Notes from Austin Volume 2 #6

Hot little gossip tidbit of the week: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt are looking for a country place in Austin. Aniston may be familiar with the area from shooting "Office Space" here a couple of years ago.

Tuesday night I went to UT for the free AFS screening of Preston Sturges' "Hail the Conquering Hero." It was a delightful and humorous film. I wonder why I have not been opened to Sturges' work before. I mean, I've heard his name, of course. But I don't recall being able to see these films on television, either now or as a youth. Why is that so. I could see that perhaps "The Palm Beach Story" was a bit risqué, even by 70's and 80's standards.

But what I think is probably the most obvious reason is the titles. "The Palm Beach Story," "Hail the Conquering Hero," "Miracle at Morgan Creek;" Do these sound like comedies to you? This titles are not accurate or enticing reflections of the film's they present. I might simply have glossed over them in my "TV Guide" inspired youth, unable to realize that these are the titles of masterpieces of American farce, of "screwball" delicacies.

Sturges was able to turn convention on it's ear. "The Palm Beach Story" is not only remarkable for it's overt sexuality far removed from 30's middle class sensibilities, but also because it turns the convention of the then modern romantic film on it's ear. His film ends with the marriage and the title card that proclaims, "And they lived Happily Ever After," before he maneuvers into the next title card which has the audacity to ask, "Or did they?" Sturges begins his opus on marriage and sexuality at the exact point where every single other film from that era ended. It's wondrous.

With "Hail the Conquering Hero," Sturges presents a vision of the soldier coming home from WWII in such unflattering light (to such hilarious effect) that it shakes the very foundation of the War era. To even suggest that soldiers, the heroes of our world in 1944, at this time, during the heights of WWII, would lie, cheat, weasel and stretch reality for even the purest of intentions is almost sacrilege. Only a filmmaker and writer of Sturges prestigious talent come make it acceptable, not to mention funny. "Hail the Conquering Hero" is a marvel of 1940's films. Sure, it ends on one of the most patriotic and Capra-corney sequences imaginable. This heartfelt patriotism even evoked some chuckles from modern film-goers at the viewing I attended. And they were so wrong to behave so poorly and ignorant. Ejected into the mold of those greatest of American films, which are at once delightful and patriotic, Sturges' "Hero" fits very nicely amongst the classics such as "Born Yesterday" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Quite snuggly, indeed.

Wednesday night, Rich came over and we immediately began drinking on the alcohol that has been sitting around my cupboards since New Year's Eve. I got pretty tipsy pretty quickly. Rich and I made a ridiculous short film that was an inebriated essay on the nature of fame. It was silly and of poor quality, but fun to make just the same.

We then packed up the alcohol and headed over to John Christensen's house for the viewing of that night's "Lube TV" episode. John and Mark expounded upon Sun Ra and Bryan Ferry amongst other topics.

Afterwards, I was pretty soused and the other guests left leaving only Rich and I to hang out with John. Rich must have been pretty drunk as well for while John and I talked on his patio, Rich rolled around quietly out amongst the dead grass of the lawn as we watched. We made a trek to Stop-N-Rob at some point with john in his leopard skin robe and tiger striped stretch pants. He looked like a modern day Ed Wood with his cigarette dangling between his lips. He will play Ed for me in my biopic one day. And he will be divine.

Got home about 4 in the morning and Kelly called. We talked for about an hour and chatted about how we should get together. It's hard to find a time to hang out with Kelly. With school, parents, girlfriends and part-time jobs to occupy his time, not to mention a ferocious appetite for movie-going, Kelly doesn't have much free time. We talked about a few films and he told me "Titus," which is playing at the Dobie, is quite good.

I watched a great PBS series called "I'll Make Me a World" on Friday night (in the middle of the night). It's probably a part of the Black History month that only seems to be celebrated by television. The program concentrates on the history of African-Americans in the arts.

There were awesome history lessons on Paul Robeson, Augustus Savage, and Dizzy Gillespie among others. It's really a fine program which has introduced me to many a fine African-American artist from history of which I was either unaware or only aware of in a limited sense.

http://www.pbs.org

Saturday night, I went to a "friend's" house for a party. The night turned out to be one of the most unsettling and confusing events of my entire life. I really can't talk about it. It upset me a lot and my alcohol soaked brain had to shut down for 12 hours of deep slumber after the event in order to refurbish my sanity. Yes, dear readers, in case you haven't noticed, I have issues. This party, this all-night modern version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" didn't seem to have the slightest emotional impact on the assorted revelers who were in my midst. But for me it was a deep-seated confrontation about my worst fears regarding sexual identity, gender confusion and repressed homosexuality. It was unsettling. And how to confront my friends about this in the light of day is really out of my scope. I am adrift.

From the Alamo Drafthouse:

Advance tickets go on sale this week for a bunch of special events:

Savini Fest 2000 - Tom Savini live in person : Event Date" Mar 25, 9:30, tickets on sale Fri, Feb 25, 5:00 PM

Phantasmania - Phantasm I, II, III, IV with cast and crew: Event Date Mar 30-April 1, midnight, tickets on sale Fri, Feb 25, 5:00 PM

We have had a great deal of interest in these events, so if you really want to come, be at the Alamo at the appointed hour to purchase tickets. Tickets can be purchased over the phone, but priority goes to those persons purchasing tickets in person.

