Movies this Week: Cinemapocalypse, Shorts, Extract and So Much More

I hope you all are rested up, because Austin is exploding with film events this week. Between Cinemapocalypse and two red carpets, including one world premiere, it's as close to film-geek heaven as possible without a film festival.

Opening This Week

My top two favorite films open this week, District 9 and In the Loop. I'd be hard pressed to say which was my favorite, because they're such different films. Sci-fi fans will go nuts for District 9, which cunningly mixes aliens with evil corporation and a corporate stooge whose life gets turned upside down. The explosive third act will make fanboys and girls go wild, and it's sure to become a classic. Check out our group review.

In the Loop (pictured above), a British political satire, rips politicos to shreds with caustic humor as power-hungry assistant secretaries and their assistants battle it out and ultimately prove that funny can be smart. Scathingly smart. Torchwood: Children of Earth fans who were impressed with Peter Capaldi as the quiet career bureaucrat will be shocked and amused to see that character's polar opposite in Malcolm Tucker, the foulest director of communication you can imagine. Don't worry if some of the unfamiliar accents aren't easy to understand with the rapid fire delivery; this is one you'll want to watch more than once (a lot like District 9).

But then I almost forgot that Thirst opens at the Arbor today as well. Chan-wook Park's latest turns the vampire concept on its head, by tackling co-dependence, domestic politics, and consequences that will surely please fans of Oldboy. Check out my review for more details.

That's not all. Keep an eye out for my review of Adam, a movie-of-the-week style romance that couples Asperger Guy with a Daddy's Girl. Bandslam, which had a red-carpet event in Austin last week, opens today -- Jette says it's a cut above most squeaky-clean teen movies. The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard aims for some of heights In the Loop easily reaches, but fails most of the time --it would make a great SNL recurring skit, however, and Will Ferrell fans will love it.

Other films we didn't get a chance to review in advance for you include The Time Traveler's Wife, Ponyo, Spread, and Shrink. Jette will be reviewing Spread for Cinematical this weekend.

Before we get into the daily events, just a reminder that the Alamo free Summer Movie Kids Camp winds down with Speed Racer at the Village and The Witches (a favorite movie of Jette's) at Lamar, Monday through Thursday at 11 am. These shows are first come, first serve, so get there early.

Friday, August 14

Round Rock Movies in Your Park presents Igor, and Kyle Movies in the Park is showing Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (2008) with 3D glasses available to the first 300.

The Paramount Summer Film Series is showing Annie Hall and Looking for Mr. Goodbar.

Saturday, August 15

If you don't have tickets for Cinemapocalypse, or the parallel Austin Film Society screening of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, you have our sincerest condolences. Both are sold out with waiting lists for no-shows. If you want to live vicariously, the Slackerwood Gang will be covering the events and expect some updates on Twitter.

You can console yourself at the Paramount with one showing of Ben-Hur, and two of Monty Python & The Holy Grail bookending The Life of Brian, so if you don't have basterds in your future, you could have watery tarts and, well. Ahem. Can you believe it's been 30 years since The Life of Brian was released?

Or if you want to be outside, head to Triangle Park for a free screening of Kung Fu Panda at 8:15 pm.

Sunday, August 16

Debbie will be covering the red carpet at the Paramount for Shorts. The filmmakers and stars will be there, and after the film there will be a carnival for the audience right outside the Paramount.

Afterwards, you can catch The Life of Brian at the Paramount.

Alamo Ritz is showing Second Skin, the documentary about World of Warcraft players that screened at SXSW in 2008, tonight and Monday. The theater is also showing the classic war film The Dirty Dozen tonight, Monday and Wednesday.

Monday, August 17

Austin Film Festival's Funniest Filmmaker in Austin screens at the Cap City Comedy Club. It's open to all and "funny beats technical ability" and "quick and dirty shorts are welcome" so this is bound to very entertaining. Winners get two Producers Badges to AFF, which are worth over $1300 and provide as full access as possible to AFF.

The Paramount Summer Film Series is showing Shoot the Piano Player and Made in U.S.A..

Music Monday's selection is From Dusty with Love.

Tuesday, August 18

The place to be on Tuesday is the Paramount for the world premiere of Mike Judge's Extract. I can't tell you too much about the film yet, but I can say it will be worth it ... plus you get a Q&A with Judge and Jason Bateman.

This month's Girlie Night selection at Alamo Ritz is the very funny, somewhat goofy Drop Dead Gorgeous, starring Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley and Allison Janney.

Terror Tuesday's selection is Kingdom of the Spiders. I enjoyed last week's Killer Klowns from Outer Space so much, despite Ms. Texting-On-Two-Phones, I might go back for this one.

Wednesday, August 19

Made in U.S.A and Shoot the Piano Player are back for the Paramount Summer Film Series.

The South Austin store Roadhouse Rags has been showing movies in the "backyard" behind the store on Wednesday nights at 9 pm. This week's movie is Ilsa, the Wicked Warden, starring Dyanne Thorne. Although it's billed as a movie in the Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS series, apparently this was just a ploy to capitalize on Thorne's then-popularity, and her character's name is really Greta! More than you wanted to know, I suspect.

Thursday, August 20

Dillinger is Dead and Lola Montes at the Paramount. Never heard of them? Dillinger is Dead is a 1969 film only now getting its U.S. release, and Lola Montes was proclaimed to be a masterpiece by the New York Times, and has acclaimed cinematography. Go find out why and report back.

Tonight's double-feature at Spider House is The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A.. The movies start at 9 pm and are free.

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