This Week in Movies
What to watch: Hitmen and jazz-fueled animated romance on Austin screens
In just one week SXSW will be in full swing. Before the new crop of festival favorites, world premiers and sneak peeks pour into Austin, there's plenty of great films going up on screens. Austinities have a hitman horror and an animated romance going up on screens this weekend.
This Weekend at the Drafthouse
The secrecy behind Kill List at SXSW 2011 created a palpable buzz that, thankfully, paid off in an unforgettable horror experience. Now, a year later, the film is finally making its way into theaters to terrify anyone who buys a ticket. The power of the film comes from the unexpected turns it takes so a detailed plot synopsis can only serve to lessen the impact.
The most basic outline would simply say it's about a pair of hitmen-for-hire who accept a high-paying job to kill several individuals on a list. As they get farther along their killing spree they find themselves wrapped up in something much more sinister than murder-for-hire. Shifting genres and tones will keep audiences on edge and the effects of the films final moments are long-lasting. Kill List is a horror triumph.
This Weekend at Regal Arbor Cinema
Chico & Rita is an Oscar-nominated love story that also happens to be a beautifully animated film. It's the story of Chico, a piano player working hard in Cuba in the late 40s, and the singer named Rita that becomes the object of his affection. When their career paths diverge, Rita finds herself in New York City but Chico can't stay separated from her for long.
The twisted course of their love spans borders and revolutions and is set against the backdrop of the jazz world. Benefiting from wonderful design by Spanish artist Javier Mariscal, Chico & Rita is an adult animated feature, an escape into a globe-spanning romance full of timeless music.
Beyond the Weekend
Alamo Drafthouse's Music Monday series will present two screenings of the semi-autobiographical Cameron Crowe rock journalism dramaAlmost Famous on Monday (3/5) and Tuesday (3/6). The feel good classic features the talents of Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Zooey Deschanel, Philip Seymour Hoffman and many more. It's a real treat to experience on the big screen and you can check it out downtown next week.