Tag Archives: last call

Last Call, News

Last Call: ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at Texas Theatre

Emily Browning in 'Sleeping Beauty'
Emily Browning in 'Sleeping Beauty'

It’s all about prostitution in Oak Cliff. In the movies, I mean.

Tonight and tomorrow are the final opportunities to see Cannes sensation ‘Sleeping Beauty’ theatrically in the Metroplex. Emily Browning stars as a new employee in an elegant house of prostitution, where the ladies go to sleep while the gentlemen do with them what they will. Reviews have been mixed, but it should be a good conversation-starter for couples, I imagine.

If you go tomorrow night, you could make it a double-bill (separate admission charged), with the last show of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at 7:00 p.m., followed by the local premiere of ‘House of Pleasures’ at 9:20 p.m. The latter is a less-touted French film, also set in a brothel, but one where the ladies are fully awake while strangers do the deed. And while ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has a modern-day setting, ‘House of Pleasures’ takes place in the early 20th century. So, theoretically, you could compare and contrast, er, the time periods.

You’ll figure it out.

All screenings at the Texas Theatre. Check website for details. 

Last Call, News

Last Call: ‘Jig,’ ‘Man Who Fell to Earth,’ ‘Another Earth,’ ‘Devil’s Double’

Jig
A young dancer practices in 'Jig.'

Last chance to catch these limited theatrical engagements before they end tomorrow, Thursday, September 1:

  • ‘Jig.’ Fine documentary on an Irish dancing competition, revolving around the young people and their parents. (The Texas Theatre.) My review at Twitch. Recommended.
  • ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth.’ Nicholas Roeg’s science fiction meditation, starring David Bowie. (Angelika Dallas.) Highly recommended.
  • ‘Another Earth.’ Britt Marling and William Mapother star as two fractured people rebuilding their lives under the watchful eye of a mirror planet. (Angelika Dallas.) My interview with Mike Cahill and Britt Marling at Twitch. Recommended.
  • ‘The Devil’s Double.’ Mixed critical reaction, locally, yet all seem to agree that Dominic Cooper gives a powerhouse performance. (Angelika Dallas.) Not previewed.
Last Call

Last Call: ‘Lemmy,’ ‘Night Catches Us,’ ‘White Material,’ ‘Rabbit Hole’ Plus ‘Shock Corridor,’ ‘Suspiria’

Suspiria
"Hurry, driver, the movie's about to start!" Jessica Harper in 'Suspiria' (Blue Underground)

A cornucopia of closers fill the coffers of local cine-maniacs tonight and tomorrow. Add in a couple of special screenings, and I don’t know if you have time to breath between showtimes.

First, the films that are finishing up their limited engagements (links to showtimes included):

  • ‘Lemmy: The Movie.’ Documentary about the Motorhead frontman; our own Steve Norwood called it “a fine example of high-decibel idol worship.” (The Texas Theatre)
  • ‘Night Catches Us.’ Drama about race-torn Philadelphia neighborhood in 1976. (The Texas Theatre)
  • ‘White Material.’ Claire Denis’ latest, about a woman trying to hold on to her family’s plantation. (Angelika Dallas)
  • ‘Rabbit Hole.’ Drama with exquisite performances by Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. “Tremendously kind and empathetic,” I wrote in my review. “The acting and the writing are so extraordinary that the film demands attention.” (Angelika Dallas | Angelika Plano)

And the special engagements, each showing one night only:

  • ‘Shock Corridor.’ Sam Fuller’s shocker about a reporter going undercover at a mental institution to investigate a murder and, hopefully, win a Pulitzer Prize. Instead, he starts to lose his mind. (Wednesday night only; The Texas Theatre)
  • ‘Suspiria.’ Dario Argento’s shocker about American ballet dancer Jessica Harper, who transfers to a prestigious European school, only to discover that it’s a hiding place for [SPOILER REDACTED] . (Thursday night only; The Texas Theatre)
Opening

Last Call: ‘Rare Exports’ at Texas Theatre

Rare Exports
'Rare Exports' (Oscilloscope)

Winding up a successful limited run engagement, ‘Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale’ screens tonight and tomorrow at the Texas Theatre before sailing off into the unknown.

The film is a magical ride, with a gliding sense of the translucence between fables and reality, in which an old tale about Santa Claus being buried under a mountain in Finland is exhumed and brilliantly re-invented. It avoids overdosing on either cynicism or sentimentality, and the snowy climes are a beautiful backdrop for the story that unfolds. I saw it at Fantastic Fest in Austin last September and it was one of the highlights of the festival. Highly recommended.

Via Texas Theatre: Showtimes and more information. | Official Movie Site.