appalling at times ... and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. It's also a rather sweet end (I hope) to the series." (wide)

Tower Heist -- According to Mike, "Tower Heist is a hilarious ensemble adventure. Eddie Murphy is almost-but-not-quite back to his old self. Gabourey Sidibe and Matthew Broderick really stand out." Look for his review this weekend. (wide)

Other Movies Opening in Austin:

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life -- Mark Savlov at the Austin Chronicle says director Joann Sfar "hits all the expected high points of Gainsbourg's semisordid life." Read his review to find out more. (Violet Crown)

Le Havre (pictured above) -- Filmed in France, this movie about residents in the French port town is Finland's submission to the Oscars. Marjorie Baumgarten at the Austin Chronicle says in her review, "There is now an added sense of people's willingness to do good." Le Havre is the first movie in the new AFS Selects series at Violet Crown, which offers Austin Film Society members a $2 discount on the regular ticket price. (Violet Crown)