March is probably going to be a busy month for just about everyone out there. The coming weeks will be super frustrating with traffic at nearly all times of day, crowds holding up lines everywhere and outsiders overstaying their welcome.
But the last thing you should consider is leaving town to escape the insanity, because then you are admitting defeat. What should a local do instead? How about taking refuge at your local Alamo Drafthouse? While some locations will host screenings during SXSW, grab your tickets to these top, upcoming events and revel in the fact that, unlike the visitors, you can enjoy these exclusive events year round.
The Action Pack presents Dazed and Confused Quote-along
This year marks the 20th anniversary of beloved local, coming-of-age cult comedy, Dazed and Confused. Richard Linklater’s early hit will be garnering plenty of honors thanks to the Texas Film Hall of Fame and a director by the name of Quentin Tarantino, but regular fans can pay their own tribute several times this month.
All of your favorite lines will be subtitled, so anyone can scream at those freshmen or channel McConaughey and make creepy comments about how those high schoolers stay the same age. You can even sing the lyrics to the film’s classic '70s soundtrack. There’s no confirmation if there will be a pre-show paddling, but you never know what to expect from the Action Pack!
Kids’ Camp featuring luck dragons and tiny kids
Parents these days are probably sick about every kids’ movie being a 3D, CGI romp of celebrity voices. The Drafthouse would like to teach them about a time when kids also had the option to watch live-action sci-fi/fantasy films chock-full of practical effects and Rick Moranis.
The Drafthouse’s Kids’ Camp is completely free, with seating limited to a first-come, first-served basis. This month’s selections include Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and The Neverending Story and are located at theaters far away from the downtown insanity, so find your own perfect time to take the young ones, but prepare to provide counseling after the Artax scene.
Celebrate Peckinpah’s masterpieces of cinematic mayhem
Nobody has been able to make an action movie quite like Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah revolutionized the language of action films with his ability to convey tension that built up to explosions of choreographed violence. His characters were violent bastards who could still emotionally appeal to the audience.
Now you can enjoy two of the auteur’s masterpieces. Tough Guy Cinema presents his immensely important The Wild Bunch; Badass Digest will introduce the new monthly series with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, a film that was a self-reflection on Peckinpah’s darker, later stages in life.
March Madness at the Drafthouse
The end of March is a magical time for many sports fans. In a tournament consisting of 64 of the top teams in college basketball, the true passion of the sport issues forth as players give everything they got to reach the summit and declare themselves the best in the nation.
The pandemonium of the first round will be the featured highlight at the Lake Creek Drafthouse, with free admission, allowing any passionate basketball fan to sit their butt down and enjoy the Dance from noon until the final buzzer.
Master Pancake and Doug Benson mock Leprechaun
There are other ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than just getting unimaginably shit-housed on green beer. Since the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, you may want to consider easing back on the green beer for Monday’s sake.
Lucky for you, Master Pancake and regular guest mocker Doug Benson will provide a night of laughs as they guide the audience through the horror sort-of-a-classic Leprechaun, starring Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston. You can still enjoy beer, but please realize that these guys don’t mess around when it comes to booting the obnoxious drunks. Maybe Benson will be nice enough to provide you with something that won’t give you a Monday hangover.
Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused
