Movies This Week: Biutiful Prada Mechanic Inside Rite

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Oscar season is finally here. And now you can see, or see again -- some of the nominated films. And Lemmy is doing well enough that it's moving from Lamar over to the Village through Feb. 3, so catch it while you can.

Movies We've Seen:

Biutiful -- Deliberately slow, Alejandro González Iñárritu's "road to redemption" tale features the always watchable Javier Bardem. And yes, it's nominated for Outstanding Foreign Language Film (Mexico -- even though the story takes place in Spain). Read my review for more.

Inside Job (pictured above) -- When Oscar nods, films that have already left the cineplexes suddenly find themselves back in theaters, and Inside Job is no exception. This is the type of documentary that just may change your attitude about the shell game companies and governments play with money. So if you have been ostriching over the apparently rather avoidable $20,000,000,000,000 global disaster that no natural disaster can top, this is your opportunity to catch up. it's also a great "hub" film for several other recent documentaries that dive deeper into some of the tangents. If you have ever invested, or bought a house, this is one doc you must see. I didn't catch this until the "For Your Consideration" screener arrived in December, but I'm definitely glad I saw it.

The Mechanic -- Remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson film of the same name and co-starring Jan-Michael Vincent, director Simon West (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) takes an updated version of Lewis John Carlino's script and uses Jason Statham, Donald Sutherland, and the always watchable Ben Foster and let's them take on the action tale featuring professional assassins hell-bent on revenge. Read Debbie's review to find out more.

Other New Movies:

From Prada to Nada -- This isn't the sequel to The Hottie and the Nottie. Oh, no. It's apparently the "Latina version of Pride and Prejudice." Although dear old papa dies, and leaves two formerly rich sisters in East LA. How is that a re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice?! (wide)

The Rite -- Apparently this devil-versus-priest story is based on a true story of a priest who's gone to exorcist school, and based ona book by Matt Baglio. Someone I know online swears her mother's pastor was the young priest from the film. And you know no one on the internet lies. Personally, I want to see it for the cast, which includes Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Rutger Hauer, Alice Braga and oh, Sir Anthony Hopkins. (wide)

Our Picks:

Don: I'll probably walk instead of run, but the Paramount pub run and screening of Run, Fatboy, Run on Tuesday sounds like a perfectly Austin-y way to spend an evening. The event starts with a pub run from the Paramount down Congress Avenue to Hotel Saint Cecilia, where there will be beer from Thirsty Planet Brewery. Then, it's back to the Paramount for the Simon Pegg comedy about an out-of-shape man who decides to run a marathon to win back his ex-fiancee after jilting her at the altar five years earlier.

Elizabeth: While Strictly Ballroom remains my favorite Baz Luhrmann film, I do enjoy watching his Moulin Rouge in all its cheesy glory every now and then. Tuesday night (7 pm), the Alamo Ritz will hold the first of three sing-along Moulin Rouge events for the month of February. Watch out for that absinthe!

Jenn: The Alamo Celluloid Handbag Presents Flash Gordon, Wednesday night at Alamo Ritz. I'm old enough to have seen it first-run and while Sam Jones did nothing for me, I certainly was crushing on Timothy Dalton. And having Flash Gordon hosted by the Fabulous Rebecca Havemeyer means the glamorous Princess Aura will have some serious competition.

Jette: Over at Alamo Lake Creek, Fantastic Fest 2010 selection Ip Man 2 plays nightly all week long. Most screenings are at 10:30 pm but on Monday night you can get your Donnie Yen fix at a very reasonable 7:40. While not quite as good as Ip Man, this sequel includes some marvelous kung fu -- I especially love the sequence in which Ip Man has to fight other martial arts masters, including Sammo Hung's character, on tabletops. Read Rod Paddock's fest review for more details.

Prada to Nada

I read that it's the Latina version of "Sense and Sensibility," so the two formerly wealthy ladies would be take-offs on Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. But still, why?

Sounds a bit closer to the

Sounds a bit closer to the plot. Seems like the synopsis I saw was from someone who doesn't know their Austen. And that's more wrong than the title.