Movies This Week

Sorry we didn't do a real Movies this Week last week; Fantastic Fest is all-consuming. Chaos reigns, and all. This week, we have some very Austin-centric films opening that we think you should know about.

Whip It --Drew Barrymore's directorial debut only filmed in Austin a few days, but most people won't be able to tell. If you ever needed an excuse to go to the Alamo Ritz to see one, now you have a reason, because one of the few interior scenes shot in Austin is right there. Go see it anyway, because it's fun, and chocked full of girl power. And there's Zoe Bell!!

Zombieland -- This gala film from Fantastic Fest is now open.  Who said zombie films are dead?  It's another fun one, and a real crowd pleaser. The Fantastic Fest audience went wild when the main character revealed he'd been a student at UT when the zombie outbreak began. The first part of the movie is set in Texas, although it was shot in Georgia.

Normally, we post Movies This Week every Friday at this time. And I diligently worked on a snappy and amusing Movies This Week for about a half hour last night.

Then the Internet ate my entry. And it was 1 am, so I went to bed.

Because of Fantastic Fest, I don't have time to re-create the entry, not to mention that Jenn's comment under the Personal Picks section was, "Don't make me think." The one movie opening this week that I do want to see is Bright Star, Jane Campion's film about the love affair between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, and I hope it'll play in Austin for more than one week so I get the chance.

Instead, I'm referring you to the very fine Screens section of the Austin Chronicle for info on movies opening in Austin this week, and to our own Event Calendar for details about other screenings around town. Movies This Week will return next week.

In the meantime, please enjoy this lovely photo of Dennis Quaid from the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March. Quaid stars a film opening today in theaters, Pandorum, about two astronauts stranded in a spaceship. And speaking of astronauts, that reminds me of Moon, which stars Sam Rockwell, and Slackerwood will have some photos of Rockwell from last night's Gentlemen Broncos premiere up soon.

Isn't it nice to have weather that's not in triple digits?  The weatherman says that while we're going to get more rain, it shouldn't be like the torrents that caused a blackout last weekend.  And plenty of movies to see.

New Releases

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs -- Very kid-oriented;  it gets very repetitive. Still, it has some charm, and kids will likely love it. I think I would have preferred a short-film version.

Cold Souls -- Paul Giamatti stores his soul so he can perform a Chekov play, but there are complications. This metaphysical comedy about consumerism wasn't available for review before opening.

The Horse Boy (pictured above), directed by Austin-area filmmaker Michel Scott, is about a Texas couple who went to great lengths to heal their son's autism, combining their son's love of horses, shamanism and the neurology behind autism.  It recently played for a special screening at Alamo Drafthouse, and opens at the Arbor this weekend. 

Are you having one of those longer than the number of working day weeks?  Me, too.  Never fear, there are lots of movie options for you. 

New Releases

9  -- As I said in my review, personally, I much prefer the short. This stitch-punk animated film may be your cuppa, but I don't like that much filler in my movies.   

It Might Get Loud -- All you guitar heroes, if you love the sound of an electric guitar, this is a must-see documentary, with Jimmy Page, The Edge and that upstart Jack White (pictured above). Directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Gracie). Look for a full review later today.

Lorna's Silence -- Awarded Best Screenplay at Cannes 2008, it's another short story in a feature length, only Lorna's Silence needs time to draw the point out.  Not for the ADD crowd.  The performances are good, but a major plot twist is so contrived it dimished the slow build to the conclusion. Look for a full review on Saturday.

Sorority Row -- Sorority slasher flick. You know what you're getting into, don't you?

September Issue -- If you're addicted to Ugly Betty or adored The Devil Wears Prada, then this documentary about creating Vogue's 2008 September issue is for you.  If not, you'll easily be bored with editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's transparent efforts to control her image.  Even the hinted-at battles between Wintour and Grace Coddington, the chief stylist, feel like window dressing.

Is it fall, yet? It certainly feels cooler, and just in time for the final holiday of the season.  This Labor Day weekend, there aren't a whole lot of new movies coming out in town, but that doesn't mean there aren't options. 

