Fuck You I'm From Austin Film Talk

It didn't all just Blow Up like the film for me. My mother Peggy Sue would spend Christmas Eve and day out drinking and use the Gaylynn Theater as a babysitter. My sister Martha and I would be dropped off at the movie house - which was amazingly cata-cornered from my grandparents' house on Harrison in Beaumont, Texas . Martha and I would watch the featured film over and over and over until the Gaylynn closed down and the manager Mr. English would lock the door leaving Martha and me out front on the sparkling pavement to wait for mother.  Here's a list of the shows that helped me close out the years and fuel my lifelong passion as a movie fanatic... 1963 Love With the Proper Stranger     1964 Goldfinger      1965 Dr. Zhivago   1966 The Good, The Bad and the Ugly     1967 The Graduate      1968 The Lion in Winter 1970 Love Story   1969 They Shoot Horses Don't They?   1971 A Clockwork Orange    

I saw the film Saturday Night Live this afternoon and can honestly say it ticked every box and more. I was hoping the writers, Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, would do the deep dive into the show's history and they delivered. I personally am a little bit more than obsessive having read Saturday Night A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live at least three times - an excellent account of the goings on with interviews of more than 250 people. Also, the blistering Mr. Mike: The Life and Work of Michael O'Donoghue . So, here goes - what I took away. First off, the casting. As a frustrated armchair wannabe casting director, I'm always curious of the process. Do they pick a Matt Wood who played John Belushi for his comic expressions or physical build? Or the chicks who played Jane Curtain, Gilda Radner and my favorite Laraine Newman...who, on a side note has a wonderful bit that explored her incredible improv talent in the film. Kim Matula, Ella Hunt, Emily Fairn (respectively)...

My moviegoing is really gearing itself toward female roles this year. I have a history of looking at two things each Oscar season..writing and best supporting actor. Those two categories usually thrill me more than most. That being said, I was a little irritated that Michael Fassbender's wonderful portrayal in The Killer was looked over. But from the land of another Fassbinder , The Teachers' Lounge has been nominated for best International Feature Film. I'd mistaken The Zone of Interest , a United Kingdom film, was also a German entry. The Teachers' Lounge knocked my socks off. I like a film that hasn't been overly promoted and reviewed before I have a chance to see it for myself. Although this feature has tons of articles, I was able to view it in an almost empty theater with only one guy and myself. Strangely enough, I'd selected my seat from the online chart only to discover I was next to a wall with no way to exit other than trip over that poor man on the...

Two of the best films I've seen in the race for Oscar this years are The Zone of Interest and Anatomy of a Fall. In The Zone of Interest Sandra Hüller plays the wife of a Nazi commandant who runs Auschwitz. She brings depth and a human quality to a loathsome type of character. That takes some rare skill. In Anatomy of a Fall, Hüller takes on the role of Sandra Voyter, a novelist who's been accused of murdering her husband. The story is told well as the French can do. I often think of something I read years ago about French filmmaking. Something about a French film with long take for no reason on say a cloud. And it means something. Almost as if we're used to the French means of inserting some sort of element because they can. I was reminded of this when I watch Anatomy of a Fall. A lot of bold moves, fast editing, almost too much dialogue which really worked with the entire feel of the film. You felt uncomfortable. I kept getting that weird "don't open the door...

Amidst the Temu spots, here's the roll out that struck my fancy. I've been a long time Super Bowl ad watcher, even more so than the game. These ads are in order of presentation, not necessarily best or worst. Vince Vaughn reads on Tom Brady for BetMGM - who doesn't love Vince?  This from somebody who believes Christian rock is for people who can't make it in real rock...the Jesus commercials were pretty great..esp. the INXS one with the AI pictures... Let the good times roll, ya'll...Kawasaki puts a mullet on everybody including the eagle...how American is that? It's the real deal, Chris...more cowbells! Oh no..that was something else...Take me home, Jesus...no wait..back to the REAL Chris..featuring Usher...who put on a really good 1/2 time show ... Christopher Walken really is a national treasure... Kate McKinnon and the mayo cat...MAYO...p.s. if anybody's interested in my feature length screenplay and book The Meanest Cat in the World... I'm one of th...

