My sister and her boyfriend are visiting us this weekend. As I’ve mentioned, her boyfriend is a big film geek. I tried to interest them in seeing that most underrated of 2004 films, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, but they are oddly uninterested. He wants to rent something by Atom Egoyan. She wants to see romantic comedies.
But we’re all agreed: none of us want to see any of the movies opening in Austin this weekend. For one reason or another, these films offer no temptation to go to a theater. I wanted to take them to Dobie to see a movie in one of the amusingly decorated theaters, but I’ve already seen Sideways and The Life Aquatic, so I may have to send them off by themselves to see one of those films (both of which I liked, but not enough to want to see again soon).
I wish I could persuade all three of them (sister, her boyfriend, my boyfriend) to watch The Palm Beach Story with me. I just bought the DVD last week, a few days after it was released. It’s a delightful movie. I mean, who can resist The Ale and Quail Club? The Princess Centimillia? And of course, The Wienie King. Yeah, I know. I’ll enjoy that particular movie alone.
New movies in Austin this week:
Hitch—The title keeps making me think of suspense movies. Then I remember it’s a Will Smith vehicle where he helps guys become as cool as he is, or something lame like that. Then I want to go home and watch North by Northwest for a dose of the real Hitch and a guy who was cool and sophisticated at any age, Cary Grant. Directed by Andy Tennant, who also wrote and directed Ever After … what happened?
In the Realms of the Unreal—Documentary about Henry Darger and his unpublished illustrated novel, which was discovered after his death. Narrated by Dakota Fanning.
The Merchant of Venice—The star-studded Shakespeare adaptation finally reaches Austin. While I like Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes, I just plain can’t deal with Al Pacino anymore. Pacino as Shylock sounds particularly unappealing.
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior—Martial-arts movie from Taiwan starring Tony Jaa, who is often compared favorably with Jackie Chan. This movie was a box-office smash in Thailand in 2003.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie—Paging Dorothy Parker. Where are you when we need you most, Mrs. Parker?
Shabd—Bollywood drama about a novelist who wants his wife to embody his latest fiery romantic heroine. Fiction and reality blur … you get the picture. Speaking of Bollywood, why isn’t Bride and Prejudice opening in Austin this weekend?
Notable events/revivals in Austin:
Extreme Schoolbus Adventure—Playing Thurs. 2/24. Those wacky Rolling Roadshow guys. They’re loading up a schoolbus with an audience, a keg, and a 16 mm projector to show bus safety and disaster films. Tickets are selling out quickly.
Kinsey—Playing at the Paramount on Thurs. 2/17 and Sun. 2/20. One last chance to see this movie in theaters before the Oscars.
Maria Full of Grace—Playing at the Paramount on Sun. 2/20 and Wed. 2/23. I missed this one, too, and hope to see it either here or on DVD.
Roxanne—Playing at Alamo Lake Creek on Monday 2/14. Special screening that includes dinner for two, for Valentine’s Day. Awwwww. (Alamo Village is doing something similar with Chocolat and an all-chocolate menu, but it’s sold out already.)
Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation 2005—Playing at Alamo Downtown through Feb. 14, and at Alamo Village on Fri. and Sat. nights at midnight 2/18-19 and 2/25-26.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Sat. mornings 2/12 and 2/19, and Wed. night 2/16.
The Third Man—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Thurs. 2/17 in conjunction with the Ransom Center, to complement their exhibit on Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh. (Graham Greene worked on the screenplay.) Oooh. I’d actually like to see this in a theater. Oooh.
A Tree of Palme (Parumu no Ki)—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Sun. 2/13, Tues. 2/15, and Wed. 2/16. Japanese anime loosely based on Pinocchio. Directed by Takashi Nakamura, who also directed part of Robot Carnival.
What Is It?—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Sat./Sun. 2/19-20. Crispin Glover will appear at Alamo to present his new film and to sign books. At the 8 pm screenings, he’ll also present a slide show. The screenings are starting to sell out so if this interests you, get your tickets now. It certainly sounds … unique.
At home, we still haven’t seen Gunga Din or The Cooler. It was difficult enough trying to find movies that both my boyfriend and I want to see. Trying to find a movie that will suit four people, all of whom have different film tastes? I think we’ll go out to dinner instead. Now we just have to decide: sushi or Threadgill’s?