Movies This Week

This holiday weekend brings eight new releases to Austin theaters, from the erudite and hilarious comedy Sleepwalk with Me to the slightly less erudite and probably not very hilarious horror flick The Possession.

If the new offerings don't grab you (but really, Sleepwalk with Me should grab everyone), the Paramount continues its Summer Classic Film Series with a weekend of modern classics, including E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Dirty Dancing, Pretty in Pink and one of my favorite Eighties films, The Breakfast Club (pictured above). See the Paramount and Stateside calendar for details.

Fans of short films won't want to miss the Texas Filmmakers Showcase on Thursday at the Austin Film Society screening room. Curated by the Houston Film Commission, the 95-minute showcase features seven Texas short films, including works from Austin's own Timothy Edwards, Micah Robert Barber and Carlyn Hudson. This event is a fundraiser for the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund, so it's a great way to support the Texas independent film industry.

Movies We've Seen

The Ambassador -- In this Danish documentary, journalist Mads Brügger goes undercover as a European ambassador to uncover the African blood diamond trade. Rod has high praise in his review, saying "The Ambassador immerses you in the activities at hand. From start to finish, you feel like a participant in the conversations, an accomplice in the bribes, and one of the people that will take the fall should the lies and deceptions unravel." (Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek, Slaughter Lane, South Lamar and Village)

Lawless -- Set in Depression-era Virginia, this movie (which opened Wednesday) follows a bootlegging gang threatened by authorities who want a cut of the gang's profits. Rod enjoyed the film, saying in his Comic-Con review that director John Hillcoat "draws out some great performances from his cast, transforming Guy Pearce into a demented sadist, Gary Oldman into an old-school gangster and Jessica Chastain into a bad girl gone good. Banner performances all around." (wide)

Robot & Frank -- In the near future, an ex-jewel thief's son buys his father a robot butler, which he has little use for until he discovers it can help him with a heist. Elizabeth enjoyed the film and praised its cast, saying in her review that "Frank Langella is amazingly earnest in his portrayal of this crotchety and cunning man who grows to care about his caretaker robot. Indeed, practically everyone delivers a winning performance in this movie, even the robot." (Arbor, Violet Crown)

Sleepwalk with Me -- This American Life's Ira Glass co-wrote this terrific comedy starring Mike Birbiglia as a comedian dealing with the stress of a struggling career, a strained relationship and a severe sleepwalking disorder. I'm a huge fan; as I said in my review, "The sharp and erudite Sleepwalk with Me is everything we would expect from a Birbiglia-Glass collaboration, an often bitterly funny movie of great humanity." (Violet Crown)

Summer blockbusters are behind us, and it's time to start preparing for Austin's fall film festivals. Fantastic Fest has released two waves of its programming for the September 20 - 27 festival, the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) has announced four of the 96 films to screen October 3-7, and Lights. Camera. Help. has announced the schedule for the annual nonprofit film festival to be held September 12-14. The 2012 Austin Film Festival (October 18-25) should be announcing their first round of films soon.

Austin Film Society presents Avant Cinema 5.5: Two by H.P. Lovecraft on Wednesday August 29, 7 pm, at the AFS Screening Room at Austin Studios. Two films created by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society using the self-described "Mythoscope" process of mixing vintage and modern filmmaking techniques will be featured, including Sean Branney's The Whisperer in Darkness and The Call of Cthulhu. The Whisperer in Darkness is based on one of the most frightening Lovecraft short stories that I've ever read -- it follows an assistant professor and scientist as he attempts to investigate the legends of the The Old Ones. His discovery leads him down into a horrific path unexplainable by science.

The Call of Cthulhu is "deemed the best H.P. Lovecraft adaptation yet by some critics and has been praised for its unique construction, being one of a handful of silent films made within the past decade" (Aaron Malazahn, Austin Film Society). Similar in plot to The Whisperer in Darkness, this story centers on the investigations of Francis Wayland Thurston into cult worshipers of The Great Old Ones. Thurston travels the Pacific Ocean with sailors of the Emma, finding horrors beyond comprehension aboard an abandoned boat.

Speaking of AFS, don't forget the special El Mariachi screening/Robert Rodriguez and Chingon concert Thursday night. Tickets are still available. And if that isn't to your taste, Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar is screening The Incredibles that night with composer Michael Giacchino in attendance.