Movie news and gossip:

Jude Law is going to be in a remake of Orson Welles' butchered masterpiece, "The Magnificent Ambersons."

Bruce Willis and Jeri Ryan (Seven on TV's "Star Trek: Voyager") will star in "The Kid," a film about a man who is visited by his younger self and begins to question the life choices he has made.

Sequels you may see at the megaplex soon: "Under Siege 3" and "Friday After Next." Also Joel Schumacher's "The Lost Girls," a remake of "The Lost Boys" with an obvious difference.

Spike Jonze is in talks to direct "Benjamin Button," based on a F. Scott Fitzgerald story.

Sam Raimi is the lastest director to be attached in the press to the much ballyhoo-ed "Spiderman" movie.

New Line has bought into distributing Todd Solondz's next film.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman have their eyes set on "Heartswap," a film about wife-swapping. Wasn't that what "Eyes Wide Shut" was supposed to be about, kinda?

"The Red Planet," WB's film that is been fighting "Mission to Mars" for a slot on the spring line up, is now slated to debut on November 16th. "M2M" has pretty much assured a March bow.

Ted Bonnit, one of the men responsible for "Mau Mau Sex Sex," a film about 50's fringe films and directors, sent me some info on a screening coming up:

"We are having our premiere, with Dave Friedman and Dan Sonney in person at the Hollywood Egyptian's American Cinematheque on the evening of April 5th. For more info, please visit our web site: maumausexsex.com"

Wish I was going to be in Hollywood at that time! There's talk that the film might screen at the Austin Film Festival in October 2000. I'll keep my ear to the ground for more info on that.

Austin band Punchy has a song in the film "Natural Selection." Wanna see them live?

Fri 02/25 Wreckroom Ft. Worth

Sat 02/26 Outback Pub Houston

Tue 02/29 Iron Bell Club Morgans Point

Thu 03/02 UofH IEEE party Houston

Fri 03/03 Sidecar Pub Houston

Sat 03/04 Flying Saucer Ft. Worth

Thu 03/09 Fitzgerald's Houston

Fri 03/10 Five Star BBQ Austin

Sat 03/11 Pepper's Waco

Fri 03/17 Iron Bell Morgans Point

Sat 03/18 Nasty's Austin

Wed 03/22 Instant Karma Houston

Fri 03/24 Six-Shooter Junction Waco

Sat 03/25 Cool Beans Denton

Sun 03/26 The Lab San Antonio

Fri 03/31 Chelsea St. Pub Abilene

Sat 04/01 Chelsea St. Pub Abilene

Fri 04/07 Five Star BBQ Austin

Sat 04/08 Sweet Eugene's College Station

Sat 04/15 Dan's Bar Denton

Fri 04/21 Zero's Corpus Christi

Sat 04/22 Koolly's McAllen

Fri 04/28 Steel Penny Pub San Angelo

Sat 04/29 Green Frog Abilene

Fri 05/05 Executive Surf Club Corpus Christi

Sat 05/06 Reverb Lounge San Antonio

Fri 05/19 The Cavern Dallas

Sat 05/20 Flying Saucer Addison

Mike Blum's animated short film "Oil and Vinegar" can be seen at the Anarchy section of Slamdance's webpage. But you can also see it at several film festival's coming up. Check out the playdates and venues at:

http://www.pipsqueakfilms.com/playing.html

From Sarah Gish, City Manager for Landmark Theaters in houston:

Mark your calendars now for our Second Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party at the River Oaks Theatre (on the big screen, no less) that will be combined with our celebration of the River Oaks Theatre's 60th anniversary on Sunday, March 26, doors open at 6pm. Tickets are $10 each and will be for sale at the River Oaks Theatre's box office starting 3/1.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has a special offer for you this week: Meet Emanuel Levy, senior film critic for Variety and author of Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Film (1999, NYU Press), at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on February 25-27. Mr. Levy joins us for a weekend of screenings and discussion about independent film. His book will be on sale at the museum during all programs.

Friday, February 25 7:30 p.m. She's Gotta Have It 9:00 p.m. Dazed and Confused

Saturday, February 26 7:30 p.m. Choose Me

Sunday, February 27 1:00 p.m. Seminar: Writing on Film (Free admission! - Emanuel Levy is joined by Jeff Millar, Louis Parks, Joe Leydon, Mike Bergeron, David Theis, and Edith Sorenson.) 3:00 p.m. Book signing 4:00 p.m. She's Gotta Have It 5:30 p.m. Dazed and Confused

General admission is $5

For more information call (713) 639-7531 or visit the museum's website at www.mfah.org.

Upcoming gigs for my pal Obi and The Force:

Saturday, February 26th at Boomers

Friday, March 10th at Seabrook Beach Club (our first time there! Show your support!) - Clear Lake

Saturday, March 11th at Boomers - Pasadena

Friday, March 24th and Saturday 25th at Bayou City - Pasadena

That's it for this week kids - See ya soon!