Opening this Week

Extract is Mike Judge's companion film to Office Space, only this time the sane guy is the boss, with some loveable but unruly wokers.  Just like Office Space, you will recognize most of these people, especially David Koechner as the most annoying neighbor in the world.  Check out my review and interview with Mike Judge later today on Slackerwood, and Jette's interview and review on Cinematical. 

Humpday is Lynn Shelton's latest is the bromance fave from SXSW 2009.  Starring former Austinite Mark Duplass and Houstonite Joshua Leonard as two friends who take their competitive tendencies to the limit when they decide to make porn for a film competition.  This isn't mumblecore; slow at times, but the chemistry is great, and it's worth it just for the, eh, climactic scene.

What a week: rain showers, downtown Austin disrupted by Machete's Chop Shop, and a new event calendar on Slackerwood (see that little marquee on the left? Yeah, that). Movies this Week is changing too -- focusing on new releases in town and personal picks.

Four major releases are opening in town this week, including an exclusive engagement.

New Releases

Mystery Team (pictured above) is billed as a group of former Encyclopedia Brown-style child-detectives struggle to solve an adult mystery. It's exclusively at the Alamo Ritz, which had a special screening with Derrick Comedy last night, and will also host most of Derrick Comedy tonight. Tonight's guest-laden screening is sold out, but it has a full engagement this week. As Max P., who was at last night's premiere, describes it, "funny lines and great writing/performances, and you grow to enjoy/ignore the limitations of their low budget."

Have you recovered from Cinemapocalypse yet? I haven't. But it was so worth it.  This week is a bit quieter, although we've heard a lot of news about future celebrity events that will make most of you very, very happy, but we can't talk about all of it quite yet. Fewer movies are opening this week, but there's something for just about everyone.   

Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino's latest, features plenty of Nazis, black humor, and is quite possibly Tarantino's best.  Check out our group review for more.

Paper Heart, a sweet and quirky mix of reality and fantasy, finally opens here at Alamo Lamar and Arbor. My review will be appearing on Slackerwood this weekend, so check back.

Soul Power (pictured above) opens at the Arbor today. In 1974, the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight between Ali and Foreman wasn't the only piece of African American history being made; there was a music festival as well, featuring music legends from both continents. It wasn't until more than two decades later that legal issues over the concert footage was resolved. This official SXSW selection was so popular among my friends, now I have to go. 

Shorts had a special premiere in Austin on Sunday, and opens in theaters around town today. Look for her review to appear later today.

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).

Next week will be absolutely crazy, with two red-carpet events in four days. But we've already had a red carpet in Austin this week, for Bandslam, which Debbie will tell you about soon. There's plenty this week in theaters to keep you busy.

Opening this Week
Let's just say that Julie & Julia is one film that will leave you salivating. The Alamo Drafthouse had one feast scheduled that sold out in 20 minutes, so they've added two more (8/10-12). Check out our group review, where Jette and Jenn's take on Julie & Julia.

A Perfect Getaway is a serviceable chiller from the man who brought you Below and Pitch Black. It's flawed, but worthwhile. For more, check out my review.

O'Horten, Little Ashes, and The Cove all open at the Arbor today. Unfortunately, we weren't able to review The Cove prior to release, but it's gotten a lot of positive attention. Little Ashes, with Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson, wasn't available either. But you can read about the trains and life transitions that make up O'Horten in my review.

There are many, many people lamenting not having fast enough fingers to get tickets for Cinemapocalypse yesterday. Thankfully, all three of us Slackerwood gals managed to snag our tickets in the one minute before the dusk-til-dawn festival sold out yesterday (a record time, even by Alamo standards). We'll do our best to make you feel like you were there without feeling left out. Tickets are still available for the VIP feast and Q&A simulcast of just Inglourious Basterds, however.

The Austin film scene has a lot going on this weekend, including Lights! Camera! Help!, a local festival showcasing non-profit efforts through film, which starts tonight. Debbie will be covering the festival for us, so keep an eye open for that.

Opening this Week

Funny People is the subject of our group review this week. Will Adam Sandler fans like this comedy from Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up)? It'll be interesting to see how well it does this weekend.