Movies This Week: Austin on Netflix Streaming
We interrupt this regular column to bring you something a little different, particularly since no new films are opening in Austin on this last day of the year. Instead, here are some options for streaming movies on Netflix so while you're hungover tomorrow, you can be a couch potato and still catch some great Austin-connected films.
I had no idea how many films connected to the Austin film scene were available online for streaming. Sure, many things appear on video on demand, when you have to pay additional money, but did you know that Netflix alone has many Austin films available for streaming, as well as even more of the selections from our film festivals? It's not just classics like Paris, Texas and Tender Mercies but a wide range of newer and obscure films, or the television critical darling Friday Night Lights that has the first four seasons available on streaming. Several newer locally filmed and produced indies are available, and even more obscure films from local fests.
Here are some selections of note that you can watch right now if you have Netflix: first with Austin and Texas connections, then selected films from various Austin film festivals.
August Evening -- This Texas Filmmaker Production Fund award winner following an undocumented farm worker and his widowed daughter-in-law was nominated for a Best Actor Spirit Award for Pedro Castaneda and won the John Cassevetes Spirit Award in 2008.
Chalk -- This AFF hit is the bastard love child of The Office and The Real World, as lived by young, new teachers. Written and directed by locals who tried their hand as teachers (Chris Mass and Mike Akel), they also shot most of it in Austin. It's funny, heartbreaking, and a great example of the independent spirit, and if you have any connection to the Austin film viewing scene, several faces will stand out as extras. (Jette's Cinematical review from AFF 2006)
The Education of Shelby Knox -- An El Paso teen (now a Texas Ex) tries to be activist in high school making a better world in her little corner of it, only she meets some outrageous resistance. This SXSW documentary with the tagline of "Sex, lies and education" won a best cinematography award at Sundance and was nominated for the Grand Jury prize. (Jette's recap from SXSW 2005)
The Horse Boy -- Michel Orion Scott's 2009 documentary about a Texas family's journey to reach their austic son takes them around the world. (Debbie's review)
Nobelity -- Turk Pipkin's documentary considers solutions for global issues through interviews with some of the best minds on the planet -- specifically nobel laureates. (Jette's Cinematical review)
Filmmakers Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass made a permanent mark on Indie film with their microbudget film The Puffy Chair. These New Orleans natives and former Austinites are now staples at local fests. You can see Mark in Lynn Shelton's hilarious Humpday (Jenn and Jette's review) and Hannah Takes the Stairs (Jette's Cinematical review). Actually you can see Mark in a lot of films, but the ones above are available for streaming on Netflix.
Local filmmaker Bob Byington has two films currently available on Netflix Streaming: Harmony and Me and Registered Sex Offender. (Jette's Cinematical review and Don's DVD review of Harmony and Me) He also appears briefly in Beeswax, Andrew Bujalski's locally shot film from SXSW 2009 (Jette's review).
But it's not just locally made films, many festival selections are available. Below are selections from the festivals I've attended over the years, and films you might enjoy. Originally I was going to list them all, but there are just too many. This is just the tip of the slackery cinematic iceberg. I've linked them to IMDb so you can read more about them.
It's far from a comprehensive list but after looking through it, you can't say there's nothing to watch this weekend (as long as you have an Internet connection). If you have particular favorites I've left off, please feel free to comment so our readers can check your suggestions out, and you can look for them on other streaming or demand options if you aren't a Netflix subscriber.
AFF Selections
Bella - a gorgeous, gentle film about intersecting lives, terrible choices, and redemption.
Brick - High school noir, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt at his best (and he's never bad).
The Donner Party
-- That's real snow, on the real Donner pass. So there's some artistic
license, it also has some strong performances. And Crispin Glover.
How I Got Lost - Post 9/11 road trip starring Aaron Stafford.
The Messenger
-- More strong, awardworthy performances in this tale of two soldiers
who have the dubious duty of informing next of kin their loved ones are
gone.
Precious -- AFF is known to show many Oscar contenders, and Precious was definitely worthy.
Sorry, Haters - Provocative doesn't begin to explain this character study.
aGLIFF Selections
The Big Gay Musical -- It's Big. It's Gay. It's a musical. And funny, too.
Hannah Free -- Sharon Gless as a woman separated from her lifelong lover.
Hollywood, Je t'aime -- Stylish, B&W, and filmed in part in Paris, je t'aime.
I Can't Think Straight -- Frothy lesbian romance, and aGLIFF opening night film 2009.
Dog Eat Dog -- Gritty crime drama, literally "dog eat dog" that proves CLAIFF has selections worthy of the 'big' fests in town.
The Pope's Toilet
-- The pope is scheduled to speak in an impoverished border town,
giving the locals a once in a lifetime opportunity to make money.
Stranded: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed in the Mountains -- Documentary of the survivors of 1972 plane crash, with the survivors finally telling their own story.
A Town Called Panic -- Silly fun in French by crazy Belgians. Adorable and absurd.
Bronson -- Tom Hardy takes on the cult of celebrity in the story of real life celebrity criminal Charlie Bronson.
The Chaser -- Even with an early reveal, this Korean thriller is riveting.
Cropsey -- Provocative doc about a urban legend and actual guilt versus perception.
The Good, the Bad, the Weird -- Korean western set in pre-WWII Mongolia. Seriously.
The Horseman -- OK, a Fantastic Fest selection for SXSW. Brutal, heartbreaking, outstanding.
The Human Centipede: First Sequence -- You know you want to, and now the squeamish can hit pause if they need a break.
I Think We're Alone Now -- Creepy, funny, heartbreaking doc about stalkers obsessesd with 80s star Tiffany.
Let the Right One In -- Spare, chilling Swedish tale of a bullied youngster and his strange new neighbor.
Severance - Another bloody office outing; very fun and very smart, especially if you've dealt with corporate politics.
Cavite -- Single POV with a cast and crew of two, and absolutely riveting tale of a man returning for his father's funeral, only to find a strange phone in his luggage.
Centurion -- Quickly disappeared from theaters, but this perfectly servicable tale of the Lost Legion stars Michael Fassbender, which is enough to make you want to watch it, right? Well that and Liam Neeson.
Cowboy del Amor -- Even cowboys need matchmakers, so meet the most unusual one.
Dreams with Sharp Teeth -- Curmudgeonly and painfully intelligent, Harlan Ellison is one of the most significant writers of speculative fiction. And quite a character, too. If you like science-fiction stories, this is a must see.
Grace -- Do not watch this motherhood horror flick if you're expecting.
Helvetica -- Hugely popular doc about the most recognizable font. If you're aren't a font geek, you will be.
Itty Bitty Titty Committee -- Radical feminist comedy drama about a group of lesbians ready to start a revolution.
Pucker Up -- The doc that made me appreciate that any doc can be mesmerizing, even on eabout competitive whistling.
Puppy -- The twisted tale of the manipulative Liz and her "rescuer" is one twisted tale that makes me want to see more from director Kieran Galvin.
Sin Nombre -- Cary Fukunaga's lauded thriller centering on a Honduran girl trying to make it to the U.S. via Mexico.
Skill Like This -- While it's not locally made, this slacker comedy about a writer who discovers a talent for crime was a hit at SXSW.
What Would Jesus Buy? -- Watch this doc about the Shopocalypse, then watch Maxed Out. Then cut up your credit cards.