Movies We've Seen

Hit and Run -- Actor/writer/director Dax Shepard (Parenthood, Brother's Justice) pays tribute to Smokey and the Bandit and other classic car chase movies in his rough-shod style but surprises with realistic emotional drama with the addition of fiance Kristen Bell to his standard ensemble cast. Personally I could do with less gratuitous nudity, read more in my review. (wide)

Celeste & Jesse Forever -- Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones portray a young couple embroiled in their divorce while attempting to maintain a friendship and move on with their individual lives in this romantic comedy. In regards to actress/ writer Jones, Jordan states in her review, "Her deft performance and the beautiful cinematography by David Lanzenberg help lift Celeste & Jesse Forever above the traditional rom-com pack." (Violet Crown Cinema)

The Revenant -- This film defies classification into one particular genre, successfully blending a dark buddy comedy with horror and more. After being killed in Iraq, a soldier is returned home -- and from the dead. With the help of his best friend, he must find a way to survive or risk decomposing. Find out more in my review. (Alamo South Lamar)

Although it's a late-summer week -- and therefore back-to-school time -- nine new films are opening in Austin. Of course, the back-to-school crowd may have little interest in a documentary about a mysterious singer/songwriter or a Lebanese comedy about religious bigotry. But moviegoers weary of summer schlockbusters have many interesting new choices.

If a Sly Stallone actioner or Sixties girl-group drama aren't your thing -- they certainly aren't mine -- the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series wraps up its SciFi Week with Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Planet of the Apes, The Terminator and A Clockwork Orange (one of my sci-fi favorites) this weekend. See the Paramount and Stateside calendar for details.

Not in the mood for a feature-length film? On Monday at Alamo Drafthouse Village, Austin Film Festival presents a collection of audience award-winning shorts from AFF 2010 and 2011. The films range from documentaries to narratives to animation to comedy, and admission is a bargain at $5. (And it's free for the first 30 AFF members.)

If you want to support the Texas film industry -- and really now, who doesn't? -- don't miss the Fort Worth-shot Searching for Sonny (pictured above), screening Tuesday at Violet Crown. The indie comedy/mystery is on tour around Texas this month as part of Texas Independent Film Network's Fall 2012 program. Refer to Mike's article about this event for more information.

Movies We've Seen

The Imposter -- In this acclaimed documentary, a Frenchman convinces a Texas family he is their 16-year-old son who has been missing for three years. Rod found the interviews with imposter Frederic Bourdin especially fascinating, saying in his review that "It does not take long for you to notice Bourdin's charismatic demeanor. Bourdin was as incredulous as you will be, when realizing that people actually fell for his story of kidnapping and abuse." (Arbor, Violet Crown)

The Odd Life of Timothy Green -- In this family film, a childless couple bury a box in their backyard with all their wishes for an infant. Their wishes seemingly come true when a child is born, but he's not all he appears to be. Debbie isn't a fan; among many criticisms in her review, she says "Despite Disney's promotional campaign appealing to family audiences, the underlying themes of infertility, death and loss are a bit much for younger audiences to comprehend. The sentimentality is quite heavy handed as well." (wide)

Searching for Sugar Man -- Mysterious Sevebties musician Rodriguez is the subject of this documentary in which two fans discover the fate of the American singer/songwriter, who was wildly successful in South Africa but found no success in his own country. As Jordan says in her review, "Despite pulling the historical and factual wool over my eyes, Searching for Sugar Man is still an engaging and intimate look at an enigmatic man and the music that keeps him alive." (Arbor, Violet Crown)

Where Do We Go Now? -- I really enjoyed this funny, politically charged film in which Lebanese women resort to various ruses to relieve tensions between the Christian and Muslim men in their village. As I said in my review, "Lebanese writer/director/actress Nadine Labaki has delivered a quirky, tragic and bitterly funny movie -- complete with musical numbers -- that finds humor without lessening the impact of unspeakable horror." (Tinseltown South)

As a kid growing up in Houston, the hot and humid summers were usually spent indoors reading and watching science fiction movies on television. The Paramount Theatre's Sci-Fi Week runs from Tuesday, August 14 through Sunday, August 19 and features several personal favorites including Forbidden Planet, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Planet of the Apes. Also screening next Tuesday through Thursday is the classic silent sci-fi film Metropolis with the 1980s soundtrack from composer Giorgio Moroder featuring songs by Pat Benatar, Billy Squier, Freddie Mercury, Bonnie Tyler, Adam Ant and more. Screening times and ticket information available on the Paramount website.