I'm dropping the "The" from The Zone of Interest , my only humble suggestion. Jonathan Glazer's film is about a real family living on the grounds of Auschwitz - we all know about it - Auschwitz concentration camp was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II and the Holocaust. Glazer's work takes a look at Rudolf Höss, his wife Hedwig and their children living a fairy tale type of life with the big dark shadow of Auschwitz always looming in the backdrop. The film is difficult to watch and was difficult to make. The director's choice to wire cameras hidden amidst plants and staged scenery creates a documentary feel to the piece and it works. In fact, the camera takes on it's own persona, something I'm mesmerized with in filmmaking. As when something magical happens and the 'film goddess' takes command as she will do. There is definitely another dimension added t...

and...it's a whole big bag of things you don't think you've seen before. You've become accustomed to formula, to Hollywood or whatever. Then something starts happening like splicing the soundtrack into the dialogue. Has somebody ever done that? I'm sure they have, but I can't recall. And I've seen a whole bunch of films. This one is The Killer on Netflix.     Adapted from the graphic novels by French writer Alexis Nolent a.k.a. Matz and illustrated by Luc Jacamon. Yeah, that soundtrack. (Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross) lots of Smiths and you become accustomed to Morrissey's singing and lyrics as part of Michael Fassbender's first person account of how to be a successful hit guy. Let me list some of the parts that make this an outstanding modern noir. Characters like they spilled over from the old Howard Hawks film The Big Sleep each one more delicious and full of crazy nuances than the previous - Tilda Swinton Sophie Charlotte Kerry O'Malley (a perso...

Last night's entry in my music documentary travels was The Wrecking Crew a 2015 film directed by Danny Tedesco. It took Danny a long time to finish this work of love for his father Tommy and the other Wrecking Crew band members who played on so many popular albums, mostly unacknowledged in the credits and financially. Besides being yet another comment on the smarmy side of the music business, the film is a well put together tribute to those sessions players who created those albums so many of us grew up with. What I took away was just like the work these people did whose love for the music overrode the injustices of low pay and no credit - the music in the film transcends. You can't help but be inspired by the end result...the songs. The documentary pays tribute to the studio musicians that made up the Wrecking Crew - listed here in Wikipedia . Tedesco, Carol Kay, Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, Barney Kessel, Larry Knechtel (later in the band Bread,) Plas Johnson, Mike Melvoin, Don R...

A little back story first. I am in the midst of shooting a documentary about the Fabulous Thunderbirds and their huge I believe contribution to what is now known as the music capital of the world. There is a lot of information and my intention is to convey the story as I experienced it. When I first came to Austin in 1979, it was a different place than it is now. Kind of a little big college town with lots of cosmic cowboys and students. The T-Birds were really taking off and had just released their first album. It was a place of experimentation and our world here was filled with music, with art, films and people expressing themselves and learning about things. I was no different. What I remember most clearly was an introduction to French New Wave films and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Both on and off the screen I was surrounded by a real wonderment. What I want to do is to produce a documentary that gives the viewer a simulated experience much like the one I encountered here in Austin w...

Yeah, fuck it, Golden Globes. Even tho you tried to save racist face by getting Snoop to give out the nominations, it was a little smidge too obvious. I love me some Snoop Dogg, but Jesus, ya'll are way beyond beyond. I was waiting for two noms, that of Lady Gaga for her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani Gucci in which she literally becomes the role. You just love her. Go Gaga go go go!! I ate up the movie like it was a big huge box of candy. And it was.  But, the sick feeling you get from eating too much candy is how I feel about the missed nomination for Jared Leto. Since I saw House of Gucci, I've been reciting Paolo lines like crazy. It's stuck on me and I'm stuck on him.  One of the best performances I've ever seen in my life of watching great supporting roles from the greats. Somebody who I can always count on to chew up the scenery in a most delightful way. James Coburn. Benecio del Toro. Willem Dafoe, Brad Dourif. Strother Martin. Bo Hopkins. L.Q. Jones. Warre...

Ok, I got behind on my Handmaid's Tales. Forgive me since I actually read the damn book back in the 80's when there was no Twitter or Facebook or anybody to talk to about it. I binged through Season Two (almost) last night and fell in love with Eden Spencer, the child bride of Nick Blaine in a forced marriage. She's only fifteen and an innocent God-fearing farm girl. I was thrilled to see Sydney Sweeney from The White Lotus where she plays a narly teen and steals the show. Also in Netflix's Everything Sucks and Voyeurs. And Euphoria of course. Now, I'm a big ass black humor fan and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale is grim to say the least. It's almost impossible for a liberated feminist to watch. So thank you Jesus for little ol' Eden Blaine and her tips on how to keep house. She is so tasty, I want to go back and re-watch the whole season so I can keep track of all her household hints.  She is determined to make her arranged marriage to Nick work and us...

