Movies This Week: Ramona And the Secret Salt Kids

It hasn't been a great summer this year for big summer blockbusters, but if you look closely, it's been a great simmering summer for the arthhouse films, at least in Austin. Exit Through the Gift Shop is still holding on at the Dobie, and The Secret in Their Eyes is back. Micmacs is still doing well at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, and the Grease Sing-A-Long has five new screenings peppered into the South Lamar schedule through Wednesday. Here's what's opening this week:

The Kids are All Right -- This tale of an "alternative" family is too self-aware and overloaded with self-concious acting in the first half, despite having some of the best actors available today. Still, by the end it's the kids that won me over. Elizabeth can tell you more in her review. (wide)

Salt -- Angelina Jolie as a spy fighting to clear her name after a defector accuses her of treason. The heavily marketed film also includes acting heavyweights Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Andre Braugher, which makes this potentially one of the more watchable films of the summer. But two questions remain; is Evelyn Salt a double agent, and is Salt really watchable? Elizabeth's review can answer one of those questions. (wide)

The Secret in Their Eyes -- This brilliant, complex, Oscar-winning thriller returns to Austin. If you love nuanced performances wrapped in layered stories, this is a must-see. Read Don's review for more. Then go see it. (Dobie)

Khatta Meetha -- Bollywood by director Priyadarshan. No synopsis available, but the plot keywords include sunglasses, corruption, steamroller, and remake. (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)

Maryada Ramanna -- And on this one, all we know is that it's directed by S.S. Rajamouli. (Tinseltown 17)

Ramona and Beezus (pictured above) -- Beverly Cleary's popular books about a precious girl are brought to the big screen. It didn't screen in advance in Austin, and frankly, it's the kind of film you're either going to go to or not based on the source material ... and your kids. (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 -- "But you ARE Blanche, you ARE in that chair!" One of the most memorable and frightening movie lines ever, spoken by Bette Davis as the cronish child star to her caregiver/sister played by Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Tuesday night's special screening is hosted by Austin drag queen personality Rebecca Havemeyer as part of the Celluloid Handbag Series at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.

Elizabeth -- I will be spending Sunday afternoon at the Paramount Theatre. To celebrate the 35th year of their Summer Film Series, Paramount is selling tickets for the Astaire/Rogers classic Top Hat for 50 CENTS. That's a steal! After Top Hat at 1:30 pm, you can stay on to see the best Marx Brothers movie (IMHO) A Night at the Opera at 3:35pm -- for no additional charge.  Celebratory hardboiled eggs for everyone! (Note: I'm pretty sure no hardboiled eggs will be offered at the theater.)

Jette -- Thinking about enjoying a late Sunday night movie at Cinema East: Bryan Poyser's film Lovers of Hate will screen this week as part of this summer series. Admission is free, and I hear the filmmaker may be there. Read my review for more details about this comedy that was shot partially in Austin.