I walk in to find an older but still fantastic Michael Caine playing a retired magician named Clarence who just moved into a home with other mature adults. He bonds with Edward, the son of the couple running the old folks home. Edward has a morbid fascination with death while Clarence has a grim attitude towards his fading life. Together they discuss death, the afterlife, learn magic tricks, and even take a joyride, all the normal shenanigans that an 11 year old boy could have with an elderly man. Read the rest of this entry »

I usually try not to attend movies on Friday night because the theaters are filled with adolescents and ooey-gooey lovers. But, I decided to brave the crowds to see this flick based on my familiarity with the BBC version. “State of Play” can be described as a political/military thriller which has you trying to figure out who the real scumbag is (or is it everyone?). Read the rest of this entry »

THE WALK, STRIDE OR STROLL ( TAKE YOUR PICK) OUT OF A PRESS SCREENING IS CHAT CITY. EVERYONE USUALLY WANTS YOU TO KNOW THEIR EDUCATED THOUGHTS AND TO GET A GRASP OF YOURS. I LOVE IT AND I HATE IT. I AM AKIN TO PONTIFICATE AND AM DRAWN TO SUCH THINGS, BUT MOST TIMES AFTER JUST SEEING A FILM, I NEED TO LET IT SINK IN BEFORE I KNOW HOW I FEEL. I USUALLY KEEP SILENT AND HIDE BEHIND MY PARTNER IN CRIME AS SHE TELLS THE PRESS SCREENER GUY SOMETHING WITTY. LAST WEEK AFTER THE MILK SCREENING NO-ONE SAID A WORD. WE ALL (IT WAS A FULL HOUSE) EXITED IN SILENCE. HOPE AND OUTRAGE WERE RINGING IN MY EARS.
A GREAT FILM. A SHOE-IN FOR MANY OSCARS.  GUS VAN SANT AND SEAN PENN ARE DESERVING OF RECOGNITION. Read the rest of this entry »

WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY BUT WOW? I MUST SEE THIS AGAIN, NO, I NEED TO SEE THIS AGAIN. GOOD GAWD FOLKS, THIS IS THE ONE. NOTHING ELSE COMES CLOSE. AND ON IMAX SCREEN TO BOOT.
MY BRAIN IS MUSH. BRILLIANT ! A COMIC BOOK MOVIE AND A SEQUEL NO LESS. THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED. EVERYTHING WORKS; THE MUSIC, THE ACTING, THE DIRECTING, THE WRITING,THE EDITING AND ALL ELSE. EVERYTHING IS FINE TUNED. EVERYONE IS ON TOP OF THEIR GAME.THIS FILM IS BREATHTAKING AND AT 8 STORIES TALL, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
JACK HAS LOST HIS CROWN TO HEATH. I WAS UNSURE EVEN PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THIS NEW SPIN ON THE JOKER. NICHOLSON’S TURN AT THE ROLE HAS BEEN UPSTAGED. SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT IT IS TRUE. IT WAS DONE WITH SUCH A DARK BREVITY OR URGENCY THAT THE ROLE NEEDED. GONE IS THE SILLY JOKER. THIS GUY IS SICK AND DERANGED AND IS SOMEONE TO FEAR.
VERY SORRY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST PERFORMANCES OF MR. LEDGER.
MUST SEE THIS AGAIN SOON ON A NORMAL SCREEN TO SEE IF I AM AS DUMBFOUNDED. THIS IS THE MOVIE OF THE SUMMER IF NOT YEAR.

The new adaptation of the classic Jules Verne novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth, is the first film to be shot entirely in digital 3D. Director Eric Brevig, visual effects supervisor on Total Recall, Men in Black, as well as many others, takes a seat behind the camera for a thrilling 3D ride. The plot is loosely based on Jules Verne’s novel, using it as a literal guide book for the films accidental heroes through a dynamic subterranean world. Brendan Fraser leads the adventure as the reluctant hero with his humorous wit and boyish charm much like his character in the Mummy. The movie is as predictable as many blockbuster adventure movies of recent release, but the redeeming quality is the digital 3D which brings the action alive front and center. The movie was crowded with kids and adults doning their 3D glasses. Each gasped and screamed in unison. Not one escaped the intensity that the the 3D provided. Objects flew in your face, rain fell, antennae poked towards the eyes. Many could be seen reaching out to try to “touch” the movie. Where this movie fails as a compelling drama, it excells on a grand scale in its combustible visual fury. A fantasy adventure for the whole family. I give it 70% for the story, 110% for the 3D. It opens this Friday the 11th. Rated PG.

We caught up with Steve Conrad to talk about his directorial debut, The Promotion in theaters now.