Seattle-based film group The Sprocket Society recently started an Austin chapter and is hosting an inaugural screening on Sunday, August 12, 2:45 pm, at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. For their first screening the Austin chapter is featuring a program of shorts including the silent screen work of Georges Méliès; a rare restoration of A Texas Joke (pictured above), a Western made by brother Gaston Méliès at the Star Film Ranch in San Antonio; and a 1930s adventure documentary on African Pygmies that inspired Werner Herzog to become a filmmaker. Learn more about The Sprocket Society in the Austin Chronicle's "The Tangible Pleasures of Cinema" article.

Movies We've Seen

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry -- A powerful and thought-provoking documentary that chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and clashes with the Chinese government. Elizabeth says in her review, that the movie "reminds us that there is most definitely a man, foibles and all, behind the works of art and activism." (Violet Crown, Regal Arbor)

After July's relative dry spell for worthwhile new releases, the first weekend in August brings a few good reasons to escape the heat in a movie theater. The dark, cynical Killer Joe is required viewing, but if you're looking for something less violently nihilistic, may I suggest the charming Ruby Sparks?

Elsewhere in Austin movieland are some intriguing special screenings. On Saturday and Sunday, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz is screening The Color Wheel, a portrait of two estranged and unmotivated twentysomething siblings, a brother and sister who grow closer and discover themselves while moving the sister's belongings out of her ex-lover's apartment. The Color Wheel -- which features Austin filmmaker Bob Byington in an acting role -- also shows nightly August 6-9 at Alamo South Lamar.

On Sunday night at Yellow Jacket Stadium, Cinema East presents my favorite film of SXSW 2012, King Kelly. (Read my excessively glowing review.) Shot entirely on cameraphones and inexpensive Canon ELPH digital cameras, King Kelly (pictured above) follows the titular Kelly -- who earns a living as a webcam stripper and drug mule -- and her hedonistic friends on a bizarre, sexy, drug-fueled adventure. An unflinching indictment of shallow, narcissistic online youth culture, King Kelly is fierce filmmaking at its best.

If you'd rather not watch Kelly and her friends self destruct on Facebook, the Austin Film Festival recommends Rain in a Dry Land, presented as part of Multicultural Refugee Coalition's Refugee Film Series. Screening Sunday night at the First Presbyterian Church, the film chronicles the lives of Somali-Bantu refugees who confront poverty, racism and culture shock as they resettle to America. And on Monday night, Jette recommends Music Monday at Ritz with the Waco-shot feature Sironia, which played AFF 2011 (review; interview). The movie will be preceded by a live performance from musician Wes Cunningham, who stars in the film, and filmmaker Brandon Dickerson will hold a Q&A after the movie.

Movies We've Seen

Killer Joe -- In this cringe-inducing Texas-set thriller, a deeply in debt man arranges to have his mother murdered to collect her insurance money. In her review, Debbie calls the film "a powerful, emotionally charged, gut-wrenching experience that will keep viewers on the edge," saying Matthew McConaughey plays the titular role "with such ferocity and intent that viewers will truly fear Killer Joe." (Arbor, Violet Crown)

With the possible exceptions of Dark Horse (which may appeal only to Todd Solondz fans) and Klown (which may appeal only to fans of Danish gross-out comedies), it's another great week to seek out alternatives to the new releases.

My first suggestions are shameless, unapologetic repeats from last week: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Moonrise Kingdom, and Bernie. Really, people, your life will be incomplete until you see all three films. Stop reading immediately and go see them now.

If you're in the mood for some outdoor movie fun, the Blue Starlite Drive-In offers an irresistible, zombie-centric double feature on Friday night: Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse: Planet Terror and George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Presented as part of the Austin Film Society Summer Series, this event will be fun for the whole ... well, maybe not the whole family, but it's sure to be an enjoyable evening for the undead, their supporters and those who enjoy films about them.

