Movies This Week: Three Deathly Days and 127 Special Hours
This is a short week for Movies This Week. Next week, the big opening day for movies is Wednesday, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Still, a few big and interesting movies are opening here in town today, some smaller indies are still playing, and there are quite a few special screenings and events. At my house, we're trying to decide whether to see Four Lions or Morning Glory on Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps both! (Alamo Drafthouse is even offering a turkey dinner that day if you don't feel like cooking.)
Movies We've Seen:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 -- Harry and his chums leave Hogwarts on a quest to destroy evil Lord Voldemort, encountering any number of great British character actors on their way. Not a stand-alone film but a very good entry in the series. Read my review for more details. (wide)
127 Hours -- The latest film from Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) screened at Austin Film Festival this year and now returns to town for a regular theatrical run. James Franco is supposed to be amazing. Frankly, I am a little scared to see this movie in a theater because of That Scene and may have to wait for DVD. Don is braver than I am; look for his review this weekend. (wide)
Other New Movies:
The Next Three Days -- Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks star in this thriller in which she's convicted (wrongly) of murder and he's determined to get her out of prison. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, but did not screen in Austin for press, which is often a bad omen. Oh, hey, Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehy, Olivia Wilde and Daniel Stern are in there too. (wide)
Today's Special (pictured at top) -- This indie film about a young man learning life lessons while learning to cook Indian food stars several folks who have appeared in Austin indies: Kevin Corrigan (Harmony and Me) and Jess Weixler (Teeth). Ajay Naidu (Office Space) and co-writer Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show) are also in the movie. Directed by David Kaplan, whose previous film Year of the Fish premiered at AFF 2007.
Golmaal 3 -- Bollywood action comedy. (Tinseltown South)
Guzaarish -- The lovely Aishwarya Rai stars in this Bollywood drama about a musician who is paralyzed and wants to end his own life. (Tinseltown South)
Our Picks This Week:
Debbie -- I recently caught an episode of the Animal Planet series I Shouldn't Be Alive and decided having a companion and a dog is a good idea when hiking in backcountry. This weekend I hope to learn more about survival in the wilderness with Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, a film I missed at AFF.
Elizabeth -- Austin Cinematheque is showing Jim Jarmusch's 1984 film Stranger Than Paradise Monday night (8 pm) at the Union Theatre on the UT campus. Admission is free.
Jette -- I do love Buster Keaton comedies, especially with a live musical accompaniment. On Monday night, Alamo Ritz is showing Keaton's 1928 film The Cameraman, with a score written and performed live by the local band Bee vs. Moth. I also don't want to miss this month's Cinema Club screening at Ritz on Sunday night: the 1953 film Beat the Devil, with now-local filmmaker Andrew Bujalski leading the post-movie discussion.