The Top Weekday Films at the Austin Film Festival
The weekend’s passed. But don’t put up your Austin Film Festival pass just yet; some more gems are still making appearances across Austin. In fact, if you don’t have a badge, it may be easier to get a ticket one of the following evenings than it was the last three days. Take a look at these options for a bit of mid-week fun.
127 Hours
Tues. Oct. 26, 7pm
Paramount Theatre
It’s hard to pull off a based-on-a-true-story movie without making audience members mumble excuses and leave the theater. These films easily become cheesy, boring or melodramatic. But this year’s selections, including 127 Hours and Conviction, seem to do justice to their real life counterparts. Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours details the 127 hours mountain climber Aron Ralston spent with his arm pinioned under a boulder in Utah. Starring James Franco, this is not a popcorn film. Unless your stomach’s hardy enough to ingest a bag of cotton candy then go on a roller coaster without revolting, pass on the concessions.
Black Swan
Wed. Oct. 27, 7pm
Paramount Theatre
A ballet story starring Natalie Portman, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is bound to be at the very least visually titillating, and at the most a stellar representation of a competitive industry’s inner workings. Add a sprinkle of moralistic surrealism and you’ve got a recipe for a bestseller. The physical plot takes place in a New York City ballet company, but the real progression occurs in up-and-coming dancer Nina’s mind. Nina (Natalie Portman) wants the lead role in the company’s next production, “Swan Lake,” but that role requires her to be both the White Swan, innocent and sweet, and the Black Swan, sensual and clever. As Nina competes with a new ballerina, she slowly envelopes more of the Black Swan’s characteristics in her attempt to fit the role.