At The Movies: Indie Picks This Weekend

Alamo Drafthouse

Black Swan (Alamo Ritz, Regal Arbor)
Even though it's only been playing in 18 theaters, Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to The Wrestler actually crept into the Top Ten at the box office this week. The movie doesn't go into wide release until December 22, but two of our best local theaters were included in this weekend's expansion to 70 screens.

We were lucky enough to catch Black Swan during Austin Film Festival and have been raving about it ever since. It is one of the year's best films in every way, from Natalie Portman's exquisite performance to the brilliant score by Clint Mansell. Intense and unforgettable, this one is not to be missed.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Alamo South Lamar)
This Finnish film was a huge hit at Fantastic Fest earlier this fall. Now, it's been picked up by Oscilloscope for a proper U.S. release and it is not a surprise that the Drafthouse is one of the first theaters in the country for the movie to open.

As if screening this oddity wasn't enough, the Drafthouse is paying tribute to the film by offering up a feral Santa in a cage on Friday & Saturday nights in the South Lamar lobby. You can catch the flick and get your picture taken with a Santa that you'd never find in the mall!