Not a zombie fan? AFS is presenting Juventud (Youth), a film in which I assume all the characters are very much alive. Screening on Tuesday at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar as part of the AFS Essential Cinema series, Juventud is set in 1958 Mexico and is the story of a young man who dreams of moving to Mexico City to pursue a writing career. Director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo made the film in his hometown of Aguascalientes as the culmination of an academic project, with a predominantly local and nonprofessional cast and crew.

Movies We've Seen

Klown -- In this lowbrow comedy based on a Danish sitcom and distributed by Austin's own Drafthouse Films, a man tries to prove his fatherhood potential to his girlfriend by taking her 12-year-old nephew on a debauched canoe trip. J.C. says in his review that Klown has its faults but still recommends it since the movie "has all the charms of a regular and only mildly vulgar American road-trip comedy ... It may or may not be your brand of comedy, but it's hard to argue that there's something special here." (Alamo Lake Creek, Slaughter Lane, South Lamar and Village)

If you've been waiting all summer for The Dark Knight Rises, you'll no doubt be elated to hear that it's opening at no less than 23 theaters in the Austin area, on who knows how many screens. (According to my possibly imprecise calculation, Austin fans of the Caped Crusader can choose from 17,438 screenings -- and that's just on Friday night.) In fact, so many theaters are showing The Dark Knight Rises that it's this week's only major movie release.

To which non-Batman fans like me say meh and avoid the megaplexes. Please join me this weekend, cinephiles, at the Alamo, Arbor, Violet Crown or wherever you can catch the stunning Beasts of the Southern Wild or Moonrise Kingdom (arguably Wes Anderson's best film ever) or the hilarious Bernie, still chugging along in theaters three months after its release. Do this to reassure yourself that in quiet little corners of our culture, people still create and appreciate works of cinematic genius.

Another way to avoid the citywide batfrenzy is to leave town. The Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow is screening Bottle Rocket (shown above) on Saturday night at the Days Inn in Hillsboro, where much of Wes Anderson's quirky debut feature was filmed. To complete your Bottle Rocket experience, you can even stay at the motel after the screening. No guarantee that you'll cross paths with the Wilson brothers or fall in love with a hotel maid, but Rolling Roadshow screenings always are a great time.

The crowds have amassed in San Diego for the largest annual gathering of comic and film fans known as Comic-Con. I envy our pals who make the trek where once-in-a-lifetime magic happens, including musical performances from The Guild cast members or the appearance of the filmmakers and the entire cast of Firefly and Serenity -- more precisely, UT graduate Felicia Day (The Guild, Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog), Joss Whedon, and Nathan Fillion. Reports have already come out of San Diego of Whedon and Day dancing with fans.

Fellow fans can experience Comic-Con 2012 through the coverage from Spill.com and Film School Rejects. I'm loving the weekly videos from Ain't It Cool News Harry Knowles's basement, and this week Harry shares his Comic-Com film panel preview.

Meanwhile in Austin, I'm really looking forward to a guilty pleasure of Blue Starlite's double feature on Saturday at 9 pm, of my all-time favorite Richard Linklater movie, The School of Rock, followed by animated film Waking Life. Tickets are available here.

Cinephile and former film studies professor Sam Beam -- now leader of the band Iron and Wine -- hosts a special screening of The Third Man at the Paramount on Thursday at 7:30 pm. Starrring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten and Alida Valli, this film follows pulp novelist Holly Martins as he travels to post-war Vienna, where he investigates the untimely and mysterious death of his friend Harry Lime who had made quite a profit off the black market.

Movies We've Seen

Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre) -- I thoroughly enjoyed Nacho Vigalondo's latest feature at Fantastic Fest last year, although it doesn't meet the bar set by the Spanish filmmaker's Timecrimes (Los Cronocrimenes). In his review, Don states, "Despite the movie's ittle and summer release, the extraterrestrial elements ... serve only as a backdrop for an intriguing, witty and rather minimalist comedy about the relationships between four characters." (Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar)

Folks are still buzzing about last week's openers with many men opting to enjoy Ted while their wives and girlfriends flocked to see Magic Mike. I received reports from both a girlfriend within the theater and a male friend sitting in the lobby of Flix Brewhouse -- "There are only women here!" -- making Magic Mike one of the most gender-specific audiences since Sex in the City hit the big screen. Personally I'm opting for a screening of the humorous Ted this week.