AUSTIN DAZE: Where did the idea for this film come from?

STEVE CONRAD: About six years ago I was just writing a lot about men and work and the different dramas and conflicts that happen in the work place. I felt like I had a few more things to say about work but I wanted to write from the perspective of a younger person who had reached a phase of life where they realize there are demands on them to provide for their loved ones. I wanted the character to be in his early 30s and not be exceptional; to not be able to play the violin or be a physician. He was one of those kids that didn’t buckle down in school. I wanted a C student to wake up one day and realize he is in a race to carve out some space in the world. Anyway I watched some weird stuff happen in my neighborhood grocery store with this assistant manager. My neighborhood is strange and tense–it’s a mix of professionals and street gangs. There was this grocery store employee who is like 30 and he was on the far side of the parking lot, the other side of which was occupied by this gang. The gang was messing around and just slinging curses at the customers and I thought: Wow, this kid is going to have to walk over there and ask these guys politely to leave. And I thought: They aren’t going to listen to him. This is going to be good. He walks over and they completely ripped him to pieces. He was demeaned and humiliated. The only thing he had to represent his authority was this little yellow vest that said “Courtesy Patrol” on it. And on the back it said, “Have a nice day.” Part of me thought it was the funniest thing but I was also moved to admire him greatly because he went back to work. He didn’t go jump in front of a bus or take off his uniform and walk home naked. He didn’t quit. I found that, after having laughed at it, I was overcome with total admiration for the strength of will for this kid to just go back to work—because you know tomorrow it’s going to be the exact same. And I thought I could make a movie that demonstrates that you win when you don’t quit like that. I also realized the landscape was great because you can make a smaller movie if you have the grocery store but get a bigger picture because you have the battleground for this. So started messing around with grocery store comedy. That was a really long winded answer to your question.

Read the rest of this entry »

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE HULK SMASH STUFF FOR SOME TIME. AND IF THAT WAS ALL THERE WAS TO THIS MOVIE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PASSABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS DRAMA AND UNBELIEVABLE CHARACTERS AND MOTIVATIONS THAT SEEMED COMICAL. WAIT, THIS IS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE AFTER.

MAYBE I’M JUST TOO OLD TO GET IT. THAT WOULD BE SAD. I WOULD PICK IRON MAN OVER THIS. IN THAT THE CHARACTERS WERE FLESHED OUT AND YOU CARED FOR THEM. IN THIS HULK ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS FAST FORWARD THROUGH THE CHEESY PLOT TO GET TO THE SMASH. THE HOLY SMASH. THERE ARE COOL THINGS AT WORK HERE. TONY STARK HAD A CAMEO. THIS MEANS THAT FUTURE CROSS-OVERS IN MARVEL FILMS ARE IMMINENT. I REALLY WANT TO SEE ANG LEE’S VERSION, I CAN’T REMEMBER IT. SO, I THOUGHT I DIDN’T LIKE IT BUT I NOW SEE IT AS A COMIC BROUGHT TO THE SCREEN. I LIKE A LITTLE MORE OUT OF FILM VERSIONS OF COMICS. I DON’T THINK I’D SEE IT AGAIN THOUGH. THESE ARE MY TWO CENTS.

A Conversation with the Makers of
Older Than America

• Georgina Lightning: Writer, Director, actor
• Dan Harrison: Associate Producer, actor
• Paula Gould: Publicist

I sat down with Georgina, Dan, and Paula at the Hideout following the screening of their film Older Than America at the Paramount.  The film, shot on the Fond du Lac band of Chippewa Reservation in Minnesota, portrays the story of children abused in government mandated Catholic boarding schools during the early 20th century and the resulting effects it had on the lives of those involved and the Native American community. Woven into this tragic story is the underlying tragedy of governmental neglect, social stereotype, personal struggle, traditional spirituality and the fight for recognition of the Native American people and their story. As a white male I carried my own stereotypes, ingrained by our society, into the meeting and felt a little uneasy at first. Within seconds, however, the candor, honesty, and ease with which they spoke of the project made the meeting at the Hideout seem like a casual gathering of friends. Read the rest of this entry »

In conversation about a book I had read, Peter Mattheison’s In the Spirit of Crazy Horse I learned of this documentary about the shooting at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  The documentary is well done and the subject matter is compelling.  This film sheds further light on how manipulative and shady our government is.  Incident at Oglala reveals the outright lies and illegal prosecution of Leonard Peltier and those involved in the shootout at which two FBI agents were killed.   It is amazing that true stories like this still happen in our country.  A good documentary worth seeing.  Check it out.

