Austin is a unique and exciting city for cinema, and as such there’s lots of films and cinema-related events to choose from. These weekly posts will cut through the mainstream releases to highlight the Top 5 cinematic events to check out each week.
1.) Tough Guy Cinema: A Whole Day to Die Hard
What better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Die Hard than with a marathon of all five films? The Alamo Drafthouse Ritz will be hosting a one night marathon of the whole franchise Wednesday, February 13th, concluding with an exclusive advanced screening of A Good Day to Die Hard. So get your machine guns and spray paint ready, and enjoy a full day of John McClane. Yippie-ki-yay, motherfucker.
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, February 13th. Tickets
2.) Girlie Night: The Notebook
Valentine’s Day will be over by the time this screens, but that shouldn’t deter you from swooning and crying over this cheesy romance classic all over again. After all, it was never over. (Dodges tomato)
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz & Slaughter Lane. Tickets
3.) Tough Guy Cinema: The Terminator
Time for an annual rewatch of one of the best sci-fi action films ever made. James Cameron’s breakthrough feature is a seminal work of genre genius that has yet to be matched in its iconography, originality, and sheer toughness. Complete with in-theatre pyrotechnics, it’s an event that can’t be missed.
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek, February 17th. Tickets
4.) 56 Up
Kicking off the Paramount Stateside Theatre’s Texas Independent series, the latest entry in Michael Apted’s ongoing documentarian saga about the lives of people he has followed for decades continues with 56 Up. The newest in a groundbreaking series, the new film touches on subjects as deep as the meaning of life with moments seemingly meaningless.
Paramout Stateside theatre, February 18th. Tickets
5.) Music Monday: Paul Williams Still Alive
This one should be completely obvious, but for the uninitiated: Paul Williams is responsible for nearly every iconic Muppets or 1970s song you’ve ever heard, yet he’s nearly always forgotten. This deeply moving documentary touches on how artists deal with obscurity, and how we should all give a little more credit where it’s due. You owe it to yourself to see this film, if only for everything Williams have given us.
Monday February 18th. Tickets
So that’s it for now. What will you be seeing this week?
