Movies This Week: Dogme Alums Get An Education with Bronson

Happy Friday the 13th! Walk under a ladder, hang out with a black cat, and see some movies.  It's a very British heavy release week; three British films are opening in town (two with Emma Thompson in them). Two films new to Austin are directed by Dogme 95 alums. You know, the minimalist film movement started by Lars von Triers and others to thumb their noses at Hollywood and big budgets, with a manifesto demanding a vow of cinematic chastity?  Can you guess which film on the list is anti-Dogme? 

An Education -- It's London in the 1960s, and a teenage girl encounters a playboy in this coming of age story.  Directed by Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners, Dogme #12 ), with a slew of memorable actors, including Dollhouse's Olivia Williams, Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice), Dominic Cooper (The History Boys), and the inestimable Emma Thompson.  Only a select few were able to see this at AFF this year, including our Jette.   (Arbor)

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men -- After a breakup, a grad student (Julia Nicholson) interviews, well, you get the idea.  The cast is impressive, with many recognizable names. The film was adapted and directed by The Office's John Krasinski, who will be in attendance on Friday and Saturday. At this time, it's a one-week engagement, so don't miss it. Debbie interviewed Krasinski, and will be reviewing the film as well. (Ritz)

Bronson -- Tom Hardy will hopefully become a recognizable name after this Fantastic Fest hit gets seen by a larger audience.  Don't let the fact it's playing at an arthouse fool you. While it definitely qualifies as an art film, it's so testosterone loaded you'll leave grunting.  Be warned though, British filmmakers do not fear naked males, and Hardy easily spends a third of the film in unashamed full frontal.  Don't let that scare you, this is a film you'll be talking about for a long time.  For more, check out my review.  (Arbor)

Flame & Citron -- A film by another Dogme alum, Ole Christian Madsen (Dogme #12 Kira's Reason: A Love Story),  this one about a World War II resistance group.  It wasn't available for review prior to opening day, but you might be interested to know Mads Mikkelsen plays Citronen. You know, the blood-teared villain in Casino Royale?  Or perhaps as an arthouse indie fan, you might recognize him from Adam's Apples, After the Wedding, or The Green Butchers.  (Dobie)

Pirate Radio -- The European cut was edited and renamed from The Boat that Rocked to Pirate Radio.  After such a delay in release, I'm a bit nervous about seeing it. It's by Love Actually's Richard Curtis, with an incredible cast such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, and more in a film about early rock and roll rebels? And look, more Emma Thompson. Jette and Debbie have seen it, and Debbie's got a review. (wide)

Splinterheads -- Brant Sersen's film brings together a slacker, a summer carnival and a con artist named Galaxy.  I haven't seen it yet, so I can't really say anymore other than that it played SXSW.  Wait, that's not true. It has Frankie Faison, who's also in  Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.  (Arbor)

2012 -- If you liked The Day After Tomorrow or 10,000 BC, you're sure to love this. However, if you need an actual story and something substantial to suspend your disbelief upon, you'll be disappointed.  For more, check out my review.  (wide)

Before we get in to our personal picks, I have to point out a refreshing trend I've noticed in recent weeks.  Some films are coming back to theaters in second runs, particularly Inglourious Basterds (Regal Metropolitan) and District 9 (Cinemark Tinseltown 17). If you didn't get a chance to see them in theaters, you still have a chance.  I also recommend checking out Whip It while it's still in wide release.

Check our event calendar for special film events, and our personal picks below.  Don't forget you can always alert us to special screenings, new film series, etc. 

Debbie: My weekend is overbooked so instead of hitting the theater I'll be buying a new DVD to watch - Art from the Streets, a feature length documentary about a program benefiting homeless artists in Austin. This film was the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival winner. The 17th annual art show and sale is going on at the ARCH this weekend from noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, and all sales proceeds go back to the artists. Looking forward to seeing this film and perhaps picking up some art for our home.

Jenn:  I'm covering the Austin Asian Film Festival, which runs through Sunday.  See you there?  You'll find me at the Alamo South Lamar (like that's news, I know).  But if I could clone myself, I would be at The Women (1939) at the Ritz for a Hey Homo! brunch.  It's a great film, and would have been better known if it didn't have to face Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz at Oscar time. 

Jette: I'm hoping to see Persepolis, which is screening for free at the park near the Mexican-American Cultural Center on Saturday night at 6 pm, as part of AAAFF. Love this movie, love free screenings, can't resist. Also, I may see Bronson again if my husband will go with me, because it was one of my favorite films from Fantastic Fest this year.