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.
To the Wonder Opening Weekend
The newest film from Terrence Malick, one of, if not the greatest working director, hits theatres and will be available On Demand this weekend, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. A rapturous tone poem about the human experience of love, both romantic and compassionate, Malick’s latest film inspires questions he has never faced before, while maintaining his signature style of a ballet of movement and music. It’s a visual and soulful piece of pure cinema that will leave viewers breathless in the wake of its beauty.
Opens April 12th, Alamo Village, Violet Crown Cinema, and On Demand.
Trance comes to Austin
The diametric opposite of Malick, Danny Boyle brings his latest to the screen with an insane aesthetic that recalls both his earlier works and his more recent. A twisted crime thriller set within the labyrinth of the human mind, it’s vulgar and artful all at once, proving that whatever you think of Boyle as a storyteller, his films are never dull, and Trance is no different.
Opens April 12th
The Place Beyond the Pines comes to Austin
Derek Cianfrance’s sophomore effort, Blue Valentine, was a staggering achievement in its own right, particularly for a second feature. An uncompromising vision about the ugly truths of relationships, it featured a pair of towering performances and hailed the arrival of a truly exciting filmmaker. Three years later, his long-awaited follow-up finally arrives, and it’s just as deeply felt as his last. A riveting crime drama about familial responsibility, it’s as assured a film as any, and I can’t wait to see what Cianfrance does next.
Opens April 12th
Bangarang! Darkman in 35mm!
Very few seem to remember that before he tackled his Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi had already dipped his feet in the superhero genre. A loving tribute to both comic books and Universal Monster movies, and featuring a fearless performance by Liam Neeson, it’s a tongue-in-cheek adventure from another era, and one of the great underrated superhero films out there.
Alamo Ritz & Village, April 13th-15th
Big Screen Classics: Time Bandits
One of my favorite Terry Gilliam films, Time Bandits is surely one of his liveliest, most energetic and whimsical tales. A defining piece of adventure cinema, it’s the kind of film that shaped the blockbuster renaissance of the 80s and 90s. Whether you’ve seen it a dozen times or never before, it’s absolutely worth falling in love with it on the big screen.
Alamo Ritz, April 15th
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What are you watching this week?
2 thoughts on “Austin Top 5 4/10-4/16”
I will definitely see “To The Wonder” but only on the big screen. I don’t think Malick should be seen on a TV no matter how big the TV is.
Indeed. I have a pretty good home theatre setup so I might take advantage of the VOD thing after a theatrical viewing, in case I feel I need a rewatch.