Opportunities for the Week of 2/11-2/18

Posted by Austin Cinephile

Time for the weekly roundup of Weird Wednesday, Terror Tuesday, special events and outstanding new releases that you will not want to miss this week. Only the best selections here, aiming to ensure you see at least one great film every day.

Friday 2/12-Thursday, 2/18
Regal Arbor and the Dobie, AN EDUCATION
An Education is coming back to Austin, just in time for your nostalgia to be sinking in over this fine little film. Do you remember when Carey Mulligan comes back into her house, waiting for Peter Skaarsgard to return from his car? I am kinda excited to see it again. It ages very well.

Friday 2/12-Thursday, 2/18
The Dobie, THE HURT LOCKER
Stephen loved The Hurt Locker this summer, but unfortunately the rest of us missed out on a chance to see this multi-Academy Award nominated film. Now, thankfully, the worst art theatre in town is bringing the film back for a Oscar-buzz run. Will we miss it again?

Friday 2/12-Thursday, 2/18
Regal Arbor, THE LAST STATION
The Tolstoy movie is coming to Austin. Starring Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti, this Oscar-bait type is sure to reel in quite a few suckers for scene stealers. Who can avoid Paul Giamatti’s screaming performances? And will Helen Mirren have a role as vulnerably revealing as her debut Age of Consent?

Friday 2/12-Thursday, 2/18
Alamo Ritz and wide, THE WOLFMAN
Benicio Del Toro dons the prosthetic whiskers of Lawrence Talbot, last brilliantly portrayed by Lon Chaney, Jr., in order to bring the classic early 1940s Universal horror sage back to life. This time, the prosthetics are to be paired with tens of millions of dollars worth of CGI, so get ready for some realistic claw imagery. Will this be a wretched reimagining a la 2002’s The Planet of the Apes? You know you have to see it, so why put up a fight. It’s February.

Saturday, 2/13
1:00pm, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, RAD
Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa! How come nobody told me about this screening of Rad, the BMX movie from the 1980s that I used to watch with Chris Hurley on VHS? My very fuzzy memory of this movie remembers that is is an awesome tale of kids doin’ stunts. Apparently the film is about a kid who skips the SAT in order to ride on ramps and do jumps. I’m in.

Monday, 2/15
9:45pm, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, Music Monday: SOUL POWER
Remember that awesome trailer for that documentary about the boxing fight that didn’t happen but that soul concert with James Brown that did happen? It was playing last summer in the Arbor. Remember how that scene was just not enough to drag your bones all the way up to that theatre to swipe your Crown Club card and pay ten bucks? Well, now it’s playing downtown, for two dollars. You probably still wont’ go.

Tuesday, 2/16
10:15pm, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, TT: CRAWLSPACE
Klaus Kinski is Stephen’s favorite actor, and he is now in a bloody movie about an ex-Nazi landlord who kills his dead beat tenants. If we had one, this would be the pick of the week. Oh, maybe we should have one. PICK OF THE WEEK.

Wednesday, 2/17
9:30pm, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, Action Pack: SAVED BY THE BELL Party!
“I’m so excited. I’m soo excited. I’m so scared.” Stephen claimed to have never seen an episode of this landmark television show which you think is part of the 1980s but is actually part of the 1990s. He’s also very tempted because the trailer has someone flipping out on caffeine pills. Sure to be a lousy time, but it also might not be that bad.

Wednesday, 2/17
11:59pm, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, WW: TERMINAL ISLAND
A Weird Wednesday presentation of what Lars called, “Very likely the first women-in-prison movie directed by a woman.” It’s directed by Stephanie Rothman, director of The Student Nurses, The Velvet Vampire, Group Marriage, and The Working Girls, so you know it’s good. Speaking of Rothman, I think she’s coming to town soon. Keep your eyes peeled for that.