Monday, June 30, 2008

FREEDOM COSTS $1.05



NBC’s most successful sitcom in years is a British import. Each and every one of us loves the Beatles. And pubs are the single greatest invention of all time. Still, every July we get together for fireworks and barbecued burgers to celebrate our freedom from that country across the Atlantic that single-handedly programmed PBS for us for decades, and this year will be no different. If you really want to feel that American Pride this weekend, though, the Alamo Ritz is the place to go.

On Thursday, July 3, you can make sure the terrorists don’t win by coming out to one of the TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE Sing and Quote-Along shows. Not just an excuse to yell out curse words in public (although that’s definitely a large part of the draw for me), the TEAM AMERICA shows will be packed full of all sorts of extra fun as we sing along with Kim Jung Il and celebrate montages with props and fireworks and games before the movie. Then we’ll all drop F-bombs on the terrorists and show them who’s boss.

Then starting Friday you can celebrate America’s supremacy over not just every other country on the planet, but also over every other species in the universe with Master Pancake Theater’s mockery-filled presentation of INDEPENDENCE DAY. Now that Will Smith is back on the July 4 weekend with HANCOCK we figured it was the perfect time to look back on the days when he single-handedly united our nation with one punch to an alien’s face. I dare you not to cry during the stirring presidential address.

Tickets for TEAM AMERICA are available here, and advance tix for Master Pancake’s INDEPENDENCE DAY are right here.

Monday, June 23, 2008

WANTED now playing at the Ritz and Village!



"Slams you to the back of your chair from the outset and scarcely lets up for the duration." - Todd McCarthy, VARIETY

"The action genre hasn't felt this fresh and alive since 1999 and the Wachowskis." - Joshua Tyler, CINEMA BLEND

"The two-fisted, double-barreled high-octane guilty pleasure summer action movie you've been waiting for." - James Rocchi, CINEMATICAL

Based upon Mark Millar’s explosive graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov — creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the Night Watch series — WANTED tells the tale of one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice.

25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut. Until he met a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie).

When we first heard the premise for this film, we weren't sure if it was something we'd be into. Then we watched the trailer, and now WE CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S FINALLY HERE!!

Tickets are available for the opening weekend, and are for sale right here.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Brad Neely Animation showcase starts Thursday 6/19

This is officially the Brad Neely century. We've known him for a long time thanks to his wickedly funny Harry Potter satire WIZARD PEOPLE, DEAR READER. And now the whole world knows his name and mobs him when he walks down the street. The biggest reason has been the Cox And Combes George Washington video that tore it up on youTube (Not safe for anyone, including children or the highly patriotic):



Plus there's the Baby Cakes and Professor Brothers series on Super Deluxe that has shown the depth of Neely's genius. We'll have a selection of Neely's funniest animations as well as an introduction and Q&A with a guy that the Pentagon has called "the most dangerous man in the world." OK, I made that up. He's really, really funny though and if you miss it you'll be sad.

Three shows only. Thursday, Monday and next Thursday. Be there.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

BAGHEAD opens this Friday at South Lamar

There are probably a lot of people who start feeling a bit tired of giant CGI explosions around this time of year and start longing for a bit of humanity in their movies. Subtlety, wit, real humor - that kind of stuff. This summer, BAGHEAD may be just the ticket. And we've got it all week at the Alamo South Lamar.

"BAGHEAD is like a blast of fresh air. It has warmth and innovation, and the mischievous good sense to subtly make fun of the type of film that it is."--Cinematical

"A youthful tale of friendship and romantic longing boosted by the appearance of a menacing figure with a bag over his head. Seldom has genre been this warm and fuzzy. BAGHEAD is funny, a little scary but always honest."--indieWIRE.com

Directors Mark and Jay Duplass (THE PUFFY CHAIR) return to Austin with a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, genre-twisting comedy that explores the minutiae of relationship dynamics among a group of desperate actor friends and roasts a gamut of indie films in the process.

After attending the Los Angeles Underground Film Festival premiere of the lauded indie film WE ARE NAKED, Chad, Katherine, Matt, and Michelle are desperate to launch their flailing careers by writing their own script, casting themselves in juicy star roles. That night they impulsively drive up to Matt's uncle's cabin in Big Bear, but horny ulterior motives upstage the boozy brainstorming session of good ideas for their unborn hit film. The foursome do get something out of their mumbling weekend in the woods, and it's something that far exceeds their expectations.

In addition there will be an outdoor premiere on Thursday night with the Duplass Brothers in person. Click here for details.

Monday, June 2, 2008

THIS WEEKEND AT SOUTH LAMAR:


Let me make this simple for you: if THE FOOT FIST WAY isn't in your plans for this weekend yet, you need to change your plans. Most of the programming office here got to see this comedy gem when Patton Oswalt brought it with him last fall, and now that it's FINALLY being released, we've cleared our schedules so that we can watch it another five times this week alone. This isn't hyperbole; the movie is that good.

The film focuses on Fred Simmons, the self-proclaimed Master of the Demo (i.e., breaking boards in strip mall parking lots), and his life as the owner/teacher of a Tae Kwon Do studio in a small town. When his life falls apart, his monster-truck-loving southern side and his Eastern-philosophy-loving/face-kicking side collide in a clusterf*ck of machismo, idiocy, honor, hero worship, and most importantly, lots and lots of delusion. The movie immediately rises above the "mockumentary" trappings of everything you could expect from that genre, and joins, as Patton puts it, "REPO MAN, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, OFFICE SPACE, DAZED AND CONFUSED, AMERICAN MOVIE and BOTTLE ROCKET in the 'creates its own sub-category and then rules it' family of films." You can read more of what Patton has to say about the film on his website, www.PattonOswalt.com, where he's dedicated the entire front page to nothing but his love for THE FOOT FIST WAY. Don't make him cry, Austin; come see the movie and cry tears of laughter instead.

Check out Lars' recent blog entry to see some of his favorite clips of Danny McBride as Fred Simmons from Funny Or Die.

Visit the official THE FOOT FIST WAY website and learn more tips for how to use strong combos to avoid being picked on by the local bullies.

Pick up your tickets to this weekend's screenings at Lamar here, and we'll see you at the next demo.