Movies This Week: The Rare Swan Tourist Chronicles

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Some of the prestigious and/or just plain good end-of-year films are starting to trickle down to Austin, finally. Like Black Swan. We're seeing a few other interesting films opening today as well. And Black Swan. Are you going to see Black Swan? You should.

Movies We've Seen:

Black Swan (pictured at top) -- The most anticipated film by cineastes this year, Darren Aronofsky's stunning psychological thriller is not just about ballet, but ballet with the gorgeousness of The Fountain, and as visceral as The Wrestler. This fractured fairy tale doesn't disappoint. Read my review for more. (Alamo Ritz, Arbor)

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale -- This popular Fantastic Fest 2010 selection is a Finnish black comedy about Santas. Be warned; this is not Elf. Debbie tells you more in her review. (Alamo Lamar)

The Tourist -- Johnny Depp at his worst, and I don't mean as a villian. Angelina Jolie as a trite seductress snares him in a banal thriller. Look for Debbie's review on Saturday. (wide)

Other New Movies:

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader -- Next installment of the Narnia franchise, but will it match the first of the C.S. Lewis adaptations, or falter like the previous one? The movie didn't screen for critics in Austin so we'll just have to find out with everyone else. (wide)

Band Baaja Baaraat -- Bollywood romcom about two friends who start a wedding planning business. (Tinseltown)

No Problem -- Bollywood comedy about a bank manager out to prove his innocence after being accused of complicity in a robbery. (Tinseltown)

Vision -- I could have sworn this biopic about Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century composer and Renaissance woman, had opened last week, but it's not in the archives so I guess not.  Don't believe the Fandango music, this isn't science fiction, it's about a nun. 

Our Picks This Week:

Debbie: Despite growing up with Irving Berlin's classic songs playing every season in our home, I'd dismissed the film White Christmas as sentimental holiday fare -- until I finally watched the film. Bing Crosby's blue eyes, Vera-Ellen's gams, Danny Kaye's pratfalls, Mary Wickes' sharp wit and Rosemary Clooney's pipes had me hooked. Don't miss a chance to see this classic Christmas movie at the Paramount tonight.

Don: I can't pass up a chance to revisit Lost Austin at the Spamarama Reunion at Alamo Ritz on Saturday. Along with a screening of Spamarama: The Movie, the event features reminiscences from co-founder David Arnsberger and many of the participants, film clips and a live set by several members of the Uranium Savages.

Jette: I love Guillermo del Toro's films, and Alamo Ritz is giving me the chance to see his 2001 movie The Devil's Backbone in a theater, on Monday and Wednesday nights. Also, I'm thinking of seeing Tron. No, not the spiffy new 3D Tron:Legacy, but Blue Starlite Drive-In is showing the 1982 film on Thursday night.