Movies This Week

Do you like to spend part of Thanksgiving Day watching movies? Are you able to wrest the television set away from football fans, or do you prefer to sneak out of the house for a late-night escape to the nearest movie theater? Many of us like to enjoy the four-day weekend with as many films as we can pack into it.

Austin has a variety of big Hollywood movies opening in theaters today, just in time for the holiday weekend ... and some indies are still around to enjoy too. I know I'll be at a theater at least once for something, but I haven't picked out the specifics yet.

Movies We've Seen:

Tangled -- The latest "princess" movie from Disney is based on tower-bound Rapunzel ... but unlike other Disney fairy-tale films, this one is in 3D and doesn't use hand-drawn animation. Still, Mike Saulters says it's an excellent film you won't want to miss, and tells us why in his review. (wide, in 2D and 3D)

Other New Movies:

Burlesque (pictured at top) -- Christina Aguilera and Cher team up in a movie that people keep calling Showgirls 2. And ooh, I see Kristen Bell is in it too, and Stanley Tucci! I admit to a certain guilty curiosity, and in fact I'm sorry the movie didn't screen for press since Don was dying to review it and (he doesn't realize) I was going to make him take me to the screening. But I'm not an Aguilera fan, and today's reviews say things like "weak imitation Bob Fosse" (Karina Longworth), so I don't feel inclined to make the effort to catch this in a theater. (wide)

This is a short week for Movies This Week. Next week, the big opening day for movies is Wednesday, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Still, a few big and interesting movies are opening here in town today, some smaller indies are still playing, and there are quite a few special screenings and events. At my house, we're trying to decide whether to see Four Lions or Morning Glory on Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps both! (Alamo Drafthouse is even offering a turkey dinner that day if you don't feel like cooking.)

Movies We've Seen:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 -- Harry and his chums leave Hogwarts on a quest to destroy evil Lord Voldemort, encountering any number of great British character actors on their way. Not a stand-alone film but a very good entry in the series. Read my review for more details. (wide)

127 Hours -- The latest film from Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) screened at Austin Film Festival this year and now returns to town for a regular theatrical run. James Franco is supposed to be amazing. Frankly, I am a little scared to see this movie in a theater because of That Scene and may have to wait for DVD. Don is braver than I am; look for his review this weekend. (wide)

Looking for a good movie to watch in an Austin theater this weekend? Here are the movies opening locally this week -- a nice mix of indies and wide releases.

Movies We've Seen:

Boxing Gym -- Premiering at Cannes and screening at AFF, this documentary by Frederick Wiseman about Richard Lord's Gym on N. Lamar and the people training there gets a week-long run in town. Wiseman last brought us inside La danse - Le ballet de l'Opéra de Paris. Read Jette's review from Cinematical for details. Special news: We just learned that Wiseman and Lord will be doing two Q&As at the 4:25 and 7 pm screenings on Saturday, and tickets are still available ... which is great since the Sunday screening with Wiseman is sold out. (Alamo South Lamar)

Morning Glory -- It's hard not to be reminded of Broadcast News. Writer Aline Brosh McKenna is responsible for 27 Dresses and The Devil Wears Prada, so even if it's flowery, it's probably entertaining. Elizabeth tells you why she liked it in her review. (wide)

Skyline -- Aliens with Cthulhu spaceships! Written by two newer screenwriters (Joshua Cordes and Liam O'Donnell) with extensive backgrounds in visual effects so you know it's going to be pretty. With the always watchable Eric Balfour (Six Feet Under, Haven). Mike saw it at midnight and has a review. (wide)

Looking for something to see in theaters this weekend? Here are the new movies opening in Austin today or within the week.

Movies We've Seen:

The Bridge on the River Kwai -- As part of their Digital Classics series, the Alamo is showing a digitally restored version of the WWII classic with the famous whistle. If you don't get the reference, get your ass over there to see (and hear). (Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar)

Fair Game --  When a CIA agent's cover is blown by White House official, it's big news and it was bound to get turned into a political thriller.  With Sean Penn and Naomi Watts in the cast, it's no surprise it's out in time for awards season. Read Elizabeth's review for more details. (Arbor)

Four Lions --  The first of the Alamo Drafthouse distribution comany films is out in limited release and -- no surprise -- Austin is one of the first cities for it to play. Jihad as a comedy? Why, yes. Read Mike's review to find out more. (Alamo Lamar)

The Slackerwood staff is in the process of recovering from Austin Film Festival, and I'm not sure any of us want to look at a movie for, oh, days. Maybe a week ... well, not that long. For the rest of you, here are the new movies opening in Austin today:

Monsters (pictured above) -- This popular film from SXSW 2010 was picked up by Magnet and now is getting a theatrical release. Read Debbie's review for more details. (Alamo South Lamar)

