Amateur Film Critics Wanted for Free Screening
The Austin Film Festival is inviting you to watch a movie for free and then tell the filmmakers what you thought of it before it is released to the general public. The UT Film Institute is screening Dance With the One on Wednesday, April 22 at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creekat 7:00 PM. Interested Ebert-like film lovers are requested to RSVP to RSVP@AustinFilmFestival.com.
Honest feedback is encouraged. The opportunity to throw Alamo’s delicious selection of food and beer at the screen, is not.
Synopsis: Nate wants nothing more than to run away with Nikki, the love of his life. But he can’t because his little brother and hippie dad depend on him for everything. When Nate’s boss asks him to baby sit a million dollars of hash, Nate finally sees a way out. But, in Austin , things have a habit of ‘getting weird’– the hash goes missing– and now Nate must protect his loved ones from Roy , a lethal drug-runner.
Film Guru On… Summer Blockbusters
The weather is getting warmer… actually, that’s a lie. The weather is still unseasonably and miserably chilly.
But we’re dreaming of warmer weather and that has us thinking about sitting in an unseasonably chilly movie theatre to watch the latest blockbusters - which somehow won’t have us miserable like we are now.
So we reached out to Kelly Williams, Film Program Director of the Austin Film Festival, to ask him “What are the summer blockbusters you are most looking forward to seeing this year?”
1. Funny People
Judd Apatow does his best Hal Ashby impression, but regardless, it should be another solid Apatow film. It seems that there is always a new “Judd Apatow” movie out there, but rare is the one with him behind the camera.
2. Year One
Six words: A New Comedy by Harold Ramis
3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
This seems more in line with the first two X-Men films, which helped open the door to the current wave of great comic book films. Plus Wolverine is bad ass, we all know that.
4. GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra
I was a kid in the 80s, why wouldn’t I want to see this? Actually, I have pretty low expectations for this one, but I am really curious. I’m pretty sure (like the animated Transformers: The Movie did) the live action will be trumped by 1987’s animated GI Joe: The Movie featuring the voice talent of Don Johnson and the late Burgess Meredith.
5. Land of the Lost
Well, the work of Sid and Marty Krofft is always good for a solid freak out, but you throw Danny McBride and Will Ferrell in there and who knows what you’ll get – maybe a solid adventure comedy, maybe a total bomb. Either way, the best thing that could come out of this situation is more Krofft adaptations!
Kelly Williams has been involved with the Austin Film Festival since 2001. In 2004, he became the Film Program Director at the Austin Film Festival where he programs features and shorts as well as oversees the full scope of the festival’s programming. For more information on the Austin Film Festival please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com.
Film Guru on… Arm Stumps
We got dragged over the holidays to the film Valkyrie - which is truly a film before its time. It should have been made after everyone has forgotten how World War II finished.
But the remarkable thing about the film was Tom Cruise’s arm stump. Cruise loses a hand during an Allied bombing attack and the most interesting thing about his performance from that point on is his ability to keep his arm stump away from our morbidly curious eyes.
So we reached out to Kelly Williams, Film Program Director of the Austin Film Festival, to ask him “What are the great film characters with arm stumps?”
Surprisingly, he responded.
“1. Harold Russell in The Best Years of our Lives (lost his actual hands in WWII and then played a soldier who had – took home the best supporting actor Oscar for it in 1947)
2. Ash in Evil Dead (hand cut off)
3. Dr. No in Dr. No
4. Luke Skywalker in Empire Strike Back
5. Captain Hook in Hook”
Looks like it’s going to be Stump Week on Netflix. Thanks, Kelly.
Kelly Williams has been involved with the Austin Film Festival since 2001. In 2004, he became the Film Program Director at the Austin Film Festival where he programs features and shorts as well as oversees the full scope of the festival’s programming. For more information on the Austin Film Festival please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com.
