Movies This Week: Casino Jack and the Forever After Kites
The Good, the Bad and the Weird expands to Dobie this week. I'm pleased to see that Human Centipede is held over at Alamo South, which also held over Exit Through the Gift Shop along with the Arbor. Best Worst Movie is back for a nightly run at Alamo Village. Come to think of it, most of the arthouse films that opened last week are still in town, which makes me happy. But there are some new options this week, which we have listed below.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (pictured above) -- Alex Gibney's portrait of Washington superlobbyist Jack Abramoff is apparently a stranger-than-fiction type doc. Haven't seen it yet, but it certainly looks interesting, as it includes "international intrigue with Indian casinos, Russian spies, Chinese sweatshops, and a mob-style killing in Miami." That's politics for you. (Arbor)
Hausu -- Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1977 film includes a teenage girl, remote home, elderly aunt, and what Alamo's Zack Carlson describes as "a crushing, 300-fisted assault on the senses, so viciously paced and perfectly presented." But if that isn't enough to convince you to see this horror classic, how about Timecrimes director and Fantastic Fest regular Nacho Vigalondo describing it as "the greatest movie I have ever seen?" (Ritz)
Kites -- Mexican Bollywood? Apparently so, or more precisely, Bollywood Hollywood. Left for dead in the desert, a man's only reason to live is a woman who's married to someone else. Brett Ratner got involved to re-edit an international version, apparently, and international it is; languages are English, Hindi and Spanish. (Arbor, Tinseltown 17)
MacGruber -- This SNL riff on MacGyver played SXSW and now is in wide release for your consideration. Not my style, but Laurie Coker braved it and is willing to tell you all about it. (wide)
Shrek Forever After -- Shrek made me laugh til I was breathless. Shrek 2 was just as funny. But Shrek the Third was a reminder why sequels shouldn't be made. The fourth Shrek outing isn't as bad as the third, but that's not saying much. Read my review for more. (wide)
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 -- I want to see Bob Ray's Total Badass on May 26 but don't know if I can bring myself to watch it. I've known Chad for years, and have yet to see Rock Opera because of his spotlight in the opening sequence. Something about seeing a bar buddy servicing himself is TMI for me. If someone can convince me I won't gain carnal knowledge of "the Chad" in Total Badass, I'll give it a shot!
Elizabeth -- You can catch Weird Al Yankovic in person at the Paramount this Saturday as part of special screenings of UHF. The 7 pm showing sold out fast, but the 3 pm matinee still has tickets available.
Jenn -- I'm not a The Big Lebowski fan (I may have alienated a few friends with that statement), but I can't help mention that Tinseltown 17 is showing the film tonight. Is there a Lebowski fest in town?
Jette -- Exit Through the Gift Shop is playing Austin for another week (Debbie's review), and I've heard so many varied and interesting things about the film that I'm planning to make time to see it. (Also, Iron Man 2.)