News from Slackerwood: cures for Sundance withdrawal
Filed under: News From Slackerwood
We can't all go to Sundance, sadly. However, those of us in Austin who were left behind can at least console ourselves with a number of unique screenings and film-related events. Besides, SXSW is less than two months away ... speaking of which, the festival is looking for volunteers. The SXSW Volunteer Call meeting is Sunday 1/22; details are available on the SXSW site.
- The Austin Jewish Film Festival opens Saturday 1/21 with the 2004 movie Ushpizin at the Arbor Cinema. The film festival runs through Friday 1/27 and includes more than 20 short and feature-lenghth narratives and documentaries, such as The Thing About My Folks (which played at SXSW last year) and Bending Light, a short film shot in Austin. Many of the films sound fascinating; check the Web site for details on the entire schedule. The Austin Chronicle profiled the film festival in this week's issue.
- The Werner Herzog retrospective wraps up this week at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown: Wheel of Time plays on Sunday 1/22, and Aguirre, the Wrath of God on Tuesday-Wednesday 1/24-25 and Sunday 1/29.
- The Paramount Theatre appears to be in a Coen-y brothers mood this week. Miller's Crossing screens on Sundays 1/22 and 1/29. Raising Arizona, which is a delightful movie to watch in a theater with a large audience, screens on Sunday 1/22 and Wednesday 1/25. Barton Fink screens Wednesday 1/25 and Friday 1/27.
- Free films: MonkeyWrench Books is holding a screening and discussion of the films The Abortion Diaries and Teen Mami on Sunday 1/22 at 7:30 pm. And if you won't get enough Coen brothers at The Paramount, you can watch Fargo at Cafe Mundi on Monday 1/23 at 8 pm.
- The best free movie option
this week would be a treat even with admission: a rare screening of Bradley Beesley's documentary Hill Stomp Hollar on Wednesday
1/25 at Beerland. The documentary is about Mississippi Delta blues musicians, such as R.L. Burnside. Beesley (who also
directed The Fearless Freaks) will be in attendance, and the movie will be
followed by live music from blues musician John Schooley.
- A friend of mine is devoted to attending the Coachella music festival every year, and I've always been curious about the event. Gateway Theatre and the Metropolitan Theater both will screen a new documentary about the festival, Coachella, on Tuesday 1/24.
- Austin Film Society's "Official Evil: Political Thrillers in Cinema" series continues with Lumumba, a 2000 film about the prime minister of independent Congo, playing Tuesday 1/24 at Alamo Downtown.
- The AFS 20th anniversary screenings also continue this week with the 1970 Japanese film The Man Who Left His Will on Film. It's not currently available on DVD, so get to Alamo Downtown on Wednesday 1/25.
- Alamo Drafthouse has more of its movie-with-dinner nights lined up. On Thursday 1/26, Alamo Village presents a spicy four-course feast to accompany one of my favorite movies, Some Like It Hot. (I'm disappointed it's not champagne, cold pheasant with mint sauce and cranberries, funeral-home "coffee", and Jello that isn't on springs. I think I've seen this movie too many times.)
- In addition, the Soup Peddler is cooking up chicken and andouille sausage gumbo and veggie chili to accompany a screening of Make It Funky, a documentary about New Orleans music, on Wednesday 2/1 at Alamo Downtown. Proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic.
- It's the time of year when Spike & Mike take over Alamo Downtown for an extended run of the annual Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation. This year, it starts on Thursday 1/26 and continues with a few interruptions through mid-February.
- The Austin Chronicle is giving away passes to a sneak preview of The World's Fastest Indian. Check
their contests page online for details. You must enter by
Wednesday 1/25.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-20-2006 @ 8:49PM
Peter said...
Clearly, woe is the life of someone who lives in Austin and couldn't make Sundance.
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