In A Dream by Jeremiah Zagar. This film not only jumps to life, but is life, the very intimate, emotional, touching, and human life of Jeremiah Zagar’s immediate family. The film follows the lives of his legendary mosaic artist father Isaiah Zagar, mother Julia, and brother Ezekiel through the pits and valleys, the hallways and alleyways, and the institutions and home with increadible candor and personality. The beauty and brilliance of Isaiahs mosaics is matched by the films vibrant color and brilliant editing and music. This film touched me on such a personal level, taking me on a journey into my own human condition while inspiring the creative within and leaving me with a renewed passion for life. The film has won in the Emerging Visions catagory at this years festival and is the best film I have seen. Check it out!!!!! It is a must see, look for it, find it, see it. Congratualations director Jeremiah Zagar, producers Jeremy Yaches and Ross Kauffman, editor Keiko Deguchi, music Kelli Scarr, and The Books. www.inadreammovie.com.

I started the day with a screening of short films at the Alamo South Complex with the plan of having a light movie experience and a little lunch. The food was great, as always at the Alamo, and the shorts were, well, amazing. Several of the shorts were of note yet one stood out above all others, Madame Tutli-Putli. Madame Tutli-Putli is a 2007 Academy Award nominated stop motion-animated short film by Montreal filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski. The movie takes viewer on an existential fantasy dreamworld ride with Madame through symbolic representations of her fears and her past towards enlightenment. The animation is nothing short of extraordinary. The most recognizable form we as human beings is another human being and the ability to take “lifeless” material and create a living, breathing, believable representation of a person is astounding and that is just what Lavis and Szczerbowski did. The score is equally compelling, fitting perfectly with the images, creating tension, anticipation, and resolution. I loved this short. Check out Madame Tutli-Putli!!!! I give it 4 exclamation points.

The swath of filmfesters has descended upon the city once again and my impression is that they will not be left wanting. The diversity and quality of films this year is impressive, and somewhat daunting. Jugling the schedule and the locations is an art in and of itself. I began with a plan, but as the old saying goes “plans suck!” so out the window with that and into the beautiful world of, as Russ says, “Go with the flow, man!” Read the rest of this entry »

What is It? and It Is Fine are the first and second films in a planned trilogy, It’s Mine being the third.  The second film is an autobiographical, psycho-sexual, fantastical retelling of Steven C. Stewart’s point-of-view of life. He died from complications of cerberal palsy one month after filming wrapped. It is Fine showed at the Alamo Drafthouse with a live perforamnce by Crispin.

AUSTIN DAZE: Tells us a little bit about Steven C. Stewart.

CRISPIN GLOVER: It’s sad that he didn’t get to see the completed thing. I know he would have loved to have been here talking—he really liked the attention. He liked to talk to the women and touch their hair. I didn’t go into detail about it but, it was something David Brothers and I were very firm about and that was that it was obvious that this film had to be made with Steve. It could not have been made with any other person. It is about a very specific individual. I know people often ask about the handicapped issue of the film and I would say, because Steve was an advocate–a different kind of advocate for that kind of thing–mainly that he wanted to play a bad guy in this movie which is not something that often happens in that situation. He was really firm on that. If Steve had died and this was a corporately funded film and they said, “Well we’ll get a different actor who doesn’t have Cerebral Palsy,” to me that film wouldn’t be interesting at all. But also even if it was not a corporately funded and distributed film and Steve died and they said, “Well we’ll get an actor who does have Cerebral Palsy to play the character” I still don’t think it would work. What’s important about the film is that he was living this fantasy. It’s at least important that this man had this fetish for women with long hair. It was absolutely specific that it had to be that guy otherwise there would be no point. I know that David Brothers felt this way as well and it wasn’t just because I said to Steve that I wanted to get the film made, I would have actually felt like I had done a bad thing if I hadn’t gotten this film made. I don’t know exactly why but I really would not have felt good about it. I would have felt like I did something wrong. So I’m genuinely relieved that this is on its way. And on top of it, I’m really proud of the movie. When the whole trilogy is done I feel like this film will be the best of the trilogy but more than that I feel like this film will be the best film I will ever have anything to do with in my career. It’s such a specific story and an impossible thing to replicate. It has to do with Steve and his peculiarities. That’s another reason that I really wish he was here, because I feel funny in a certain way talking for him. At the same time I’m also very possessive of the film so I like talking as well, but Steve would say things that I would never say. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes things are not what they seem. Like when you sit down with two of the funniest comedians to come down the pike and expect them to be cracking jokes the entire interview. Surprisingly, John Caparulo and Ahmed Ahmed had more serious things on their mind.

AUSTIN DAZE: How has it been since the tour? Has it helped your career?

