Movies This Week: Elektra Sucker Devil Jane

Did you miss Movies this Week last week?  We're back, even though we're still recovering from SXSW. 

Movies We've Seen:

Elektra Luxx  -- Sebastian Gutierrez's second film featuring the title character (the first being Women in Trouble), focuses on Carla Cugino as a retired porn star. The first movie left me cold, so I skipped the sequel.  Mike has seen it and can tell you more in his review. (Arbor)

I Saw the Devil (pictured above) -- This near-perfect Fantastic Fest 2010 selection is gritty, violent and suspenseful, and a must-see for those who appreciate Korean crime dramas and/or unapologetically dark revenge thrillers.  Byung-hun Lee plays a government agent out for revenge after his fiancee is murdered. (Alamo Ritz)

Jane Eyre -- Arguably Charlotte Brontë's story of the reclusive Mr. Rochester and the stalwart young Jane Eyre is responsible for more undeserved forgiveness in relationships than any other classic story. Cary Fukunaga's interpretation of the classic novel is hurt by the running time, as the subtleties of the relationship in this gothic romance just don't have enough time to develop.  Read Elizabeth's review for more. (wide)

Sucker Punch -- Throw a couple dozen iconic films in the proverbial blender, filter them through CGI, paint the leads as pouty diluted pin-ups and tack up an overly conscious soundtrack of cover songs ... and you have the hot mess that is Sucker Punch. Seriously derivative with a half-hearted sheen of psuedo-feminist drivel. Find out what Mike has to say about it in his review, which will be published Saturday morning. (wide)

Other New Movies:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules -- If you or your kid are already fans of Jeff Kinney's books, you're probably going to see this. (wide)

MOOZ-lum -- Qasim Basir's feature directorial debut is a coming of age tale about a sheltered Muslim American starring Evan Ross, who was in town last week for the SXSW premiere of 96 Minutes, a harrowing crime thriller.  (Barton Creek)

Our Picks:

Jenn: I hope I'm recovered from SXSW in time to catch the Cine Las Americas special screening of Los heredoros, a documentary about child labor in Mexico. The screening is free at St. Edward's University on March 30. "Cine" has a rich program of docs and narratives by for and about the Latin and indigenous experience in the Americas.

Jette: This month's Alamo Cinema Club selection is the 1956 Nicholas Ray movie Bigger Than Life, starring James Mason. (Walter Matthau is in it too, ooh.) The guest expert, who will introduce the film and participate in a discussion afterward, is Austin Chronicle Film Editor Marjorie Baumgarten. Sunday night, 7 pm, Alamo Ritz.