Fuck You I'm From Austin Film Talk

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...