At The Movies: Indie Picks This Weekend
As we near the end of summer, things are slowing down for high quality new releases. We suggest using this as an opportunity to catch up on some of the great films that are still playing in town that you may have been too busy to see (like I Am Love, Winter's Bone and Get Low).
Animal Kingdom (Regal Arbor)
The only notable indie release to hit town this weekend is this gritty Australian crime drama, the debut feature from writer/director David Michôd and winner of the World Cinema Jury Prize earlier this year at Sundance. The film has been met with nearly unanimous praise from critics, with the New York Observer praising it "among the most gripping, well-paced, acted and directed" movies of the year.
If classic films are what you crave, we suggest supporting the Summer Film Series at the Paramount. There are very few theaters left across the country that even have the ability to exhibit 70mm prints, a large film format that has been forgotten in favor of IMAX. This weekend Austin film lovers have the rare advantage of both West Side Story and Lawrence Of Arabia screening in all their widescreen glory. If you've only seen these films on home video, do yourself a favor and revisit them at the Paramount. (Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines also screens in 70mm on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, followed by the 70mm restoration of Alfred Hitchock's Vertigo next Thursday and Friday)
There's also an encore presentation of Viva The 'Nam! this weekend at Alamo South Lamar. In case you missed this stop motion animated feature made with G.I. Joe figures at the Ritz over the last few months, there's a 10pm screening on Saturday night with filmmakers Paul Hanley and Kieran Healy.
