Film Series

This week's Terror Tuesday screening is Joe Dante's 1989 film The Burbs, starring Tom Hanks. Let's see what Zack has to say about it:

"'I want to kill everyone. Satan is good. Satan is our pal.' Yep, THE 'BURBS!! Because there's a brand new 35mm print! Because it remains the only major Hollywood studio comedy about suburban cannibalism! Because it's one of the most hilarious horror/comedies of the '80s, if not all time! Because we want to show it, goddammit!

"When Tom Hanks still had a pulse, he and Joe Dante led unsuspecting audiences into a deeply bizarre cul de sac of flesh-eating, body-thieving and suspected demonology, all with a banana peel slapstick flair that made everything feel as good-timey as an ice cream picnic with grandma. But the deep black waters of feral occultism run just beneath this fountain of yuks, with the spectre of death lurking around every turn. Hanks is joined by Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman in uncovering the most sinister secret to ever sully the manicured lawn of the American dream."

This month's Girlie Night selection contains one of the girliest shopping sequences ever: the 1990 film Pretty Woman. Girlie Night is popular and sells out so get your tickets early.

Before we had Crazy Heart, we had Robert Duvall starring in Bruce Bereford's 1983 film Tender Mercies. Written by Horton Foote, shot in Waxahachie and Palmer, Texas, with musical performances from Duvall.

Alamo Drafthouse kicks off a new monthly series, Zzang!, that focuses on showing 35mm prints of iconic 1980s films. Programmer Zack Carlson is starting things off with the 1983 film Valley Girl, directed by Martha Coolidge, starring an unbelievably young Nicolas Cage.

To honor the recent passing of filmmaker Joseph Sarno, Weird Wednesday is screening the 1966 film Moonlighting Wives. Let's see what Lars has to say:

"There are a number of important sexploitation auteurs, brave souls who carved out something special and wholly individual in the world of adult films. The best known of these are Russ Meyer, Radley Metzger, Doris Wishman and our dear friend Joe Sarno. Sarno's specialty is erotic psychodrama. Even when his budgets are limited to the point of absurdity, he manages to create situations that are complicated, kinky, exciting, vaguely absurd and often pretty hot. In many sexploitation movies the plot is a utility, a desultory device for moving the action from one set-piece to another. With Sarno, the plot serves to place each situation in a deeper stratum of intensity, until the final, usually taboo shattering encounter provides the climax of the film. Such is the case with MOONLIGHTING WIVES, the story of a suburban prostitution ring that masquerades as a late-night secretary service. If you like Sarno, don't miss this rare screening, if you don't know his work yet, it's time to start your education."

Austin Film Festival's monthly "Made in Texas" series continues with the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, aka "the one where John Travolta rides a mechanical bull." The film's screenwriter, Aaron Latham, will be in attendance along with actor Barry Corbin. Admission is free if you're an AFF or Texas State History Museum member; a mere $5 for everyone else.

This month's Doc Tour selection, co-hosted by the UT Doc Center, is a set of 10 short documentary films from The University of Texas at Austin.

This week's Weird Wednesday selection is the 1978 film Stingray, with a special guest in attendance. Admission is $1. Let's hear what Lars has to say:

"This regional car chase movie from the St. Louis area doesn't skimp on automotive action, humor or surprising violence. Chris Mitchum and Les Lannom play a pair of boring pals who save up their money to buy a red '64 Corvette, only to find that some hoods have stashed heroin and cash under the seat. They're also wrongly accused of being cop-killers so not only are the crooks after them, but the police too. Fortunately, as dull as the heroes are, the bad guys are great. Their leader, sexy foul-mouthed Abigail Bratowski (Sherry Jackson) is a machine-gun wielding psychopath who makes her entrance dressed in a nun's habit. Abigail's main enforcer is big William Watson, who looks like a sinister cartoon cheetah and seems to ad lib every single line he speaks. One of the best things about this movie is its crazy split personality -- one minute you're watching a wacky car chase scored to tinkling piano music, the next minute cops are getting riddled with bullet holes. The other great thing about this movie is its truly superior car action provided by such top professionals as the King of stunt drivers Carey Loftin and Austin's own Bobby Sargent, who will be in attendance to give you some background about STINGRAY. Be there!"

Screen Door Film and the UT Doc Center are co-hosting a screening of the music documentary Previously Unknown: The Legend of Blaze Foley. Admission is free.

After the screening, KUT Radio's Larry Monroe will host a panel discussion with the following:

• Kevin Triplett -- Austin filmmaker; director of Previously Unknown
• Mandy Mercier -- Songwriter, friend of Blaze Foley
• Gurf Morlix -- Producer, friend of Blaze Foley

El prinicipio (The Beginning, 1972) – Directed by Gonzalo Martínez Ortega

Part of the Mexican Revolution Films of 70s co-presented by the Harry Ransom center, running May 6-27 in the Charles Nelson Prothro Theater. All films are in Spanish with English Subtitles. Admission is Free.

Four rare features by influential directors critically exploring the Mexican Revolution and other national realities. Films include  El prinicipio (The Beginning) directed by Gonzalo Martínez Ortega (5/6), Cananea directed by Marcela Fernández Violante (5/13), La casta divina (The Divine Caste) directed by Julián Pastor (5/20), Cuartelazo (Mutiny) directed by Alberto Isaac (5/27).