movies this week: why I love Austin

I noticed it last week: a particularly long listing of special screenings and film-related events in Austin. And that wasn’t comprehensive by any means. I don’t usually include movies being shown in non-theatrical venues, like at Spider House or Pedazo Chunk (is Pedazo Chunk still open? Their Web site doesn’t work). I also don’t include the TV-related stuff like Alamo’s Buffy Sing-Along, which I’m told is quite popular.
This week, the list is just as long. And it’s not going to get any shorter. The new Alamo South Lamar opens next Friday, March 4, and they have scheduled all kinds of fun film events as part of their grand opening from March 7-10. The SXSW film festival runs from March 11-19, and you can buy festival passes now at Waterloo Video. And once it warms up outside, Rolling Roadshow will start showing films in parks again.
New releases? Who cares about seeing the latest Hollywood product in a big chain theater when there are so many interesting one-time-only events going on in town? (Okay, I want to see Bride and Prejudice, but that’s about it.) Check out the film schedules for the Alamo theaters, for the Paramount, and for the Texas Union Theater. (Why didn’t anyone tell me the Texas Union showed Army of Darkness on Ash Wednesday? And Shaun of the Dead the day after? I am bookmarking that calendar.) And so many of these movies are free or cheap … you can indulge your love of seeing movies in theaters at a very low cost.
I love Austin. We’ve got everything from Takashi Miike films to The Muppet Movie playing on screens here.
On the other hand, with this incredible bounty of films around town, I think I may have persuaded myself to cancel our Netflix account. Oops.

New movies in Austin this week:
Bewafaa—The other Bollywood film playing in Austin this week. “Bewafaa” means “The Unfaithful One.”
Bride and Prejudice—Finally! Yay! I am looking forward to seeing this Bollywood take on Jane Austen’s novel.
Cursed—Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, the guys who brought us Scream, have teamed up again for this werewolf movie. Werewolf movies have never particularly appealed to me, and this one sounds like a less funny version of An American Werewolf in London.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman—Well, her husband just divorced her for her best friend, which would make me mad too. Kimberly Elise, whom I liked in the remake of The Manchurian Candidate, has the title role. Adapted by Tyler Perry from his play; Perry also has three roles in the film, including a crazy old lady named Madea. So far, this movie is getting a lot of attention, but very mixed reviews.
Man of the House—I know that as an Austinite, I am supposed to be happy when filmmakers select our fair town as a location for shooting a film. And then when they promote the University of Texas, I ought to be particularly pleased, right? Especially if it has Tommy Lee Jones in it.
Look, I had the chance to see this movie for free, before it was in general release, and I turned it down. Directed by Stephen Herek, who also perpetrated Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (for which I retain a certain fondness), The Mighty Ducks, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.
The Nomi Song—Documentary about New Wave musician Klaus Nomi.
The Sea Inside—I saw a preview for this movie that had Standard Art Film written all over it. I think they must mass-produce those trailers for Landmark Theaters, or something. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film (from Spain, which selected this over Bad Education).
Notable events/revivals in Austin:
Audition—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Tues. 3/1 as part of Austin Film Society’s series of Takashi Miike films. (I want to see one or two, but am not sure which one. Advice? And it won’t be Audition because I have a class that night.)
Being Julia—Playing at Paramount Sun.-Tues. 2/27-3/1. Annette Bening’s performance won her an Oscar nomination. We saw a trailer for this movie last week and it looked like it would be perfect for a Sunday night on PBS.
Bottle Rocket—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Sat. 2/26 with actor Kumar Pallana in attendance. Very likeable little movie, the first film from director Wes Anderson, cowritten by Anderson and Owen Wilson.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind—Playing at Paramount Sun.-Tues. 2/27-3/1. I’d love to see this in a theater one more time. If you haven’t seen it yet, go.
Footloose—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Mon. 2/28 as part of their Eighties Night series. $1 admission.
The Muppet Movie with sing-along—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Sun. 3/6. Ooooooh. Anyone want to go with me? (Sweetie, I already know your answer.)
Night and the City—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Thurs. 3/3 as part of the Brit Noir series in conjunction with the Ransom Center. 1950 thriller starring Richard Widmark and Gene Tierney.
Sometimes in April—Playing at Dobie on Wed. 3/2. Free admission. HBO-produced film about a family in Rwanda. Looks interesting, but what is Debra Winger doing in there? Also, it’s 139 minutes long. Still, it’s free and apparently you get free popcorn too. (More info here.)
A Star is Porn—Playing at Alamo Downtown at midnight on Thurs. 3/3. A fun collection of non-sexual clips from porn movies with titles based on Hollywood blockbusters. Hee.
Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation 2005—Playing at Alamo Village on Fri. and Sat. nights at midnight 2/25-26, and at Alamo S. Lamar starting on Fri. 3/4.
Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Celebration—Playing at Alamo Downtown on Mon. 2/28. $1 admission. 1979 documentary about the big picnic/concert, with footage of Willie, Waylon Jennings, and others. Definitely worth a dollar … I’m very tempted to go except that it’s at 9:45 pm, work the next day, blah blah blah. Yeah, I’m a wimp. Thanks for noticing.
In other news, I am thinking about liveblogging the Oscars on Sunday, just for kicks. (Or I may start and then fall asleep before the end.) If I try this silly stunt, would any of you actually read it?