The Paramount Theatre supplies a double dose of Christopher Guest's comedies with Best of Show and Lockhart-shot Waiting for Guffman on Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone who brings a pet supply donation from the Austin Pets Alive! wish list to any Best in Show screening will receive a film pass to use at a later date. Pet owners can also submit a photo of their favorite pup on Facebook to win prizes from local canine greats. Check the Paramount event calendar for specific dates and times.

Tomorrow (July 7) at 3 pm, the Austin Film Festival "Made in Texas Family Film Series" features a free screening of The Iron Giant with Central Texas filmmaker Tim McCanlies at the Texas Spirit Theater. Note that AFF's "Made in Texas Film Series" screenings that were scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month seem to have moved back a week for July -- more details about the upcoming screening of Talk Radio in our next Movies This Week.

Movies We've Seen

The Amazing Spider-Man -- This reboot of the Spider-Man franchise is getting mixed reviews from critics, but fans may enjoy the new perspective brought by the filmmakers, including Austin-born co-writer Steve Kloves. I'm intrigued to see fight choreography that uses actual stuntmen and actors rather than relying on CGI effects. Mike says in his review, "Amid the complaints, this film must be noted for its outstanding action work." (wide)

To Rome with Love -- Woody Allen's latest film since his endearing and magical lettre d'amour, Midnight in Paris, takes viewers on a journey through Rome through the romance and adventures of some of its residents and visitors. J.C. states in his review, "To Rome with Love definitely has its moments, and it certainly isn't bad, but it would have been nice to see all of its parts come together a little better." (wide)

The Do-Deca-Pentathlon -- The latest film from former Austinites Mark and Jay Duplass (Cyrus, Baghead) centers around two competitive brothers who hold their own private Olympics with 25 events. J.C. saw this film at SXSW and stated in his review "With The Do-Deca-Pentathlon, the Duplass brothers continue to prove that their movies are worthy of being paid attention to." (Alamo Drafthouse -- Slaughter)

Katy Perry: Part of Me -- This documentary follows international pop phenomenon Katy Perry both on and off-stage on her concert tour. Rod saw it and says, "Part of Me is not all bubblegum, sugar and unicorns, but takes a serious and unvarnished look at the reality of one of the world's most famous pop stars." Look for his review this weekend. (wide)

Other Movies Opening in Austin

Savages -- Oliver Stone directs and co-writes this crime drama about two pot growers who are forced to deal with the Mexican drug cartel and rescue their mutual girlfriend with help from a dirty DEA agent. (wide)

The Fourth of July holiday week brings plenty of well hyped Hollywood product to your local multiplex, along with Matthew McConaughey's oiled glutes. I'll just stop there and move on to the special screenings.

Missing your high school days? You can't get them back, but you can revisit them via Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Fast Times at Ridgemont High at the Paramount on Thursday. They're perfect summer films; Bueller's antics are legendary, and Slackerwood editor Jette Kernion knows I can't mention Fast Times without also mentioning the watershed moment in film artistry that involves Phoebe Cates and a swimming pool. See the Paramount and Stateside calendar for details.

On a slightly more serious note, the Austin Film Society's Essential Cinema series continues with a screening of Soy Cuba on Tuesday at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov's 1964 documentary is known for its astounding cinematography as much as its pro-revolutionary rhetoric.

Your kids no doubt are bored with summer already; help them beat the heat at a free 3D screening of the superb Coraline on Sunday morning at Alamo South Lamar ... or any weekday morning through Thursday. This charming, wondrously animated fantasy about a young girl discovering an alternate version of her life will please any kid (or adult) looking for cinematic adventure.

Movies We've Seen

People Like Us -- In this family drama, a salesman discovers a sister he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine what they know about their family. Debbie praised the film in her review, saying People Like Us is "a thoughtful and compelling film that tugs at both the guitar and heart strings." (wide)

Your Sister's Sister -- Emily Blunt and the increasingly (and deservedly) ubiquitous Mark Duplass star in this story in which a young woman invites her friend to stay at her family's remote island cabin after his brother dies. A drunken encounter between him the woman's sister sparks plenty of relationship drama. Mike has lots of great things to say about the film in his review, calling it "a charming, funny and lovely diversion into an unlikely reality." (Arbor, Violet Crown)