Conviction -- Hilary Swank stars as a woman who puts herself through law school so she can defend her wrongly imprisoned brother, played by Sam Rockwell. Based on a real-life story. I suspect this may be Oscar bait. (wide)

Last Train Home -- Documentary about China's industrial growth. Read the Austin Chronicle review for more details. (Arbor)

It's a very light week for new movie releases. However, a lot of films from earlier this year are holding their own in cineplexes all over town. And the last of the big local film fests for the year takes place this weekend, too, as the Austin Film Festival is in full swing. Don't forget to check out those films, many of which will have seats available for individual ticket purchase, which are playing at downtown venues as well as Alamo Lake Creek and Regal Arbor. 

Hereafter -- Clint Eastwood's latest features Matt Damon as a psychic with a screenplay written by Peter Morgan, the man who wrote The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, and Frost/Nixon. That trend veers just a bit, doesn't it? Elizabeth can tell you more in her review. (wide)

Paranormal Activity 2 -- The sequel to the horror film/marketing sensation Paranormal Activity from last year returns, this time with Oren Peli's concept taken over by Tod Williams as direct and Michael Perry as writer, and with the haunting of a family. Check back for Mike Saulters' review this weekend. (wide)

Jhootha Hi Sahi -- Bollywood comedy about a suicidal woman whose final call gives her pause. (Cinemark Tinseltown South)

Here are the new films opening in Austin this week. We've got an action film, some interesting docs, a couple of Bollywood films ... and the indescribable third film in the Jackass series. What sounds good to you?

Jackass 3D -- Steve-O, Johnny Knoxville and company are at it again, in high-definition 3D. I admit I laughed at parts in the 10 minutes or so they showed at Fantastic Fest, but if you have a low gag threshold, there's a lot of flying feces in it. Mike Saulters can tell you more about it in his review. (wide)

Red -- I missed this movie at Fantastic Fest, and despite all the talkers at the preview screening I went to, it was well worth it. So worth it, I stayed just to make sure there wasn't a stinger after the credits (there wasn't). Retired (and extremely dangerous) spies get the old gang back together again to figure out who is trying to kill them. Read my review for more. (wide)

This week's new movies opening in Austin:

Buried -- If you're claustrophobic, this is not the film for you. I got really tense during this movie that's shot entirely "in the box." But if you're not, and like tense thrillers and plays on words, this is a must-see -- now, before people start talking about it. Read my review for more. (wide)

It's Kind of a Funny Story -- When a depressed teen (Keir Gilchrist) checks himself into to a psychiatric hospital, he ends up in the adult ward with Zach Galifianakis. And as Don points out in his review, Galifianakis can act. (wide)

Life as We Know It -- Pretty people are forced into caring for a baby of their deceased friends, starring the current It Girl of rom-coms, Katherine Heigl, and the much more interesting Josh Duhamel. Apparently Josh Lucas has a role, too. I haven't seen it. (wide)

My Soul to Take -- Wes Craven is back with another horror tale, this time focusing on teens born the same day a killer died. Is this the Halloween film of the season? (wide)

It's like I just wrote one of these. Amazingly enough, after more than a week of genre movies, it seems that the world went on without us, with several films opening up in Austin this week. If the pollen in the air drives you indoors, here are your choicesin new releases in town: 

Anjaana Anjaani -- Two strangers on a bi-coastal road trip in India, with "hilarious misadventures."  (Tinseltown 17)

Case 39 -- Finally getting a release, this horror mystery starring Renée Zellweger as a social worker fighting to save an abused girl (Jodelle Ferland of Tideland fame) also stars Ian McShane, Bradley Cooper and Callum Keith Rennie. With that cast, it's worth a watch. (wide)

Enthiran -- Also known as "Robot," this Bollywood tale about a scientist creates a robot he sets loose in the world with unexpected results.  (Tinseltown 17)

Surprise! While most of the filmblogosphere is in town for Fantastic Fest, and a lot of celebs as well, ther are Other Films in town.  Which ones you ask? Let me tell you...

Leaves of Grass -- How spiffy is this? Edward Norton is in town for Fantastic Fest's Gala screening of Stone, so he's going to introduce one screening of Tim Blake Nelson's SXSW hit Leaves of Grass while he's here.  Look for Debbie's review this weekend.  (Lamar)

Lebanon -- Writer/director Samuel Moaz explores The First Lebanon War (in 1982) through paratroopers and a tank crew.  See Don's review for more.  (Arbor)

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole -- Owl armies and rebels in animated glory bring a book series to life.  Directed by Zach Snyder, you know, the guy who directed 300 and Watchmen?  So this isn't your average animated tale. (wide)