Movies This Week: Vampires and Synecdoche and Shorts

I know, you're all going to see Quantum of Solace this weekend, and you don't care what else is playing, nor will you be influenced by my opinion of the film (it didn't meet my expectations, which admittedly were high). On the off chance that you're not into the latest Bond outing, here are some highlights of movies playing in local theaters this week:

• One of the favorites at Fantastic Fest this year is opening this week: Let the Right One In, a Swedish film about pre-teens in love, and school bullying ... and vampires. A sweet film, with some lovely moments, and a gore level that was low enough to be acceptable to my squeamish self. Arbor and Alamo South are both showing this film.
• If you're more of a Twilight kind of person, Austin Film Society still has tickets left to the film's Austin premiere on Thursday, November 20 at the Texas State History Museum's IMAX theater. The remaining tickets are $50, but include an invite to an after-party with director Catherine Hardwicke in attendance.
• Synecdoche, New York, writer Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, opens in Austin this week at Dobie and Arbor. In October, the film packed the Paramount during Austin Film Festival, with writer-director Kaufman in attendance (shown above). This is the kind of movie you see with a group of people and then argue about over coffee/drinks/ice cream afterwards. Kimberley Jones interviewed Kaufman for the Austin Chronicle after the AFF screening; check it out.
• Need a date-night film? Alamo Ritz and the Dobie are still showing Zack and Miri Make a Porno all week long.
• Austin Cinematheque is showing the 1960 Claude Chabrol film Les Bonnes Femmes on Monday night at the Texas Union Theatre. It's free!
• The AFS Fredric March series draws to a close on Tuesday (sigh) with The Best Years of Our Lives at Alamo Ritz. And after that, if you want to watch something completely different, stay at the Ritz for a late-night screening of the Flaming Lips' film Christmas on Mars.
• I'm extremely regretful that I have plans for Wednesday night, because I would love to see the short films that AFS is showing at Republic Square Park for free. The lineup includes Toddy Burton's The Aviatrix, Bob Ray's Sweet Sweetroll's Baaaadassss Spin, Elizabeth Sikes' Gimme Some Larry ... and two films I've seen and enjoyed: the Zellners' Quasar Hernandez and Steve Collins' Gretchen and the Night Danger.
• Another regret: I wish I could go to more midnight movies, because this week's Weird Wednesday selection at Alamo Ritz is Point Blank, based on the same Donald Westlake novel as Payback, with Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson.
• Finally, JCVD opens next Friday at Alamo Ritz. This was another very popular film at Fantastic Fest, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.