Movies This Week: The Disappearance of Twelve Flipped Middle Guys
It seems to be a bit of a boys' club in theaters this week, with kidnappers, cops and internet moguls (all male). But upon closer look, you can find a lot of diversity in movies opening in Austin today. I'm still hoping to make it up to the Arbor to see SXSW selection Winter's Bone, which has been doing very well. Whatever films I end up seeing, I'm going to enjoy the cool air conditioning as my home A/C is struggling in the afternoons with these triple-digit temps. What are the new releases in town, you ask? Just look below.
Aisha -- Bollywood remake of Jane Austen's Emma (or as some younger folks might know it, Clueless). (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)
The Disappearance of Alice Creed -- Brilliant beginning to an overambitious thriller that doesn't completely succeed. Worth watching if only to dissect where it went wrong (and I mean that in a good way). Read my review for more. (Lamar)
Don Seenu -- All I can tell you about this Bollywood film is it's a comedy. (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)
Flipped -- Nostalgic saccharine variation on Boy Meets Girl directed by Rob Reiner, based on a children's book. Read my review for more. (wide)
Middle Men -- Inspired by internet adult entertainment entrepreneur Christopher Mallick and starring Luke Wilson, Middle Men is at times provocative and derivative, but all told, an interesting film. I liked it, just can't decide how much. And Giovanni Ribisi, please stop channelling Jeremy Piven. You're better than that. Read Jette's review for more details. (wide)
The Other Guys -- Psuedo-Brechtian deconstruction of cop-buddy movies that is a bigger mess than the one left at the end of the opening action sequence. Read my review for more. (wide)
Step Up 3D -- The second sequel to a decent enough coming-of-age via dance film, now in 3D. Read Elizabeth's review to find out if it lives up to its predecessors. (wide)
Twelve -- Joel Schumacher's latest (pictured at top) is about a drug dealer in NYC, and adapted from a Nick McDonell novel. The cast includes Chace Crawford, Rory Culkin, and Kiefer Sutherland as the narrator. The distributor is a new, small one, so there's no other information available to us at this time. (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)
Check out our personal picks below. Don't forget you can always alert us to special screenings, new film series, etc.
Debbie -- I'll be in Cincinnati for the week, so sadly I'll miss AFF's special screening of The Dry Land. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film after reading Jette's description.
Don -- Debbie stole my pick for this week, The Dry Land. Fortunately, I'll be in town for the screening and look forward to the discussion with Ryan Piers Williams. My second pick is one of Jack Nicholson's best films, Five Easy Pieces, screening at the Paramount on Friday and Sunday. (After the screening, I may be in the mood for a chicken salad sandwich with no butter, no lettuce, no mayonnaise and no chicken.)
Jenn -- Cinemapocalypse, baby! I'll be covering this for Slackerwood, and will be able to tell you all about it next week.
Jette -- I'm actually going to Alamo's Weird Wednesday this week, staying up late and everything. I've even bought my ticket already, because I can't resist a rare screening of Freebie and the Bean, Richard Rush's 1974 buddy-cop movie starring Alan Arkin and James Caan. Parts of it are offensive, parts of it are just dumb, but the leads are marvelous and I love the chase scenes too. Take an afternoon nap on Wednesday and join me at Alamo Ritz at midnight.