F&%k You I'm From Austin Film Talk needs to talk about the Oscars. Here's what I've seen - not seen - liked - not liked -   BEST PICTURE   "The Father" haven't seen this one yet "Judas and the Black Messiah" liked it ok but not a best picture if you're going for story - kinda choppy and left some holes. "Mank" - love Hollywood movies and a lifetime fan of Herman Mankiewicz but couldn't finish this movie. Too talky and a little to full of itself. "Minari" - Haven't seen this one yet...am I crazy or what? "Nomadland" - I just plum didn't get it. Pretty pictures and important. Go ahead and shoot me for saying it, but I like me a good story. "Promising Young Woman" So far my pick for best picture of the year. Best casting, best acting, best story, killer script and not a wasted moment, important and still tells the story with actual acts, beginning, middle and end. Even the costume desi...

The Sapphires is the story, loosely based on a real event, about four Aboriginal women who form a soul-group in the late 60's and tour Vietnam. Boy, it's a real feel good story and if you like good music and good characters, you will love this film. First, the cinematography pulls you in before you have a chance to get comfortable. It's a real reminder why I love Australian cinema so very much. Why all those painters migrated to Paris for light is the fell you get watching an Aussie film. That bright yellow glow consumes you and washes over you right from the start. Nothing is quite as beautiful to me as a well shot Australian film. It gets me every time. The young girls are introduced running through fields of yellow flowers as we are reminded of the atrocities that went on against the Aborigines, not only massacres and disease, but the kidnapping of light-skinned youth. As the indigenous Australians were robbed by Australian law of their humanity, classified as non-people...

So, I hit a block on things to watch. Later on, I'm going back to the Italians in the 70's, Germany, French New Wave, but for now....I'm all about Australia. Melbourne, in fact. I am obsessed. I'm watching everything shot in and around Melbourne. I'm crazy for it. The characters, the writers, the directors and production.  First off, I can't vacation myself, even to go to Galveston or North Padre due to the animals here in my rescue. But, I can dream and I can stream. I've watched so much. Lets start with Offspring. Offspring is a series about an obstetrician in a Melbourne Hospital, Nina Proudman played by Asher Keddie. Her obsession is delivering babies and taking care of her unusual family. It's a story most relevant to these times. I'm not a big baby person, but you can't help but get yourself caught up in the joy of life watching Nina and her team of friends bringing these babies into the world. It's really magical. Some of my favorites ...

Get Shorty, the Epix series has filmed three seasons for your viewing pleasure. It takes off from the movie and plays it true to Elmore Leonard's writing. Elmore has some of the best writing out there and best writing advice . Like leaving out the parts that readers tend to skip and if it sounds like writing, rewrite. In other words, Elmore was the man! It's Fuck You I'm From Austin Film Talk's humble opinion that Elmore would have popped a top and kicked it to this wonderful series. FYIFAFF is going to skip to the meat of the thing, although the storytelling is phenomenal. We love characters and Get Shorty delivers. Ray Romano who most people know from Everybody Loves Raymond kills it. Literally. He plays Rick Moreweather, a washed up much less successful version of Russ Meyer or Roger Corman Hollywood producer who just can't catch a break. Two fun things about Rick. His dad is a successful 'autuer' of the Oscar calibur deliciously played by Peter Bogdanov...

Brittany Runs a Marathon and Late Night ... both great movies to double up on during the covid lockdown. A hard-partying woman receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated to lose weight, she soon takes up running to help her prepare for her ultimate goal of competing in the New York City Marathon. Late Night is a 2019 American comedy-drama film directed by Nisha Ganatra from a screenplay by Mindy Kaling. It stars Emma Thompson as a popular TV host who hires a new writer (Kaling) to keep from getting replaced.

Vicious and delicious ... wife beaters and child beaters and people eaters....

Netflix The Lovebirds is a charming story featuring Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran and Issa Rae as Leilani. Comedian, actor, screenwriter and podcaster Nanjiani is most known for his work as Dinesh on Silicon Valley. Issa Rae, actress, writer, producer and star of Insecure and The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Jibran and Leilani are discussing their relationship when they hit a cyclist. This funny movie follows the couple as they try to prove their innocence and run into all kinds of unusual and freaky characters. Directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall , you get the sense they let the characters have a lot of input and fun with their roles. Nanjiani and Rae spread their wings make every minute count for some laugh out loud moments. This movie doesn't waste a minute. Nanjiani delivers the best straight face lines. Look out for the Queen 'We Will Rock You' reference for a big ass haw haw. The Lovebirds is a man née co...