Movies This Week: Memorial Day Weekend Edition

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The Whole Shootin Match

The first summer holiday weekend is upon us, as well as UT's commencement weekend. While that may tempt you to get out of town or stick to your own backyard, there are some film events around Austin this weekend that may catch your eye.

First and foremost, this is the opening weekend of the Paramount Summer Film Series, an annual event that brings vintage classics to Austin audiences in a classic old theater. The Summer Film Series has a Film Fan membership option that gives discounts and reserved seating to members, as well as free popcorn. Single tickets are good for all shows that day. This weekend's films include Mary Poppins, Casablanca and From Here to Eternity.

But wait, there's more. Lots more.

Screen Door Film (Free, 7 pm, Jones Auditorium/Ragsdale Center at St. Edward's). The latest installment of the "The Texas Cinema Series" is presenting The Whole Shootin' Match accompanied by a Q&A with actor Sonny Carl Davis, composer Chuck Pennell, and Austin film historian Alison Macor, moderated by Louis Black from the Austin Chronicle. Celebrate the life and career of the late Lou Perryman (pictured above with Davis), an Austinite who starred in this acclaimed film.

You could follow The Whole Shootin' Match with Free Fu Friday (Free, Midnight, Alamo Village). Matt Kiernan of Alamo Village has been programming a monthly free midnight screening of kung fu flicks from the Alamo film vault. This month's selection is Once Upon a Time in China 3 with Jet Li. You don't need to see the preceding two films to appreciate this one. Get there early enough to get your ticket, settle back, and enjoy some Friday Fu fun.

On Saturday, Alamo has two more events worth catching. First is the Bike-In Rolling Roadshow ($8, Sundown, lot next to Progress Coffee), featuring Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. If you don't want to bike, walk-ins are welcome. Later, Alamo Ritz hosts the No Comply presentation of Forty Three Skate Movie (Free, 9:55 pm, Alamo Ritz), celebrating the Austin skateboarding scene as filmed by the folks at No Comply.

The Alamo gang has quite a few special screenings this weekend, so you might want to check out their website.

Fantastic Fest 2008 secret screening hit The Brothers Bloom, Rian Johnson's sweet and snarky con caper, opens at the Regal Arbor on Friday. To make things particularly interesting, Johnson has recorded a commentary people can play during the film. The Brothers Bloom stars such talent as Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rinko Kikuchi (Babel).

Other films of interest include Not Forgotten, a film with Austin cast and crew, which continues at the Dobie. Alamo Village still hosts The Rocky Horror Picture Show live show for a mere $5. SXSW selection Goodbye Solo continues at the Regal Arbor. Rudo y Cursi, directed by Carlos Cuaron and starring Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna (Y Tu Mamá Tambien), continues at both the Dobie and the Regal Arbor. And perennial indie favorite Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience opens at Alamo South.