JOHN CAPARULO: What we have right now is the experience. Taking that experience, that we went for 30 days on a bus, it does change your perception of reality. After going that long with a movie star, realizing how big things can get, it’s different than the usual nightly grind at the Chuckle Hut. That’s what I took from it ever since— I think I grew as a person and as a performer.

AHMED AHMED: I agree with John there is definitely a lot of growth that happened in those thirty days. The tour has manifested after the actual physical tour. It went into a pre-editing facility and was cut into a film, we took it to the Toronto Film Festival, and then it was sold and redistributed by another company—there is a whole after life that has been happening after those 30 days. It’s kind of like a two for one: we got the tour and then we got the movie but we weren’t really expecting the movie. So it’s nice. That people can recognize you on a national level in movie theaters is rare. I think John has mentioned this in the past: it’s really rare for comedians to do their act on the big screen. Read the rest of this entry »

Teeth. Vagina Dentata to be exact. Mitchell Lichtenstein allowed us to peak inside the brain behind this modern day superhero/horror/comedy flick and find out what the hell he was thinking. 

AUSTIN DAZE: How has the year been since Sundance?

MITCHELL LICHTENSTEIN: Long. I’m thrilled that it’s finally coming out. Actually this is exactly a year since our screening at Sundance. It’s been a great year doing festivals and stuff. People seem to be pretty excited about it. It’s been great but having lived through the year it’s been a long time coming of finding out if the people in the real world are going to respond to it or not.

AD: This film takes on potentially controversial subject matter. What seems to be the general reaction? Is the reaction what you intended?

ML: People definitely seem to have different reactions. It’s hard to tell because it’s been mostly at festivals. Someone who is going to go to festivals is going to have certain expectations. There is a big group of people that have seen it and get the humor and get the whole parody behind it and then also seems something serious behind it—all the things I would hope people would get. You know, people are also totally turned off by it. You do something like this and you can’t want everyone to love it. But I do think everyone loves Jess Weixler because she’s just so great. Read the rest of this entry »

We caught up with the director of Semi-Pro while he was back in Austin, his old school stomping ground, doing promo for the film starring Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin.

AD: How did you get involved with this film?

KA: I was working at New Line developing and producing movies and my first projet at New Line was Elf, which starred Will (Ferrell)– that’s how I really got to know Will. Tthen the writer of this film, Scott Armstrong, he was working on Elf also. After we finished shooting Elf, Scott had a one line pitch he was going around town with: What about doing a comedy about the ABA (American Basketball Association)? That was all I needed to hear. I grew up in San Antonio and was a huge fan—like more than you could ever really imagine. I was known. I was on the cover of the first playoff program-They had a crowd shot of me screaming–that actually was my cameo in the movie; I made that the cover of the Megabowl program. A couple of years ago Scott came out to LA and we started hashing through the story more after Scott got about 60 pages in to it. We went to South Carolina where Will was filming and showed him the pages and he had some great ideas. When we finished the draft we sent it to Will and he loved it. He said he wanted to do it next and wanted me to direct it. Read the rest of this entry »

[fa:p:id=2113015537,j=r,s=s,l=p]AUSTIN DAZE: Have you guys been doing the festival circuit?

DIABLO CODY: We’ve definitely been doing the festival circuit. We went to Telluride, and then we had our official premiere at Toronto, and now we are here. Read the rest of this entry »

[fa:p:id=2113015829,j=r,s=s,l=p]AUSTIN DAZE: How did you get involved in this project?

ANDREW WAGNER: seven years ago, Fred my writing partner and I lived in the same neighborhood and my wife and I were walking the dog, and he was walking down the block and he had this book in his hand, Starting out in the Evening. And I said, “Wow, something about the words, I love the name, tell me about it.” Read the rest of this entry »

[fa:p:id=1571532898,j=r,s=s,l=i]MICHELLE WILLIAMS: How important was it for you to premiere your movie here in Austin?

ETHAN HAWKE: I don’t know. I want to make sure that I sound as sincere as I am. The biggest collaborator of my adult working life has been Richard Linklater. And the work that he has done with the Austin Film Society is so impressive and has been such an inspiration to me. Before Sunrise came out, which was over 10 years ago, we would do these joint benefits—one for my theater company and then another for the Austin Film Society, which we raised a bunch of money for. And Rick just ran with this. They have raised so much money and helped start so many young people’s careers and given so much money to young filmmakers. In some ways when I was making The Hottest State my dream of the finish line was always premiering it at the Paramount. If I could finish this movie, and get a distributor, I would get to come down, we could raise money for Austin Film Society, and I still have a lot of family in Texas so they could come here and watch it right at the Paramount. So that was tonight and I’m really happy about that. Read the rest of this entry »